Southeast Asia
GP Profile: Gobi Partners
China’s Gobi Partners has grown from a four-person team to an 11-office franchise. The coming decade will test the VC firm’s aspiration to become a pan-Asian enterprise
Deal focus: Indonesia's GoPlay changes the channel
Golden Gate Ventures is backing GoPlay, a media streaming spin-out from Indonesia's GoJek, to tap an underserved Southeast Asian audience with local recreations of popular international TV shows
Japan's Daiwa backs Vietnam cinema operator
Japan’s Daiwa Securities Group has invested $8 million in Vietnam cinema chain operator Beta Media via its private equity unit.
Coronavirus dislocation funds: Runway watchers
Southeast Asia has emerged as a hotspot for VC funds targeting COVID-19 dislocation. They are flirting with strategies requiring private equity and short-term value investing skills
Beenext raises $160m for emerging markets, Japan funds
Singapore-based VC firm Beenext Capital Management has raised $160 million across two funds that will invest in start-ups in Japan and emerging markets.
KKR, Temasek commit $650m to Vietnam property developer
A consortium led by KKR has invested VND15.1 trillion ($650 million) in Vinhomes, Vietnam’s leading integrated real estate developer, which went public in 2018.
Singapore's One Championship raises $70m
One Championship, a Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization backed by Sequoia Capital India, has raised $70 million in funding.
Sequoia joins $21m Series A for Philippines digital bank
Sequoia Capital India and US-based Point72 Ventures have led a $21 million Series A round for Tonik, a Singapore-based digital bank launching initial operations in the Philippines.
Asia gyms: Muscling through the mire
Fitness centers have continued to woo investors during COVID-19 despite patchy progress in the reopening of gyms and difficult-to-digitize business models
US-Singapore food tech fund to target Asia
Big Idea Ventures, a US and Singapore-based food technology investor, has launched its debut fund with a target of $50 million. Asia is a core market.
Singapore venture debt provider wins US strategic support
Singapore-based venture debt provider Genesis Alternative Ventures has secured an investment of undisclosed size for its debut fund from US-based Capria Ventures.
Vietnam's Propzy raises $25m Series A round
Gaw Capital and Softbank Ventures Asia have led a $25 million Series A funding round for Vietnamese real estate platform Propzy.
Singapore's Vulpes launches COVID-19 opportunities fund
Singapore-based Vulpes Investment Management has launched a special opportunities fund of undisclosed size targeting VC-backed companies struggling with the effects of COVID-19.
Golden Gate leads funding round for Gojek streaming service
GoPlay, the streaming service of Indonesian ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Gojek, has raised funding led by Golden Gate Ventures.
VC-backed Ayannah merges with India's ECAPS
Philippines financial services player Ayannah, which is backed by Golden Gate Ventures, has merged with India’s Electronic Cash and Payment Solutions (ECAPS).
Singapore VCs commit $204m in COVID-19 support
Singapore government-connected VC investors Seeds Capital and EDBI have committed S$285 million ($204 million) to support local start-ups facing challenges related to COVID-19.
Korea GPs back $281m Malaysia VC fund
Korea’s SK Group, Hanwha Asset Management, and KB Investment have contributed to a MRY1.2 billion ($281 million) VC fund launched by the Malaysian government.
Kejora, SBI team up on early-stage Indonesia fund
Kejora Capital and Japan’s SBI Holdings have launched an early stage technology fund for Indonesia with a target of $30 millon.
PE-backed group resumes pursuit of Malaysia's Yee Lee
A Dymon Asia Private Equity (DAPE)-backed privatization of Malaysia’s Yee Lee Group – which did not proceed last year – has been reactivated at a reduced valuation of MYR394.7 million ($92.4 million).
Facebook, PayPal invest in Indonesia's Gojek
Facebook and PayPal have joined an ongoing Series F round for private equity-backed Indonesian ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Gojek (formerly Go-Jek).
Singapore fintech launches SME exchange in Cambodia
PLMP Venture Capital (PLMP VC), an investor affiliated with a Singaporean financial technology firm, has launched a local exchange for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cambodia.
Deal focus: GoBear builds financial menu for Southeast Asia
GoBear, a Singapore-headquartered financial services platform, believes it can create financial products suitable for consumers and institutional partners alike
Coronavirus & due diligence: Split screen
Finding the right balance between offline and online communication for completing due diligence processes is a tricky endeavor for PE and VC investment professionals in Asia
Sequoia, Hana lead Series A for micromobility start-up
Beam, a Singapore-headquartered ride-sharing platform for e-scooters, has raised $26 million in a Series A funding round led by Sequoia Capital India and Hana Ventures.