South Asia
Southeast Asia VC: Knowledge transfers
When venture capital firms move into Southeast Asia, they often use existing operations in China or India as a launching pad. Different lessons can be learned from these two markets
India's ShareChat gets $40m pre-Series E round
ShareChat, a social networking platform that focuses on Indian vernacular languages, has raised $40 million in a pre-Series E funding round.
Iron Pillar leads Series C for Indian after-sales service player
Iron Pillar has led a $23 million Series C round of funding for Servify, an India-headquartered start-up that integrates parties involved in smart device retail with a view to improving customer service experience.
Deal focus: Airmeet rewires the conference circuit
As social distancing and travel restrictions play havoc with traditional conferences, Airmeet has seen a spike in demand for its virtual alternatives. A Series A round duly followed
KKR to invest $755m in India's Reliance Retail
KKR has followed up its investment in Jio Platforms, the holding company for a variety of digital assets owned by Reliance Industries, with a INR55.5 billion ($755 million) commitment to the Indian conglomerate’s retail unit.
India gaming platform secures $90m Series C
SIG Asia, RTP Global, MDI Ventures and Pegasus Tech Ventures have led a $90 million Series C round for Mobile Premier League (MPL), an India-based mobile gaming platform.
Blackstone makes $253m part-exit from India's Essel Propack
The Blackstone Group has made a partial exit from Indian packaging manufacturer Essel Propack (EPL) – which provides the tubes to 40% of the world’s toothpaste – generating proceeds of INR18.6 billion ($253.4 million).
Corporate VCs & climate change: Good citizens
Increased climate change awareness on a corporate level is leading to more investment – either direct or through funds – in start-ups that offer mitigation solutions. Asia is a key geography
India insurance tech provider raises $60m
Acko, an Indian financial technology start-up touted as the country’s only digital-native insurer, has secured a $60 million investment featuring Amazon and two global insurance providers.
LP interview: Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
For Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, COVID-19 has reinforced the key tenets of its Asia investment strategy, from being flexible on timeline to putting boots on the ground
Asia-focused events platform Airmeet raises $12m
Sequoia Capital India has led a $12 million Series A round for US-based and Asia-focused virtual events platform provider Airmeet.
India fantasy sports platform raises $225m
TPG – acting through its tech adjacencies strategy – Tiger Global Management, ChrysCapital Partners, and Footpath Ventures have led a $225 million round for Dream Sports, operator of India’s largest fantasy sports platform.
Sequoia joins $30m Series C for India's Groww
Groww, a financial technology start-up considered the largest retail brokerage in India, has closed a $30 million Series C round with support from Sequoia Capital India.
Baring to buy IT outsourcing player Virtusa for $2b
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to buy Virtusa, a global business consulting and IT outsourcing company with major delivery centers in India and Sri Lanka, for approximately $2 billion.
Bain's Asia data center platform seeks US listing
Chindata Group Holdings, which claims to be the largest player in emerging markets Asia’s carrier-neutral hyperscale data center industry in terms of capacity in service, has filed for an IPO.
Tiger, Temasek commit $160m to India's Zomato
Tiger Global Management and Temasek Holdings have contributed $160 million to an ongoing Series J round for India-based food delivery company Zomato.
Silver Lake invests $1b in India's Reliance Retail
Silver Lake has made its second big bet on India in a week – and its third in four months – with a $1 billion commitment to the retail unit of Reliance Industries.
Silver Lake backs India edtech player Byju's
Silver Lake has extended a string of large investments for India-based education technology platform Byju’s at a valuation of around $11 billion.
SoftBank leads $150m round for India's Unacademy
SoftBank has led a $150 million round for Indian education technology provider Unacademy, confirming the start-up’s unicorn status with a valuation around $1.4 billion.
3one4 hits first close on third India VC fund
India’s 3one4 Capital has reached a first close on its third flagship early-stage venture capital fund.
OTPP puts $350m into Edelweiss' India private debt business
India’s Edelweiss Group has brought a strategic investor into another of its business lines, with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) committing $350 million to the firm’s credit unit.
Deal focus: Creador scores as India pharma heats up
Creador's $34 million investment in packaging supplier Shriji Polymers represents an indirect bet on India's growing pharmaceutical industry. Product development and capacity expansion are priorities
Indian edtech player Eruditus gets $113m Series D
Eruditus, an Indian education technology provider focused on working professionals, has raised a $113 million Series D round featuring Sequoia Capital India.
Creador invests $34m in India's Shriji Polymers
Creador has invested INR2.5 billion ($34 million) in Shriji Polymers India, a manufacturer of plastic pharmaceuticals packaging, taking a significant minority stake and providing an exit for Tata Capital.