Funds
CyberAgent Ventures backs Japan language learning site
CyberAgent Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the company behind Japanese blogging site Ameba, has invested an undisclosed amount in language learning platform Lang-8.
Nexus backs digital security firm Uniken
Nexus Venture Partners has invested a reported INR300 million ($4.8 million) in US enterprise security firm Uniken, which has its innovation center in India.
Singapore online grocer RedMart raises $5.4m funding round
RedMart, an online grocery service based in Singapore, has raised a $5.4 million round of funding led by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Other investors in the bridge round included JFDI.Asia co-founder Meng Weng Wong, The Lo & Behold Group founder...
Japanese VCs invest $4m in social retail app developer
Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and DBJ Capital have joined existing investors DCM Japan, Itochu Technology Ventures and Jafco Ventures, in a JPY400 million ($3.8 million) round of funding for Tokyo-based Tab, the start-up behind the location-based retail recommendation...
Profile: Globis Capital Partners' Yoshito Hori
From bust to boom, Yoshito Hori, CEO and founder of Globis Capital Management, has spent 20 years investing in Japanese VC - a story that is as much about education as it is capital
Unitas completes Edwards reorientation
When Unitas Capital and CCMP Capital came across specialist vacuum products developer Edwards Group, the business was hamstrung by geography. Asia was responsible for 60% of revenues but only 30% of manufacturing activity; in Europe these figures were...
Bitcoin: VC firms eye Asia opportunities
Bitcoin’s emergence as a currency in Asia has attracted mixed reactions from regulators. For VC investors there is a chance to disrupt the exisitng payment hierarchy, but they must also work with it
Everstone-Realterm JV closes second IndoSpace Logistics fund at $330m
Indian industrial real estate and warehousing facilities developer IndoSpace, has closed its second fund at $330 million, exceeding its target size at $300 million. IndoSpace is a joint venture between the Everstone Group and Canada-based Realterm Global.
Saif invests $30m in China fashion platform
Saif Partners China has committed $30 million in a Series C round of funding for Yoho, an online fashion magazine and e-commerce platform.
Japanese VCs invest $1.5m in ad platform Logly
Voyage Ventures, Mizuho Capital, SMBC Venture Capital and strategic investor CA Mobile have together invested JPY120 million ($1.15 million) in Logly, a Japan-based start-up running an internet ad platform.
China's WestSummit raises $325m across two tech funds
Beijing-based growth capital firm WestSummit Capital has raised $325 million across two funds, comprising $225 million for West Summit’s Fund II and $100 million for its China Ireland Technology Growth Capital Fund.
Carlyle completes partial exit from HK-listed Haier Electronics
The Carlyle Group has raised around $285 million after selling part of its stake in Hong Kong-listed appliance maker Haier Electronics Group.
China game developer Linekong secures $80m Series C round
China online gaming developer Linekong has raised $80 million Series C round of funding led by Fosun International. Other investors include Orchid Asia, Starwish Global, SAIF Partners and Profitable Century International.
Hamilton Lane adds two senior Asia professionals
Hamilton Lane has added two senior professionals to its Asia team, appointing Mingchen Xia as principal on the fund investment team and Yen Li Chew as vice president within its business development group - both will be based in Hong Kong.
Chinese industry group announces PE registration rules
The Asset Management Association of China (AMAC), a group set up by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), has announced rules addressing domestic private equity firms' record management, operational standards and information disclosure.
Inventus closes Fund II at $106m
Inventus Capital Partners has reached a final close on its second fund at $106 million, exceeding the $100 million target.
Asia, Middle East LPs help Affinity to $3.8b close on Fund IV
Affinity Equity Partners has reached a final close of $3.8 billion on its fourth pan-Asian fund, with investors from Asia and the Middle East accounting for a larger share of the corpus than their North American counterparts.
Sequoia invests in China Angel Group hospital
Sequoia Capital has invested in a Series B round of funding for Angel Women’s and Children Hospital, a Chengdu-based hospital chain.
Mayfield raises at least $86m for India fund
Mayfield has raised at least $86 million for its second India fund, which was launched a year ago.
IDG, IvyCap back India's FieldEZ Technologies
Bangalore-based FieldEZ Technologies has raised a first round of funding from IDG Ventures and IvyCap Ventures. The amount invested in the workforce management software company was not disclosed.
Canaan leads $5.6m round for India's SureWaves
Canaan Partners has led a INR350 million ($5.6 million) round of funding for SureWaves MediaTech, an Indian TV advertising platform operating out of Bangalore. Existing backers Accel Partners India and India Innovation Fund (IIF) also participated.
KKR fundraiser Clifford Chiu to retire
Clifford Chiu, a leading figure in KKR’s Asia fundraising efforts, will retire in June after seven years with the firm. He will return with his family to the US.
Portfolio Advisors closes global secondaries fund at $910m
Portfolio Advisors has closed its second dedicated global private equity secondaries fund at $910 million. The vehicle launched in 2011 and began investing in the third quarter of 2012, focusing on direct secondary fund interests.
Microsoft Ventures backs 19 Asian start-ups
Microsoft Ventures, a corporate VC arm of Microsoft, has selected 19 Asian companies for the fourth batch of start-ups entering its Beijing-based accelerator program.