Venture
Hong Kong biotech IPOs: Capital injection
The move to allow zero-revenue biotech companies to list in Hong Kong has spurred investor interest in healthcare. But valuations are high and success in this capital-intensive space is by no means guaranteed
India's Axilor launches $30m seed fund
Indian early-stage investor and accelerator Axilor Ventures has launched a INR2 billion ($30 million) fund aimed at seed investments in Indian start-ups.
Southeast Asia's Grab launches venture arm
Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing app operator Grab has launched a venture capital unit aimed at developing and investing in emerging technology businesses across the region.
Fund focus: Pivotal’s urge to incubate
Nan Fung Group has established Pivotal Bioventure Partners China to build a concentrated portfolio of high-quality life science assets and nurture them from inception to exit
China VC: Selection issues
China's venture capital space is increasingly popular among LPs, overpopulated by GPs, and generally difficult to navigate
Japan's Gumi raises $30m for blockchain VC fund
Gumi, a Japanese mobile game publisher backed by a number of VCs, has secured $30 million for a venture capital fund that will invest in blockchain and cryptocurrency start-ups.
Fund focus: AlphaX tracks evolving China VC story
Having raised $270 million for his debut fund at AlphaX Partners, former Highland Capital Partners executive Chuan Thor is keen to tap emerging trends in consumer internet and enterprise services
China's Genesis targets $600m for second fund
Genesis Capital, a Chinese venture capital firm established by Richard Peng, formerly head of M&A at Tencent Holdings, is targeting $600 million for its second fund.
China's Sinovation launches AI-focused fund
Sinovation Ventures has formed a RMB2.5 billion ($395 million) venture capital fund that will focus on artificial intelligence (AI). It is a cooperative effort with the Guangzhou government to drive technology development.
Pivotal raises $150m for China life sciences fund
Pivotal Bioventure Partners China, an investment platform of Hong Kong conglomerate Nan Fung Group, has raised $150 million for a fund that will incubate Chinese life science start-ups.
Fund focus: Tapping the Alibaba talent seam
Vision Plus Capital looks to tap the entrepreneurial talent developing in Alibaba Group's ecosystem for its second US dollar and renminbi-denominated funds
China's AlphaX raises $270m venture capital fund
AlphaX Partners, a Chinese venture capital firm established by Chuan Thor (pictured), formerly of Highland Capital China, has closed its first US dollar and renminbi-denominated fund with around $270m in commitments.
Legend hits $156m first close on renminbi healthcare fund
Legend Capital has reached a first close of RMB1 billion ($156 million) on its second dedicated healthcare fund. A US dollar-denominated vehicle – also the VC firm’s second for the sector – is scheduled for launch in the third quarter.
San Francisco pension fund backs China's SBCVC - update
San Francisco City & County Employees’ Retirement System has committed $25 million to SBCVC’s sixth China fund, which has a target of $500 million. The GP closed its previous VC vehicle at $459 million in 2016.
Hong Kong's Arbor raises $178.5m for second VC fund
Hong Kong-based Arbor Ventures has received $178.5 million in commitments for its second financial technology-focused venture capital fund. The targeted corpus is $220 million.
Next 10 secures $50m for user-generated content fund
Next 10 Ventures, a US and Singapore-based GP headed by former YouTube and Warner Bros executives, has raised $50 million for a fund focused on user-generated media content businesses.
Vietnam start-ups: A tale of two cities
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City provide Vietnam’s nascent start-up scene with a unique double-hub structure. Ecosystem gestation remains slow but it is supported by a nuanced diversity
Vision Plus raises $500m for China VC funds
Vision Plus Capital Partners, a Chinese venture capital firm set up by one of the co-founders of Alibaba Group, has raised $500 million for its second US dollar and renminbi-denominated funds.
Australia's Westpac invests $37m in Reinventure
Australia’s Westpac Banking Corp has committed A$50 million ($37 million) to the third fund of its venture capital unit Reinventure.
Indonesia VC: Levels of comfort
For all the fervor about technology opportunities in Indonesia, independent local VC firms are thin on the ground. Traditional LPs want to see more evidence of performance before getting involved
GGV closes debut renminbi VC fund at $236m
GGV Capital has raised RMB1.5 billion ($236 million) for its debut renminbi-denominated fund. The successful close takes the Sino-US venture capital firm’s total assets under management past $4 billion.
Fund focus: Sky9 seeks early-stage differentiation
Having raised two VC funds with Lightspeed China Partners, Ron Cao has closed his first at Sky9 Capital with $200 million in commitments. The industry dynamics have changed, but Cao is sticking to his early-stage roots
India's Zodius hires executive from Providence
Varun Laul (pictured), the sole remaining India-based representative of Providence Equity Partners, has left the GP to join technology-focused venture capital firm Zodius Capital.
India’s Unitus reaches $15m first close on second impact fund
Indian VC firm Unitus Ventures (formerly Unitus Seed Fund) has reached a first close of INR1 billion ($15 million) for its second early-stage impact investment fund.