Expansion
China's NextData raises $135m Series D
NextData, a China-based cybersecurity services provider, has secured $135 million in Series D funding led by CPE, Matrix China Partners, Hopu Investment, Tencent Holdings, and Xiang He Capital.
India's Chargebee closes Series G, hits $1.4b valuation
Sapphire Ventures, Tiger Global Management, and Insight Venture Partners have led a $125 million Series G round for Chargebee, an India-founded and US-headquartered enterprise services business.
GM leads $139m Series D for Singapore EV battery maker
General Motors (GM) has led a $139 million Series D round for Singapore-based electric vehicle (EV) battery maker SES, also known as SolidEnergy Solutions.
China e-commerce enabler Xingyun raises $600m - update
China’s Xingyun Group, a digital supply chain provider for cross-border e-commerce, has raised $600 million in the second tranche of Series C round led by Yunfeng Capital, HI Transformational Fund, and Crescent Point.
Mobility: Gravitational shift
The automotive industry’s VC overtures might be in retrograde, but traditional carmakers are finding new ways to make a mark in mobility innovation. This creates new dynamics for financial investors
Deal focus: Plus pulls financial, strategic levers
China’s first autonomous driving truck will shortly enter mass production, courtesy of Plus and its array of private equity and automotive industry supporters
KKR, DCP back China's Adopt A Cow
KKR and DCP Capital Partners have jointly invested in Adopt A Cow, a China-based dairy farm operator that pursues a direct-to-consumer sales model underpinned by digital tools.
Deal focus: Centurium, Joy re-up in China's Luckin Coffee
Centurium Capital and Joy Capital have invested $250 million in scandal-hit Chinese coffee shop chain, with Centurium describing it as a sign of faith in the company’s business model and long-term prospects.
China's ZJS Express raises $153m
China-based logistics provider ZJS Express has raised a RMB1 billion ($153 million) Series B round led by Sino-Ocean Capital. Gaolin Capital and state-backed HighRun Capital also participated.
China home fitness brand Fiture raises $300m
Fiture, a Chinese developer of artificial intelligence-enabled home fitness devices, has raised $300 million in Series B funding led by All-Stars Investment, Legend Capital, DST Global, and Coatue Management.
Temasek leads $200m Series E for China's Arrail Dental
Arrail Group, one of China’s largest dental services providers, has raised close to $200 million in Series E funding led by Temasek Holdings.
KKR joins $61m round for Japan's Netstars
KKR has contributed JPY4 billion ($37 million) to a JPY6.6 billion funding round for Netstars, a Japanese QR code payment gateway operator. SIG and Lun Partners, a Hong Kong-based global financial technology investor, also took part.
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.