Venture
China healthcare: Technology transfer
Healthcare-focused private equity firms want to take technologies from developed markets into China, leveraging rising domestic demand. It is a lucrative strategy, but not necessarily a straightforward one
Chinese personal finance app Wacai raises $50m
Hangzhou Wacai Science, a Chinese personal finance management mobile app developer, has raised $50 million in a Series B round of funding led by China Broadband Capital and CICC Capital, a PE arm of China International Capital Corporation.
VC-backed Chinese dating app set for $267m US IPO
Momo, a Chinese location-based social-networking app with several VC backers, will raise up to $266.8 million through a US IPO. The company has also agreed to sell shares to Alibaba Group and 58.com through a separate private placement.
Financial technology accelerator launches in Singapore
Startupbootcamp FinTech, a Europe-based accelerator that focuses on financial technology, has launched an Asian program in Singapore.
China online rental site Uoko.com raises $22m from VCs
A group of VC investors, including Matrix Partners, SIG China, Legend Capital and China Renaissance, have invested $22 million in a Series B round of funding for Uoko.com, a Chinese online rental operator.
AIA, Nest set up accelerator for Hong Kong start-ups
AIA Group has teamed up with early-stage investor Nest to form a Hong Kong-based accelerator that will support start-ups with technologies relevant to the insurance and healthcare industries.
BVCF leads Series A for Shanghai immunotherapy firm
China-focused healthcare investor BVCF has led an undisclosed Series A round of funding for CARsgen, an immunotherapy firm that focuses on treating cancer.
Lighthouse leads $5m Series C round for hearing aid maker
Shanghai-based Lighthouse Capital has led a $5 million Series C round of funding for affordable hearing aid maker iHear Medical.
Insight Venture backs Singapore's Wealth-X
US-based Insight Venture Partners has invested in Singapore's Wealth-X, a start-up offering sales, marketing, and compliance solutions to clients targeting ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWI).
India early stage: Sowing seeds
India’s young demographic and growing mobile adoption is an opportunity waiting to be tapped for early-stage investors. Industry incumbents are making the most of it, but there is room for more
Fidelity commits $10m to China medical device maker Eyebright
Fidelity Growth Partners Asia and Fidelity Biosciences have committed RMB62.5 million ($10 million) to Eyebright Medical Technology, a Chinese ophthalmic medical devices manufacturer.
Fidelity, Arbour lead $8.5m round for Japan fin-tech start-up
Japanese finance technology start-up Accounting SaaS Japan (ASJ) has secured a JPY1 billion ($8.5 million) Series B round of funding from Fidelity Growth Partners Japan, Arbor Ventures and iMercury Capital.
Rakuten leads $10m Series A for Singapore’s PocketMath
Rakuten Ventures, a corporate VC arm of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, has led a $10 million Series A round for PocketMath, a Singapore-based mobile advertising platform.
Convergence Accel launches $25m Indonesia VC fund
Jakarta-based VC firm Convergence Accel has launched a $25 million debut fund that will invest in Indonesian early-stage technology companies.
SAIF India set for $350m final close on second fund
SAIF India has raised $350 million for its second fund since spinning out from SAIF Partners in 2011. The vehicle is oversubscribed and a final close is scheduled for early December.
Sequoia leads $20m Series B round for China’s HunterOn
Sequoia Capital has led a $20 million Series B round of funding for HunterOn, a Chinese online recruitment service provider, with participation from IDG Capital Partners.
Japan VC-backed internet firm Kayac files for IPO
Kayac, a Japanese internet company backed by Globis Capital Partners and CyberAgent, has filed for its IPO on the Mothers (market of the high-growth and emerging stocks) section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE).
VCs commit $60m to India restaurant listings site Zomato
Zomato, a restaurant search service based in India, has raised a Series E round of funding worth $60 million from Vy Capital and existing backers Info Edge and Sequoia Capital.
Xiaomi, Shunwei to invest $300m in Baidu-controlled iQiyi
Chinese smart phone maker Xiaomi and Shunwei Capital – a VC firm set up by Xiaomi co-founder and super angel investor Lei Jun – will invest $300 million in iQiyi, a video platform owned by Baidu.
Australia's Bigcommerce gets $50m growth equity round
SoftBank Capital, Telstra Ventures and American Express have led a Series D round of funding worth $50 million for Bigcommerce, an Australian e-commerce platform with a strong presence in the US. Existing investors General Catalyst and Revolution Growth...
VC-backed eHi Car Services raises $120m in US IPO
EHi Car Services, a Shanghai-based car rental company backed by a string of VC investors, has raised $120 million through an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Bubble talk: VC valuations
In Beijing and Silicon Valley, there is cause for concern at the flood of capital entering the technology space. It draws comparisons with the dotcom bubble era – but VCs at the AVCJ Forum were keen to play down the similarities.
VC-backed Japanese gaming start-up files for Tokyo IPO
Gumi, the VC-backed Japanese game developer, has filed for its Tokyo IPO, which could value the company at JPY100 billion ($900 million).
Vertex leads $30m round for Chinese e-commerce site Metao
Vertex Ventures has led a $30 million round of funding for Metao, a Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform, with participation from Morningside Technologies, Greenwoods Investment and Matrix Partners.