Articles by Larissa Ku
China AI chip designer Vastai raises $50m
Vastai Technologies, a China-based chip designer, has raised $50 million in Series A funding led by video-sharing platform Kuaishou, Redpoint China Ventures, and 5Y Capital.
China education SaaS player raises $225m
Eeo Education, a Chinese software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider to the education sector, has raised a $265 million Series C round led by Hillhouse Capital.
Deal focus: PingCap puts its head in the cloud
Real-time analytical support and limitless scale underpin the rise of Chinese cloud database provider PingCap. Will it be part of a new breed of local enterprise software giants?
BRI reaches first close on Indonesia fund
BRI Ventures, a unit of Bank Rakyat Indonesia has reached the first close of IDR150 billion ($11 million) on its locally incorporated tech venture fund.
Chinese vision therapy start-up Elumninex raises $50m
Chinese eye disease specialist Elumninex Biosciences has raised a $50 million Series A round led by GL Ventures, Lilly Asia Ventures (LAV), and Quan Capital.
China trucking platform Manbang raises $1.7b
Manbang Group, China's so-called "Uber for trucks" that matches shippers with drivers and fleet operators, has raised a $1.7 billion round led by SoftBank Vision Fund, Sequoia Capital China, Permira and Fidelity.
Sequoia leads $46m Series D for Chinese chip maker Yunyinggu
Yunyinggu, a Chinese manufacturer of integrated circuits used in flat screen displays, has raised RMB300 million ($46 million) in Series D funding led by Sequoia Capital China.
CDH hits first close on China data center fund
CDH Investments has reached the first close of RMB1.5 billion ($228 million) on a data center industry fund. Part of the Chinese GP's mezzanine strategy, the vehicle has a full target of RMB2 billion.
Baring Asia leads $198m round for Chinese coding start-up
Codemao, a Chinese online education platform that teaches coding to children, has raised RMB1.3 billion ($198 million) in Series D funding led by Baring Private Equity Asia.
Aggression pays off in times of crisis - AVCJ Forum
Going on the offensive is the best response to COVID-19 - taking advantage of market uncertainty to make new investments and help portfolio companies complete bolt-on acquisitions - the AVCJ Forum heard.
China cloud database specialist PingCap raises $270m
PingCap, a China cloud database service provider, has raised a $270 million Series D round led by GGV Capital, Access Technology Venture, Anatole Investment, Jeneration Capital and 5Y Capital.
VC-backed Chinese online education business files for US IPO
17 Education & Technology Group, a China-based education service provider that claims to pursue an integrated “in-school plus after-school” model, has filed for a US IPO.
Big platform creation in China coming to an end – AVCJ Forum
Opportunities to build Chinese platforms that can outperform segment leaders such as video-sharing apps Kuaishou and Douyin may not exist in the coming years, the AVCJ Forum heard.
Fund focus: Future Capital looks forward
Cloud-based infrastructure, logistics technology, mobility solutions and the internet of things are key themes for Future Capital as it begins to deploy its latest China-focused early-stage technology fund
Chinese noodle shop chain raises $68m Series D
Hefu Noodle, a Chinese noodle restaurant chain, has raised a RMB450 million ($68 million) Series D round co-led by Tencent Holdings and Longfor Capital, an investment unit of Hong Kong-listed property developer Longfor Group.
China agricultural drone maker XAG raises $182m
XAG, a Chinese manufacturer of agricultural drones, has raised a RMB1.2 billion ($182 million) round led by Baidu Capital and SoftBank Vision Fund II.
China open source software player raises $43m Series B
Zilliz, a Chinese open-source software developer specializing in unstructured data processing and analysis, has raised a $43 million Series B round led by Hillhouse Capital affiliate GL Ventures.
China cloud communication start-up secures $60m Series D
XYLink, a Chinese cloud communication service platform, has raised a RMB400 million ($60 million) Series D round led by Qi An Xin, a cybersecurity spinout from Qihoo 360.
Asia consumer & brands: Mark tank
Local consumer brands in developing Asian markets are beginning to displace established global players. Investors are supporting the uprising and contemplating global breakouts of their own
Asia consumer & technology: Multifarious merchants
Technology is changing the way consumers interact with retailers both concrete and virtual. Ramping up the sociability factor has become a priority amid increasingly pervasive mechanization
GIC leads $200m round for Chinese teaching materials supplier
GIC Private has led a $200 million investment - the third tranche of Series D round - for Aixuexi Education Group, a China-based developer of teaching materials for schools. Warburg Pincus also participated.
China's Yingke raises $1.5b technology, healthcare fund
Shanghai-based Yingke Private Equity has raised RMB10 billion ($1.5 billion) for a fund that will focus on core technology and biomedical science assets in China.
Asia consumer: Sale of the century
The traditionally slow-changing retail sector received an unexpected incentive to smarten up quickly this year. When the dust settles, shopping will never be the same again
Hong Kong insurtech start-up Coherent raises $14m
Coherent, a Hong Kong-based insurance technology company, has raised a $14 million Series A round led by Cathay Innovation, with participation from Franklin Templeton.