Articles by Larissa Ku
China: Who's investing?
Private equity investment in China remains in the doldrums yet local investors claim to see green shoots. Where, when, and how they engage with the market is likely to differ from previous cycles
China insurance tech player raises $43m
Shanghai Kingstar Winning Software, a digital risk control solution provider for insurers, has raised a Series C round of CNY300m (USD 43m) led by China Taiping Insurance Group.
China's DCL raises $578m for renminbi fund
DCL Investments, one of the first local private equity firms to focus on distressed assets in China, has raised CNY 4bn (USD 578m) for its latest renminbi-denominated fund.
VCs positive on SE Asia's fundamentals, strategic positioning - AVCJ Forum
Venture capital investors remain bullish about Southeast Asia's prospects despite a sharp decline in activity this year, noting that the region is strategically well placed amid the US-China tensions.
Eight Roads leads $38m round for China biotech player Adcentrx
China and US-based biotech company Adcentrx has raised USD38m in an extended Series A round led by Eight Roads Ventures, with participation from F-Prime Capital, ABio-X, Delta Capital, and Trinity Innovation Fund.
Deal focus: CBC gets counterintuitive in China
CBC Group has helped multiple start-ups move from in-licensing to drug development to commercialisation. With China’s Hasten, it is navigating this tried-and-tested journey in reverse
Deal focus: Chamlion leaves its mark on 3D printing
The dental industry was one of few areas in which China’s army of 3D printing start-ups found sufficient addressable demand. Chamlion has risen to the top of the pile by virtue of a timely services pivot
China intelligent chassis supplier raises $58m
Global Technology, a China-based provider of intelligent chassis, has raised a Series C round of CNY 400m (USD 58m) from CICC Capital, Shenzhen Investment Holdings Capital, Qingyan Capital, and Huosen H&S.
GL Capital leads $290m investment in China's Sangon Biotech
Chinese healthcare-focused private equity firm GL Capital has led a CNY2bn (USD 290m) investment in local life sciences company Sangon Biotech.
CBC, Mubadala lead $315m round for China's Hasten Biopharma
Specialist healthcare investor CBC Group and Mubadala Investment have led a USD 315m round for China-based Hasten Biopharmaceutic, with participation from other undisclosed institutional investors.
China energy storage battery maker Rongke raises $145m
Legend Capital has led a CNY 1bn (USD 145m) Series B funding round for China-based energy storage battery developer Rongke Power.
China dental 3D printing company raises $34m
Chinese dental 3D printing company Chamlion Technology has raised CNY 236m (USD 34m) in Series B funding from Vertex Ventures, 3H Health Investment, and Zhencheng Investment.
Consumer specialist Tiantu closes $218m renminbi fund
Tiantu Capital, a China-based consumer-focused venture capital firm, has raised CNY1.5bn (USD 218m) for its latest renminbi-denominated fund.
Deal focus: Bibo puts the smart into chassis
Tsinghua University spinout Bibo has stolen a march on its local rivals in developing a specific electric vehicle component that has a large addressable market and serves as an import substitution play
Q&A: Vitalbridge Capital's Jinjian Zhang
Jinjian Zhang, founder of Chinese VC firm Vitalbridge Capital, on addressing domestic turbulence, getting investors to reengage on China, and where he sees opportunities in Southeast Asia
Warburg Pincus set to buy minority stake in Chinese fund house
Warburg Pincus has received regulatory approval to acquire a 23.3% stake in Zhong Ou Asset Management (Zhong Ou AMC), a Chinese mutual fund manager, from Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo Bank.
Nio Capital, Xiaomo back China 4D radar start-up Sinpro
Sinpro, a China-based developer of hardware sensor products, has raised a Series A amounting to several hundred million renminbi led by Nio Capital and Xiaomi.
China's Alebund Pharma gets $145m in debt, equity funding
Alebund Pharmaceuticals has raised close to CNY 200m (USD 29m) in a pre-Series C funding round. Investors include state-owned Yangzhou Guojin Investment and Yangzhou Longchuan Holdings.
China automotive parts supplier Bibo raises $29m
Nio Capital and Hangzhou-based Orient Jiafu Asset Management have led a CNY 200m (USD 29m) Series A round for Bibo, a China-based automotive parts supplier.
Lightspeed China hits first close on renminbi fund
Lightspeed China Partners has returned to the renminbi funds space for the first time in seven years, reaching a first close of CNY 800m (USD 116m) on its latest local currency vehicle.
China chip packaging player SJ Semiconductor raises $340m
Legend Capital, CITIC Securities-controlled Goldstone Investment, and Ince Capital have participated in an extended Series C round of USD 340m for SJ Semiconductor, a China-based chip packaging business.
China decision-making software provider raises $73m
Chinese enterprise software company Cardinal Operations has raised CNY 500m (USD 73m) in two tranches of Series C funding, each led by a state-backed VC fund.
Deal focus: Qiming bets on resilience in China's coffee space
Qiming Venture Partners has doubled down on Chinese coffee brand Tasogare, identifying a consumer category endowed with rare advantages and poised to benefit from a broader domestic retail rebound
Shunwei leads $10m round for China RPA player
Naturobot, a China-based robotic process automation (RPA) start-up, has raised a new round amounting to about USD 10m led by Shunwei Capital.