Articles by Larissa Ku
Regulator blocks China live-streaming platform merger
China’s antitrust watchdog has blocked a merger of Huya and Douyu - the country's two largest video game live-streaming platforms - initiated by Tencent Holdings.
IDG leads $77m round for China health-tech player Synyi
Synyi.AI - a Chinese provider of artificial intelligence-enabled medical services - has raised RMB500 million ($77 million) in Series E funding led by IDG Capital.
China community group buying platform Tongcheng Life goes bust
Tongcheng Life, a China-based community group buying business incubated by online travel agency Tongcheng-Elong, has announced its bankruptcy, blaming "poor management."
China beauty: Traffic jam
The impact of China’s internet-oriented emerging consumer brands is arguably more pronounced in beauty than anywhere else. Gaining a foothold is one challenge, keeping it is another
China's ZWC Partners raises $770m
Chinese venture capital firm ZWC Partners has closed its second US dollar-denominated fund at around $770 million, beating a target of $450 million.
China: A controversial ESOP
An employee stock ownership plan introduced alongside Hillhouse Capital’s 2019 investment in Gree Electric Appliances has raised questions about enrichment and alignment
China industrial robotics start-up raises $61m
Youshan Capital and China Merchants Capital have led a RMB395 million ($61 million) Series B round for Han's Robot, a China-based manufacturer of industrial robots.
Investcorp leads Series D for China healthcare SaaS player
Linkedcare, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) and supply chain provider to China's healthcare sector, has closed a Series D funding round. Including an earlier Series C extension, the company claims to have raised $100 million in the past six months.
China online education player Huohua Siwei files for US IPO
Huohua Siwei, a China-based children's online education platform specializing in mathematics and science otherwise known as Spark Education, has filed to list in the US.
China VCs bullish on SaaS - AVCJ webinar
Software-as-a-service (Saas) has emerged as the biggest investment opportunity in China's technology sector, venture capitalists told AVCJ's China outlook webinar.
Warburg Pincus leads Series C for China AI drug developer
Insilico Medicine, which leverages artificial intelligence (AI) technology to speed up the drug development process, has closed a $255 million Series C funding round led by Warburg Pincus.
Chinese drug developer Abbisko files for HK IPO
PE-backed Abbisko Therapeutics, which focuses on the discovery and development of innovative and differentiated small molecule oncology therapies, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
Deal focus: Content to the masses
Xiaoe Tong gained traction during the pandemic in China as channel for educational content providers, big and small, to reach their customers. It is also a SaaS player that stands firm on product standardization
Fidelity backs $131m Series A for China citytech platform Venturous
Venturous Group, a Chinese smart city platform, has received $131 million in Series A funding from Fidelity, several family offices, and Benson Tan, founder of Venturous.
China's Nutshell Therapeutics raises $20m
Nutshell Therapeutics, a Chinese drug developer, has raised a $20 million Series A round led by Matrix Partners China.
China secondhand goods platform Zhuanzhuan raises $100m
Zhuanzhuan, a used goods trading platform and subsidiary of 58.com, China’s largest online classifieds marketplace, has raised a $100 million round led by electronics giant Xiaomi.
IDG leads $120m round for China SaaS player Xiaoe Tong
Xiaoe Tong, a Chinese software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider that integrates its products with WeChat, has raised $120 million in Series D funding led by IDG Capital.
Chinese pharmaceutical platform Yaoshibang raises $270m
Chinese B2B pharmaceutical trading platform Yaoshibang has raised $270 million from Guangdong Pearl River Investment, Baidu, Sunshine Insurance, Green Pine Capital Partners, Guangzhou government-backed S Fund, and an undisclosed sovereign wealth fund....
Q&A: Yunqi Partners' Yipin Ng
Pre-pandemic, it was unclear whether China’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry could achieve monetization. Much has changed since then, says Yipin Ng, co-founder and managing partner of Yunqi Partners
Deal focus: Chubby Bear thinks beyond marketplaces
B2B trading platform Chubby Bear not only wants to drive consolidation in China’s renovation materials space, but also provide exclusive products and supply chain services to contractors
Vision Fund backs Sinovation's AI consulting business
AInnovation, an artificial intelligence (AI) consulting business established by Sinovation Ventures, has completed Series D funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund II. The size of the deal was not disclosed.
H Capital leads $300m round for China car trading platform
Chehaoduo, operator of China auto trading platforms Guazi and Maodou, which specialize in used and new cars, respectively, has raised $300 million in funding led by H Capital at a valuation of more than $10 billion.
China gene sequencing company raises $63m
QitanTech, a gene sequencing start-up also known as Qitan Technology, has raised a RMB400 million ($63 million) Series B round led by Hillhouse Capital and a VC arm of CDH Investments.
China LiDAR specialist Hesai closes $300m Series D
Hesai Technology, a China-based developer of sensors used in autonomous driving, has raised a $300 million Series D round led by GL Ventures.