Early-stage
Microequities backs New Zealand's Fergus
Microequities Venture Capital Fund, a vehicle set up by Equity Venture Partners and Microequities Asset Management, has invested A$3.5 million ($2.7 million) in New Zealand software company Fergus.
Square Peg invests in Australia's Airwallex
Square Peg Capital has invested A$8 million ($6 million) in Airwallex, an Australia-based cross-border payments company that closed its Series A round seven months ago.
US, India-based MindTickle raises $27m Series B
US and India-based training and networking platform operator MindTickle has raised $27 million in Series B funding led by Canaan Partners.
India's Teabox closes $7m Series B
Teabox, an online delivery service for fresh Indian tea, has closed a $7 million Series B funding round led by RB Investments.
Deal focus: An EV ecosystem play
WM Motor Technology's recent Series B round makes it one of the best-funded electric vehicle start-ups in China. The company has ambitions to build an EV ecosystem
VCs in $45m round for Chinese tech news site 36kr
Gobi Partners and China Prosperity Capital have led a RMB300 million ($45 million) round of funding for 36Kr Media, a Chinese online technology news platform.
Rakuten, Techstars launch Singapore accelerator
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has launched a Singapore-based accelerator program in conjunction with Techstars. It is Techstars’ first program in an Asian city.
CDC leads $19m round for India's Veritas
UK-based development finance institution CDC Group has led an $18.6 million Series B round for Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) Veritas Finance.
Finstar commits $50m to Southeast Asia fintech program
Finstar Financial Group, a Russia-based private equity firm focused on financial technology, will invest $50 million in an existing portfolio company as part of a Southeast Asian mobile consumer lending agenda.
Japanese start-up gets $90m for space trips
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has joined a $90.2 million round for Japanese lunar exploration company iSpace. It is said to be the largest Series A raised in the country to date.
Profile: KPCB China's James Huang
James Huang, a managing partner at KPCB China, has launched his own healthcare-focused investment firm to put his incubation and operational skills to work with a new generation of Chinese start-ups
Deal focus: GPs smile at emotive robots
Kaname Hayashi, development leader of SoftBank's Pepper, is working on his own line of emotive robots. Few details have been disclosed but investors were happy enough to commit $57 million in funding
Japanese online media player Candee gets $21.6m round
Eight Roads Japan has led a JPY2.45 billion ($21.6 million) funding round Tokyo-based online media start-up Candee.
NSI hits first close on Fund II, backs Singapore healthcare start-up
NSI Ventures has reached a first close of approximately $60 million on its second Southeast Asia venture capital fund and also participated in a $5 million Series A round for Singapore-based digital healthcare company Biofourmis.
Indian entrepreneurs drawn to corporate VC – AVCJ Forum
Indian technology start-ups are seeing corporate venture capital arms as attractive partners, but investors must be prepared to show what differentiates them from their parent companies, industry participants told the AVCJ India Forum.
Japan household robot maker secures $57m round
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Tokyo-based asset manager Sparx Group have agreed to invest at least JPY6.4 billion ($57 million) in household robot maker Groove X.
Consolidation remains key to India VC – AVCJ Forum
Indian venture capital investors see consolidation plays as central to adding value to their portfolio companies and achieving exits, though the specifics of the strategy will vary by industry.
SBCVC leads $30m round for China healthcare AI firm
SBCVC has led a RMB200 million ($30 million) Series B round for 12 Sigma, a China-based biotechnology company that applies artificial intelligence (AI) technology to medical image diagnoses.
AVCJ at 30: Part Three - The Rise of China
David Pierce of HQ Capital, Gary Rieschel of Qiming Venture Partners, Shangzhi Wu of CDH Investments, and Weijian Shan of PAG Asia Capital on China's emergence as a private equity and venture capital destination
Gaja backs Indian lifestyle brand Chumbak Design
Gaja Capital has led a INR850 million ($13.2 million) funding round for Indian consumer products company Chumbak Design.
SDIC, AstraZeneca agree China pharma JV
SDIC Fund Management, a GP under China’s State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC), and AstraZeneca have formed a China-based joint venture that will develop and commercialize new medicines.
Yunfeng backs Chinese automated warehouse solutions provider
Whalehouse Technology, a Shenzhen-based automated warehouse solutions provider, has completed a RMB100 million ($15 million) Series B round of funding led by Yunfeng Capital.
Translink Capital leads $14m round for China's Uhouzz
Uhouzz Network Technology, a China-based online platform that provides homes sales and rental services for overseas students, has raised a $14 million Series B round led by Translink Capital.
VC-backed DataRobot to invest $11m in Singapore AI
DataRobot, a US-based start-up backed by a number of VCs including Intel Capital, has committed about $11 million to an artificial intelligence (AI) program in Singapore.