Technology
Chinese healthcare data management platform raises $74m
Miaojiankang, a China-based company that provides health data tracking, management, and analysis services through an online platform, has raised RMB500 million ($74 million) in a Series C round from China Pacific Insurance and Xiran Capital.
Profile: Openspace Ventures' Hian Goh
Hian Goh knows better than most Southeast Asian VC investors the cultural barriers that discourage the region’s entrepreneurs. With Openspace Ventures he aims to provide start-ups the support they need
China-Belarus fund backs Series C for chatbot specialist
The China-Belarus Industrial Investment Fund, an investment vehicle under China Merchants Group, has led a $41 million Series C round of funding for Shenzhen-based Zhuiyi Technology, an artificial intelligence start-up specializing in chatbots.
Deal focus: China’s data-enabled Workday
By applying artificial intelligence to human resources management, China's IfChange claims to make recruitment and retention more efficient. The company is now pushing to expand its customer base and product coverage
Asia's lower-tier cities: New horizons
PE and VC players are slowly discovering the investment and business expansion opportunities in the lower-tier cities of developing Asia. Risk-reward calculations are becoming more complex in the process
Intel Capital backs two Chinese AI companies
Intel Capital has invested two Chinese start-ups as part of a $117 million commitment across 14 artificial intelligence (AI) companies globally.
EQT backs Southeast Asia healthcare benefits administrator
EQT has made an investment of undisclosed size in MHC Asia, a Southeast Asia-based healthcare benefits administrator that helps corporate clients customize health and wellness offerings.
India's BigBasket raises $150m funding round
Indian online grocer BigBasket has raised $149.9 million from a group of investors including Mirae Asset Management, UK development finance institution CDC Group, and Alibaba Group.
Softbank leads $89m round for Chinese online drug retailer
China-based Dingdang Kuaiyao, an online-to-offline (O2O) medicine retailer, has raised RMB600 million ($89 million) in a new round of funding led by existing investor Softbank China Venture Capital.
Coatue leads $25m Series C for China’s Kyligence
Coatue Management has led a $25 million Series C round for Chinese big data analytics and cloud services company Kyligence.
Korea's Standigm raises $11.5m Series B
Mirae Asset Capital has led a $11.5 million Series B round for Standigm, a Korean drug discovery and development company that uses artificial intelligence (AI).
Deal focus: Guochen looks to the future
Chinese industrial robotics developer and incubator Guochen raises $15 million in Series A funding to continue pushing China's robotics industry to greater heights
China’s Maison leads round for music streaming app Boomplay
Boomplay, a music streaming and download service provider serving African audiences, has raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Maison Capital, with participation from Yunshi Capital.
Chinese big data player MiningLamp raises $298m
MiningLamp Software, a big data solutions provider in China, has raised RMB2 billion ($298 million) in a Series D round of funding led by Tencent Holdings.
Southeast Asia manufacturing: Back in the game
Contract manufacturers are reconsidering their exposure to China in the light of trade tensions with the US. Southeast Asia stands to benefit, but companies will have to navigate an increasingly complicated landscape
Deal focus: InstaRem bids for the big time
Vertex Ventures leads a $41 million investment in Singapore's InstaRem to grow its global digital payments infrastructure
Indian agtech: Technology harvest
Indian investors are excited about a growing wave of agricultural technology start-ups focused on solving practical problems faced by farmers, but achieving scale with a limited scope will be a challenge
Tencent leads $74m round for China crowdfunding platform
Shuidi, the operator of Shuidichou, a Chinese crowdfunding platform for patients with critical medical conditions, has raised RMB500 million ($74 million) in a Series B round of funding led by existing investor Tencent Holdings.
China's Bitmain pulls plug on Hong Kong IPO
Bitmain, a private equity-backed Chinese business that manufactures chips for Bitcoin mining, has allowed its application for a Hong Kong IPO to lapse.
Q&A: Lalamove's Blake Larson
Hong Kong delivery start-up Lalamove recently raised $300 million in Series D funding. Blake Larson, head of the company’s international division, discusses business models, cross-border expansion, and vehicle sales
Australia's Airwallex achieves unicorn status
Australian financial technology company Airwallex has received a $100 million Series C round led by DST Global at a valuation of more than $1 billion.
Chinese HR SaaS platform secures $80m Series C
Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sunshine Life Insurance have led a $80 million Series C round of funding for IfChange, a Chinese software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that specializes in human resources management.
South Africa's Naspers to list internet assets on Euronext
South Africa-based conglomerate Naspers plans to spin-off its internet businesses – which include stakes in Chinese giant Tencent Holdings and Indian food-ordering platform Swiggy – through a listing on Euronext in Amsterdam.
Golden Gate, Hanwha target SE Asia's Series B rounds
Singapore-based venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures has partnered with South Korea's Hanwha Asset Management to invest in Series B rounds for Southeast Asian start-ups.