Early-stage
Deal focus: Proterra’s alternative take on incubation
Early-stage bets on oat milk and healthy beverages in Asia by Proterra Investment Partners reflect a willingness to back nascent brands, but in doing so, the firm believes it is dialling down the risk
Deal focus: Indonesia’s fintech plumber
Brick is developing backend digital infrastructure so that financial technology start-ups in Southeast Asia can provide seamless services. Priorities include deepening functionality and geographic expansion
AVCJ Awards 2021: Deal of the Year – Small Cap: Ajaib
Having spent more than a year perfecting its product, Ajaib turned Indonesia’s brokerage industry on its head in six months. Emphasis on product and customer engagement have paid dividends
SoftBank leads Series A for China cashier-less vendor
SoftBank Ventures Asia (SBVA) has led a CNY 300m (USD 47m) Series A for Feng1, a China-based cashier-less vendor start-up. CICC Capital and Shenzhen Capital Group also participated.
Philippines digital bank Tonik raises $131m
Mizuho Bank has led a USD 131m Series B round for Philippines digital bank Tonik with support from Sequoia Capital India and Prosus Ventures.
Korea autonomous driving tech supplier raises $20m
Morai, a Korean autonomous vehicle simulation technology supplier, has raised USD 20m in Series B funding from investors including Korea Investment Partners and Hyundai Motor Group.
India virtual events platform gets $35m Series B
Airmeet, a US-headquartered and Asia-focused virtual events platform with extensive operations in India, has raised USD 35m in Series B funding featuring Sequoia Capital India.
Proterra establishes Asian oat milk brand
Proterra Investment Partners, a private equity firm that targets natural resources like food and agriculture, has launched an oat milk brand for the Asian market.
China's Taichi Graphics raises $50m
Taichi Graphics, a China-based 3D digital content creation platform has raised a USD 50m Series A led by Source Code Capital, GGV Capital and BAI. Existing investor Sequoia Capital China re-upped.
VCs invest in Japan sports analytics start-up
Global Brain has joined a JPY 770m (USD 7m) pre-Series B round for Japan’s Run.Edge, a sports video search and analytics platform.
India edtech player Scaler raises $55m
Lightrock India has led a USD 55m Series B round for Scaler Academy, an Indian education technology start-up that operates an upskilling platform focused on IT professionals.
Indonesia fishery app Aruna extends Series A to $65m
Indonesian fishing industry app Aruna has raised USD 30m led by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India. It is described as an extension of a Series A round launched in mid-2020.
Square Peg leads $40m round for Singapore edtech player
Australia-based Square Peg Capital has led a USD 40m Series B round for Singapore-based education technology provider Cialfo.
WestBridge leads $29m Series B for India's Vyapar
WestBridge Capital has led an approximately USD 29m Series B round for Indian small business financial technology provider Vyapar. The company is now valued at around USD 118m.
Deal focus: Starfield serves up Series B
The Chinese manufacturer of plant-based protein replacements has secured USD 100m in funding to advance a product portfolio that aspires to diversity and structural sophistication
China GPs emphasize consumer sector opportunities
Policy volatility in China has prompted many investors to eschew consumer-facing business models in favour of B2B plays like deep-tech, but sector specialists still see opportunity, the Hong Kong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association’s (HKVCA)...
Indonesia's Pluang doubles Series B to $110m
Indonesian micro-savings and micro-investment app Pluang has raised USD 55m in Series B funding led by Accel. It follows a USD 55m Series B investment led by Square Peg Capital last year.
India early wage access start-up secures $82m
Tiger Global Management has led a USD 82m Series B round for Refyne, an India-based early wage access (EWA) platform. Existing backers QED Investors, RTP Global, Jigsaw VC, Digital Horizon VC, and XYZ Capital also took part, as did partners from DST Global.
India waste management software provider secures $22m
Recykal, a software provider for the waste management and recycling industries, has raised USD 22m in funding led by Morgan Stanley India Infrastructure.
Tiger Global leads Series B for India's Avataar
Tiger Global Management has led a USD 45m Series B round for India’s Avataar, a company that uses 3D augmented reality (AR) displays to help e-commerce customers browse large items online.
New Zealand's AskNicely raises $32m Series B
Five Elms Capital, a specialist growth investor in software start-ups globally, has led a USD 32m Series B round for New Zealand and US-based customer feedback platform AskNicely.
Sun Hung Kai leads Series B for Singapore digital asset bank
Sygnum, a Singapore and Switzerland-based digital asset bank, has raised a Series B of USD 90m - at a post-money valuation of USD 800m - led by Hong Kong-based investor Sun Hung Kai & Co.
Singapore's Virtue Diagnostics closes $100m Series B
Singapore-based Virtue Diagnostics, a clinical testing equipment supplier for China and developing markets, has raised a USD 100m Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China and Morningside Ventures.
Square Peg backs Vietnam digital bank Timo
Australia-based Square Peg Capital has led a USD 20m investment in digital banking start-up Timo, which claims to be the first Vietnamese player in this space.