Articles by Justin Niessner
India, US-based Chargebee raises $55m Series F
Chargebee, an India-founded and now US-headquartered financial technology provider, has raised $55 million in Series F funding led by Insight Partners.
Australia's 99Designs acquired by European trade buyer
Australia’s 99Designs, a global graphic design marketplace, has been acquired by Ireland-based Cimpress, the owner of marketing services firm Vistaprint. It sets up at least one VC exit.
Investcorp ramps up India ESG build-out
Investcorp will establish an environment, social and governance (ESG) pilot project in India as a stepping stone to implementing a global framework.
Prosus leads $12m Series B for Pakistan's Bykea
Prosus Ventures, formerly a VC arm of South African media conglomerate Naspers, has led a $12 million Series B round for Pakistan ride-hailing and courier app Bykea.
J-Star acquires Japan aquaculture business
Japanese lower middle market private equity firm J-Star has acquired local aquaculture industry supplier Dainichi for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Green Monday finds mission-aligned investors
Green Monday, the Hong Kong plant-based food distributor behind the Green Common retail chain and OmniPork alternative meats, has raised its first institutional round of funding.
Australia's Airwallex upsizes Series D to $200m
Australian international payments technology provider Airwallex has raised an additional $40 million in Series D funding from existing investors, bringing the round to $200 million.
Taiwan tourism platform KKday raises $75m Series C
Taipei-based online tour package vendor KKday has closed a $75 million Series C round led by Cool Japan Fund and Taiwan’s National Development Fund.
IMM agrees $124m exit from Korea's Hollys Coffee
IMM Private Equity is set to exit its approximately 94% stake in Korean food and beverage chain Hollys Coffee to local digital payments services provider KG Inicis for KRW145 billion ($124 million).
Lever invests five China alternative meat start-ups
Hong Kong and US-based food tech investor Lever VC has confirmed five investments in alternative protein start-ups from its recently launched China fund.
AMP Capital forms Asia infrastructure debt team
Australia’s AMP Capital has doubled down on its Asia Pacific infrastructure debt strategy with the creation of a dedicated team based across Sydney and Singapore.
China's InventisBio secures $147m Series D
GL Ventures, the China venture capital arm of Hillhouse Capital, has led a $147 million Series D round for Shanghai-based biotech developer InventisBio.
Portfolio: Pioneer Capital and Natural Pet Food Group
Pet ownership is no longer a hobby – it’s an emotional market in the same vein as mother-and-baby. Pioneer Capital knows that grain-based kibble will not do
Deal focus: Airmeet rewires the conference circuit
As social distancing and travel restrictions play havoc with traditional conferences, Airmeet has seen a spike in demand for its virtual alternatives. A Series A round duly followed
Deal focus: Waresix builds Indonesia's logistical lynchpin
Jungle Ventures and EV Growth lead $75 million round for Waresix, backing the company's integrated platform as a solution to Indonesia's logistics challenges
Panacea leads $40m Series C for China's XWPharma
Healthcare-focused Panacea Venture has led a $40 million Series C round for China’s XWPharma, a neurobiology-focused biotech developer previously known as XW Laboratories.
Japan's 31 Ventures establishes second fund with $81m
Japan-based 31 Ventures, a VC firm established by local investor Global Brain and property developer Mitsui Fudosan, has launched a second fund of JPY8.5 billion ($81 million).
India insurance tech provider raises $60m
Acko, an Indian financial technology start-up touted as the country’s only digital-native insurer, has secured a $60 million investment featuring Amazon and two global insurance providers.
Lightspeed establishes Southeast Asia VC team
Lightspeed Venture Partners has formalized its Southeast Asian practice with the nomination of Akshay Bhushan (pictured) as head of a new Singapore office and three additional hires.
Asia-focused events platform Airmeet raises $12m
Sequoia Capital India has led a $12 million Series A round for US-based and Asia-focused virtual events platform provider Airmeet.
Naver leads $80m round for Singapore's Carousell
Korean internet conglomerate Naver has led an $80 million round for Singapore’s Carousell, a mobile classifieds marketplace, at a valuation of $900 million.
CLSA acquires Japan fitness club operator
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSA CP) has acquired Japanese 24-hour fitness club operator Worldplus for an undisclosed sum.
Coronavirus & infrastructure: Trial by fire
Conservative investors who trust infrastructure for its stability have received a rude awakening with COVID-19. With appetite for the asset class unchanged, it’s time to get smart about risk
PEP to buy Australian software player for $367m
Australia’s Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has agreed to acquire 100% of Sydney-listed enterprise software and IT services provider Citadel for A$503 million ($367.5 million).