Venture
Deal focus: Securing a nation’s digital vaults
Data Republic has attracted Series A funding from some of Australia’s biggest companies, with a notable showing by the major banks demonstrating a growing focus on data security investment in the financial sector
LP interview: Top Tier Capital Partners
Top Tier Capital Management sees continued interest from Asian LPs in the US venture capital market, but newcomers to the asset class must learn to understand its workings and be prepared for setbacks
Tencent invests $40m in VC-backed Chinese education site
Tencent Holdings has committed $40 million for a minority stake in VC-backed Yuanfudao - the largest single investment made by the internet company in the K-12 online learning and teaching space.
Chengwei backs China electronics recycling platform
China-focused Chengwei Capital has led a Series A round of funding worth about RMB100 million ($15 million) for Huishoubao, a Chinese electronic devices recycling platform.
Hong Kong's Lalamove raises $10m round led by MindWorks
MindWorks Ventures has led a $10 million funding round for Hong Kong-based van rental app developer Lalamove.
Alibaba, Ant Financial to re-up in China’s Didi Chuxing
Alibaba Group and its financial affiliate Ant Financial plan to invest a further $400 million in Didi Chuxing. This comes as the Chinese ride-hailing app operator is raising a new round of fund said to be as large as $2.5 billion.
Lilly Asia, SBCVC invest $15m in China online drug seller
Healthcare-focused GP Lilly Asia Ventures and SBCVC have participated in a RMB100 million ($15 million) Series A round for 360 Haoyao, an online drug seller established by Chinese software company Qihoo360 Technology.
Aetius commits $5m Series A to Singapore's Cloud Alliance
Singapore-based mobile gaming platform developer Cloud Alliance has raised $5 million in Series A funding from Aetius Capital.
Fund focus: WI Harper sticks to small scale
While other VC firms have seen significant jumps in fund size as they target the growth space, WI Harper's latest Asia-US vehicle will remain focused on early-stage deals with a cross-border angle
Asia leads first quarter global fintech investments
VC-backed companies in Asia led a worldwide surge of investments in financial technology companies in the first quarter of 2016, according to a new report from KPMG and CB Insights (CBI).
Vivo raises $100m for Sino-US healthcare VC fund
Healthcare specialist Vivo Capital has closed its latest Sino-US venture capital fund with around $100 million in commitments. The vehicle will focus on early-stage investments.
China micro VC: The micro wave
Micro VC firms are a relatively new segment in China’s venture capital ecosystem, the product of angel investors going institutional. They focus on early stage deals, but as demand grows, will they stay there?
China online grocer Benlai raises extended Series C round
Benlai.com, a Chinese B2C-focused online grocery supplier, has raised an extended Series C round of funding worth $17 million.
Corporate VC: A fine balance
Corporations in Asia increasingly see the merits of captive VC units, but they must be clear in their financial and strategic objectives in order to give teams the right combination of autonomy and guidance
DMP leads $3m Series A for Malaysia's Jirnexu - update
Singapore-based venture capital firm DMP has led a $3 million Series A round for Malaysian financial technology start-up Jirnexu.
Australia's Data Republic gets $7.6m Series A round
Australia-based financial technology company Data Republic has received $10.5 million ($7.6 million) in funding from National Australia Bank (NAB), Westpac and Qantas.
Vision Knight leads $153m round for China’s Weidai
Vision Knight Capital has led a $1 billion ($153 million) Series C round of funding for Weidai, a Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform that specializes on providing auto loans.
Facebook co-founder's VC firm in first close on US-Asia fund - update
B Capital Group, a VC firm launched by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and Raj Ganguly, formerly of Velos Partners and Bain Capital, has reached a first close on a US and Asia-focused fund, which has a full target of $250 million.
Healthcare app launched by China's Ping An Insurance raises $500m
Ping An Good Doctor, a healthcare-focused mobile app controlled by Chinese Ping An Insurance Group, has raised $500 million in a Series A round of funding at a valuation of $3 billion.
SBCVC leads round for China robotics start-up CloudMinds
SBCVC has committed $10 million to a $30 million seed round of funding for CloudMinds, a Chinese cloud-based robotics start-up.
NZVIF appoints new CEO
New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF), a government-sponsored VC fund-of-funds, has appointed Richard Dellabarca as its new CEO. He replaces Franceska Banga, who has led the fund since its inception in 2002.
Singapore's NRF seeds four corporate VC funds
Corporate VC funds operated by real estate developer CapitaLand, cloud services provider DeClout, agriculture company Wilmar International and logistics provider YCH Group will share S$40 million ($29 million) in seed funding from Singapore’s National...
China Fosun Kinzon VC loses top management team
Three senior executives – including Jun Wang, the managing partner and chairman – have left Fosun Kinzon Capital, the venture capital arm of China’s Fosun Group, to set up their own firm.
WI Harper raises $175m Asia fund
WI Harper Group has closed its eighth venture capital fund, which targets early-stage investments in Asia-focused companies, at $175 million.