Early-stage
Matrix and Greylock boost Chinese app developer with $15m
Matrix Partners China and Greylock Partners have subscribed to a $15 million Series B round of funding for the company behind Chinese mobile application Flights Manager.
Greylock, Battery-backed Taggle closes down
Taggle, the Indian online retailer backed by Greylock Partners and Battery Ventures, closed its doors last week, reportedly squeezed out of the market due to competition.
IIF program to invest $102m in Australian venture
The Australian government has announced plans to provide venture capital funds with up to A$100 million ($102 million) of capital via its Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) program.
NZVIF to invest $6m in start-ups
The New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF) is making plans to invest up to NZ$8 million ($6 million) in New Zealand-based start-up firms.
VC Professional of the Year – Sandeep Singhal
Sandeep Singhal, co-founder of Nexus Venture Partners, discusses job satisfaction, the secrets of his venture firm’s success and the outlook for India’s early-stage sector.
Inventus and Nexus lead $3.5m Series A round for Salorix
Inventus Capital Partners and Nexus Venture Partners have led a $3.5 million Series A round of funding for social media marketing and analytics firm Salorix.
Equity International, GTI invest $75m in Indian hotel developer
US investment firms GTI Capital Group and Equity International (EI) have injected $75 million into Indian hotel developer SAMHI.
KPCB leads Series B round for China's Moment Systems
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) has led a $20 million Series B round of financing for Chinese third-party digital marketing measurement company Moment Systems. China Broadband Capital, Redpoint Ventures and WPP Digital also participated.
CDC invests $50 million in Pragati India Fund
CDC Group, the UK development finance institution, has committed $50 million to Narayanan Shadagopan's Pragati India Fund.
Corporate Japan looks for growth overseas
Japanese companies need to take on the world. Local private equity professionals at the 2011 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum Japan conference in Tokyo, which I am chairing, see globalization as the major current theme for corporate Japan. Indeed,...
NVP India broadens focus to include into seed, late-stage deals
Norwest Venture Partners (NVP) India is expanding its investment strategy to include seed and late-stage transactions, having previously focused on venture and growth deals. The firm is also broadening its sector coverage to include healthcare, education...
Chinese luxury goods website raises seed round of financing
Parkview Ventures and Mousse Partners have participated in the seed round of financing for Chinese e-commerce company Hui She Shang, also known as The Luxury Club. The company offers Chinese consumers authentic and brand-authorized luxury goods – including...
CNEI commits $8m to Chinese grooming products firm
China New Enterprise Investment (CNEI) has committed $8 million to Men’s Life, which designs and distributes a range of skin care and post-shaving products to male consumers in China.
Group-buying sites remain a VC risk
Group-buying websites in China is the trend that keeps on growing. In the last 18 months, an estimated 3,600 participants entered the market. Industry sources say 10% of those have received capital from outside sources – much of it from domestic and overseas...
SAIF Partners India backs Manpasand Beverages
SAIF Partners India has invested $10 million in Manpasand Beverages, a juice maker and distributor based in Vadodara. The deal is the latest in a string of private equity transactions in India’s food and agriculture space, The Economic Times reported....
Innovation Works closes China internet fund at $180m
Innovation Works, the tech incubator started by Google’s former China head Kai-fu Lee, has closed its debut fund at $180 million. The vehicle, which specifically targets Chinese internet companies, was oversubscribed, the company said.
Tenaya Capital leads SMS GupShup's $10m Series E round
San Francisco-based venture capital firm Tenaya Capital has led the $10 million Series E round of financing for SMS GupShup, an Indian social networking company. The company plans to use the funds to add new senior management who can help it expand and...
VC-backed Chinese children's clothing retailer signs Disney deal
Greenbox, a venture capital-backed Chinese online retailer specializing in children’s clothes, has agreed to integrate Disney brands into its product lines. The Chinese company will design clothing lines inspired by Disney franchises including Mickey...
Australian VC firms back Spinifex Pharmaceuticals
GBS Venture Partners, Brandon Capital Partners, Uniseed Management and UniQuest have participated in the Series B round of financing for Spinifex Pharmaceuticals. The Australian drug development company raised a total of $19 million, $6.5 million more...
Singapore's Asian Agri Capital to raise $100m for palm oil investment
Asian Agri Capital, a Singapore-based early-stage plantation investor, is looking to raise $100 million to invest in palm oil and other tropical commodities in Southeast Asia and Latin America, Bloomberg reported.
PE invests $100m in India's food industry in H1
Private equity has invested more than $100 million in India’s food service industry in the first half of 2011, the Franchise India and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced.
SingTel Innov8 participates in Sentilla's $15m Series C round
SingTel Innov8 Ventures, the venture arm of the SingTel Group, has participated in a $15 million Series C round of financing launched by California-based Sentilla Corporation, a leading provider of IT infrastructure software. Other participants include...
Nirvana Venture Advisors backs YourNextLeap.com
Nirvana Venture Advisors has contributed an undisclosed amount to the Series A round of financing for YourNextLeap.com, an Indian internet start-up that acts as a career counselor for students. The company, which was only founded 10 months ago, will use...
Warburg Pincus, KPCB inject $100m in Chinese fashion retail site
Warburg Pincus and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) will jointly invest $100 million in Xiu.com, a Chinese e-commerce fashion site, Bloomberg reported, citing an emailed statement sent by the company.