Funds
SoftBank leads $120m round for India's Grofers
Indian hyperlocal delivery service Grofers has raised $120 million in Series C funding led by SoftBank Corp.
Allianz, Baidu, Hillhouse form Chinese insurance JV
Chinese search giant Baidu, German insurer Allianz and China-based Hillhouse Capital have formed an internet insurance company to distribute insurance products in China.
China's Renren leads $22m round for US job search platform
China’s social networking platform Renren has led a $22 million Series B round of funding for Shiftgig, a US mobile marketplace for short-term jobs.
Global Brain, Dentsu, Mitsui in $6.1m round for Japan's Kabuku
Japan-based Kabuku, manager of 3-D printing service Rinkak, has closed a JPY750 million ($6.1 million) Series A round with participation by Global Brain, Dentsu Digital Holdings and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital.
Northstar closes PE fund at $810m, VC fund at $89m
Northstar Group has reached a final close of $810 million on its fourth fund, which targets Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Indonesia. Meanwhile, the firm’s VC unit, NSI Ventures, has closed its debut fund at $89 million.
China's Weibo leads $200m round for video app maker
Chinese social media platform Weibo Corporation has led a $200 million Series D round of funding for Yixia Technology, a Beijing-based mobile video app developer.
Mitsui commits $52m to India's Naaptol
Mitsui & Co. Global Investment, the VC arm of Japanese conglomerate Mitsui, has invested another INR3.4 billion ($52 million) in Indian TV shopping and e-commerce platform Naaptol.
Lufax, China private funds to launch online products
Shanghai Lujiazui International Financial Asset Exchange (Lufax), a Chinese online financial platform controlled by Ping An Insurance Group, has signed agreements with 30 domestic private investment fund managers that will see their products distributed...
Q&A: IDFC Alternatives' MK Sinha
M.K. Sinha, CEO of IDFC Alternatives, explains how the firm has been focusing on private equity exits, gradual accumulation of assets in infrastructure, and opportunistic openings in real estate
India tech M&A: Treading water
India’s internet giants are becoming more acquisitive, but they still play a minor role in VC firms’ planning. To raise their influence these companies first need to stabilize their own operations
Venturra leads $4m round for Malaysia's Kaodim
Venturra Capital, a Southeast Asia-focused VC fund sponsored by the Lippo Group, has led a $4 million Series A round for Malaysian local services marketplace Kaodim.
Ping An Ventures leads $200m round for China's Mogujie
Ping An Ventures, a VC arm under Ping An Insurance, has led a Series D round worth $200 million for Mogujie.com, a Chinese social networking and shopping platform.
China B2B travel site raises $78m Series B round
Lvyouquan.cn, a Chinese business-to-business (B2B) online travel platform, has raised RMB500 million ($78 million) in a Series B round of funding from a group of domestic investors.
NEA, Accel commit $12.5m to India's MindTickle
Accel Partners and New Enterprise Associates (NEA) have invested $12.5 million in a Series A round of funding for Indian business training and networking platform MindTickle.
Alibaba picks Gobi, CDIB to run HK, Taiwan entrepreneur funds
Alibaba Group has officially launched its entrepreneur funds - worth a collective $450 million - in Hong Kong and Taiwan, picking Gobi Partners and China Development Industrial Bank (CDIB) to manage the vehicles in those respective markets.
Shenzhen Qianhe leads $47m round for China education platform
Shenzhen Qianhe Capital, an investment firm set up by former leading Chinese mutual fund manager Yawei Wang, has led a RMB300 million ($47 million) Series B round for education group Uniquedu.
Bessemer leads $25m round for India's UrbanClap
Bessemer Venture Partners has led a $25 million Series B funding round for Indian local services marketplace UrbanClap.
Kalaari commits $4m to India's ScoopWhoop
Kalaari Capital has invested $4 million in Indian internet news and media outlet and production company ScoopWhoop.
India's NSR promotes Arvind Malhan to partner
Indian growth-stage private equity firm New Silk Route (NSR) has promoted Arvind Malhan to partner.
Ameba Capital closes second China VC fund at $157m
Ameba Capital, an early-stage VC firm co-founded by former executives from Alibaba Group and Kingsoft, has closed its second renminbi-denominated fund at RMB1 billion ($157 million).
Taiwan's CDIB Capital launches cross-strait VC fund
CDIB Capital, the PE arm of Taiwan’s China Development Financial (CDF), is raising a later-stage venture fund to focus on cross-strait expansion.
CHAMP's Ferris to lead Innovation Australia
Bill Ferris, co-chairman and co-founding partner of CHAMP Private Equity, has been appointed chairman of Innovation Australia, an independent, government-established body with a mandate that includes supporting start-ups and venture capital.
China cinema ticket sales app Wepiao raises $234m
Wepiao, a Chinese mobile app specializing in movie ticket sales, has completed a Series C round of funding worth RMB1.5 billion ($234 million) led by the government-backed Beijing Cultural Assets Chinese Film & Television Fund.
CreditEase's online P2P lending unit files for US IPO
Yirendai.com, an online peer-to-peer (P2P) online platform owned by China-based micro-credit loan player CreditEase, has filed for an IPO in the US.