Early-stage
Philippines digital bank Tonik raises $17m
Tonik, which claims to be the first digital bank in the Philippines, has raised $17 million in pre-Series B funding led by Singapore’s iGlobe Partners.
Hong Kong crypto start-up gets $40m Series A
Sequoia Capital China, Tiger Global Management, and Boyu Capital have joined a $40 million Series A round for Hong Kong cryptocurrency services provider Babel Finance.
Deal focus: The e-commerce agglomeration effect
Inspired by Thrasio buying up e-commerce brands in the US and using its resources to drive growth, Una Brands wants to do the same in Asia. The start-up has secured $40 million to kick-start this effort
Deal focus: Bibit lays claim to be Indonesia’s Robinhood
A couple of quickfire funding rounds for Bibit reflects global investor appetite for robo-advisory businesses and the Indonesian company’s rare double-headed product offering
Nordstar, Insignia back Asia Amazon marketplace consolidator
Southeast Asia has seen its second e-commerce aggregator investment in a matter of days, with Rainforest securing $36 million in seed funding from Nordstar and Insignia Venture Partners.
Asia brand aggregator raises $40m
Una Brands, an aggregator of e-commerce brands with a presence across Asia, has launched with A$50 million ($40 million) in seed funding from 500 Startups, Kingsway Capital, 468 Capital, Presight Capital, and Global Founders Capital.
China's MSA Capital backs Saudi B2B start-up
China’s MSA Capital has joined a $30.5 million round for Saudi Arabian B2B services marketplace Sary as part of a deepening Asia-Middle East agenda.
5Y, Sequoia back China app-building platform
Huoban.com, a Chinese zero-code application building platform has raised $17 million in Series B funding led by 5Y Capital and Sequoia Capital China. Challenjers Capital also took part in the round.
India's Teachmint raises $16.5m Series A
Indian education technology provider Teachmint has raised a $16.5 million Series A round led by US-based specialist investor Learn Capital.
Female-focused Indonesia lending platform raises $28m
Amartha, a financial services provider for women-led micro and small to medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia, has raised $28 million in VC funding.
Asia technology: Anatomy of a rebound
Tech investment has been on a tear in Asia, with private equity joining venture capital at the party. While COVID-19 has contributed to these dynamics, the revival is rooted in deeper structural change
Chinese contact lens brand raises $65m
Dearer Medical, a Shanghai-based cosmetic contact lens manufacturer, has raised RMB420 million ($65 million) in Series B funding from CPE, Legend Capital, and Insight Capital.
Sequoia India leads $65m round for Indonesia's Bibit
Sequoia Capital India has led a $65 million round for Indonesia robo-advisory app Bibit four months after leading a separate $30 million investment.
Indonesia social commerce start-up raises $28m
SoftBank Ventures Asia has led a $28 million Series B round for Aplikasi Super, which claims to be Indonesia’s first and leading social commerce platform.
China AI chip designer Vastai raises $77m
Vastai Technologies, a China-based artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer, has raised RMB500 million ($77 million) in an extended Series A round led by Matrix Partners China and China Internet Investment Fund.
China agricultural drone company raises $30m
Chinese agricultural drone maker EAVision has raised $30 million in Series C funding led by Temasek Holdings, CITIC Agricultural Industry Fund, and Bits x Bites.
Deal focus: Cattle herding enters the app age
New Zealand’s Halter is bringing innovation to an industry that hasn’t seen many new tools since the invention of barbed wire. Blackbird Ventures is offering its support
Hong Kong e-commerce tracking start-up secures $66m
AfterShip, a Hong Kong-based e-commerce tracking service provider, has raised a $66 million Series B led by Tiger Global Management. GL Ventures also took part.
New Zealand dairy farm management start-up raises $23m
Blackbird Ventures has led a NZ$32 million ($23.4 million) Series B round for Halter, a New Zealand-based start-up that has developed smart cow collars and an accompanying app to aid dairy farm management.
Tiger Global invests $25m in India crypto app
Tiger Global Management has invested $25 million in CoinSwitch Kuber, a cryptocurrency exchange for the Indian retail market that facilitates investments as small as INR100 ($1.33).
Loyal Valley leads Series B extension for China's Edigene
Loyal Valley Capital has led a RMB400 million ($62 million) Series B extension for EdiGene, a China-based biotech company that uses genome editing technologies to accelerate drug discovery.
Mobility: Gravitational shift
The automotive industry’s VC overtures might be in retrograde, but traditional carmakers are finding new ways to make a mark in mobility innovation. This creates new dynamics for financial investors
Indonesia's Shipper gets $63m Series B
Indonesian logistics start-up Shipper has raised a $63 million Series B round led by DST Global and Sequoia Capital India.
Qiming leads $30m Series B for China crypto start-up
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $30 million Series B round for China-based imToken, which claims to be Asia’s largest crypto wallet.