Articles by Larissa Ku
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.
China delivery player Gogox files for Hong Kong IPO
Gogox, a last-mile logistics company formed through the merger of Hong Kong's GoGoVan and an affiliate of mainland China-based 58.com, has filed to list in Hong Kong
Deal focus: Goldman embraces Japan robotics
Rapyuta Robotics offers solutions flexible enough to plug into existing warehouse infrastructure and nurtures ambitions to create a cloud-based operating system. This was enough to win over Goldman Sachs
China RPA player Shadowbot raises $100m
Shadowbot, a China-based robotic process automation (RPA) service provider, has raised USD 100m in its Series C funding led by Goldman Sachs and an undisclosed corporate venture capital investor.
Profile: WestSummit Capital's Raymond Yang
Raymond Yang’s rich entrepreneurial experience in China and the US led to the formation of WestSummit Capital. He continues to draw on this knowledge as technology ecosystems evolve
China digital CRO Elixir raises $52m
Elixir, a China-based clinical research organisation (CRO), has raised a USD 52m Series A round from Lyfe Capital, Chow Tai Fook Investment, and Sinovation Ventures.
Hong Kong e-commerce financier secures $250m in debt funding
Hong Kong-based FundPark, a VC-backed liquidity provider for e-commerce merchants, has received an asset-backed securitisation (ABS) facility of up to USD 250m from Goldman Sachs.
China virotherapy specialist Binhui Biopharm raises $47m
Binhui Biopharm, a Chinese biotech firm specialising in oncolytic virus immune-oncology, has raised CNY 300m (USD 47m) in an extended Series B round led by Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group.
China automation specialist Laiye raises $70m
Laiye Technology, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up specialising in robotic process automation (RPA), has raised another extension - of USD 70m - to its Series C round. Hopu Investment took the lead.
Singapore's Coda Payments raises $690m
Singapore-based Coda Payments, a financial technology start-up that helps digital content providers accept payments, has raised USD 690m from Smash Capital, Insight Partners and GIC.
China stem cell drug developer Baylx raises $47m
Baylx, a Beijing-based drug developer that utilises stem cell technology, has raised CNY 300m （USD 47m）across two rounds - a Series B and a Series B extension.
SIG leads $210m round for Philippines fintech player Voyager
Voyager Innovations, a Philippines financial technology company, has raised USD 210m led by SIG Venture Capital at a valuation of USD 1.4 bn.
China consumer: Brand power vs traffic might
Private equity investment in China’s consumer sector has fluctuated over the past 18 months in line with the fortunes of portfolio companies. Applying TMT logic to brand building didn’t help
China game engine developer Cocos raises $50m
Cocos Technology, a China-based game engine developer, has raised USD 50m in Series B round from CCB Trust, GGV Capital, and voice and video communication platform Agora.
China metaverse infrastructure start-up raises $130m
Chinese metaverse start-up Xmov has raised USD 130m in Series B and Series C funding featuring SoftBank Vision Fund, Sequoia Capital China, Northern Light Capital, and Index Ventures.
China's XVC raises $274m for third US dollar fund
Beijing-based venture capital firm XVC has raised USD 274m for its third US dollar-denominated vehicle. It brings overall assets under management to USD 1.2bn.
China's METiS Pharmaceuticals raises $150m
METiS Pharmaceuticals, a Hangzhou-based drug formulation company has raised USD 150m through two funding rounds led by PICC Capital and China Life PE.
Deal focus: Nio Capital gets real with Nreal
Nio Capital invested in Nreal with a view to seeing the Chinese start-up’s augmented reality glasses feature in smart cockpits in next-generation cars. The company is now pushing for scale
China cybersecurity provider ThreatBook raises $47m
Beijing-based cybersecurity solutions provider ThreatBook has raised CNY 300m (USD 47m) in an extended Series E round led by CDH Investments, featuring existing investor Star Road Ventures.
China MSME financier raises $70m
Micro Connect, a China-based provider of financing to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), has raised USD 70m in Series B funding.
Alibaba leads Series C extension for China AR start-up Nreal
Nreal, a Chinese manufacturer of augmented reality (AR) glasses that resemble normal sunglasses, has raised an extended Series C of USD 60m led by Alibaba Group.