Venture
Chinese parenting site Lamabang raises $100m
China online retailer Vipshop has led a $100 million Series C round of funding for Lamabang, an online social networking platform that focuses on mothers.
Rocket Internet delivers Series A financing to Bridestory
Rocket Internet has participated in a Series A round of funding for Indonesian online wedding marketplace Bridestory. The size of the investment was not disclosed, but it is said to be between $1 million and $10 million.
Sydney launches financial technology start-up hub
Sydney has launched a hub for financial technology start-ups, supported by initial funding of A$2 million ($1.6 million) from a string of Australian banks, property and technology firms in collaboration with the New South Wales government.
Taiwan’s MediaTek launches $300m corporate VC fund
MediaTek, a leading Taiwanese fabless chipmaker, has launched a $300 million venture fund that will invest in global start-ups.
Shunwei goes local with RMB fund
It is a classic China dilemma: over the past three years, Shunwei Capital Partners has been forced to pass up on a string of a good deals because the companies wanted renminbi-denominated funding and the venture capital firm only had US dollar funds.
China gold rush: Venture in bloom
Flipping through the pages of a men's magazine in an airport lounge, I can't help but notice that double-breasted suits being hailed as one of the next big trends in menswear. Yes, the Gordon Gekko look, with some updates, is back. And like the fashion...
Alibaba to launch $316m non-profit fund for Taiwan start-ups
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group has earmarked NT$100 billion ($316 million) for a not-for-profit fund that will be used to boost entrepreneurship among young people in Taiwan.
Lightspeed invests $12m in China car after-sales platform
Lightspeed China Partners has committed $12 million to Yikuaixiu.com, a Beijing-based automotive after-sales service platform, in a Series A round of funding.
China’s N5 Capital launches $200m debut VC fund
N5 Capital, a Beijing-based venture capital firm, has launched its debut US dollar-denominated fund.
LACERA invests $75m in GGV’s top-up fund
Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA) has committed up to $75 million to a new fund launched by Sino-US venture capital firm GGV Capital.
China’s Galaxy Game Entertainment raises $16m
Shanghai Galaxy Game Entertainment, a Chinese mobile games developer, has raised RMB100 million ($16 million) in a Series A round of funding from Shenzhen Oriental Fortune, Shenzhen Green Pine Capital and Shanghai Cultural Industry Fund.
Sequoia leads $4.5m round for Indian interior design start-up HomeLane
Sequoia Capital has led a $4.5 million Series A round of funding for HomeLane, a Bangalore-based interior design company, with participation from Aarin Capital.
Singapore space junk start-up raises $7.7m Series A
Astronscale, a Singapore-based start-up that develops satellites to remove space debris, has raised $7.7 million in a Series A round of funding from JAFCO and nine entrepreneurs from Japan.
SAIF, Accion invest in India’s Aye Finance
SAIF Partners and Accion - a global non-profit organization - have invested $1 million in Aye Finance, an India-based lender that serves profitable micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Indian P2P rental property listings site NoBroker raises $3m
SAIF Partners and Fulcrum Ventures have taken part in a $3 million Series A round of funding for NoBroker, a Bangalore-based peer-to-peer (P2P) property listings site for renting homes.
Chinese K12 education site 17zuoye raises $100m
H Capital has led a $100 million Series D round of funding for 17zuoye.com, a Chinese K-12 online learning and teaching platform. Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, DST Advisors and Shunwei Capital Partners, also took part in the round.
Shunwei closes first RMB fund at $160m
Shunwei Capital Partners, a Chinese VC firm set up by Lei Jun, a founder of mobile phone maker Xiaomi, has closed its first renminbi-denominated fund at RMB1 billion ($160 million).
China manicure service app raises $50m Series C from VCs
Helijia, a Chinese mobile app for booking manicure appointments, has raised a $50 million Series C round of funding from several venture capital investors, valuing the start-up at approximately $300 million.
Australia VC: Policy permutations
Plans to reinstate tax breaks for Australian start-ups that issue share options to staff rather than pay sizeable salaries has cheered VC investors. They are generally positive about the government role in fostering innovation
Israeli Rainbow Medical raises $25m from Chinese investors
Rainbow Medical, an Israeli medical investment firm, has raised $25 million from a group of Chinese investors including Ping An Insurance and telecom giant ZTE Corporation,financial company Yongjin Group and undisclosed Chinese venture capital funds.
China’s two largest VC-backed taxi-booking apps to merge
Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache, China's two largest venture capital-backed taxi-booking app start-ups, are planning to merge to create one of the largest companies of its kind in the world.
Australia drafts new rules for VC investor visa scheme
The Australian government plans to change the current rules for its Significant Investor Visa (SIV) program as part of efforts to boost the availability of capital for local start-ups.
Sequoia, Matrix commit $30m to Indian doctor search site
Sequoia Capital India and Matrix Partners have invested $30 million in a Series B round of funding for Practo Technologies, an Indian start-up that provides a search portal matching patients and doctors.
NSI Ventures leads round for Singapore insurance marketplace
NSI Ventures, the VC unit of Northstar Group, has led Series A round of funding worth $8 million for Asian insurance and wellness marketplace CXA, alongside consumer and technology fund F&H and healthcare investor BioVeda.