Early-stage
India SaaS: Global first
India’s enterprise software start-ups have traditionally ceded the spotlight to their consumer-facing peers, primarily because of their outlook – and their VC backers – are US-oriented. That is now changing
China robotics: Automation nation
China is a global leader in robot manufacturing, but only in areas characterized by high volumes and low technology value. Can more start-ups climb from medium-tech to hard-tech?
China vocational education provider gets $390m Series A
Fenbi, a China-based vocational education platform, has raised $390 million in a Series A round led by IDG Capital and Trustbridge Partners. Hony Capital also took part.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Special Achievement: Lip-Bu Tan
Recognized as one of the pioneers of venture capital in Asia, Walden International’s Lip-Bu Tan still gets a kick out of leveraging his years of experience to help nascent start-ups
Temasek impact arm leads Series B for Vietnam dental player
ABC World Asia, the impact investment arm of Temasek Holdings, has led a $24 million Series B found for Kim Dental, a Vietnam-based dental clinic operator. Existing backer Aura Private Equity also participated.
CDH leads $108m Series B for China baby care brand
Babycare, a Chinese baby products brand, has raised RMB700 million ($108 million) in Series B funding led by CDH Investments. Sequoia Capital China and Huaxing Growth Capital also participated.
Orchid, Matrix commit $100m to China gaming platform
Orchid Asia and Matrix Partners China have participated in a $100 million Series B round for Chinese gaming company Quwan Network Technology. Matrix led the Series A last year.
Sailing, GF lead $77m round for Chinese cognitive AI specialist
Dmai, a Chinese cognitive artificial intelligence (AI) platform also known as Anwu Zhineng, has raised RMB500 million ($77 million) in a Series A round led by Sailing Capital and GF Venture Capital.
VI Group, SIG lead $15m round for Vietnam's Elsa
Vietnam-based English language education app operator Elsa has raised a $15 million Series B round co-led by local private equity firm VI Group and SIG.
Deal focus: iStox finds firmer footing
A clutch of Japanese investors has validated iStox’s blockchain-enabled digital securities marketplace. Now the Singapore-based start-up is taking the idea to new markets
Chinese medical robot maker raises $93m
Edge Medical, a China-based manufacturer of surgical robots, has raised a RMB600m ($93m) series B round led by Lyfe Capital and Hong Kong-listed Kangji Medical.
China e-sports business VSPN lifts Series B to $160m
VSPN, a Chinese e-sports broadcaster and events promoter backed by Temasek Holdings, has extended its Series B round to $160 million with a mix of VC and strategic investors.
Singapore's iStox raises $50m Series A
A group of Japanese VC investors has backed a $50 million Series A round for Singapore’s iStox, a digital securities platform that deals in private markets.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Deal of the Year - Small Cap: TaniGroup
Openspace Ventures played a key role in helping Indonesian agriculture technology start-up TaniGroup achieve critical mass as COVID-19 weeded out much of the competition
China mapping start-up gets $40m Series A extension
Chinese mapping start-up Wayz.ai has raised $40 million in an extended Series A round from a range of local investors.
SoftBank Ventures backs Japanese sneaker marketplace
SoftBank Ventures Asia has led a JPY2.2 billion ($21.2 million) Series B round for Japan’s Soda, operator of the online sneaker marketplace Snrk Dunk.
Indonesian stockbroker Ajaib raises $25m Series A
Horizons Ventures, which is controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, and Indonesia’s Alpha JWC Ventures have led a $25 million Series A round for Indonesian investment platform Ajaib.
Sequoia leads $150m Series B for China's Visen Pharma
China’s Visen Pharmaceuticals, a drug developer targeting glandular conditions such as dwarfism and growth deficiency has raised a $150 million Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China.
Carlyle leads $123m Series D for China's Abbisko
The Carlyle Group - investing through its Asia growth fund - has led a $123 million Series D round for Chinese cancer-focused biotech developer Abbisko Therapeutics.
Hillhouse leads $28m round for China's DataCloak
DataCloak, a Shenzhen-based start-up that helps companies install data security systems on devices used by employees, has raised a $28 million Series B round led by Hillhouse Capital.
Sequoia India leads $30m round for Indonesia's Bibit
Sequoia Capital India has led a $30 million investment in Bibit, an Indonesian robo-advisory app for first-time investors.
Singapore's VC-backed GoBear to wind down
GoBear, a Singaporean financial technology start-up that received VC backing as recently as May, will cease operations and begin a phased closure of the business, citing pandemic-related disruption.
China robotics player Flexiv gets $100m Series B
Flexiv, a China and US-based industrial robotics start-up specializing in machines that can adapt to unpredictable environments, has raised a $100 million Series B round featuring Gaorong Capital.
Australia home solar fintech start-up raises $73m
Grok Ventures, an investment firm set up by Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes, has led a A$100 million ($73 million) round for Australian household solar energy financier Brighte.