Sectors
India's Byju's raises $250m, ramps up overseas
Indian education technology provider Byju’s has raised USD 250m from existing investors with plans to expand its international business. Funding raised this year alone now tops USD 1bn.
Strategic players converge in Indonesia waste start-up Series A
Indonesia’s Waste4Change signalled broad appetite for exposure to local waste management services with a USD 5m Series A round featuring a diverse range of strategic backers.
SIG leads Series B extension for SE Asia payments start-up
Southeast Asia-focused B2B payments specialist Ayoconnect has closed a Series B extension of USD 13m led by SIG Asia. CE Innovation Capital and Prosus-owned PayU also took part.
Japan's NSSK buys Sakura pharmacy chain
Japanese middle-market private equity firm NSSK has acquired 100% of Kraft, a local pharmacy chain that operates under the Sakura brand, for an undisclosed sum.
Avataar hits first close on second India growth-stage tech fund
Avataar Venture Partners, an India-based investor in growth-stage B2B technology and software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, has reached a first close of USD 130m on its second fund. The overall target is USD 350m.
Asia PE investment sees significant drop-off in third quarter
PE investment in Asia reached USD 36.8bn in the third quarter of 2022, its lowest level since activity seized up in the early stages of COVID-19, with notable declines in India and Southeast Asia.
US logistics AI start-up gets $100m for Asia entry
US-based Altana Technologies, an artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics provider for the logistics industry, has raised USD 100m in Series B funding with plans to open a Singapore office in early 2023.
Australia's Elmo Software confirms Accel-KKR interest
Elmo Software, an Australia-listed provider of cloud-based human resources and payroll software solutions, has emerged as a target for private equity investors, including Accel-KKR.
Google backs India edtech player Adda247
Google has joined a INR 2.7bn (USD 35m) round for Adda247, an education technology start-up that claims to be India’s largest vernacular language exam preparation platform.
India's Fireside Ventures closes Fund III on $225m
Fireside Ventures, a consumer brands-focused Indian VC firm established by Kanwaljit Singh, co-founder of Helion Venture Partners, has closed its third fund on INR 18.3bn (USD 225m).
East leads $10m round for Indonesia fintech player Alami
East Ventures has led a USD 10m pre-Series B round for Indonesia’s Alami, a sharia-compliant financial technology provider and small business lender.
Japan digital bank Nudge raises $16m Series A
Japanese digital bank Nudge has completed a USD 16m Series A round led by One Capital, a VC firm led by the former head of Salesforce Ventures Japan.
China's VectorBuilder raises $57m Series C
Guangzhou-based gene delivery company VectorBuilder has raised a CNY 410m (USD 57m) Series C round led by Legend Capital, Sui Kai Equity Investment, and Yuexiu Industrial Fund.
Australia's AgriWebb upsizes Series B to $29m
AgriWebb, an Australia-based livestock management app used by farmers and ranchers, has closed its Series B round at USD 29.3m, following a USD 6.7m top-up featuring two new investors.
China's BA Capital raises $349m for latest renminbi fund
Black Ant Capital, also known as BA Capital, has closed its third renminbi-denominated fund on CNY 2.5bn (USD 349m), with commitments from independent fund-of-funds, government guidance funds, insurers, and corporates.
MO Alternates commits $28m to Indian footwear brand
Motilal Oswal Alternates (MO Alts), formerly Motilal Oswal Private Equity, has invested INR 2.2bn (USD 28m) in India’s Asian Footwears, which produces several shoe brands.
Insignia invests $10m in Thai beauty start-up
Insignia Ventures Partners has provided USD 10m in Series A funding to Thailand’s Konvy, a 10-year-old beauty e-commerce start-up.
Deal focus: Food app targets Thailand's first internet IPO
Thai restaurant delivery app Line Man Wongnai has leveraged the massive messaging service penetration of its parent company to position itself for what is hoped to be a breakthrough IPO
Deal focus: Euler finds favour with India-oriented EVs
Euler Motors is one of several India-based electric vehicle manufacturers attracting significant private capital, but the company believes its customised offering for commercial users is truly differentiated
Q&A: WeRide's Tony Han
Tony Han, founder and CEO of China’s WeRide, on commercialising fully autonomous passenger vehicles, surviving a capital winter, and why universities are vital to the hard-tech revolution
Vision Fund leads Series D for China dental 3D printing player
SprintRay, a China-based 3D printing company that specialises in orthodontics, has raised a USD 100m Series D round led by Softbank Vision Fund 2.
Warburg Pincus to buy majority stake in India's Vistaar Finance
Warburg Pincus has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Vistaar Finance, an India-based non-banking financial company (NBFC) that serves micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Searchlight backs Singapore's Synergy Marine Group
US-based Searchlight Capital Partners has taken a minority stake in Singapore’s Synergy Marine Group, a shipping fleet manager and maritime services provider, for an undisclosed sum.
Mirae Asset recruits OneVentures director for Australia coverage
Mirae Asset Global Investments has expanded its Australian alternatives team with the recruitment of James McGrath, formerly an investment director at local VC firm OneVentures.