Early-stage
Chinese AI-driven search engine Tigerobo raises $33m
Tigerobo, an artificial intelligence-driven financial information search engine, has raised $33 million in Series A funding from PAC, CreditEase New Finance Industry Fund and existing investor Gaorong Capital.
Quona leads $12.8m round for India's SMEcorner
Quona Capital has led a INR900 million ($12.8 million) investment in Indian microlending platform operator SMECorner.
Deal focus: 90 Seconds simplifies complex video variables
Singapore-based 90 Seconds raises $20 million to expand its online video production networking marketplace
Deal focus: Google offers AI expertise to Elsa
Google brings technological expertise as well as financial backing to its investment in Vietnam-based English education provider Elsa
China cross-border logistics provider raises $104m
Fujian Zongteng Network, a provider of overseas storage and transportation services for Chinese e-commerce players, has raised a RMB700 million ($104 million) round led by GLP and Cathay Capital.
VCs invest $10m in Chinese positioning technology provider
China and US-based startup Kolmostar, which provides positioning technology such as GPS for internet-of-things (IoT) devices and autonomous vehicles, has raised $10 million in a new round of funding led by AB Initio Capital Management.
UOB leads $65m Series B for Indonesia's Halodoc
Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) has led a $65 million Series B round for Indonesian healthcare technology provider Halodoc.
Chinese recruitment SaaS provider Moka raises $27m
Hillhouse Capital has led a RMB180 million ($27 million) Series B round for Chinese smart recruitment solutions provider Moka.
Tiger, Matrix lead $56m round for EV spin-out of India's Ola
Tiger Global Management and Matrix Partners India have co-led a INR4 billion ($56.3 million) investment in an independent electric vehicle (EV) company spun out from Indian ride-hailing platform Ola.
Sina invests $30m in Chinese fintech player Shuhe
Shuhe Technology, a Chinese consumer financial services start-up that provides installment repayment plans for credit card holders, has raised $30 million in Series B funding from Sina, a local internet company that operates microblogging site Weibo.
Japan launches space start-up accelerator
Several venture capital firms, including Global Brain, are participating in a Japanese government-backed accelerator program for space start-ups.
Chinese community group purchasing business receives $31m
Songshupinpin, a Chinese group purchasing platform that connects consumers in different residential districts with suppliers of daily necessities, has raised $31 million in the first tranche of a series B round led by Hillhouse Capital Group and MSA Capital.
Google joins $7m round for Vietnam's Elsa
Gradient Ventures, a VC arm of Google focused on artificial intelligence (AI), has led a $7 million Series A round for Vietnam-based English language education technology provider Elsa.
Singapore's 90 Seconds raises $20m Series B round
Singapore video platform operator 90 Seconds has raised a $20 million Series B from a group including Susquehanna International Group (SIG), Australia’s AirTree Ventures, and Sequoia Capital India.
Alliance backs China EV player PowerShare
Alliance Ventures, a VC firm created by Renault, Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors, has confirmed an investment of undisclosed size in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) technology supplier PowerShare.
Deal focus: Legend backs Mancando’s offline network
Legend Capital sees Mancando's extensive network of brick-and-mortar outlets as the key to bringing greater supply chain efficiency to the Chinese auto parts industry
Thailand's Beacon leads $6.5m round for local fintech player
Beacon Venture Capital, the VC unit of Thailand’s Kasikornbank, has led a $6.5 million investment in Jitta, a local financial technology provider and stock analysis platform operator.
Legend leads $29m round for Chinese biotech player
Sciwind Biosciences, a Chinese drug developer focused on treating metabolic disorders, has raised RMB200 million ($29 million) in Series A funding led by Legend Capital, with participation from existing investors Shiyu Capital and Beijing-based biotech...
Deal focus: From space food to sustainable food
Sustainable Bioproducts left stealth mode to raise a $33 million Series A round as it targets commercialization for an edible protein technology that won early backing from NASA
VC documentation: Standardizing small print
The rapid growth of venture capital in Southeast Asia has fostered the emergence of varied working practices. Singapore’s model investment agreements are intended to help bring order to chaos
Indonesia’s BeliMobilGue raises $10m Series A
Indonesia’s BeliMobilGue, a used car trading platform backed by a number of VCs, has raised $10 million in a Series A round led by parent company Frontier Car Group with participation from Toyota Tunas Indonesia.
Chinese auto parts supplier raises $25m in Series A
Mancando, an automotive parts supplier based in Guangdong province, has raised RMB170 million ($25 million) in Series A funding led by Eastern Bell Venture Capital, with participation from Legend Capital.
1955 Capital leads Series A for sustainable foods specialist
1955 Capital, a cross-border PE firm that invests in US and European technologies with application potential in Asia, has led a $33 million Series A round for edible protein developer Sustainable Bioproducts.
IDG, Lilly join $10m round for China’s EdiGene
IDG Capital and Lilly Asia Ventures (LAV) have joined a $10 million investment in EdiGene, a developer of genetics-based therapies based in Beijing.