Expansion
Japan's MPower backs construction workers' platform
Japanese environmental, social, and governance (ESG) focused private equity firm MPower has led a JPY 1.8bn (USD 13.4m) investment in Sukedachi, a jobs platform for construction workers.
China GPU chip developer Iluvatar raises $149m
Iluvatar CoreX, a Shanghai-based designer of chips used in cloud computing, has raised CNY 1bn (USD 149m) across two additional tranches of Series C funding. The first tranche closed on CNY 1.2bn in March 2021.
India credit card player OneCard raises $100m
India’s OneCard, which operates a credit scoring platform and issues own-branded credit cards, has raised a USD 100m round led by Temasek Holdings.
TGVest helps Taiwan's KKday lift Series C to $95m
Taiwanese e-commerce and travel platform KKday has closed a protracted Series C capital raising process with USD 95m. Local private equity firm TGVest Capital led the latest tranche.
Hong Kong's Animoca Brands raises another $75m
Hong Kong’s Animoca Brands – a start-up with interests spanning gaming and the metaverse – has raised USD 75.3m from several VC firms. It brings total funding in the past eight months to about USD 500m.
Navis backs Singapore expansion for family office software provider
Navis Capital Partners has led a USD 38m Series C round for Eton Solutions, a US software provider for family offices currently establishing a Singapore office.
2Q analysis: Substituting China?
India and Southeast Asia come to the fore as China demonstrates weakness in both growth-stage investment and fundraising; exits continue to struggle amid reluctance from strategic buyers
India fintech player Cred closes $140m Series F
Cred, an India-based credit card rewards provider, has closed a USD 140m Series F round that includes a secondary component intended to facilitate exits for existing investors.
Government funds support China's Dark Matter AI
Dmai, a Chinese cognitive artificial intelligence (AI) platform also known as Dark Matter AI, has raised RMB 500m (USD 75m) in the first tranche of a Series B round from five state-backed investors.
Blackstone backs Australia, US clean commodities platform
The Blackstone Group has led a USD 400m investment in Xpansiv, an Australia and US-based marketplace for trading clean commodities such as carbon offsets, renewable energy credits (RECs), and low-carbon fuels.
Deal focus: Carlyle targets consumerism in ceramics
The Carlyle Group, like many investors, sees premiumisation as a natural outcome of the expansion of India’s middle class. It could be the first to test this thesis in the local building materials industry
Deal focus: India’s Shubham sees opening to accelerate
Shubham believes its long-curated datasets and institutional memory differentiate it from a growing pack of low-income housing lenders. Global impact investors appear convinced
Australia tech: Valuation conundrum
Valuation adjustments and down rounds are expected to proliferate in Australia’s technology sector in the next 12 months. Investors are busy scrutinising business models for signs of vulnerability
Deal focus: Novel angle on mobile adoption gains traction
Cashify is leveraging and propelling India’s mobile penetration narrative at the most fundamental level. Adding tech to the secondhand smart phone space has allowed it to create a first-of-its-kind brand
Legend leads $150m Series E for China CRO ClinChoice
US and China-based clinical contract research organization (CRO) company ClinChoice has raised a USD 150m Series E round led by Legend Capital.
Singapore blockchain player Rubix raises $100m
Singapore-based crypto transaction infrastructure provider Rubix has raised USD 100m from US-based LDA Capital to transition into a more web3-oriented and “green blockchain” model.
China IC software player raises $81m
Semi-Tech, a China-based semiconductor manufacturing software provider, has raised CNY 540m (USD 81m) across two rounds - the second extended tranche of a Series A and a Series B.
Tough funding terms can hinder start-up growth - forum
Imposing punitive terms on founders in response to governance concerns can prove counterproductive to long-term growth as start-ups move through funding rounds and stipulations intensify, a Singapore Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (SVCA)...
India affordable housing player raises $112m
Indian lower-income mortgage lender Shubham has raised USD 112m led by British International Investment (BII). It facilitates exits for Elevar Equity and Motilal Oswal Private Equity (MOPE).
China biotech: End of the boom
PE investment in China biotech has collapsed amid failed IPO processes and disputed valuations. Pockets of activity remain, though questions around commercialisation have yet to be answered
Tiger Global, Google join $40m round for India's Progcap
Tiger Global Management, Google, and Creation Investments have led a USD 40m investment in India’s Progcap, a financing services provider for small businesses.
Portfolio: Welkin Capital and Shawya
Shawya is a fast-rising Chinese direct-to-consumer brand that takes a technology-driven approach to skincare. Welkin Capital is helping it address growing pains around talent and omnichannel capabilities
Carlyle makes growth investment in India's Varmora Granito
The Carlyle Group has acquired a significant minority stake in Varmora Granito, an India-based manufacturer of tiles, bathware, and sanitaryware products, for an undisclosed sum.
Deal focus: Confidence unwavering in SE Asia e-commerce
Singapore online shopping platform ShopBack hopes to extend a fledgling theme of Southeast Asian IPOs in the US amid threats to discretionary spending in its core markets
