South Asia
Fund focus: Asia Alternatives rides out chaos
Regulatory tumult in China has not materially shaken LP faith in Asia Alternatives or the fund-of-fund manager’s commitment to China – but an increased India allocation is likely in the latest vintage
India smart devices producer Smartron raises $200m
Smartron, an India-focused smart devices brand backed by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, has received USD 200m in funding from Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM).
WestBridge leads $29m Series B for India's Vyapar
WestBridge Capital has led an approximately USD 29m Series B round for Indian small business financial technology provider Vyapar. The company is now valued at around USD 118m.
Deal focus: Darwinbox's unusual path to unicorn status
Most of India’s top software-as-a-service companies gained traction in the North American market. Darwinbox cracked Southeast Asia first, thanks to a product with broad appeal and local nuance
Invesco leads $700m round for India’s Swiggy
Invesco has led a USD 700m round for India-based on-demand delivery platform Swiggy at a reported valuation of USD 10.5bn.
Insight leads $56m Series C for India's M2P Fintech
India’s M2P Fintech, a software provider that connects banking infrastructure to consumer-facing technology platforms, has raised USD 56m in Series C funding led by Insight Partners.
India digital wealth manager secures $75m Series D
Indian personal finance app INDmoney has raised USD 75m in Series D funding from Steadview Capital, Tiger Global Management, and Dragoneer Investment Group.
Asia PE investment hits new high in 2021
A rebound in China-based activity took Asia private equity investment to a record USD 105.3bn in the fourth quarter, ensuring that 2021 represents a new high watermark for the industry.
EverSource closes India climate impact fund on $741m
EverSource Capital has reached a final close of USD 741m on what is being called India’s largest climate impact fund.
Impact investors commit $60m to India agtech platform
Quona Capital, Lightrock India, and Asia Impact SA have co-led a USD 60m Series C round for Indian agriculture technology platform Arya.
4Q analysis: Record quarter, record year
China rebounds as Asia private equity investment ends 2021 with a bang; bright spots in improving fundraising environment; sponsor-to-sponsor exits thrive while PE-backed IPOs stumble
WestBridge, GSV lead $100m Series E for India's Lead School
WestBridge Capital and GSV Ventures have led a USD 100m Series E round for Indian education technology platform Lead School at a valuation of USD 1.1bn.
India early wage access start-up secures $82m
Tiger Global Management has led a USD 82m Series B round for Refyne, an India-based early wage access (EWA) platform. Existing backers QED Investors, RTP Global, Jigsaw VC, Digital Horizon VC, and XYZ Capital also took part, as did partners from DST Global.
India waste management software provider secures $22m
Recykal, a software provider for the waste management and recycling industries, has raised USD 22m in funding led by Morgan Stanley India Infrastructure.
Deal focus: India's Prime Venture secures four-year extension
Foundation Private Equity has made its first foray into India, taking out all the LPs in Prime Venture Partners' debut fund through a tender offer process
Profile: Alkemi Growth Capital’s Alka Goel
A trail of haphazard jobs helped flesh out Alka Goel’s adventurousness and people skills before she established Indian healthcare and wellness specialist Alkemi Growth Capital
Tiger Global leads Series B for India's Avataar
Tiger Global Management has led a USD 45m Series B round for India’s Avataar, a company that uses 3D augmented reality (AR) displays to help e-commerce customers browse large items online.
India delivery business Dunzo raises $240m
Reliance Retail Ventures has contributed USD 200m to a USD 240m round for Indian last-mile delivery start-up Dunzo, taking a 25.8% stake.
India sports: In it to win it
Private equity interest in the commercialisation of sport globally is filtering through to India, with a couple of high-profile cricket deals. What other franchises and rights owners could be up for grabs?
TPG invests $360m in India's Fractal
TPG Capital has agreed to invest USD 360m – including primary and secondary components – in India and US-based data analytics provider Fractal. It facilitates a partial exit for Apax Partners.
India's Zupee closes Series B at $102m
Zupee, an Indian skill-based gaming platform, has raised a USD 72m Series B extension, taking the overall round to USD 102m. The company is now valued at USD 600m.
Steadview leads $40m Series D for India's Exotel
Steadview Capital has led a USD 40m Series D round for Exotel, an Indian customer engagement platform provider that claims to have raised about USD 100m in the past 15 months.
Nexus co-founder Naren Gupta dies aged 73
Naren Gupta, a co-founder of Nexus Venture Partners who is acknowledged as one of the pioneers of venture capital in India, has died at the age of 73.
Global VCs invest $86m in India digital bank Jupiter
Tiger Global Management, QED Investors, and Sequoia Capital India have led a USD 86m Series C round for Indian digital bank Jupiter with support from Matrix Partners India and Singapore’s Beenext.