Media
India mass market: Bharat dreams
A labyrinth of logistical, cultural, competition, and business modelling challenges is curbing private equity appetite for India’s quickly modernising proletariat
Thailand's Line Man Wongnai raises $265m
Thailand’s Line Man Wongnai – a food delivery, taxi, and messaging app – has raised a USD 265m round featuring GIC at a valuation of USD 1bn. It claims to be the largest start-up locally.
Fundamentum leads round for India's Kuku FM
Indian growth-stage investor The Fundamentum Partnership has led a USD 21.8m Series B extension for audio platform Kuku FM.
Temasek, Boyu, GGV back Hong Kong’s Animoca Brands
Hong Kong metaverse start-up Animoca Brands has raised USD 110m featuring Temasek Holdings, Boyu Capital, and GGV Capital. Funding since the start of 2021 now tops USD 630m.
Singapore's Docquity raises $44m Series C
Singapore-based Docquity, a networking service for more than 300,000 doctors across Southeast Asia, has raised USD 44m in Series C funding led by Japan’s Itochu Corporation.
Japan remote workforce player oVice raises $32m
Japan’s oVice, a start-up that provides virtual co-working spaces for remote and hybrid teams, has raised JPY 4.5bn (USD 32.1m) in Series B funding featuring Jafco and Eight Roads Ventures.
GP profile: CMC Capital Partners
China-focused CMC Capital Partners’ remit has expanded from media to consumer and technology, but the firm believes its knowledge and discipline as a specialist investor have never been more relevant
Singapore's TotallyAwesome raises $10m seed round
Singapore’s TotallyAwesome, a digital advertising start-up focused on children’s online safety, has raised a USD 10m seed round featuring US venture debt provider Partner For Growth (PFG).
Bain targets $102m Japan advertising take-private
Bain Capital has won board approval from Net Marketing, a Tokyo-listed online advertising and media management business, for a take-private that values the company at approximately JPY 13.6bn (USD 102m).
India edtech player UpGrad raises $210m
UpGrad, an India-based education technology company set up by media maven Ronnie Screwvala, has raised USD 210m featuring Temasek Holdings and education-focused private equity firm Kaizen.
Japan satellite data, metaverse start-up raises $11m
Japanese VCs have provided a JPY 1.4bn (USD 11m) seed round for SpaceData, a start-up that uses earth imaging data from satellites to create virtual 3D environments replicating the real world.
Singapore's Singtel pumps $100m into VC arm
Singapore telecom giant SingTel has committed USD 100m to its VC arm Innov8. The investment unit, which operates on an evergreen fund model, has received USD 350m to date.
Affirma supports Korea's NPX in Terapin Studios deal
Affirma Capital has confirmed a USD 38m investment in Terapin Studios, a US-based media platform controlled by Korea’s NPX Capital focused on bringing Korean digital comics to global markets.
Korea's NPX confirms $160m media platform acquisition
Korea’s NPX Capital has acquired online comics publisher Toomics via its Terapin Studios media platform for USD 160m.
Australia's Fortitude exits Shopper Media to Woolworths
Australian grocery giant Woolworths has agreed to buy Shopper Media Group, an out-of-home digital advertising business with 2,000 screens across more than 400 shopping centres, for approximately AUD 150m (USD 102m).
Glade Brook leads $20m round for Indonesia's Kitabeli
Glade Brook Capital Partners has led a USD 20m round for Kitabeli, which claims to be the largest fast-moving consumer goods social commerce platform in Indonesia’s lower-tier cities.
Australia customer reviews specialist gets $26m Series A
Okendo, an Australia-founded customer review platform for e-commerce brands, has received USD 26m in Series A funding led by US venture capital firm Base10 Partners.
Hong Kong's Animoca Brands raises another $75m
Hong Kong’s Animoca Brands – a start-up with interests spanning gaming and the metaverse – has raised USD 75.3m from several VC firms. It brings total funding in the past eight months to about USD 500m.
Singapore blockchain gaming start-up gets $20m
Singapore’s Oasys, a blockchain technology developer focused on web3 gaming, has raised USD 20m from several specialist crypto investors.
India's ShareChat closes $520m round, hits $5b valuation
Indian social media platform ShareChat has raised USD 255m from Google, Times Group, and Temasek Holdings, capping a USD 520m Series G round at a valuation of USD 5bn.
Australia's Go1 raises $100m at $2b valuation
Australia-based workforce training platform Go1 has raised a USD 100m growth round featuring AirTree Ventures and SoftBank Vision Fund 2 at a valuation of USD 2bn.
Alpha Wave leads $57m round for India's Cuemath
Alpha Wave Global, formerly Falcon Edge Capital, has led a USD 57m investment in Indian one-on-one online math tutoring platform Cuemath.
Singapore's VC-backed One Animation acquired by UK strategic
One Animation, a VC-backed, Singapore-based cartoon studio, has been acquired by Moonbug Entertainment of the UK for an undisclosed sum.
Singapore metaverse platform Bud raises $36.8m
Singapore-based metaverse user generated content (UGC) platform Bud has raised a Series B round of USD 36.8m led by Sequoia Capital India.
