Early-stage
India's Girnar Software raises $15m from Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital has invested $15 million in a first round of funding for Girnar Software, which owns the automotive marketplace Cardekho.com. The funds will be used to support the marketplace's expansion plans.
US retailer Target to launch India accelerator
Target plans to launch a corporate incubator in Bangalore in January 2014. The Target Accelerator Program will give Indian start-ups specializing in big data, content aggregation, mobility and search up to $30,000 in funding.
Northern Light backs Chinese analytics provider TalkingData
Northern Light Venture Capital has provided $10 million in Series A funding to TalkingData, a Chinese mobile data analytics provider. The company plans to use the new capital to enhance its product offerings in mobile gaming, advertising, e-commerce and...
Bitcoin boom
“It is in some ways easier to buy things in China using bitcoin than it is using traditional fiat currency,” says Dan Ciporin, partner at the VC firm Canaan Partners.
SoftBank China invests in P2P lending site Yooli.com
Chinese peer-to-peer financing platform Yooli.com has received $10 million in Series A funding from Softbank China Capital. The platform launched in February but already has nearly 100,000 registered users and has transacted more than RMB264 million ($43...
China online video: Big fish, small fish
As Chinese online video consumers switch to mobile platforms, venture capital investors are looking for ways to ride the wave – but they must do it with one eye on strategic players also entering the space
Gobi backs China travel site Yododo
Gobi Partners has committed $4 million in Series A financing to Yododo.com, a Chinese hostel booking and travel site.
Vietnam government launches 'Silicon Valley Project'
Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology will build two accelerators under its Silicon Valley Project for technology commercialization - turning research into practical applications.
Malaysian financial comparison start-up gets $2m
Jungle Ventures has led a $2 million round of Series A funding for iMoney, a Malaysia-based financial comparison start-up. Other investors include IMJ Fenox, Fenox Venture Capital, Redbright Partners, 500 Startups and Vogel Ventures, as well as German...
Lead Capital invests $2m in Japan's Talknote
Lead Capital Management has invested JPY200 million ($2 million) in Talknote, the Japanese start-up behind the corporate social networking platform of the same name. This is the second round of funding the company has received, following an undisclosed...
Japan's Astellas Pharma leads US-based Mitokyne $45m Series A round
Astellas Pharma, a Tokyo-listed pharmaceutical firm, has led a $45 million Series A round of investment in US biotech start-up Mitokyne, alongside MPM Capital and Longwood Founders Fund.
Profile: Innovation Works' Chris Evdemon
A cold email to Innovation Works founder Kai-fu Lee landed angel investor Chris Evdemon a full-time role at the Beijing-based incubator. Now he is looking to follow the firm into Silicon Valley
Matrix, Valara invest $150m in New Zealand's Xero
New Zealand-based online accounting software company Xero has raised a NZ$180 million ($150 million) round from existing backers Matrix Capital Management and Valara Ventures. The transaction was priced at $15.10 per share for 9.92 million shares - representing...
Kyoto University launches $60m venture fund
Japan's Kyoto University has launched its second venture fund, a $60 million vehicle which will invest in start-ups in Japan and the rest of Asia.
KKR, CDH go greenfield in China
KKR isn’t known for backing start-ups, but the risks associated with the firm’s recent foray into dairy farm ownership in China are tempered by the presence of familiar partners. For its first control deal in China and its first greenfield deal globally,...
Singapore government to invest $39m in start-up ecosystem
The Singapore government is to pump an extra S$50 million ($39 million) into its early stage co-investment vehicle in a bid enliven the city state's start-up ecosystem.
Japan's KDDI, Cisco lead $10m Series A for Moxtra
Japanese telecom firm KDDI Corp and US tech giant Cisco Systems have led a $10 million Series A round of investment for Silicon Valley-based app developer Moxtra. Other investors include China's Innovation Works and Starwood Capital's Barry Sternlicht....
KKR, CDH invest in $140m China dairy farm joint venture
KKR has completed its first majority investment in China, partnering with CDH Investments and China Modern Dairy in a $140 million greenfield farming joint venture that will deliver premium raw milk to domestic consumers.
Hong Kong start-ups: The Silicon Harbour
Hong Kong is touting itself as Asia's next great tech start-up hub. It must first address expensive real estate, the role of government as facilitator, and strategic positioning vis-à-vis mainland China
Hong Kong investors contemplate "Silicon Harbour"
Hong Kong has the potential to become an innovation center for Asia, say industry participants, but not quite in the mold of Silicon Valley.
Australia's BlueChilli targets $10m for angel fund
Australian venture firm BlueChilli is looking to raise a $10 million angel fund for early-stage tech investments.
Patent funds: Creative returns
Asia is now responsible for just over half of all patent filings worldwide. Will independent patent funds, which have already won a niche following in the US, catch on over here?
INCJ invests $6m in Japan's UniZeo
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested JPY600 million ($6 million) in UniZeo, a Japanese company which is focused on commercializing new methods of producing synthetic zeolite.
JFDI.Asia launches latest accelerator program
Joyful Frog Digital Incubator (JFDI.Asia) - a Singapore-based accelerator - has launched its latest 100-day program with an intake of 10 new start-ups. The teams were chosen through an open competition that attracted 321 applications.