Southeast Asia
FWD, Artem launch Malaysia insurtech fund
Hong Kong-based insurer FWD Group and Malaysia’s Artem Ventures have set up a MYR 45m (USD 10.2m) VC fund focused on insurance technology and Islamic financial technology in Malaysia.
Singapore's Temasek launches internal review of FTX deal
Temasek Holdings has launched an internal review into the circumstances that led to its investment in collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, but Singapore’s deputy prime minister refused to criticise the organisation’s governance structures.
Hong Kong fintech player XanPool raises $41m
XanPool, a Hong Kong-based cross-border payments infrastructure provider, has raised USD 41m from new investor Target Global and existing backer Antler Elevate.
Singapore insurance start-up Igloo lifts Series B to $46m
Singapore-based insurance technology start-up Igloo has added USD 27m to an initial USD 19m in Series B funding raised in March. Swiss impact investor BlueOrchard led the extension.
CEO of Singapore's EDBI departs to launch own fund
Swee Yeok Chu, CEO and president of Singapore government investor EDBI, is stepping down from her role with a view to launching her own fund.
Singapore’s Iterative closes second VC fund on $55m
Singapore-based early-stage VC firm and accelerator Iterative has closed its second Southeast Asia fund with USD 55m in commitments.
Asia Partners targets $600m for second Southeast Asia fund
Asia Partners, a Singapore-based private equity firm focused on growth-stage technology investments, is targeting USD 600m for its second fund.
Proterra raises $200m for Asia food fund
Proterra Investment Partners has reached a final close on a Singapore-domiciled fund that will make food-related investments across Asia with more than USD 200m in commitments.
East leads $13m round for Indonesia's TipTip
East Ventures has led a USD 13m Series A round for Indonesia’s TipTip, a marketplace that connects digital media content creators and their fans.
ADIA, SC Capital to invest $2bn in Asia data centres
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) will provide Singapore private equity real estate manager SC Capital Partners up to USD 2bn for equity investments in Asia data centres.
Heliconia, Yanzijiang Financial launch SE Asia SME fund
Temasek Holdings-owned Heliconia Capital Management has teamed up with Singapore-listed Yanzijiang Financial Holding to launch a fund that will invest in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia.
Singapore's Wavemaker names new general partner
Singapore-based Wavemaker Partners has appointed Andy Hwang, an angel investor and start-up mentor transitioning into venture capital, as a general partner.
ESG: The case for convergence
With ISSB pursuing pre-eminence in sustainability-related financial disclosures and TCFD emerging as a preferred climate framework, investors and investees will have to get more serious about reporting
Q&A: AC Ventures’ Adrian Li
Adrian Li, founder and managing partner of Indonesia-focused AC Ventures, on Chinese incursions into Southeast Asia, localisation versus scale, the prospect of a protracted downturn, and being an Ironman
Fundraiser Atul Phull departs Everstone for UBS
Atul Phull, who spent nine years with India and Southeast Asia-focused private equity firm Everstone Group across two stints, has joined the private funds group at UBS as an executive director.
Indonesia's INA, Chinese partners form $2bn EV fund
Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund, Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), has launched a USD 2bn green electric vehicle (EV) fund with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL and the international arm of China Merchants Bank (CMB).
BPEA EQT, Blackstone, PEP claim top prizes at AVCJ Awards
Baring Private Equity Asia – now BPEA EQT – retained the large-cap firm of the year prize at the 2022 AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Capital Awards as it, Pacific Equity Partners (PEP), and The Blackstone Group claimed two victories apiece.
KKR leads $48m Series C for Indonesia's Privy
KKR has led a USD 48m Series C round for Privy, an Indonesia-based company that specialises in technology for providing legally binding digital signatures.
Wavemaker hits first close on SE Asia climate fund
Singapore’s Wavemaker Partners has hit a first close of USD 13m on its debut impact fund, which focuses on climate themes in Southeast Asia. The target is USD 25m.
Singapore's Speeddoc gets $28m pre-Series B round
Bertelsmann Investments, Shinhan Venture investment, Mars Growth and Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India have participated in a USD 28m pre-Series B round for Singapore virtual healthcare platform Speedoc.
Japan-based microfinance player gets $47m Series E
Gojo & Company, a Japan-headquartered microfinance institution that operates across Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, and Tajikistan, has raised USD 47.6m in Series E funding.
Indonesia's Blibli completes $509m IPO
Indonesian e-commerce marketplace Blibli posted a small gain on its first day of trading on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) following a IDR 7.99trn (USD 509) IPO, the second-largest of the year in Jakarta.
China to Singapore: A VC invasion
Chinese venture capital firms are establishing and expanding operations in Singapore in response to challenges at home and to address the Southeast Asian market. Do they have staying power?
Quona closes third financial inclusion fund on $332m
Quona Capital, which invests under a financial inclusion strategy across emerging markets, has closed its third fund on USD 332m, beating a target of USD 250m.
