Articles by Larissa Ku
Deal focus: U Power wins backing for EV turnkey proposition
China’s U Power has developed an integrated chassis as a cost-effective foundation on which electric vehicle makers can build their own creations. Government and independent investors are piling in
Deal focus: KKR brings impact to the classroom
EQuest Education has enlarged its K-12 school footprint in Vietnam through a string of acquisitions. KKR continues to support this consolidation effort via its global impact investment strategy
China National Energy Storage raises $143m
Zhongchu Guoneng Technology (ZGT), also known as China National Energy Storage, has raised CNY 1bn (USD 143m) in Series A funding led by a China Development Bank Capital-managed fund and Xinda Kunpeng Equity Investment Management.
Shenzhen Capital backs Chinese titanium metal producer
Shenzhen Capital Group has participated in a CNY 2.27bn (USD 321m) funding round for Yunnan National Titanium Metal, a subsidiary of Shenzhen-listed chemicals producer LB Group.
VC investors primed for exit with China Youzan reorganisation
Hillhouse Capital and Matrix Partners China are set for liquidity events after China Youzan, an e-commerce software-as-a-service (SaaS) business listed in Hong Kong, agreed to take full control of its key subsidiary for HKD 2.6bn (USD 334.5m).
China generative AI start-up Luchen gets Series A funding
Luchen Technology, a Chinese start-up specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) training, has closed a Series A round amounting to several hundred million renminbi.
Deal focus: Investcorp finds optimal entry point with Jianuo
Investcorp negotiated its debut China control deal in the shadow of COVID-19 but expects to see long-term gains through the target company’s exposure to electric vehicles and renewable energy
Q&A: Gobi Partners' Thomas Tsao
Thomas Tsao, co-founder of Gobi Partners, on Chinese investors targeting Southeast Asia, the fallout from US-China tensions, fundraising and fund strategy, and what excites him about technology
China EV chassis maker U Power gets Series B funding
U Power, a China-based manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs) and smart EV chassis, has raised several hundreds of millions of renminbi in Series B funding led by Hefei Industry Investment.
China's Biomissile secures $28m Series B
Suzhou-based Biomissile has raised CNY 200m (USD 28m) in a Series B funding round led by Kequan Capital. Existing investor Fosun Health Capital re-upped.
Singapore digital health start-up Ora raises $10m
Singapore-based digital health start-up Ora has raised a USD 10m Series A round led by TNB Aura and Antler. Other participants include Gobi Partners, Kairous Capital, and GMA Ventures.
China energy storage player JD Energy raises $100m
Xi’an-based energy storage company JD Energy has raised a CNY 700m (USD 100m) Series B round led by Goldstone Investment, a private investment subsidiary of CITIC Securities.
Qiming hits $930m final close on latest renminbi fund
Qiming Venture Partners has closed its seventh renminbi-denominated fund on CNY 6.5bn (USD 930m), marking what it claims is China's largest local currency fundraise of 2023 to date
China's Drug Farm secures $27m in first tranche of Series C
Drug Farm, a China and US-based developer of treatments for infection and immunological diseases, has raised USD27m in the first tranche of Series C funding led by Shanghai's YD Capital.
China investors see long-term positives in demise of Oppo's chip unit
Investors in China's semiconductor industry expect the closure of local mobile manufacturer Oppo's chip design unit to clear the way for start-ups operating in the space, despite a likely near-term hit to valuations.
Deal focus: Ace Turtle says so long to SaaS
Ace Turtle never wanted to be India’s answer to Amazon, but it has moved from software provider to supply chain coordinator while stepping back from international markets. Investors are not deterred
Bosch backs China's AutoCore.ai
Bosch Ventures and Boyuan Capital - both investment units of Germany-headquartered engineering and technology giant Bosch Group - have joined a Series A extension for Chinese automotive systems software supplier AutoCore.ai.
China's Coherent Biopharma raises $100m
Chinese cancer-focused biotech developer Coherent Biopharma has raised about USD 100m in Series B funding featuring HM Capital.
China's Pudu Tech raises another tranche of Series C funding
Pudu Tech, a China-based manufacturer of service robots, has raised a fourth tranche of Series C funding amounting to several hundred million renminbi (CNY 100m equates to USD 14m) from local investor Yuedu Capital.
Shunwei commits $29m to China expense management platform
Maycur, a China-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider specialising in corporate expense management, has raised CNY 200m（USD 29m in Series C funding from Shunwei Capital.
China autonomous driving player Mogo raises $84m
Mogo Auto, a Chinese autonomous driving solutions provider, has raised CNY 580m (USD 84m) in a Series C extension featuring Tencent Holdings.
Fund focus: Integra focuses on the fintech layer
One of few sector specialists in market populated by Indonesia-focused generalists, Integra Partners has fashioned a differentiated investment narrative. LPs committed $90m to the cause
IDG leads $59m Series A for China's Taichu Biotech
Shanghai Taichu Biotechnology, a China-based outsourced drug developer focused on novel treatments, has raised a serious A of CNY 400m (USD59m) led by IDG Capital.
Matrix leads $73m Series C for China's Semi-Tech
Matrix Partners China has led a CNY 500m (USD 72m) Series C for Semi-Tech, a China-based software provider to the semiconductor industry, at a post-money valuation of CNY6bn.