Articles by Larissa Ku
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.
China distressed asset manager DCL raises $455m
DCL Investments, one of China’s first private equity firms to focus on distressed assets, has raised RMB3 billion ($455 million) for its latest renminbi-denominated vehicle.
China autonomous truck player Inceptio secures $120m
Inceptio, a Chinese autonomous driving technology provider focusing on line-haul trucking has raised $120 million in funding led by domestic vehicle battery manufacturer CATL.
Cell analysis player Cytek raises $120m Series D
RA Capital and Hillhouse Capital have led a $120 million Series D round for Cytek Biosciences, a California-based cell analysis start-up founded by a former professor at Shanghai's Fudan University.
China math tuition platform VIPThink secures $180m
VIPThink, a Guangzhou-based online mathematics teaching platform for kids, which is also known as Wandou Siwei, has received $180 million in Series C funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund.
Chinese antique e-commerce start-up raises $80m Series C
Wanwu Dezhi, a Chinese e-commerce platform specializing in antiques, has closed a $80 million Series C round co-led by Huaxing Growth Capital and Source Code Capital.
Vision Plus, CYTS lead round for China hotel marketing player
Zhiketong – a WeChat-based direct sales and marketing service for high-end hotels – has raised $50 million in its Series D round led by Vision Plus Capital and CYTS Hongqi Fund.
China's CARsgen raises $186m Series C
Chinese biotech player CARsgen Therapeutics has raised $186 million in Series C funding led by Loyal Valley Capital.
China cosmetics brand Perfect Diary files for US IPO
Yatsen Holding, the parent company of Chinese cosmetics brand Perfect Diary has filed for a US IPO, potentially delivering a liquidity event for the likes of Hillhouse Capital, ZhenFund and Gaorong Capital.
Chinese O2O retail platform Dmall gets $418m Series C
Dmall, a Chinese digital solutions provider for traditional retailers, has raised a Series C of RMB2.8 billion ($419 million) led by Industrial Bank and China Structural Reform Fund at a valuation of $2 billion.
China biotech player Genecast raises $149m Series E
Genecast Biotechnology, a Chinese gene sequencing and precision diagnostics company, has closed a RMB1 billion ($149 million) Series E funding round led by China Structural Reform Fund.
Chinese self-heating hotpot start-up gets $50m Series C
Zihaiguo, a Chinese start-up best-known for its line of self-heating hotpot products, has raised a $50 million Series C round led by CICC Capital at a valuation of $500 million.
Shunwei leads $22m round for Chinese fruit tea brand
Chinese fruit tea brand Sweet7 has raised RMB150 million ($22 million) in funding led by Shunwei Capital, with participation from Insight Fund, a vehicle launched by financial advisor MM Capital.
China apartment rental start-ups: In arrears
There were doubts about the viability of long-term property rental platforms in China before COVID-19. Post-pandemic regulation is creating further problems
YF Capital leads $315m Series E for China MRO player
Zhenkunhang, a China-based distribution platform for industrial products, has raised $315 million Series E funding led by YF Capital - previously Yunfeng Capital - a private equity firm co-founded by Alibaba’s Jack Ma.
Legend Star raises $119m for fourth renminbi fund
Legend Star, the early-stage investment arm of China’s Legend Holdings, has raised RMB800 million ($119 million) for its fourth renminbi-denominated fund.
China e-sports business VSPN raises $100m
VSPN, a China-based start-up that claims to be the world’s largest e-sports provider, has raised nearly $100 million in Series B funding led by Tencent Holdings.
Morningside Venture Capital rebrands as 5Y Capital
Morningside Venture Capital has formally separated from Morningside Group, which is controlled by the Chan family, founders of Hong Kong property developer Hang Lung Group, and rebranded as 5Y Capital.
China's Yuanfudao hits record valuation with $2.2b round
Yuanfudao, a Chinese education start-up that targets the K-12 segment, has raised $2.2 billion in Series G funding at a valuation of $15.5 billion, nearly double the valuation of its previous round, which closed in April.