Technology
Russia's sovereign fund signs tech deals with CIC, Alibaba
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has entered into two technology-related ventures, partnering with China Investment Corporation (CIC) on an innovation fund and teaming up with Alibaba Group among others to create a social commerce platform.
Deal focus: Ather charges up for India’s EV race
Indian electric vehicle producer Ather has won $51 million in funding as it looks to reinvigorate the two-wheeler market by drawing on old and new economy expertise
Joy Capital sets $350m target for third China VC fund
Joy Capital is seeking $350 million for its third China-focused venture capital fund, which would take the four-year-old firm’s assets under management past the $1 billion mark.
General Atlantic leads $51m Series C for India's NoBroker
General Atlantic has led a $51 million Series C round for NoBroker, an online real estate marketplace based in India. SAIF Partners and Beenext Capital Management also participated in the round.
China agriculture biotech program gets $30m
An investment platform owned by the Beijing Changping regional government has committed RMB204 million ($30 million) to a partnership with Origin Agritech that will commercialize genetically modified corn seeds.
Sinovation closes $362m RMB fund, establishes GBA base
Sinovation Ventures has raised RMB2.5 billion ($362 million) for a fund that will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), big data and related areas. The final close was announced at the unveiling of the firm’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) headquarters in...
GP profile: Chiratae Ventures
Patient, culture-oriented Chiratae Ventures has grown and diversified in step with India’s gradually blossoming VC market. Its latest expansions suggest this trajectory is set to accelerate
Unilever leads $11m round for India's Milkbasket
Unilever Ventures, the corporate VC arm of Unilever, has led a $10.5 million funding round for Indian grocery delivery start-up Milkbasket.
China's pet products industry: Paws for thought
China’s pet products and services industry is benefiting from closer relations between man and beast, but not every market segment will turn out a winner for private equity investors
Fund focus: EV Growth fills the gap
East Ventures, Sinar Mas Digital Ventures, and YJ Capital have raised $200 million for a fund that will target Southeast Asia's underserved Series B and above space
Chinese EV manufacturer Bordrin Motor raises $362m
China-based electric vehicle (EV) maker Bordrin Motor has raised RMB2.5 billion ($362 million) in a new funding round that featured Yin An Capital, the investment arm of Sinochem International.
Australian wi-fi chipmaker Morse Micro secures $17m
A group of Australian VCs including Blackbird Ventures has invested about A$24 million ($17 million) in local wi-fi and internet-of-things (IoT) chipmaker Morse Micro.
Japan's Polaris to back Panasonic security spin-out
Japan’s Polaris Capital has agreed to back Panasonic i-Pro Sensing Solutions, a spin-out of Panasonic that will take over the parent company’s security systems business in Japan and overseas.
Chinese fintech player Wiseco raises $94m Series A
Chinese financial technology start-up Wiseco Technology, which provides big data-powered risk control and debt collection services, has raised RMB650 million ($94 million) in a Series A round led by Huading Capital and Sino Ocean Group.
Deal focus: KaiOS looks beyond the iPhone
Hong Kong-based KaiOS Technologies has secured a $50 million Series B round for an expansion plan targeting what could be the mobile telecommunication industry’s most underserved segment
Chinese smart robot maker gets $14m Series A
CMB International Capital has led a RMB100 million ($14 million) Series A round of funding for Robosen, a Chinese smart robot manufacturer. Yu Hu, co-CEO of local voice recognition software developer iFlytek also took part.
China GPs target tech angles in consumer plays
All China consumer deals are now technology deals, but investors must back up this positioning with meaningful value-add capabilities in areas such as digital marketing and data analytics or risk being accused of embellishing a technology thesis for the...
Legend Capital hires PV Wang, ups fundraising ambitions
Chinese venture capital firm Legend Capital has appointed Asia PE industry veteran Piau-Voon Wang (pictured) as a managing director and COO as part of efforts to institutionalize operations and diversify its LP base.
Chinese state-owned entities launch $723m 5G fund
China’s state-owned Yangtze River Industry Fund and China Information Technologies Group have jointly launched a RMB5 billion ($723 million) fund with a focus on 5G technology.
Singapore's EV Growth closes debut fund at $200m
Singapore-based EV Growth, a joint venture between East Ventures, Indonesia’s Sinar Mas Digital Ventures (SMDV) and Japan’s YJ Capital, has closed its first fund at $200 million.
China's Alphamab Oncology gets $60m Series B
Chinese biopharmaceutical developer Alphamab Oncology has completed a $60 million Series B round led by US and UK-based investor Hudson Bay Capital Management.
TPG, Warburg Pincus subscribe to Uxin convertible note
Uxin, a Chinese used car trading platform that went public last year, has raised $230 million through a convertible note issued to investors including Warburg Pincus and TPG Capital.
China start-ups: Overtime
China’s start-up ecosystem is conforming to global norms by championing demanding work schedules, but companies must still consider ways to keep their employees suitably motivated
Food tech: Irresistible recipes
Food technology is a virtually endless horizon of profound and unignorable investment imperatives mistaken as a niche category. Alternative protein is the first opportunity set to gain serious traction