Technology
Ince leads $30m round for China’s PhiGent Robotics
Beijing-based autonomous driving solutions provider PhiGent Robotics has raised a USD30m Series A round led by Ince Capital. Previous investors such as Atypical Ventures, 5Y Capital, and GSR Ventures re-upped.
China's BlueRun $819m across US dollar, renminbi funds
China-based BlueRun Ventures has closed its third US dollar-denominated China fund and third renminbi vehicle with aggregate commitments of CNY 5.5bn (USD 819m).
Hong Kong's Betatron hits $15m first close on VC fund
Hong Kong’s Betatron Venture Group has reached a first close of USD 15m on its latest fund, which will make early-stage investments across South and Southeast Asia. The target is USD 50m.
SBI, Kyobo Life seek $75m for Asia VC fund
SBI Ven Capital (SBIVC), an ex-Japan VC arm of SBI Holdings, is seeking USD 75m for its latest fund in partnership with Korea’s Kyobo Life Insurance and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
China industrial internet platform Xuelangyun raises $44m
Xuelangyun, a China-based industrial data service provider, has raised a Series B of CNY 300m (USD 44m) led by China Structural Reform Fund. Poly Capital and an intellectual property fund under Wuxi Guolian Development also participated.
Antler to invest $100m in SE Asia start-ups by 2025
Singapore-based VC firm Antler has committed to investing USD 100m in more than 300 Southeast Asian start-ups by 2025.
Apis backs Singapore B2B micropayments player DT One
Apis Partners has invested an undisclosed sum in DT One, a Singapore-headquartered B2B digital micropayments platform with a global customer base.
China outbound: Organic options
Tough domestic competition is encouraging Chinese tech start-ups to expand overseas – often organically, earlier in their lifecycles than before, and despite regulatory concerns
Mithril, BlackRock invest $110m in Singapore’s GreyOrange
Mithril Capital, a VC firm launched by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, and BlackRock have provided USD 110m in growth funding to Singapore and US-based robotics player GreyOrange.
Vodafone New Zealand buys out PE partner in retail JV
Millennium Corp, a specialist technology, media, and telecom (TMT) investor operating in New Zealand and the Pacific region, has exited its 50% stake in Vodafone New Zealand’s retail stores.
Fund focus: East Ventures expands its LP rolodex
Indonesia’s East Ventures reached beyond Asian LPs for the first time with its latest growth fund. It coincides with several other milestones that signal a new level of institutionalisation
India e-commerce enabler Gokwik raises $35m
Gokwik, an Indian e-commerce enablement platform, has raised USD 35m in a Series B round led by Think Investments and RTP Global.
Eight Roads launches $250m India healthcare fund
Eight Roads Ventures has launched its first dedicated healthcare and life-sciences fund for India with a corpus of USD 250m provided entirely by its parent, Fidelity.
Indonesia's Sinar Mas launches smart city VC fund
The real estate arm of Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas has launched a smart city technology fund in partnership with East Ventures, Redbadge Pacific, and Prasetia Dwidharma.
India’s NIIF joins $128m round for Ather Energy
India’s National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIFL) has participated in a USD 128m funding round for Ather Energy, a leading domestic manufacturer of two-wheel electric vehicles (EV).
Baring Asia makes Series A software investment
Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA) has committed USD 10m in Series A funding for a significant minority stake in CBX Software, a Hong Kong-founded product lifecycle management platform provider.
Indonesia's Qoala raises $65m Series B
Eurazeo has led a USD 65m Series B round for Indonesia’s Qoala, which claims to be the only insurance technology start-up with licenses in three Southeast Asian countries.
China biotech player Reistone raises $100m
Reistone, a novel drug developer incubated by Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, has raised a Series A of nearly USD 100m led by Huagai Capital.
Macquarie buys into Provident, Saratoga-owned digital infra platform
A consortium led by Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) has paid USD 610m for a minority stake in a Southeast Asia-focused digital infrastructure platform controlled by Provident Capital and Saratoga Capital.
IFM acquires Australia SaaS player Render Networks
IFM Investors has acquired a controlling interest in Render Networks, an Australia-founded and now US-headquartered software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider specialising in construction management.
Felicis leads $80m Series B for Singapore SaaS start-up Supabase
Singapore’s Supabase, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) and IT provider for app developers, has confirmed a USD 80m Series B round led by Felicis Ventures.
Crypto exchange KuCoin raises $150m pre-Series B
Singapore-based crypto platform KuCoin has raised USD 150m in pre-Series B funding from an investor group featuring IDG Capital and Matrix Partners, claiming a valuation of USD 10bn.
Singapore VC closes food tech fund at $34m
Singapore’s Good Startup, a food technology investor focused on alternative protein, has closed its debut VC fund with USD 34m in commitments.
Tiga SPAC to merge with San Vicente-owned Grindr
Grindr, a LGBTQ+ dating app acquired by an investor group after its Chinese owner violated foreign investment regulations, has agreed to merge with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Singapore-based Tiga Investments.
