Articles by Larissa Ku
China energy storage start-up gets $48m pre-Series A
Zhongchu Guoneng Technology (ZGT), a China-based energy storage company, has raised CNY 320m (USD 48m) in pre-Series A funding led by Tsinghua Holdings Capital.
Bosch invests in China's WeRide
China-based autonomous driving technology developer WeRide has received a strategic investment from German engineering multinational Bosch.
Franklin Templeton strengthens Asia PE coverage of agri-food
Franklin Templeton has appointed Patrick Vizzone as a managing director and head of agri-food for its Asia Pacific alternatives group. He will lead PE and VC investments in the space globally.
China guidance funds pump $132m into Gowin Semiconductor
Chinese semiconductor manufacturer Gowin has raised an extended Series B round of CNY 880m (USD 132m) led by Guangzhou Bay Area Semiconductor Industry Group, which has now become the company's largest shareholder.
China's Primavera seeks $1.5b for carbon neutrality fund
China-focused Primavera Capital Group is looking to raise approximately CNY 10bn (USD 1.5bn) for a carbon neutrality fund, emphasising the increased popularity of sustainability strategies among local private equity investors.
Fund focus: XVC stresses its idiosyncrasies
The China VC firm cuts against the grain, eschewing investment committee meetings and embracing consumer deals while others shun them. It works from a fundraising perspective
Fund focus: BlueRun defies China fundraising woes
Having secured USD 819m, across US dollar and renminbi vehicles, the early-stage investor wants to prove that China can deliver globally competitive technology
Singapore metaverse platform Bud raises $36.8m
Singapore-based metaverse user generated content (UGC) platform Bud has raised a Series B round of USD 36.8m led by Sequoia Capital India.
China rocket developer Orienspace raises $60m
Chinese rocket developer Orienspace has raised a CNY400m (USD 60m) Series A round led by HikeCapital.
Ince leads $30m round for China's PhiGent Robotics
Beijing-based autonomous driving solutions provider PhiGent Robotics has raised a USD30m Series A round led by Ince Capital. Previous investors such as Atypical Ventures, 5Y Capital, and GSR Ventures re-upped.
China's BlueRun $819m across US dollar, renminbi funds
China-based BlueRun Ventures has closed its third US dollar-denominated China fund and third renminbi vehicle with aggregate commitments of CNY 5.5bn (USD 819m).
China industrial internet platform Xuelangyun raises $44m
Xuelangyun, a China-based industrial data service provider, has raised a Series B of CNY 300m (USD 44m) led by China Structural Reform Fund. Poly Capital and an intellectual property fund under Wuxi Guolian Development also participated.
China outbound: Organic options
Tough domestic competition is encouraging Chinese tech start-ups to expand overseas – often organically, earlier in their lifecycles than before, and despite regulatory concerns
India e-commerce enabler Gokwik raises $35m
Gokwik, an Indian e-commerce enablement platform, has raised USD 35m in a Series B round led by Think Investments and RTP Global.
China biotech player Reistone raises $100m
Reistone, a novel drug developer incubated by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, has raised a Series A of nearly USD 100m led by Huagai Capital.
China Renaissance raises $446m for renminbi fund
Huaxing Growth Capital, the private equity division of China Renaissance, has achieved a CNY 3bn (USD 446m) first close on its fourth flagship renminbi-denominated fund.
China's Sensors Data raises $200m
Chinese marketing technology provider Sensors Data has raised a USD 200m Series D round led by Tiger Global Management and The Carlyle Group.
Deal focus: Sensors Data finds meaning in compromise
Requests for customised rather than standardised products challenged Sensors Data’s notion of what software-as-a-service should be. The company overcame its anxiety and continues the growth journey.
IDG backs China surgical robot start-up
IDG Capital has joined a Series A round of several hundred million renminbi for China’s Sustao, which is developing a platform for fully automating surgical robots.
Maverick leads $75m round for Hong Kong SaaS player Coherent
Hong Kong-based no-code software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider Coherent has raised a USD 75m Series B round led by Maverick Capital.
China cloud services player Flywheel raises $45m
Chinese cloud-native database services provider Flywheel Technology, also known as Feilun Keji, has raised CNY 300m (USD 45m) in seed funding from Sequoia Capital China and IDG Capital.
Q&A: ZWC Partners' Michael Yao
Michael Yao, a partner at ZWC Partners, discusses valuations, exit obstacles, and artificial intelligence in China, as well as the scope for applying China knowledge in Southeast Asia
Deal focus: Laiye leverages European connections
M&A helped Chinese artificial intelligence start-up Laiye develop its product and gain a foothold in Europe. With more than USD 160m in Series C funding, the company is aggressively targeting global expansion
Singapore mRNA vaccine developer raises $140m
RVAC Medicines, a Singapore-based company involved in developing messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines for COVID-19, has closed a Series B round that takes its overall funding to USD 140m.