Regions
China biotech: Going global
A gradual shift in focus from sourcing assets from overseas for application in China to bringing China-made treatments to the world is challenging the notion of what constitutes a local biotech start-up
Deal focus: Vedantu highlights impact potential in Indian edtech
The latest round for livestreaming teaching app Vedantu reframes India’s swaggering, unicorn-populated edtech sector as the impact opportunity it always was
Deal focus: COVID-19 grows India’s Medikabazaar
Pandemic-driven demand for masks, ventilators, and the like has propelled Indian medical equipment operator Medikabazaar to its next stage of development with a global mix of investors
China SaaS: Path to profitability
COVID-19 has driven enterprise uptake of software-as-a-service solutions in China, but paying customers are still relatively few. Other markets offer some pointers on monetization
Q&A: Poema Global’s Homer Sun
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia’s former CIO explains why he likes special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and what drew him to electric scooter and mobility technology player Gogoro
Indonesian e-commerce marketplace Ula raises $87m
Ula, a leading B2B e-commerce marketplace in Indonesia, has raised $87 million in a Series B round co-led by Prosus Ventures, Tencent Holdings and B Capital Group.
Falcon Edge leads $200m round for India's Ola Electric
Falcon Edge Capital has led a $200 million investment in Indian electric vehicle (EV) maker Ola Electric at a valuation of $3 billion with support from SoftBank.
PE-backed Oyo targets $1.1b India IPO
Oyo, an India-focused budget hotel platform backed by the likes of SoftBank Vision Fund, is looking to raise up to INR84.3 billion ($1.1 billion) through a domestic IPO.
Tiger Global leads $50m round for China's DataCloak
China-based cyber security start-up DataCloak has raised $50 million in an extended Series B round led by Tiger Global Management. Existing investors Matrix Partners China, Jeneration Capital, GL Ventures and GSR Ventures re-upped.
India's Meesho sees valuation double in five months
Indian social e-commerce start-up Meesho has raised a $570 million Series F round, doubling its valuation in less than five months to $4.9 billion.
India edtech player Vedantu raises $100m Series E
ABC World Asia, an impact investor with ties to Singapore's Temasek Holdings, has led a $100 million Series E round for Indian education technology company Vedantu at a valuation of $1 billion.
CDC backs Gobi's Pakistan fund
UK development finance institution CDC Group has provided an anchor commitment of undisclosed size to a Pakistan VC fund targeting $20 million from Gobi Ventures and local conglomerate Fatima Group.
India PE stalwart Ajay Relan dies aged 67
Ajay Relan, one of the pioneers of private equity in India, has died at the age of 67.
EQT recruits Japan private equity head from JPIC
EQT has hired Tetsuro Onitsuka, formerly of Japan Post Investment Corporation (JPIC) and TPG Capital, as head of Japan private equity as it continues to build out a local presence in the country.
Carlyle buys Japan advertising business
The Carlyle Group has completed its acquisition of Japanese advertising content provider AOI TYO Holdings follow a tender offer that valued the Tokyo-listed company at JPY21.4 billion ($191 million).
Ex-Quadrant executive launches consumer-tech PE firm
Justin Ryan, who previously led Quadrant Private Equity’s growth capital strategy, has established a private equity firm that will back e-commerce platforms and consumer brands in Australia and New Zealand.
China autonomous sanitation vehicle maker raises $250m
CowaRobot, a Chinese autonomous driving technology developer with an initial focus on sanitation vehicles, has raised $250 million in Series C funding.
TPG, Potentia pursue Australia's Smartgroup
TPG Capital and Potentia Capital have submitted a buyout offer for employee management services provider Smartgroup that values the Australia-listed business at a market capitalization of A$1.38 billon ($993 million).
Thailand’s Ascend Money raises $150m
Bangkok-based Ascend Money has raised $150 million from a group of investors including Ant Group, at a valuation of $1.5 billion. It claims to be Thailand’s first financial technology unicorn.
Lightrock leads round for India BNPL player Capital Float
Capital Float, an Indian lending platform now positioning itself as a buy now, pay later (BNPL) specialist, has raised $50 million led by the local unit of UK-based private equity investor Lightrock.
China robotics player Mech-Mind raises $154m
Chinese industrial robotics supplier Mech-Mind has raised nearly RMB1 billion ($154 million) in a Series C funding round led by Meituan and IDG Capital.
EQT backs cybersecurity training business
EQT has invested in EC-Council, a cybersecurity training and certification business established by a Malaysian entrepreneur, through its Asia mid-market fund.