Articles by Larissa Ku
Deal focus: Vision Fund bets on service robots
COVID-19 crippled demand for restaurant service robots, so China’s Keenon Robotics pivoted towards hospitals. It has $200 million in Series D funding to target new application scenarios
Deal focus: Deeproute founder jumps at second chance
Deeproute.ai has risen from the ashes of China-based autonomous driving specialist Roadstar.ai, backed by some of the same investors. Now Alibaba Group has given the company its endorsement
Eight Roads' China hospital wins backing from Swire
DeltaHealth, a China-based cardiovascular care chain established by Eight Roads, has raised $100 million in funding led by Hong Kong-listed conglomerate Swire Pacific.
D1 Capital leads $138m round for China's Xtransfer
XTransfer, a China-based cross-border payment services provider, has raised $138 million in Series D funding led by US-based D1 Capital Partners. Existing investors also took part in the round.
SoftBank leads $200m round for China's Keenon Robotics
China-based service robot manufacturer Keenon Robotics has raised $200 million in a Series D round led by Softbank Vision Fund 2.
Profile: Vision Knight Capital's David Wei
Drawing on his experiences as a top executive at Alibaba Group, David Wei fashioned Vision Knight Capital into a China-focused private equity firm that aims to be both consultant and capital provider
Warburg Pincus leads $93m round for China's Terminus
Warburg Pincus has led a RMB600 million ($93 million) Series B round for Hangzhou-based enterprise software company Terminus.
China's Agile Robots raises $220m
Agile Robots, a Germany and China-based industrial robotics company, has raised a $220 million Series C round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2.
China's Future Capital closes debut growth fund
Chinese early-stage tech investor Future Capital has broadened its scope with the closing of its first growth fund at $108 million.
China wafer maker Zhongxin Jingyuan raises $511m
Zhongxin Jingyuan Semiconductor - a China-based silicon wafer manufacturer also known as CCMC - has raised RMB3.3 billion ($511 million) in a Series B funding round led by Capital Operation, an investment arm of the Zhejiang provincial government, and...
China ride-hailing app Caocao raises $588m
Caocao Chuxing, the ride-hailing arm of Chinese automaker Geely, has raised a RMB3.8 billion ($588 million) Series B round from five state-backed investors.
DST leads Series B for China cross-border brand Cider
Guangzhou-based cross-border fashion brand Cider has raised a $130 million Series B round led by DST Global with support from Greenoaks Capital and Andreessen Horowitz.
Deal focus: Vision Fund throws its weight behind Opay
An introduction from SoftBank Ventures Asia prompted Vision Fund 2 to lead a $400 million Series C for Nigeria-based Opay, creating Africa’s newest technology unicorn in the process
China launches Beijing Stock Exchange
China has set up its first new bourse since the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges in 1990. Beijing Stock Exchange is expected to facilitate exits for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
China data storage software start-ups gets $110m
Boyu Capital has led a RMB710 million ($110 million) Series E round for China-based data storage software services provider XSKY.
China's Baidu Ventures closes $400m fund
Baidu Ventures (BV), a venture capital firm established by Chinese internet giant Baidu, has raised $400 million for its third US dollar-denominated fund.
China promises clampdown on illegal PE fundraising
China’s securities regulator has pledged to crack down on illegal domestic private equity fundraising, specifically products that managers claim are aimed at qualified investors but they in fact distribute to the retail market.
China car wash business achieves unicorn status
1km, China’s largest car wash company, has achieved a valuation of more than $1 billion on closing a Series D funding round across two tranches. It did not specify the size of the round.
Hong Kong's OrbusNeich raises $200m
Hong Kong-based medical devices maker OrbusNeich Medical Group has raised about $200 million across two rounds featuring Shenzhen Capital Group and its Red Earth Healthcare Investment Fund.
Deal focus: Ekuaibao's PaaS plus SaaS proposition
China-based reimbursement platform Ekuaibao has ambitions to lead the digital transformation of corporate finance. Early investor Future Capital continues to re-up as the story unfolds
GP profile: China Renaissance
China Renaissance’s technology-focused investment business has grown from nothing to $9.5 billion in seven years. The firm wants to remain a boutique operator rather than embrace all stages and strategies
China's Geely raises $500m for Zeekr EV unit
Zeekr, the electric vehicle (EV) business of Chinese carmaker Geely, has raised $500 million in a pre-Series A round from Intel Capital, Boyu Capital, battery manufacturer CATL, Cathay Fortune Corporation, and online entertainment platform Bilibili.
VCs commit $55m to China CRM player Xiaoke
Xiaoke, a China-based provider of customer relationship management (CRM) software, has raised $55 million in a Series A funding round from Hong Kong-listed Weimob, Sequoia Capital China, Welight Capital, and Creo Capital.
China GPU chip designer Metax raises $155m
Shanghai-based Metax Integrated Circuits has raised RMB1 billion ($155 million) in a Series A funding round led by China Structural Reform Fund and China Internet Investment Fund. Existing investors including Matrix Partners China, CTC Capital, Sequoia...