Funds
Nice targets selfies with style
The world has seen plenty of selfies. From dining tables to football matches, there is always someone, arm outstretched and phone in hand, keen to capture a photo of themselves for posterity. It was only a matter of time before mobile apps enabling people...
WiL aims high with Japan's 'next Nintendo'
From Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. all the way through to Sony PlayStation’s Final Fantasy, there was a time when Japan ruled the gaming industry. Microsoft’s Xbox and recent Western successes such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto have dented this...
IFC leads $8m Series B for China recycling site Aihuishou
International Finance Corporation (IFC) has led a $8 million Series B round of funding for Aihuishou, a Chinese electronics recycling start-up.
Tiger Global, Nirvana lead $5m Series B round for India's Zopper
Tiger Global Management and Nirvana Venture Advisors have led a $5 million Series B round of investment for Delhi-based Solvy Tech Solutions, which operates products review portal Zooper.com.
China online home textiles retailer Dapu secures $5m
Tianxing Capital has committed RMB30 million ($4.8 million) in a Series B round of funding to Dapu.com, a Chinese online retailer of home textiles.
China property site Fangdd raises $80m
Fangdd.com, a Chinese real estate portal, has raised $80 million in a Series B funding from Vision Knight Capital, Lightspeed China Partners and CDH Venture.
IFC targets up to $1b for emerging markets fund-of-funds
International Finance Corporation (IFC) wants to raise a $750 million to $1 billion for an emerging markets-focused fund-of-funds with a final close pegged for the end of this year or early 2015.
IDG backs Chinese app developer Landscape mobile
IDG Capital Partners has committed $1.85 million in seed funding to Landscape Mobile, the China- and US-based developer of mobile information management app Sight.
Noble Group, EIG form energy joint venture
Private equity firm EIG Global Energy Partners has teamed up with Asia-based agriculture and energy supply chain manager Noble Group to acquire and operate upstream and mid-stream energy assets.
Shunwei invests in China online travel site Fxtrip
Shunwei Capital Partners has provided a Series A round of funding for Fxtrip.com, a Chinese outbound travel start-up.
Chinese regulator issues guidelines for domestic PE
The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has issued draft rules for the domestic private equity industry, including a definition of investors qualified to participate in funds.
PE consortium targets $1.5b China outbound fund
A consortium of foreign and Chinese PE firms has launched a $1.5 billion fund, which aims to raise a combination of US dollars and Chinese currency to invest abroad.
Steadview, Sequoia lead $41m round for India's Olacabs
Indian online taxi-booking and car rental platform Olacabs has raised INR2.5 billion ($41.8 million) through a Series C round of funding led by Sequoia Capital and Hong Kong-based hedge fund Steadview Capital.
Chinese stationery firm launches PE fund
Shenzhen Comix Stationery, a Shenzhen-listed stationery manufacturer, has won approval to launch a PE fund, which will be managed by Hejun Consulting.
India lays ground for real estate investment trust roll-out
India’s long-awaited real estate investments trusts (REITs) inched closer to reality as the government offered clarification on the tax status of the structures.
Japan's Gree leads $4.5m round for HotelQuickly
Japanese tech giant Gree has led a $4.5 million Series A-1 round of funding for HotelQickly, a Hong Kong-headquartered last-minute hotel booking platform.
Q&A: Infocomm Development Authority's Steve Leonard
Singapore has introduced a slew of initiatives as part of efforts to become a technology hub. Steve Leonard, executive deputy chairman of the government-backed Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), explains how and why
Singapore start-ups: Touching greatness
At least four Singapore-headquartered start-ups have four years of operations behind them and are worth at least $100 million. Which businesses have the skill and scale to be the next big thing?
GGV leads $10m round for gamer-focused networking platform
Sino-US VC firm GGV Capital has led a $10 million Series B round funding for Curse, a US-based social networking platform that targets online gamers.
India app developer platform gets Series A round
Pokkt, an Indian alternative monetization platform for mobile app developers, has secured $2.5 million in Series A funding from Singapore-based Jafco Asia and SingTel’s corporate VC arm Innov8.
Prologis raises more capital for China logistics platform
Prologis, an industrial real estate investment trust (REIT), has raised another $588 million for Prologis China Logistic Venture, a platform used to acquire and manage logistics properties in China.
Horizons Ventures joins round for reputation site Traity
Horizons Ventures, a VC business owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing, has participated in a $4.7 million Series A round for shopping-based social platform Traity.
VC-backed Japan lunch delivery site raises $27m
Japan's Star Festival, the VC-backed start-up behind lunchbox delivery and catering site Gochikuru.com has raised JPY2.8 billion ($27.4 million) from strategic investor Askul, one of the country's largest office supply mail-order companies.
Chinese image-sharing app Nice raises $20m
Nice, a Chinese brand-tagging social mobile app, has secured $20 million in a Series B round of financing led by H Capital, with participation from VY Capital, Matrix Partners and Morningside Technologies.