Expansion
Deal focus: Gobi sees 100x return on Airwallex
Gobi Partners became Airwallex's first institutional investor in 2016 due to a lack of support in the Australian company's home market. The GP made a partial exit in a recent Series D round at a valuation of $2.6 billion
1Q analysis: American dreams
New York makes an unexpected reappearance as the preferred IPO destination for Asian companies; the growth-stage tech investment revival continues; KKR lights up lackluster fundraising environment
Korea retail: Digital or dead?
Coupang’s bumper IPO has underlined the appeal of a Korean e-commerce industry characterized by chaebols playing catch-up and PE and VC investors looking to profit at the margins
Affirma hits first close on Korea fund, backs SK mapping spinout
Affirma Capital has reached a first close of KRW443 billion ($403 million) on its fifth Korea-focused fund, while simultaneously announcing a $181 million investment in SK Telecom’s mobility business.
Falcon Edge backs India B2B platform OfBusiness
Falcon Edge Capital has led a $110 million growth round for India’s OfBusiness, a B2B platform for industrial sector services, at a post-money valuation of $800 million.
Tiger Global leads $100m round for India's Gupshup
Gupshup, an India-based messaging services provider that helps corporate customers execute marketing strategies, has raised $100 million in funding at a valuation of $1.4 billion.
China mRNA vaccine provider Abogen raises $92m
Suzhou Abogen Biosciences, a Chinese mRNA vaccine provider, has raised RMB600 million ($92 million) led by PICC Capital - an investment unit under People’s Insurance Company of China - and state-backed SDIC Venture Capital.
India's ShareChat raises $502m at $2.1b valuation
Tiger Global Management has led a $502 million Series E round for ShareChat, which claims to be India’s largest social media platform, at a valuation of $2.1 billion.
Australia's Canva sees valuation double once again
Australian graphic design platform Canva has more than doubled its valuation to $15 billion with a new $71 million growth round. It was valued at $3.2 billion 18 months ago.
Prosus, TPG lead $350m round for India pharmacy player
Prosus Ventures and TPG Growth have co-led a $350 million Series E round for India’s API Holdings, best known as the parent of pharmacy portal PharmEasy.
China grocery platform Dingdong Maicai raises $700m
DST Global and Coatue Management have led a $700 million Series D for China-based online fresh produce delivery business Dingdong Maicai. Existing investors including CMC Group re-upped.
Vision Fund leads $300m round for India's Meesho
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a $300 million round for Meesho, India’s leading social e-commerce start-up, at a valuation of $2.1 billion.
Vision Fund, BlackRock lead Series D for Singapore's Trax
Trax, a Singapore-headquartered start-up that uses computer vision technology to help retailers link sales to in-store and on-shelf positioning, has secured $640 million in Series E funding led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and BlackRock.
L Catterton invests $182m in Japanese healthcare business
L Catterton has invested JPY20 billion ($182 million) in PHC Holdings Corporation, a Japanese healthcare business – formerly known as Panasonic Healthcare – backed by KKR.
Japan payments start-up Paidy closes $120m Series D
Japanese payments start-up Paidy has raised $120 million in Series D funding from JS Capital Management, Soros Capital Management, Tybourne Capital Management, and Wellington Management.
FountainVest, ClearVue back China self-driving truck player
FountainVest Partners and ClearVue Partners have led a $220 million funding round for Plus, a China-based autonomous driving technology developer that specializes in trucks.
Alibaba, DST lead Series D for China's Nice Tuan
Alibaba Group and DST Global have led a $750 million Series D round for Shihuituan, a China-based community group buying platform also known as Nice Tuan.
China consumer brands Genki Forest, Tasogare secure funding
Two emerging Chinese beverage brands - Genki Forest and Tasogare, which focus on sparkling water and coffee, respectively - have completed new funding rounds.
Matrix leads Series E tranche for China corporate training platform
Matrix Partners China has led a second tranche of Series E funding - worth $90 million - for Yunxuetang, a Chinese online corporate training services provider.
KKR joins $200m round for China coding education start-up
Hetao 101, a Chinese online education platform that provides computer programming courses for children, has raised $200 million in Series C funding led by KKR, Vision Plus Capital, and GL Ventures.
Gulf Capital invests $30m in India healthcare push
Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Capital has committed $30 million to a plan that will see its global fertility services platform launch 18 clinics in India over the next 12 months.
KKR, Sequoia lead $234m round for Indian NBFC
KKR and Sequoia Capital India have led a $234 million investment in Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC) Five Star Business Finance at a valuation of $1.4 billion.
India's Dream Sports raises $400m, hits $5b valuation
Dream Sports, operator of India’s largest fantasy sports platform, has raised $400 million in funding led by TCV, D1 Capital Partners and Falcon Edge Capital. The post-deal valuation is nearly $5 billion.
CMB, Mirae lead Series C for China biotech player EpimAb
Shanghai-based EpimAb Biotherapeutics has raised $120 million in Series C funding led by CMB International and Korea’s Mirae Asset Financial Group.
