Funds
Lever VC reaches $23m first close on food fund
Lever VC, a Hong Kong and US-based food tech specialist, has confirmed a $23 million first close for its debut fund, which will invest alternative protein start-ups globally with a strong focus on China.
Direct Capital, ACC back New Zealand logistics player
New Zealand PE firm Direct Capital and the government’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) have taken a combined 50% stake in local logistics operator Mondiale for an undisclosed sum.
Airbus Ventures sets up Japan office
Airbus Ventures, the US-based VC unit of European aeronautics giant Airbus, has set up an office in Japan and received investment from a number of Japanese investors for its third fund.
Rocketship targets Asia with second global VC fund
Rocketship, a US-based data science-focused venture capital firm that has backed a number of Indian start-ups, has closed its second global fund at $100 million with a strong focus on Asia.
ByteDance acquires Chinese medical platform for $72m
ByteDance, the PE-backed owner of TikTok and the Toutiao news aggregation service, has acquired VC-backed Chinese medical information platform Baikemy for RMB500 million ($72 million).
Australia's Blackbird raises $357m for fourth fund
Australia’s Blackbird Ventures has raised A$500 million ($357 million) for its fourth fund and named Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes as chairman.
MUFG launches Singapore venture debt business
Japan’s MUFG Bank has set up a Singapore-based venture debt business alongside Israeli financial technology start-up Liquidity Capital. Its debut fund has been set up with an initial $80 million.
Australia's PEP closes Fund VI at $1.8b
Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) has reached a final close on its sixth Australia and New Zealand-focused buyout fund at the hard cap of A$2.5 billion ($1.8 billion).
China's Sherpa closes debut US dollar fund at $200m
Sherpa Healthcare Partners, founded by former healthcare heads at Legend Capital, has closed its first US dollar fund at $200 million.
China launches $12b National Green Development Fund
China has raised an initial RMB88 billion ($12.6 billion) for the first dedicated environmental fund launched by the central government.
Sequoia scales up for China growth deals
Sequoia Capital China’s recent $3.68 billion fundraising effort has significantly expanded its scope to participate in later-stage deals. The three funds include a growth vehicle of $2.8 billion, a 55% increase on the previous vintage.
Oyo founder establishes VC firm in Singapore
Ritesh Agarwal (pictured), the founder of Indian hotel booking platform Oyo, has launched a Singapore-headquartered venture capital firm called Aroa Ventures.
Fund focus: Tidal makes early-stage wave
With $21 million in dry powder, Tidal Ventures wants to bring institutional rigor to Australia's seed stage, helping prepare start-ups for Series A rounds
Fund focus: Wavemaker turns crisis into opportunity
Wavemaker Partners overcome COVID-19 uncertainty to close its latest fund at $111 million. Enterprise-facing and deep technology companies in Southeast Asia are likely targets
China launches $1.4b semiconductor fund
Suzhou High-tech Zone has launched a RMB10 billion ($1.4 billion) integrated circuit (IC) fund with support from local government guidance funds, corporates, and financial institutions.
Australia's OneVentures closes credit fund at $57m
OneVentures has reached a final close of A$80 million ($57 million) on a venture debt fund said to be the first and largest vehicle of its kind in Australia.
Trustbridge spin-out Vitalbridge closes debut China fund
Vitalbridge Capital, a Chinese venture capital firm established by Jinjian Zhang, formerly of Trustbridge Partners, has raised $150 million for its debut fund.
India's True North closes sixth fund below target
Indian private equity firm True North closed its sixth fund last year at about $600 million, falling short of a revised target.
Singapore's Her Capital targets $10m for debut fund
Singapore-headquartered venture capital firm Her Capital is seeking to raise a debut $10 million fund to invest in Southeast Asia with a gender lens-focused thesis.
DCP, Qiming support China medical devices fund
Ascendum Capital Partners, a healthcare investment firm established by DCP Capital, Qiming Venture Partners and Chinese medical devices manufacturer Venus Medtech, is looking to raise $200 million for its debut fund.
Asia VC: Vertex's evolving early-stage network
Vertex Holdings’ Chua Kee-Lock likens his network of VC funds seeded by the Temasek-owned entity as a distributed computer system. It will draw down more power as it grows
Wavemaker closes third Southeast Asia fund at $111m
Wavemaker Partners has closed its third Southeast Asia venture capital fund with $111 million in commitments. The target was $100 million.
Q&A: Navegar's Honorio Poblador
Honorio Poblador, co-founder at Philippines-based Navegar, explains how his firm is positioning its second fund – newly closed at $197 million – in the face of the COVID-19 downturn
China's Yingke PE raises $286m
Shanghai-based Yingke Private Equity has closed its latest renminbi-denominated fund with commitments of RMB2 billion ($286 million), primarily from insurers and other financial institutions.