Articles by Larissa Ku
China EV battery maker raises $1.5b
Svolt Energy Technology, formerly the battery manufacturing unit of Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor, has raised RMB10.28 billion ($1.5 billion) in a Series B funding round led by Bank of China Investment.
China cancer treatment specialist Ionova raises $100m
Tsing Song Capital, a Chinese healthcare-focused private equity firm, has led a $100 million round for Ionova Life Science, a local biotech player specializing in cancer treatments.
SoftBank leads $154m Series D for China's Ekuaibao
Ekuaibao, a Chinese software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider specializing in corporate reimbursements, has raised RMB1 billion ($155 million) in Series D funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2.
China comic platform Kuaikan raises $240m
Kuaikan, China’s largest publishing platform for comics, has raised $240 million from CCB International, Korean mobile app marketplace One Store, Tencent Holdings, Coatue Management, and Tiantu Capital.
China's Dayone Capital closes debut fund at $630m
Dayone Capital, a Chinese consumer-focused PE firm established by Allen Chen, founder of eyewear brand Mujosh and co-founder of BA Capital, has closed its debut fund at $630 million.
China's Deepexi raises $100m Series B
Deepexi, a Chinese start-up that provides digital transformation solutions to enterprise customers, has raised $100 million in a Series B funding round led by Guotai Junan Securities and an investment arm of China Industrial International Trust Asset...
China gas station platform Newlink raises $308m
Newlink Group, operator of a platform that helps drivers in China locate the best value gas stations and charging piles, has raised RMB2 billion ($308 million) led by China Merchants Capital.
China vaccine developer Abogen raises $700m
Suzhou Abogen Biosciences, a Chinese vaccine developer targeting COVID-19, has raised $700 million in Series C funding featuring Temasek Holdings, Loyal Valley Capital, and Lilly Asia Ventures.
China's PatPat gets $160m in Series D extension
PatPat, a Chinese-founded children’s wear brand, has raised $160 million from Softbank Vision Fund in a Series D round extension.
Start-up profiles: Infrastructure, insurance, data, payments
Singapore’s Fireblocks tokenizes traditional banks; India’s PolicyBazaar mulls the future of insurance; China’s Rong360 diversifies through data; Cambodia’s Clik targets a payments frontier
Start-up profiles: Digital banking, embedded finance, crypto banking
The Philippines’ Tonik breaks ground in neo-banking; India’s YAP finds new ways to connect banks with their customers; Singapore’s Matrixport scales fast with decentralized finance
Start-up profiles: Transfers, risk, marketplaces
Singapore’s Thunes rethinks remittances for an enterprise clientele; China’s IceKredit brings data privacy to credit scoring; India’s OfBusiness gravitates towards a healthy loans segment
Blockchain: Going mainstream
The most disruptive technology in financial services is also the most esoteric and misunderstood. As a long, speculative uptake phase unfolds, investors are coming to terms with the future
Inspiration Capital hits first close on debut China fund
Inspiration Capital Partners, a China-focused private equity firm established by investment professionals from Vivo Capital and Goldman Sachs, has reached a first close of approximately $65 million on its debut US dollar-denominated fund.
Chinese AI diagnosis player Shukun raises $108m
Shukun, a Chinese developer of artificial intelligence (AI) technology used in medical imaging diagnosis, has raised RMB700 million ($108 million) from Goldman Sachs, Primavera Capital Group, Sequoia Capital China, Marathon Venture Partners, and Sage...
Sofina, CDH wealth platform lead round for China's Petkit
Petkit, a Chinese manufacturer of smart devices for pets such as water and food dispensers, has raised $50 million in a Series D round of funding led by Sofina and CDH Investments' wealth management platform.
Guotai leads $66m Series B extension for China's Innovusion
Innovusion, a Chinese developer of LiDAR technology used in autonomous driving, has raised $66 million in an extended Series B round led by the private equity investment arm of Guotai Junan International.
Boyu, Janchor back China medical finance start-up
MediTrust Health, China-based healthcare payments and insurance platform, has raised RMB2 billion ($309 million) in Series C funding led by Boyu Capital and Janchor Partners.
China's Miaoshou Doctor raises $231m Series F
Beijing Yuanxin Technology, operator of China-based online healthcare services platform Miaoshou Doctor, has raised RMB1.5 billion ($231 million) in Series F funding featuring Sequoia Capital China.
China education: Opportunity erased?
Private equity investors have pumped billions of dollars into Chinese online education platforms, notably in the K-12 space. A regulatory crackdown has left them wondering how they can get their money back
CPE leads $150m Series B for China CDMO
Joinn Biologics, a China-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has raised $150 million in Series B funding led by CPE.
Primavera pursues China online education take-private
Primavera Capital Group has submitted a $33.3 million take-private bid for Liulishuo, a China-based operator of an English language learning app. The company's stock has struggled following a recent crackdown on online education platforms in China.
China AI drug developer BioMap raises $100m
GGV Capital has led a $100 million Series A round for BioMap, a China-based biological computing platform. It marks the first time the company has sought external funding.
China autonomous driving start-up Inceptio raises $270m
Inceptio, a Chinese autonomous driving technology provider focusing on line-haul trucking, has raised a $270 million Series B round led by JD Logistics, Meituan, and PAG.