Expansion
Deal focus: Go1 adds layers to booming HR services niche
Australia’s Go1 gains traction with a B2B approach to a rapidly expanding human resources and workforce management software industry. SoftBank Vision Fund 2 is among the believers
Deal focus: IMM sees structural change in home decor
Having agreed to provide a succession solution to the founder of Korean furniture retailer and interior designer Hanssem, IMM Private Equity wants to harness growth through demographics and differentiation
CPE joins Series D for China biotech player TransThera
TransThera, a China-based drug developer, has raised $100 million in Series D funding led by CPE and China Structural Reform Fund.
China autonomous driving developer CalmCar raises $150m
CalmCar, a China-based provider of self-driving solutions, has closed a $150 million Series C round led by German auto parts supplier ZF Group. The company is targeting an IPO in 2022.
Sequoia leads $150m Series E for AIOps player Cloudwise
Cloudwise, a Beijing-based artificial intelligence operations (AIOps) provider, has raised $150 million in Series E funding led by Sequoia Capital China.
India's BlackBuck closes Series E, becomes unicorn
BlackBuck, India’s largest trucking platform, has raised $67 million in Series E funding led by US-based Tribe Capital, IFC Emerging Asia Fund, and VEF at a valuation of $1 billion.
China DNA sequencing start-up gets $116m Series C
Chinese next-generation sequencing (NGS) player Geneplus Technology has raised a RMB750 million ($116 million) Series C round led by China Construction Bank’s venture unit CCB International.
Black Ant, GenBridge lead Series B for China coffee chain
M Stand - a China-based coffee shop chain with ambitions to become the Starbucks for China's younger generation - has raised RMB500 million ($77 million) in Series B funding led by Black Ant Capital and GenBridge Capital.
China petcare brand raises $31m
Chongxing, a Chinese petcare brand, has raised RMB200 million ($31 million) in a third tranche of Series B funding from Tencent Holdings, Hony Capital, HighLight Capital, Vertex Ventures China, and Meridian Capital.
Hong Kong-based crypto exchange FTX raises $900m
FTX, a Hong Kong-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange, has raised $900 million in Series B funding at a valuation of $18 billion, up from $1.2 billion on closing the Series A last year.
India's HealthifyMe closes $75m Series C
LeapFrong Investments and Khosla Ventures have led a $75 million Series C round for HealthifyMe, a mobile health and fitness app operator with a presence in India and Southeast Asia.
Insight leads Series E for Australia's Employment Hero
Insight Partners has led a $140 million Series E round for Australian human resources services start-up Employment Hero at a valuation of $800 million.
Tiger Global, Avenir lead $108m round for India's Spinny
Spinny, an Indian online used car marketplace, has raised $108 million in Series D funding led by Tiger Global Management and US-based investor Avenir Growth.
Vision Fund, Prosus lead $1.25b round for India's Swiggy
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Prosus Ventures have led a $1.25 billion funding round for Swiggy, an India-based on-demand delivery platform.
Australia's Go1 raises $200m Series D at $1b valuation
SoftBank Vision Fund 2, AirTree Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures have led a $200 million Series D round for Australian workforce training start-up Go1 at a valuation of $1 billion.
India's Lenskart raises $220m at $2.5b valuation
Indian eyewear retailer Lenskart has raised a $220 million round led by Temasek Holdings and Falcon Edge Capital at a valuation of $2.5 million.
China beauty: Service with a smile
Beauty and wellness are at the vanguard of China’s fast-rising services sector. Investors see clear paths to growth, but size presents a plethora of problems in terms of standardizing service quality
Deal focus: Neiwai realizes value offline
Vertex Ventures China was adamant that Neiwai should expand offline on leading a Series B for the lingerie brand in 2017. Four years and two rounds later, the strategy is paying off
Deal focus: Targeting an insurance pain point
India’s Digit Insurance has achieved a valuation of $3.5 billion in four years with a thesis that simple is better – and more trustworthy. COVID-19 added more rocket fuel
PatPat raises $510m across Series C, D rounds
PatPat, a Chinese-founded children’s wear brand that claims to be the world’s largest direct-to-consumer (DTC) player in its segment, has raised $510 million across two rounds of funding.
Tech investment surges in India, SE Asia as China plummets
A drop-off in PE and VC technology investment in China in the second quarter of 2021 – widely linked to a multi-faceted regulatory crackdown on the sector – was to some extent counterbalanced by record levels of activity in India and Southeast Asia.
SoftBank leads $150m Series C for US, India-based Netradyne
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a $150 million Series C round for Netradyne, a US and India-based software provider for vehicle fleet operators.
Carlyle leads $100m Series D for Chinese lingerie brand
Chinese lingerie brand Neiwai has raised a $100 million Series D round led by The Carlyle Group. Vertex Ventures China and Qiming Venture Partners re-upped.
Vision Fund commits $1.7b to Korean travel start-up Yanolja
Yanolja, which claims to be South Korea’s only travel industry unicorn, has received $1.7 billion from SoftBank Vision Fund 2. There are no other investors in the round.
