South Asia
Singapore's Grayscale hits first close on debut VC fund
Grayscale Ventures, a Singapore-based VC firm set up last month by South Asia-focused investors at Japan’s Strive, has achieved a first close of about USD 10m on its debut fund.
Kotak fund invests $129m in India's Biocon
Kotak Mahindra Advisors (KIA), the alternative assets arm of Kotak Mahindra Group, has committed INR 10.7bn (USD 129.4m) to Indian pharmaceuticals manufacturer Biocon to support the latter’s acquisition of a biosimilar business from global healthcare...
Greater Pacific Capital leads round for India's NxtWave
Greater Pacific Capital has led a USD 33m round for NxtWave, an India-based online training platform that looks to develop skilled professionals suitable for employment in the technology sector.
Capital Square secures post-merger India IT services deal
Capital Square Partners (CSP) has announced its first deal since merging with Basil Technology Partners (BTP) with an investment in Relevance Lab, an IT services provider that has a sizeable operation in India.
Amazon leads Series D for India's FreshToHome
Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund, a USD 250m India-focused vehicle established by the US technology giant, has led a USD 104m Series D round for direct-to-consumer fresh fish and meat delivery platform FreshToHome.
Data sovereignty: Compliance complex
Deglobalisation is broadening the concept of cyber risk management from simply preventing attacks to navigating a minefield of data regulations. The pressure on PE spans investment, operations, and exits
AVCJ Awards 2022: Operational Value Add: Sona Comstar
The Blackstone Group built a leader in India’s electric vehicle components space by combining – and then re-orienting – two traditional automotive players. Not even COVID-19 could stymie its progress
PeerCapital hits $37m first close on India early-stage fund
PeerCapital, an Indian venture capital firm that participates in seed and Series A rounds, has reached a first close of INR 3bn (USD 36.3m) on its debut fund.
Ribbit, Tiger Global, TVS commit $100m to India's PhonePe
Ribbit Capital, Tiger Global Management, and TVS Capital Funds have committed USD 100m to Indian digital payments platform PhonePe, joining an ever-lengthening investor roster.
Goldman Sachs, TVS lead $150m round for India's InsuranceDekho
Goldman Sachs and TVS Capital Funds have led a USD 150m Series A round for India’s InsuranceDekho, an online insurance policy comparison and brokerage service.
Deal focus: Zypp aims for the EV fast lane
Zypp Electric’s USD 25m Series B comes on the back of a business model pivot, a pandemic-driven boom, and a tie-up with its lead investor to put swappable batteries into its two-wheelers
Indian drone start-up Garuda Aerospace raises $22m
Recently established Indian VC firm SphitiCap has led a USD 22m Series A round for Garuda Aerospace, a local industrial drone maker and related services provider.
Inconfin closes India impact fund on $77m
Incofin Investment Management, a Belgium-headquartered impact investor, has reached a final close of USD 77m on a fund that will target financial inclusion and agri-food in India.
India's Rezolve.ai secures $11m Series A
SIG Venture Capital has led a USD 11m Series A round for Rezolve.ai, a US and India-based start-up that applies conversational artificial intelligence (AI) to human resources services.
B Capital, Quona back India EV financing player Turno
B Capital Group and Quona Capital have led a USD 13.8m Series A round for Turno, an India-based platform that helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) switch from combustion engine-powered three-wheelers to electric vehicles (EVs).
AIIB launches $160m to cleantech VC strategy
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has committed USD 160m to a plan to back small-scale venture capital funds targeting cleantech and technology-enabled sustainable infrastructure.
Bessemer, SIG lead Series B for India's Entropik
Bessemer Venture Partners and SIG Venture Capital have led a USD 25m Series B round for Indian marketing research platform Entropik.
AI: Asia awakens to ChatGPT
ChatGPT has sent shockwaves through the technology sector globally. Asia is no exception as investors look for ways to leverage the platform and China contemplates a standard of its own
India, US-based Usher closes $50m Series C
Third Point Ventures has led a USD 50m Series C round for India and US-based enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology provider Ushur.
MO Alts pays $48m for stake in Indian diaper maker
Motilal Oswal Alternates (MO Alts), formerly Motilal Oswal Private Equity, has invested INR 4bn (USD 48m) in India’s Pan Healthcare, a hygiene products maker best known for diapers.
LP interview: Quilvest Capital Partners
Fund-of-funds Quilvest Capital Partners was an early-mover in PE globally but has maintained a lean profile that speaks to its family office roots. It is pressing ahead with a China and India-focused Asia strategy
Fund focus: ChrysCapital accumulates $1.4b India war chest
For ChrysCapital Partners, raising India’s largest private equity fund reflects the growth in the economy and in the investment opportunity, with bigger deals across more sectors on the agenda
AVCJ Awards 2022: Firm of the Year – Large Cap: Baring Private Equity Asia
Baring Private Equity Asia’s 2022 was punctuated by a high-profile merger with EQT, a bumper fundraise, and USD 10bn in exits. Jean Eric Salata, now head of BPEA EQT, shares his thoughts on the market
India exits: Sustainable trend?
GPs saw abundant exits in India in 2021 and the flow continued last year even as other markets stumbled. Investors must assess the merits of various contributing cyclical and structural factors