Technology
Jio Platforms: Elephant in the room
India’s Jio Platforms has received substantial private equity backing as it looks to build a digital platform that is all things to all people, from cable to retail. Will it succeed?
Mitsubishi UFJ invests Japan vegetarian meat player
Mitsubishi UFJ Capital has joined a Series A round for Japanese plant-based meat producer Daiz that brings the company’s total funding to JPY1.2 billion ($11.2 million).
Singapore's GoBear raises $17m
Singapore-headquartered GoBear, a financial services platform focused on Asian consumers, has raised $17 million from Netherlands-based Walvis Participaties and Aegon
Investors pump $265m into BYD semiconductor unit
BYD Semiconductor, a subsidiary of Chinese vehicle maker BYD, has raised RMB1.9 billion ($265 million) from 14 investors, including Sequoia Capital China.
Deal focus: Shiprocket joins the tribe
US-based Tribe Capital sees similar qualities in Indian logistics aggregator Shiprocket as in other software-as-a-service stalwarts
China smart logistics provider Galaxis raises $14m
Chinese logistics robot and intelligent equipment supplier Galaxis Technology has raised RMB100 million ($14 million) in Series D funding led by China Capital Investment Group.
China cybersecurity player Meichuang raises $21m
Hangzhou-based cybersecurity company Meichuang has raised a RMB150 million ($21 million) round led by CBC Capital and Sharewin Investment.
Southeast Asia talkbot secures $6m pre-A round
Singapore-based talkbot provider Wiz.Ai has raised $6 million in pre-A funding led by GGV Capital. ZWC Partners, Insignia Venture Partners, Wavemaker Partners, and Orion Fund also participated.
IFC set to back Endiya's second India fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) plans to invest $10 million in the second fund raised by Endiya Partners, an early-stage venture capital investor based in India.
IAG invests in Australia agtech player
Insurance Australia Group (IAG) has made an investment of undisclosed size in local start-up Digital Agriculture Services (DAS) via its VC unit Firemark Ventures.
Convergence co-founder joins MDI Ventures as CEO
Donald Wihardja, co-founder of Indonesia-focused Convergence Ventures, has become CEO of MDI Ventures, the corporate VC arm of state-controlled telecommunications giant Telkom Indonesia.
China's Sensors Data secures $30m Series C-plus round
Chinese big data company Sensers Data has raised an extended Series C round of $30 million led by Xiang He Capital. Other investors include Morningside Venture Capital, DCM China, Warburg Pincus, Sequoia Capital China, Linear Venture, and FutureCap.
KKR to invest $1.5b in India's Jio Platforms
KKR has made its largest private equity investment in Asia to date with a commitment of INR113.6 billion ($1.5 billion) in Jio Platforms, the holding company for various internet and telecom assets owned by Indian oil-to-retail conglomerate Reliance Industries....
B Capital forms partnership with Singapore incubator Antler
B Capital Group, a global growth-stage investor active in Southeast Asia, has formed a partnership with Singapore-based start-up incubator Antler.
Profile: Qiming Venture Partners' Duane Kuang
Having spent years as an IT advocate in a world obsessed with consumer internet start-ups, Duane Kuang of China-focused Qiming Venture Partners is seeing the tables gradually turn
Glory closes third renminbi fund at $96m
Chinese early-stage investor Glory Ventures has closed its third renminbi-denominated fund at RMB682 million ($96 million) and also reached a first close of its second US dollar vehicle.
Deal focus: Validus takes holistic approach to SME financing
Singapore peer-to-peer lender employs algorithm-based credit assessment tools and an unorthodox approach to origination as it seeks to address inefficiencies in Southeast Asian supply chain finance
B Capital leads Series B for Indian bookkeeping start-up
B Capital has led a $60 million Series B round for Khatabook, a digital ledger software provider for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in India.
NASDAQ moves to de-list China's Luckin Coffee
Luckin Coffee, a private equity-backed Chinese coffee shop chain currently enmeshed in a fraud scandal, faces being delisted from NASDAQ.
Chinese home fitness app raises $80m Series E
Keep, a Chinese mobile app that provides fitness training programs, has raised $80 million in Series E funding led by Jeneration Capital.
Optum, Health Catalyst back Singapore's Holmusk
US investors Optum Ventures and Health Catalyst Capital have co-led a $21.5 million Series A round for Singapore-based healthcare technology developer Holmusk.
Iron Pillar adds $45m to debut India fund
Indian venture capital firm Iron Pillar Capital Management has added $45 million to its maiden fund to support the capital needs of existing portfolio companies.
China's JD.com raises $230m for MRO unit
JD MRO, a subsidiary of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com that specializes in industrial maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), has raised $230 million in Series A funding led by GGV Capital.
General Atlantic joins PE backers of Reliance's India app platform
General Atlantic has agreed to invest INR65.98 billion ($870 million) in Jio Platforms, becoming the fourth investor in the holding company for Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries' internet and telecom assets.