Technology
Investors target China's lower-tier cities - AVCJ Forum
Private equity and venture capital firms are seeking investments that target China’s lower-tier cities, which continue to see rapid consumption growth despite the economic slowdown at national level.
Ping An invests in PE-backed Chinese online education start-up
Ping An Insurance has made a strategic investment in iTutorGroup, a Chinese online education platform that previously raised four rounds of funding, the most recent at a valuation of $1.6 billion.
Plum Ventures raises $77m for China angel fund
Chinese early-stage investor Plum Ventures has closed its fifth angel fund with RMB532.5 million ($77.4 million) in commitments, taking its total assets under management to RMB3 billion.
Singapore's Novena buys VC-backed China hair salon chain
Singapore-based healthcare platform Novena Global Lifecare has completed a $350 million merger with Xingkedou, a VC-backed Chinese hair salon operator that specializes in fast turnaround services.
Fosun leads Series C for Singapore's theAsianparent
Fosun RZ Capital, the VC arm of Fosun, has led a Series C round of undisclosed size for Singapore-based theAsianparent, which claims to be Southeast Asia’s largest mother-and-child online platform.
Tiger, Sequoia lead $60m round for India's Moglix
Tiger Global Management and Sequoia Capital have led a $60 million funding round for India-based business-to-business (B2B) industrial goods marketplace Moglix.
India's Rivigo raises $65m from Warburg Pincus, SAIF
Warburg Pincus and SAIF Partners have led a $65 million Series E commitment to Indian technology-enabled logistics operator Rivigo.
Temasek trims investment pace as performance stutters
Annual divestments by Singapore’s Temasek Holdings exceeded investments for only the second time in a decade against a backdrop of challenging market conditions and weaker returns.
GGV co-leads $150m investment in China's Geek+
GGV Capital has co-led a $150 million Series C investment in Chinese industrial robotics maker Geek+ alongside US hedge fund investor D1 Capital Partners.
Samsung Ventures makes first India investments
Samsung Ventures has made its first Indian investments, committing $8.5 million across four local start-ups.
QIA leads $150m round for India’s Byju’s
Indian educational technology developer Byju’s has raised $150 million in a funding round led by Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar.
Chinese GPs back Nigeria’s OPay
Nigeria-based online services platform OPay has raised a $50 million funding round with participation by a number of Chinese investors, including IDG Capital, Source Code Capital, Sequoia Capital China, Meituan-Dianping, and GSR Ventures.
TPG affiliate co-leads $25m round for Singapore's Taiger
TPG Capital affiliate PacificBridge Asset Management and MCM Investment Partners, a Hong Kong-headquartered merchant bank and asset manager, have led a $25 million Series B round for Singapore artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Taiger.
2Q analysis: Mixed fortunes
Second quarter analysis: Spin-outs reflect challenges for China fundraising; weak buyout activity continues to hold back Asia PE investment; Korea heads the exit charts as China falls back
Horizons leads $35m round for India fintech player
Horizons Ventures has led a $35 million Series B round for Indian financial technology provider NiYo Solutions with support from Tencent Holdings.
China's Miaoshou Doctor hits $1b valuation
Miaoshou Doctor, a Chinese online healthcare services platform that has expanded into the offline pharmacy space, has completed its extended Series C funding round, having achieved a post-deal valuation of more than RMB7 billion ($1 billion).
Mitsubishi expands commitment to Go-Jek's Series F
Indonesia-based ride-hailing and online services platform Go-Jek has received a fresh investment of undisclosed size from Mitsubishi Corporation - as well as two other units of the Japanese conglomerate - as part of its ongoing Series F round.
Japanese cooking robot developer raises Series A
Global Brain has led a JPY8.5 billion ($7.8 million) Series A round for Connected Robotics, a Japanese robotics developer that specializes in cooking.
Quadrant set for debut deal from Australia growth fund
Australia’s Quadrant Private Equity has made the first investment from its new growth fund, with an agreement to acquire domestic auction sites Graysonline and AreYouSelling for A$60 million ($42 million).
Indonesian logistics player Ritase gets $8.5m Series A
Ritase, an Indonesian technology provider for the trucking industry, has raised an $8.5 million Series A round led by Golden Gate Ventures.
Japanese autonomous driving start-up Tier IV raises $100m
Japanese autonomous driving technology developer Tier IV has raised $100 million in Series A funding from a group of investors including Jafco.
Tencent leads $36m round for Chinese healthcare AI start-up
Synyi, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up that targets hospitals, has taken its total fundraising to RMB550 million ($80 million) following a RMB250 million Series C led by Tencent Holdings and featuring Sinopharm Capital.
China VC and US regulation: Defensive positions
Chinese venture capital firms and strategic investors have found their path to US tech start-ups barred by new regulations. It is possible to find a way around, but it requires compromise
Goodwater, Mitsubishi lead Series B for Japan fintech player
US venture firm Goodwater Capital and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital have co-led a JPY1.5 billion ($14 million) Series B round for Japanese financial technology provider Kyash.