Articles by Justin Niessner
Chinese pet e-commerce player gets $30m Series B
Mollybox, a subscription-based pet e-commerce company based in China, has raised a $13 million Series B round led by DCM Ventures and Digitalis Ventures.
Bain raises tender offer price for Japan's Kosaido
Bain Capital Private Equity has sweetened a tender offer initiated in January for Japan-listed printing and IT services provider Kosaido. The revised bid values the company at about JPY17.4 billion ($157 million).
Quona leads $12.8m round for India's SMEcorner
Quona Capital has led a INR900 million ($12.8 million) investment in Indian microlending platform operator SMECorner.
Deal focus: 90 Seconds simplifies complex video variables
Singapore-based 90 Seconds raises $20 million to expand its online video production networking marketplace
Deal focus: Google offers AI expertise to Elsa
Google brings technological expertise as well as financial backing to its investment in Vietnam-based English education provider Elsa
500 Startups Japan rebrands, launches $45m fund
The Japan-based team of 500 Startups has spun out a separate firm called Coral Capital and announced a debut fund with about $45 million in commitments.
HarbourVest promotes Minjin Chung to managing director
HarbourVest Partners has promoted Minjin Chung (pictured), a principal based in Korea, to the level of managing director with responsibility for North Asia.
KKR-owned AVC backs Coles' Australia liquor retail business
KKR-owned hospitality venue operator AVC has agreed to invest A$200 million ($141 million) in a joint venture with the liquor business of Australia supermarket Coles.
UOB leads $65m Series B for Indonesia's Halodoc
Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) has led a $65 million Series B round for Indonesian healthcare technology provider Halodoc.
AirAsia sets up venture capital fund
Malaysia’s AirAsia has launched a venture capital fund in partnership with US-based 500 Startups that will focus on digital Southeast Asian businesses in travel, logistics and financial technology.
Tiger, Matrix lead $56m round for EV spin-out of India's Ola
Tiger Global Management and Matrix Partners India have co-led a INR4 billion ($56.3 million) investment in an independent electric vehicle (EV) company spun out from Indian ride-hailing platform Ola.
Singapore investors launch $100m fintech fund
Singapore-based investors Quantum Energy Asset Management and RE Lee International Capital have launched a fund targeting $100 million for early to growth-stage financial technology start-ups.
Japan launches space start-up accelerator
Several venture capital firms, including Global Brain, are participating in a Japanese government-backed accelerator program for space start-ups.
Japanese strategic to buy Australia's Allied Pinnacle from PEP
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has exited Allied Pinnacle, an Australia-based roll-up of multiple bakery supply investments, to Japanese strategic Nisshin Foods.
Google joins $7m round for Vietnam's Elsa
Gradient Ventures, a VC arm of Google focused on artificial intelligence (AI), has led a $7 million Series A round for Vietnam-based English language education technology provider Elsa.
Navegar seeks $150m for second Philippines PE fund
Philippines private equity firm Navegar has launched its second growth fund focused exclusively on its home market with a target of $150 million.
Australia VC: Debutantes’ ball
Long timeframes of incremental growth from a shallow base will test the staying power of a new generation of Australian venture capital funds. But confidence is running high
Singapore's 90 Seconds raises $20m Series B round
Singapore video platform operator 90 Seconds has raised a $20 million Series B from a group including Susquehanna International Group (SIG), Australia’s AirTree Ventures, and Sequoia Capital India.
BaltCap, JBIC launch $113m Europe-Japan VC fund
Estonian private equity firm BaltCap and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) have launched a EUR100 million ($113 million) Europe-Asia cross-border VC fund with a focus on Japan.
Australia's Artesian launches $36m agtech fund
Australia’s Artesian Venture Partners and government-backed Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) have launched a A$50 million ($36 million) agriculture technology VC fund.
Fund focus: EVP mines Australia’s budding VC space
Driven by an existing portfolio that includes workforce management platform Deputy, Australia's EVP successfully tapped high net worth investors for its $25 million second fund
Direct Capital backs New Zealand engineering firm
New Zealand’s Direct Capital has made an investment of undisclosed size in local engineering consultancy Beca.
TPG-backed Pathology Asia invests Australia's Safe Work
TPG Capital Asia’s Pathology Asia platform has continued a regional roll-up strategy with an investment of undisclosed size in a minority stake in Australian drug testing specialist Safe Work Laboratories.
Singapore AI start-up raises $20m
ViSenze, a Singaporean artificial intelligence (AI) provider focused on e-commerce has received a $20 million Series C round led by China’s Gobi Ventures and the VC arm of Portuguese retail and technology group Sonae.