Venture
2023 preview: Fundraising
Fundraising is difficult for all but the fortunate few private equity managers in Asia. GPs are delaying launches, shaking up strategies, and offering sweeteners; LPs are in no hurry to make commitments
Hong Kong’s E15 VC raises $61m for third fund
Hong Kong’s E15 VC has hit a first close of USD 60.75m on its third global deep tech fund with an anchor investment from existing cornerstone LP Sun Hung Kai & Co (SHK).
India's Blume closes fourth India VC fund on $250m
India’s Blume Ventures has closed its fourth fund targeting seed-stage tech start-ups on USD 250m, beating a target of USD 200m. Fund III raised USD 105m in 2020.
Fund focus: Southeast Asia piques Silicon Valley interest
Singapore’s Iterative is dazzling its entrepreneurial friends in the US with tales of seed-stage success in Southeast Asia and channelling that interest into a sophomore fund
Korea's Daesung Private Equity raises $85m metaverse fund
Daesung Private Equity, an affiliate of Korean conglomerate Daesung Group, has launched a metaverse-focused fund with KRW 110bn (USD 84.6m) in commitments.
FWD, Artem launch Malaysia insurtech fund
Hong Kong-based insurer FWD Group and Malaysia’s Artem Ventures have set up a MYR 45m (USD 10.2m) VC fund focused on insurance technology and Islamic financial technology in Malaysia.
India's 3one4 seeks $200m for fourth VC fund
3one4 Capital, an India-based early-stage investor, has launched its fourth venture capital fund with a target of USD 200m. It raised the same amount in the previous vintage.
Singapore’s Iterative closes second VC fund on $55m
Singapore-based early-stage VC firm and accelerator Iterative has closed its second Southeast Asia fund with USD 55m in commitments.
Fund focus: Panacea defies biotech downturn
Having raised its second fund amid weakening investor sentiment for biotech, Panacea Venture expects deployment to be guided by a widening valuation gap between the US and China
Asia Partners targets $600m for second Southeast Asia fund
Asia Partners, a Singapore-based private equity firm focused on growth-stage technology investments, is targeting USD 600m for its second fund.
India's Kae Capital closes Fund III on $94m
Indian seed-stage investor Kae Capital has closed its third flagship fund at about INR 7.7bn (USD 94m) with about 40% of the capital coming from overseas investors.
Q&A: AC Ventures’ Adrian Li
Adrian Li, founder and managing partner of Indonesia-focused AC Ventures, on Chinese incursions into Southeast Asia, localisation versus scale, the prospect of a protracted downturn, and being an Ironman
China's Sinovation reaches $250m mark on fifth VC fund
China-focused Sinovation Ventures reached a USD 200m first close on its fifth flagship US dollar-denominated fund in April and is currently around the USD 250m mark against a target of USD 500m.
China's CCV raises $150m opportunity fund
China Creation Ventures (CCV) has raised USD 150m for an opportunity fund that will participate in follow-on rounds and back spin-outs from established companies.
Panacea closes second healthcare fund on $276m
Panacea Venture, a healthcare-focused investment firm established by James Huang, formerly a partner at KPCB China, has closed its second fund with approximately USD 276m in commitments.
Wavemaker hits first close on SE Asia climate fund
Singapore’s Wavemaker Partners has hit a first close of USD 13m on its debut impact fund, which focuses on climate themes in Southeast Asia. The target is USD 25m.
China to Singapore: A VC invasion
Chinese venture capital firms are establishing and expanding operations in Singapore in response to challenges at home and to address the Southeast Asian market. Do they have staying power?
Chiratae reaches $93m first close on debut India growth fund
India-based venture capital firm Chiratae Ventures has achieved a first close of INR 7.59bn (USD 93m) on its debut growth fund, announcing that it was substantially oversubscribed.
Q&A: Northwestern University’s Tianhao Wu
Tianhao Wu, a managing director in the investment team at Northwestern University’s endowment, on adding new GP relationships, addressing China risk, and pursuing geographic diversification in Asia
India's 8i Ventures hits first close on Fund II
8i Ventures, an India-based early-stage venture capital firm, has achieved a first close of approximately USD 25m on its second fund. The overall target is USD 50m.
P&G establishes $24m India innovation fund
Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) India unit has established a INR 2bn (USD 24.1m) fund that will invest in technologies that help address challenges within its core business.
Australia VC player Blackbird closes $647m fund
Blackbird Ventures has raised AUD 1bn (USD 647m) for its latest fund, which will invest in “generational” technology companies in Australia and New Zealand. It is the largest ever VC fund raised by an Australia-based manager.
China's Bright Capital raises $137m
China-based venture capital firm Bright Capital has raised CNY 1bn (USD 137m) across two funds - its third renminbi-denominated vehicle and its first US dollar fund.
Australia’s Square Peg raises $550m across two VC funds
Australian venture capital firm Square Peg Capital has raised USD 550m across two vehicles, including its fourth flagship early-stage fund and a follow-on fund.