Early-stage
Gaja leads $32m Series B for India SaaS start-up
Gaja Capital has led a $32 million Series B round for India-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider LeadSquared.
ClearVue backs China-focused pet lifestyle brand
ClearVue Partners has led a $20 million Series B round for Vetreska, a US-headquartered and China-focused pet lifestyle brand.
SoftBank joins $60m Series B for Korean payments player
SoftBank Ventures Asia has joined a $60 million Series B round for Korean payments technology start-up Chai.
LAV, Arch lead $100m round for China's SciNeuro
SciNeuro Pharmaceuticals, a China and US-based drug developer specializing in treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, has announced its formal launch with a $100 million funding round.
Japan’s JIC invests four local start-ups
Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) has backed four local start-ups via its new VC unit. This includes a JPY3 billion ($29 million) commitment to business digitization consultant Monstar Lab.
Korea's MegazoneCloud raises $122m Series B
Korean enterprise cloud services provider MegazoneCloud has closed a $122 million Series B round featuring more than 20 investors, including at least eight private equity firms.
Deal focus: Cashfree targets merchants in India’s payments boom
Apis Partners' support of India-based Cashfree is driven by a recognition that the democratization of digital payments is as much about empowering traditional merchants as unbanked consumers
China's Suning raises $912m for e-commerce services arm
Yunwang Wandian, the e-commerce services arm of Suning.com, one of China’s largest retailers, has raised a RMB6 billion ($912 million) Series A round led by Shenzhen Capital Group.
The big C: China biotech start-ups get cutting edge on cancer
The evolution of cancer treatments in China is a bellwether for biotech development in the country and its capacity for genuine innovation. Most PE and VC investors aren’t shying away
China AI chip designer Vastai raises $50m
Vastai Technologies, a China-based chip designer, has raised $50 million in Series A funding led by video-sharing platform Kuaishou, Redpoint China Ventures, and 5Y Capital.
China education SaaS player raises $225m
Eeo Education, a Chinese software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider to the education sector, has raised a $265 million Series C round led by Hillhouse Capital.
Faering backs India skincare start-up Pureplay
Faering Capital has led a INR1.1 billion ($14.9 million) Series B round for Pureplay Skin Sciences, an Indian direct-to-consumer beauty and hair care brand.
MDI, Finch launch $40m ASEAN fund
MDI Ventures, the corporate VC arm of state-controlled Telkom Indonesia, has teamed up with financial technology investor Finch Capital to form a $40 million fund targeting early-stage investments in Southeast Asia.
Chinese vision therapy start-up Elumninex raises $50m
Chinese eye disease specialist Elumninex Biosciences has raised a $50 million Series A round led by GL Ventures, Lilly Asia Ventures (LAV), and Quan Capital.
Apis invests $35m in India's Cashfree
Apis Partners has invested $35 million in Indian digital payments services provider Cashfree as part of a Series B round also featuring Smilegate Investment and Y Combinator.
Sequoia, Matrix back $200m Series A for China’s D3 Bio
D3 Bio, a Chinese drug developer that studies and specifically targets areas where existing approaches to care are not delivering satisfactory outcomes, has raised $200 million in Series A funding.
Fund focus: Future Capital looks forward
Cloud-based infrastructure, logistics technology, mobility solutions and the internet of things are key themes for Future Capital as it begins to deploy its latest China-focused early-stage technology fund
China open source software player raises $43m Series B
Zilliz, a Chinese open-source software developer specializing in unstructured data processing and analysis, has raised a $43 million Series B round led by Hillhouse Capital affiliate GL Ventures.
Hong Kong insurtech start-up Coherent raises $14m
Coherent, a Hong Kong-based insurance technology company, has raised a $14 million Series A round led by Cathay Innovation, with participation from Franklin Templeton.
Grab leads $100m round for Indonesia e-wallet player
Singapore-based ride-hailing and local services platform Grab has led a $100 million Series B round for Indonesian e-wallet services provider LinkAja.
Deal focus: V2Food tackles alternative protein’s price problem
Australia’s V2Food is bringing affordability to the alternative protein space as fresh funding fuels an Asian expansion. The China entry will be a delicate proposition
Singapore's KK Fund launches large business accelerator
Singapore-based VC firm KK Fund has launched an accelerator that will help large companies develop new technology businesses through cooperation with regional start-ups.
Model behavior: China to Southeast Asia tech transplants
Plenty of internet start-ups in Southeast Asia have been inspired by Chinese forebears, but transplanting ideas from one market to another is often fraught with complications
Asia e-sports: Pumping up in a timeout
A recent slew of deals targeting e-sports in Asia has coincided with the live events that generate most of the industry's revenue going on hiatus. Investors appear happy to play the long game