Articles by Larissa Ku
Deal focus: Well-Link aims to make gaming even more real
China’s Well-Link Technologies raised a Series B extension to support long-term investment and blue sky thinking around the role of real-time cloud rendering in gaming and metaverse applications
China fundraising: Onshore vs offshore
Raising capital for China strategies is difficult right now, regardless of currency, but are geopolitical forces enabling the rise of renminbi-denominated funds at the expense of the US dollar?
China's VectorBuilder raises $57m Series C
Guangzhou-based gene delivery company VectorBuilder has raised a CNY 410m (USD 57m) Series C round led by Legend Capital, Sui Kai Equity Investment, and Yuexiu Industrial Fund.
China's BA Capital raises $349m for latest renminbi fund
Black Ant Capital, also known as BA Capital, has closed its third renminbi-denominated fund on CNY 2.5bn (USD 349m), with commitments from independent fund-of-funds, government guidance funds, insurers, and corporates.
Q&A: WeRide's Tony Han
Tony Han, founder and CEO of China’s WeRide, on commercialising fully autonomous passenger vehicles, surviving a capital winter, and why universities are vital to the hard-tech revolution
Vision Fund leads Series D for China dental 3D printing player
SprintRay, a China-based 3D printing company that specialises in orthodontics, has raised a USD 100m Series D round led by Softbank Vision Fund 2.
Hillhouse launches China incubation unit
Hillhouse Capital has introduced an incubation strategy that is intended to support China-based start-ups from incubation through the seed stage.
China silicon supplier Lihao gets $305m Series B
Lihao Semiconductor, a China-based supplier of silicon materials used in solar panels, has raised CNY 2.2bn (USD 305m) in Series B funding from an investor group featuring Oceanpine Capital, V Fund, and Harvest Capital.
Temasek leads $40m Series B extension for China's Well-Link
Temasek Holdings has led a USD 40m Series B extension for Well-Link Technologies, a China-based provider of real-time cloud rendering solutions for game developers.
Deal focus: AI integration pays off for Evomotion
With investors going cold on China artificial intelligence, Evomotion has remained popular and profitable by delivering hardware and software to corners of the market that are either overlooked or hard to access
China AI solution provider Evomotion raises $20m
Evomotion, a China-based artificial-intelligence-of-things (AIoT) specialist that supplies software and chips to electronic appliance makers and supermarket retailers, has raised USD 20m in Series B funding.
Gaorong backs China energy storage company
China-based energy storage company WeView has raised CNY 400 million (USD 57m) from a group including Gaorong Capital, Green Pine Capital Partners, and ZhenFund.
China semiconductor player Shangda raises $99m
Chinese semiconductor packaging and testing company Shangda has raised a Series A extension of CNY700m (USD 99m) co-led by three government-backed funds.
Advent acquires China restaurant operator
Advent International has acquired a 60% stake in health food restaurant chain Wagas Group from its founders.
China semiconductor: Casualties of war
Private equity investment in China’s semiconductor industry continues unabated despite intensifying US regulatory action. While start-ups are not explicitly targeted, many are feeling the heat
China drug developer Worg secures $57m Series B
Worg, a China-based drug developer, has closed a Series B round of CNY400m (USD57m) from five local investors - Jiachen Capital, Longpan Capital, Kaitai Capital, Puhua Capital and Anji Ruixing Capital.
GenBridge, DragonBall back China snacks brand Xueji Chaohuo
GenBridge Capital and DragonBall Capital have led a CNY 600m (USD 86m) Series A round for Xueji Chaohuo, a China-based roasted seeds and nuts brand.
China satellite player Galaxy Space achieves unicorn status
Galaxy Space, a China-based satellite developer, has raised a new funding round led by CCB International at a post-investment valuation of CNY 11bn (USD 1.6bn).
China looks to boost PE participation by domestic insurers
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has asked regulators to encourage investment by insurance companies in private equity and venture capital through measures such as shorter post-IPO lock-up periods.
L'Oréal China investment unit backs local fragrance brand
L'Oréal has completed the debut deal from its newly formed China investment arm by participating in an extended Series A round for local fragrance brand Documents.
Deal focus: L'Oréal shows staying power
Europe-based personal care giant L’Oréal looked past short-term impediments like lockdowns and asset price corrections to join Cathay Capital in supporting Chinese perfume brand Documents
China AI player Fourth Paradigm files for Hong Kong IPO
Fourth Paradigm, a China-based software provider that helps enterprise customers develop in-house artificial intelligence (AI) decision-making applications, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
China circuit board maker JLC raises $129m
Chinese circuit board manufacturing company Jialichuang (JLC) has raised CNY 900m (USD 129m) from State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC), Eastern Bell Capital and Jianfa Xinxing Investment.
Deal focus: Turning data into operational efficiencies
Chinese data mining start-up Prothentic has managed to turn first-time business into repeat subscription business, which led to valuation increase between funding rounds even as the wider market stagnates