Articles by Winnie Liu
Chinese celebrities in VC: Profile booster
Chinese celebrities are entering the venture capital space, offering start-ups endorsement as well as financial support. But can a pop star’s cachet translate into long-term sustainable growth?
Fund focus: GSR fuels its global ambition
Bringing overseas technology to China is a popular investment thesis among GPs. However, while the likes of Fosun International and Hony Capital have completed several cross-border deals, this is not their sole proficiency. GSR Capital is therefore an...
Tsinghua Unigroup engineers Xueda Education re-listing in Shenzhen
Xueda Education Group, a Chinese tutoring services provider, has agreed to be privatized by Xiamen Insight Investment, a Shenzhen-listed shell company controlled by Tsinghua Unigroup, for approximately $368.8 million. Xueda will leave the New York Stock...
GSR, Go Scale raise $1b for M&A fund, seek to deploy $5b – update
GSR Capital and its affiliate Go Scale Capital has raised $1 billion for a cross-border buyout and M&A fund, which it hopes will translate into $5 billion worth of dry powder once debt financing and co-investment are factored in.
China P2P lending site Firstp2p raises $41m
Firstp2p, a Chinese online peer-to-peer (P2P) financing site, has raised a $41 million Series B round of funding from San Shan Capital, CITIC Capital and China Equity.
China after-school tutoring app raises $24m
Entstudy.com, a Chinese after-school tutoring mobile app, has raised $24 billion in an extended Series B round from two domestic VC firms: Kun Ling Capital and Sharing Capital.
GGV leads round for China B2B drug retail platform
GGV Capital has led an extended Series A round of funding for Ypzdw.com, a Chinese online B2B drug retail platform. Existing investor Matrix Partners China also participated.
NLVC leads Series A for China online car retailer
Northern Light Venture Capital (NLVC) has led a Series A round of funding for Maihaoche.com, a Chinese automotive e-commerce platform that specializes in parallel imports.
VC-backed China parenting site Babytree raises $300m
Chinese online beauty products retailer Jumei International has led a $300 million round of funding for Babytree, a Chinese parent-focused social platform backed by several VC investors.
DCM closes second Android fund at $100m
DCM has raised $100 million for its second Android-focused fund, which will target start-ups building apps for Google’s mobile operating system.
China angels: Divine intervention
Angel investors, both unsophisticated amateurs and industry-savvy professionals, are flooding into China’s tech sector in search of stellar returns. Everything looks great as long as the market keeps on going up.
Fund focus: Shunwei raises $1b, eyes growth deals
The line between venture and growth capital in China has always been blurred, and in recent years it has become more so as start-ups raise ever larger private rounds. Nevertheless, based on AVCJ Research’s records, with $1 billion at its disposal across...
Vivo Capital leads Series B for China's cosmetic surgery app
Healthcare specialist Vivo Capital has led a Series B round of funding for Gengmei, a Chinese cosmetic surgery social networking app, with participation from Sequoia Capital.
Innovation Works backs China cycling tracking device
Innovation Works has led a RMB50 million ($8 million) Series A round of funding for Beast Bikes, a Chinese start-up that has developed a cycling tracking device.
Chinese app testing platform Testin raises $54.9m
Testin, a Chinese mobile apps testing platform, has raised $54.9 million in its latest round of funding led by Haiyin Capital, followed by IDG Capital Partners and Banyan Capital.
CDB invests $242m in VC-backed eHi Car Services
China Development Bank (CDB) has agreed to provide RMB1.5 billion ($242 million) to eHi Car Services, China’s second-largest automotive rental services provider, which is backed by several VC investors.
VCs commit $18m to Chinese students' e-commerce platform
Imcoming.cn, a Chinese mobile e-commerce platform aimed at students, has completed a RMB110 ($18 million) Series A round of funding led by Greenwoods Investment and Sharing Capital.
Greenwoods leads $32m round for Chinese internet finance site Rongzi
Greenwoods Investment has led a RMB200 million ($32 million) Series A round of funding for Rongzi.com, a Chinese internet finance platform, with participation from New Access Capital.
Alibaba launches $161m fund to support mobile app-makers
Alibaba Group has established a RMB1 billion ($161 million) venture capital fund to support third-party mobile app developers.
Tsinghua Unigroup invests $100m in mobile OS start-up Acadine
China’s Tsinghua Unigroup International has invested $100 million for a minority stake in Acadine Technologies, a Hong Kong-based start-up developing mobile operating systems (OS) for mobile, wearable and internet-of-Things (IoT) devices.
Chinese personal finance app Wacai secures additional $80m
Hangzhou Wacai Science, a Chinese personal finance management mobile app developer, has raised an additional $80 million in an extended Series B round of funding led by New Horizon Capital.
Shenzhen Fortune leads $100m round for fashion platform Yoho
Fortune Capital has led a $100 million Series D round of funding for online fashion magazine and e-commerce platform Yoho. CMC Capital and Telescope Capital also took part alongside existing investors SAIF Partners China and Vertex Venture.
TPG leads Series C for China wealth management firm Sinowel
TPG Capital has led a $41 million Series C round of funding for Sinowel Enterprise Group, a Chinese third-party wealth management firm.
Taiwan's MediaTek commits $10m to new Walden Riverwood fund
Gaintech, a unit of Taiwanese fabless semiconductor producer MediaTek, has committed $10 million to the latest fund launched by early-stage tech venture capital firm Walden Riverwood Ventures.