Early-stage
ICOs: Normalizing the future
The application of virtual tokens as investment instruments is modernizing the venture capital industry. Stakeholders are discovering a range of pitfalls and possibilities during the transition
Sequoia, CDH, Yunfeng back China's ZTO Freight
Sequoia Capital China, CDH Investments, and Yunfeng Capital have provided more than $100 million in Series A funding to ZTO Freight, an affiliate of US-listed Chinese delivery company ZTO Express.
VIDEO: China Creation Ventures' Wei Zhou
Wei Zhou, founder and managing partner of China Creation Ventures, discusses VC and technology trends
China early-stage investment round-up
Venture capital deals involving N5 Capital, Matrix Partners China, JD.com, Fortune Capital, Juxiu Capital, Oriza Holdings, Ameba Capital, ZhenFund, Yunqi Partners, SIG, and Crystal Stream Capital
East Ventures joins $32m ICO for Swiss bitcoin app
East Ventures, a VC firm focused on Japan and Southeast Asia, has joined a $32 million initial coin offering (ICO) for Switzerland-based bitcoin wallet operator BRD.
Singapore biotech player gets $20m Series A
A group of VCs including Yashang Capital and Westlake Ventures have backed a $20 million Series A funding round for Singaporean biotech developer Lion TCR.
CDH leads round for Chinese DNA-based drug developer
CDH Investments has led a RMB250 million ($39 million) Series B round of funding for HitGen, a Chinese biotech company that develops drugs based on the synthesis and screening of DNA fragments.
Korean drug developer raises $21.8m Series B round
TiumBio, a South Korean drug developer working on treatments for cancer, diabetes and hemophilia, has secured KRW23.5 billion ($21.8 million) in Series B funding.
Brii Biosciences gets $260m for China expansion
A group of VCs, including Sequoia Capital, have committed $260 million to Brii Biosciences, a China and US-based healthcare start-up executing a number of China-focused growth initiatives.
China early-stage investment round-up
Venture capital deals involving FoxConn, China Minsheng Investment Group, Qiming Venture Partners, GGV Capital, Matrix Partners China, Hongxiu VC, Geekbeans Capital, Albatross Venture, Node Capital, and Insight Capital
Profile: SparkLabs Group's Bernard Moon
Bernard Moon, co-founder of SparkLabs Group, has helped bring a global approach to seed investment. Early work bridging US and Korean start-up cultures clarified the value in going cross-border early
Indonesia's Alpha JWC to back PayPal incubator start-ups
Indonesia-based Alpha JWC Ventures has agreed to invest up to $5 million in PayPal’s financial technology start-up incubation program for Southeast Asia.
Vietnam start-ups: A tale of two cities
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City provide Vietnam’s nascent start-up scene with a unique double-hub structure. Ecosystem gestation remains slow but it is supported by a nuanced diversity
Malaysia's Jirnexu receives $11m Series B
Malaysia-based financial technology start-up Jirnexu has received an $11 million Series B funding round led by Japan’s SBI Group.
China early-stage investment round-up
Venture capital deals involving Fortune Capital, Sina Weibo, Sequoia Capital China, ChinaEquity Group, Cornerstone Capital, Geekbeans Capital, Atlas Capital, and Heyi Capital
Indian incubator raises $12.5m for seed fund
Indian educational institution IIM Ahmedabad has raised $12.5 million for its on-campus start-up incubator and seed fund from investors including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Beyond, Linear invest Hong Kong's Insight Robotics
Beyond Ventures and Linear Capital have co-led a $9 million investment in Insight Robotics, a Hong Kong-based company that specializes in advanced forest fire detection systems.
Singapore's Carro gets $60m Series B
Singapore-based automotive marketplace operator Carro has received a $60 million Series B funding round led by Softbank Ventures Korea, Insignia Ventures Partners and B Capital Group.
Sequoia leads $40m round for Hong Kong biotech player
Sequoia Capital China has led a $40 million Series B round of funding for MabSpace Bioscience, a Hong Kong-headquartered drug developer that specializes in cancer treatments.
Intel Capital backs three Chinese tech start-ups
Intel Capital, the captive VC arm of Intel Corporation, has backed in three Chinese start-ups as part of a $72 million investment in 12 companies based in China and the US.
Qiming joins $12.6m round for China's Wuxi Vision
Qiming Venture Partners and Ruijan Capital have contributed RMB80 million ($12.6 million) to a Series B round for Wuxi Vision Pro, a Chinese ophthalmic medical device maker with operations in the US.
GGV leads $15.7m Series B for China's Synyi
Synyi, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that helps hospitals and medical research institutes process and manage data, has received RMB100 million ($15.7 million) in Series B funding led by GGV Capital.
Lilly Asia leads $25m round for US-based Avedro
Lilly Asia Ventures (LAV) has led a $25 million round for Avedro, a US-based ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical devices company with a view to expanding in Asia.
India's Bizongo gets $22m round
Indian business-to-business packaging marketplace Bizongo has raised a $22 million Series B round led by B Capital and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).