Technology
Singapore’s Credence hits $50m first close on debut VC fund
Credence Partners, a growth-stage private equity firm in Singapore, has achieved a $50 million first close for a venture capital fund that will invest in Southeast Asia. The full target is $100 million.
Burda Principal promotes Albert Shyy to Asia head
Burda Principal Investments (BPI), the investment arm of European technology and media company Hubert Burda Media, has promoted Albert Shyy to managing director and head of Asia.
Sequoia leads $30m Series B in Chinese RPA player
Encoo Technology, a Chinese robot process automation (RPA) service provider, has raised a $30 million Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China. GSR Ventures and Future Capital re-upped, while Shenzhen Venture Capital came in as a new investor.
Fund focus: Monk’s Hill rides SE Asia momentum
Southeast Asia is divided by language, culture and economic systems, but Kuo-Yi Lim of Monk's Hill Ventures contends there is now enough evidence that start-ups can go cross-border and achieve meaningful scale
China's Harbour BioMed gets $75m Series B extension
China-based biotech developer Harbour BioMed has closed an extended Series B round with a fresh $75 million commitment from a group of VCs. It initially raised $85 million in 2018.
ByteDance invests $26m in Chinese talent manager
Chinese celebrity management agency Mountain Top has closed a RMB180 million ($26 million) Serie B funding round provided by ByteDance Technology, operator of the Toutiao news aggregation and TikTok short video platforms.
Temasek leads extended round for Singapore's ShopBack
ShopBack, a Singapore-based rewards platform that generates sales for online and offline retailers, has completed a $75 million extended round of funding led by Temasek Holdings.
VC-backed Chinese driverless delivery start-up gets $28m
Addor Capital and Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Lixiang Automotive have led a RMB200 million ($28 million) in an extended Series A round for Neolix, a domestic unmanned distribution start-up.
Indian payment network for teens raises $4.7m
A group of investors including Y Combinator, Sequoia Capital India and angel investors have contributed $4.7 million in funding to FamPay, a social network for Indian teenagers centered on a parent-supervised payment service.
UK strategic acquires China's VC-backed Yimian Data
UK-based enterprise IT services provider Ascential has acquired Yimian Data, a Chinese e-commerce analytics business backed by local VC firms ZhenFund and Legend Star.
Meituan-Dianping invests $87m in China food supply chain player
Shenzhen-based agricultural products distributor Wangjiahuan has raised RMB600 million ($87 million) in Series B funding led by Meituan-Dianping. Existing backer Hidden Hill Capital - a PE firm established by warehouse operator GLP - also took part.
VCs back Chinese expense management start-up
Fenbeitong, an enterprise payment and expense management services provider based in Beijing, has raised $36 million in an extended Series B round led by Ribbit Capital, Eight Roads Ventures and Glade Brook Capital.
Korea's SK Telecom launches digital healthcare JV with local GP
Korea’s SK Telecom has spun out its digital healthcare development unit to form a joint venture (JV) with local private equity firm Newlake Alliance Management.
Chinese restaurant robot supplier raises $28m Series B
Keenon Robotics, a Chinese manufacturer of robots for use indoors, has raised a RMB200 million ($28 million) in Series B funding led by Source Code Capital, Walden International and Shanghai Kechuang Fund, an investment arm of state-owned Shanghai International...
Coronavirus in China: Back from the brink
China GPs are trying to navigate the coronavirus uncertainty and help portfolio companies pick up the pieces, whether that means cutting costs or realizing new revenue streams
Deal focus: Linctex makes SaaS pay in China
Vision Plus Capital identified Linctex after conducting a deep dive into China's textile industry supply chain. It believes the company has the right model - and is in the right industry - to make software-as-a-service work
Fund focus: CMC widens its sweet spot
Having grown its assets under management to $2.5 billion following the close of Fund III, China's CMC Captial Group wants to be seen as more than just a media sector specialist
Fund focus: I-nest targets lifestyle technologies
Rather than addressing the healthcare opportunities created by Japan's changing demographic base, I-nest Capital is focusing on lifestyle and entertainment needs of an aging population
Deal focus: Vogo pursues transformation on two wheels
Vogo and Bounce are both scooter rental start-ups targeting the Indian market, but they are going about it in very different ways. Lightstone Aspada is backing the former's more inclusive approach
China’s Billionhome leads $14m round for space tech player
Chinese private equity firm Billionhome Capital has led a RMB100 million ($14.4 million) investment in local satellite technology supplier Mino Space.
Sequoia warns founders not to underestimate coronavirus impact
Sequoia Capital has advised founders and CEOs of its portfolio companies to “question every assumption” about their business in response to mounting global concern over the coronavirus outbreak, which it describes as the “black swan of 2020.”
China EV charging operator secures $190m Series A
Telaidian, which claims to operate China's largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network, has raised RMB1.35 billion ($190 million) in Series A funding.
Chinese autonomous mining vehicle provider raises $14m
Cathay Capital has led an extended tranche of Series A funding worth RMB100 million ($14 million) for Waytous, a Chinese autonomous driving start-up focused on the mining industry.
Monk’s Hill raises $100m for second Southeast Asia VC fund
Singapore-based Monk’s Hill Ventures has confirmed a final close on its second Southeast Asia fund with $100 million in commitments.