Investments
Japan sneaker marketplace raises $56m
SoftBank Ventures Asia has led a JPY6.2 billion ($56.4 million) Series C round for Japanese sneaker marketplace and e-commerce start-up Soda.
India's Droom secures pre-IPO funding at $1.2b valuation
India-based automobile marketplace Droom has raised $200 million in the first tranche of a pre-IPO funding round that values the company at $1.2 billion.
GIC invests $240m in Arctic Green Energy
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC has committed $240 million to Arctic Green Energy (AGE), an Iceland-based geothermal energy developer that has already received substantial Chinese backing.
Everstone backs $1b India data center JV
Everstone Group has teamed up with data center operator Yondr Group to invest $1 billion in facilities across India, leveraging the country’s push for greater data localization.
NewQuest buys secondary position in India hospital chain
Direct secondaries specialist NewQuest Capital Partners has acquired a minority stake in Cloudnine, an India-based hospital chain, by committing primary capital and taking out several existing investors.
China automotive chip maker Semidrive raises $154m
Semidrive Technology, a specialist semiconductor manufacturer for the automotive industry, has raised RMB1 billion ($154 million) in Series B funding led by Pro Capital and V Fund.
India B2C messaging start-up Gupshup raises $240m
Gupshup, an India-based messaging services provider, has received $240 million from Fidelity, Think Investments, Malabar Investments, Harbor Spring Capital, Neuberger Berman, and White Oak.
Indonesia grocery platform HappyFresh closes $65m Series D
Indonesia-based grocery platform HappyFresh has closed a $65 million Series D round led by Korean internet giant Naver and Netherlands-based investor Gafina.
India's ShareChat raises additional $145m
Temasek Holdings, Moore Strategic Ventures, and Mirae Asset Global Investments have led a $145 million Series F round for Indian social media platform ShareChat at a valuation of $3 billion.
Accel leads Series C top-up for India's MyGlamm
Accel has led a Series C top-up for MyGlamm, an India-based direct-to-consumer (DTC) beauty products marketplace, taking the overall round to INR5.3 billion ($71.1 million).
Riverwood leads $200m Series D for SE Asia payments player Nium
Riverwood Capital has led a $200 million Series D round for Singapore-based cross-border payments technology provider Nium at an approximately $1 billion valuation.
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
India IPOs: A pleasant surprise
The lack of a reliable IPO channel is a longstanding exit obstacle for venture capital investors in India. Domestic listings may, unexpectedly, prove to be the answer
Q&A: IPV Capital’s Alex Banh
Semiconductors are a popular investment target in China on the back of US decoupling and a push for self-sufficiency. Alex Banh, a managing partner of sector specialist IPV Capital, shares his views
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.
PAG acquires Indian CDMO Acme for $145m
PAG has acquired a controlling stake in Acme Formulation Private, an India-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), for approximately $145 million.
Asia Partners, Falcon Edge back Indonesia's GudangAda
Asia Partners and Falcon Eduge Capital have led a $100 million Series B round for GudangAda, an Indonesian online marketplace that targets wholesale and small-scale retailers.
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.