Articles by Larissa Ku
Ant Financial invests $92m in Chinese e-signature provider
TSign – a China-based electronic signature service provider – has received RMB650 million ($92 million) in Series C funding led by Alibaba Group affiliate Ant Financial. Other investors include Gobi Partners and Eminence Ventures.
VCs set for exit as Alibaba buys China cybersecurity start-up
Alibaba Cloud, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, has agreed to acquire Chaitin Technology, a Chinese cybersecurity start-up backed by Matrix Partners and Qiming Venture Partners.
China's Club Factory raises $100m Series D
Club Factory, a China-based e-commerce platform focused on India has raised a $100 million Series D round led by Qiming Venture Partners. Existing investors Bertelsmann Asia Investment and Frees Fund re-upped.
Chinese online property marketplace set for IPO
Fangdd Network, a Chinese online real estate marketplace backed by the likes of FountainVest Partners and CDH Investments, has filed to list in the US.
VC-backed Chinese AI companies hit by US blacklisting
Eight Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups have been blacklisted by the US government. Several have received PE and VC funding, including SenseTime and Megvii Technology.
Chinese apartment rental platform Qingke pursues US IPO
Q&K International Group, operator of China-based long-term apartment rentals platform Qingke, has filed for a US IPO. Its backers include Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) and Crescent Point.
Chinese fresh produce retailer Benlai raises $200m
Chinese online fresh produce retailer Benlai Group has raised $200 million in the first tranche of a Series D round led by Mingde Holding. Existing investors Gaorong Capital and CDH investments re-upped.
Tencent injects $150m into China's VIPKid
VIPKid, China-based English language learning platform, has announced the completion of a Series E funding round led by Tencent Holdings.
Co-Stone leads $28m Series B for Chinese gene sequencer
Gene+ Technology, a Chinese provider of gene sequencing services used to support cancer diagnoses, has raised RMB200 million ($28 million) in a Series B round led by Co-Stone Asset Management.
Industrial intrigue: China's industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 is a handy buzzword for those selling a manufacturing upgrade story in China, but implementation remains a challenge. Smart Fabric’s efforts make it the exception to the rule
Chinese start-up media player 36Kr files for US IPO
36Kr, a Chinese news service that covers start-ups and emerging business models, has filed for a US IPO.
Chinese snacks business receives $14m Series B
A1 Snack Lab – a Chinese snack brand based in Xiamen - has received RMB100 million ($14 million) in Series B funding from new and existing investors.
PE-backed Chinese health products distributor files for US IPO
Ecmoho, a China-based online distributor of health and wellness products from leading brands such as Abbott and Wyeth Nutrition, has filed for US IPO.
Chinese community group buying player receives $14m
Chujia Xinxuan – a community group buying platform under Guangzhou-based Chang Zheng Group - has received RMB100 million ($14 million) from GF Xinde Investment, an investment arm of GF securities.
Chinese enterprise software provider gets $35m Series A
Deepexi, a Chinese digital enterprise services provider, has raised $35 million in a Series A round led by Morningside Venture Capital, Hillhouse Capital and IDG Capital.
China autonomous driving start-up receives $50m pre-A
DeepRoute, a Shenzhen-based autonomous driving solutions provider, has received $50 million in a pre-A funding round led by Fosun RZ Capital.
Green Pine raises $140m for RMB tech fund
Shenzhen Green Pine Capital Partners (GPCP) has raised RMB1 billion ($140 million) for a fund that will target artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and internet of things (IoT) investments in China.
Hony invests $42m in Xinhua News Agency's mobile platform
Hony Capital has agreed to pay RMB300 million ($42 million) for a 20% stake in Xinhua Xuanmen, a mobile platform launched by China's state-owned Xinhua News Agency.
Chinese auto parts supplier raises $28m in Series A extension
Mancando, an automotive parts supplier based in Guangdong province, has raised RMB200 million ($28 million) in an extended Series A round led by Legend Capital, with participation from Eastern Bell Venture Capital, Galaxy Capital, and Oriza FoF.
China healthcare AI: A learning process
Most healthcare-focused artificial intelligence start-ups in China focus on image-based diagnosis assistance, but deep learning-based drug discovery might be the key application
Tencent, Sequoia lead $100m Series C for China's Smart Fabric
Smart Fabric, a start-up that seeks to digitize China’s textile industry, has received a $100 million Series C round jointly led by Tencent Holdings and Sequoia Capital China.
Deal focus: Jingling seeks to stand out from the crowd
China’s Jingling contemplates an expansion of its social e-commerce strategy after securing a $100 million Series C round and de-risking its business model
Tencent joins $300 million round for second-hand trading platform
Tencent Holdings has joined a $300 million Series B round for Zhuanzhuan, a Chinese second-hand goods trading platform controlled by US-listed online classifieds marketplace 58.com.
China ends quotas on QFII, RQFII inbound investment schemes
China’s regulator announced it would abolish its QFII and RQFII investment quotas, giving global investors unrestrained access to the country’s capital markets.