Technology
Salesforce launches $50m Australia VC fund
US-based enterprise software giant Salesforce has launched a $50 million venture capital fund focused on Australian technology start-ups.
VCs invest $10m in Chinese positioning technology provider
China and US-based startup Kolmostar, which provides positioning technology such as GPS for internet-of-things (IoT) devices and autonomous vehicles, has raised $10 million in a new round of funding led by AB Initio Capital Management.
Chinese electronic contract services provider raises $59m
Fadada, a China-based electronic contract services provider, has raised RMB389 million ($59 million) in a Series C round of funding led by Tiger Global Management and Tencent Holdings.
Astra commits $100m to Go-Jek's Series F
Astra International, an Indonesian conglomerate that controls the country’s largest automotive distributor, has agreed to invest $100 million in the first tranche of a Series F round for ride-hailing and delivery platform Go-Jek.
UOB leads $65m Series B for Indonesia's Halodoc
Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) has led a $65 million Series B round for Indonesian healthcare technology provider Halodoc.
Chinese recruitment SaaS provider Moka raises $27m
Hillhouse Capital has led a RMB180 million ($27 million) Series B round for Chinese smart recruitment solutions provider Moka.
Tiger, Matrix lead $56m round for EV spin-out of India's Ola
Tiger Global Management and Matrix Partners India have co-led a INR4 billion ($56.3 million) investment in an independent electric vehicle (EV) company spun out from Indian ride-hailing platform Ola.
Singapore investors launch $100m fintech fund
Singapore-based investors Quantum Energy Asset Management and RE Lee International Capital have launched a fund targeting $100 million for early to growth-stage financial technology start-ups.
Japan launches space start-up accelerator
Several venture capital firms, including Global Brain, are participating in a Japanese government-backed accelerator program for space start-ups.
A91 seeks $330m for debut India VC fund
A91 Partners, an Indian venture capital firm founded by three former managing directors at Sequoia Capital, is seeking $330 million for its debut fund.
Chinese apartment rental service Danke raises $500m
Chinese start-up Danke Apartment, operator of an online platform that connects landlords with long-term rental tenants, has raised $500 million in a Series C round led by Tiger Global Management and Ant Financial.
CDH targets $1b for second China growth fund
CDH Investments is seeking approximately $1 billion for its second China growth fund, just over two years after raising $800 million for the debut vehicle.
SoftBank Vision Fund invests $1.5b in China’s Chehaoduo
Chehaoduo, a Chinese online auto services provider that runs consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used car trading platform Guazi and new car trading platform Maodou has raised $1.5 billion from SoftBank Vision Fund.
China’s Tiantu Capital closes first angel fund at $75m
Tiantu Capital has closed its debut angel investment fund at RMB500 million ($75 million), complementing the GP’s coverage for companies from early to late stages in China.
Chinese community group purchasing business receives $31m
Songshupinpin, a Chinese group purchasing platform that connects consumers in different residential districts with suppliers of daily necessities, has raised $31 million in the first tranche of a series B round led by Hillhouse Capital Group and MSA Capital.
China's Horizon Robotics hits $3b valuation with Series B
Horizon Robotics, a Chinese developer of microprocessors that support machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, has raised $600 million in Series B funding at a valuation of $3 billion.
Google joins $7m round for Vietnam's Elsa
Gradient Ventures, a VC arm of Google focused on artificial intelligence (AI), has led a $7 million Series A round for Vietnam-based English language education technology provider Elsa.
Chinese chip maker secures $22m Series B
National Chip, a Chinese manufacturer of chips for digital TVs, has raised a RMB150 million ($22 million) Series B round led by China’s State Development & Investment Corporation, with participation from Sinovation Ventures.
Singapore's 90 Seconds raises $20m Series B round
Singapore video platform operator 90 Seconds has raised a $20 million Series B from a group including Susquehanna International Group (SIG), Australia’s AirTree Ventures, and Sequoia Capital India.
Australia's Artesian launches $36m agtech fund
Australia’s Artesian Venture Partners and government-backed Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) have launched a A$50 million ($36 million) agriculture technology VC fund.
Deal focus: Zilingo builds full-service fashion platform
Zilingo has secured $226 million in Series D funding to take its end-to-end online retail service to more small-scale fashion merchants across Southeast Asia
Shenzhen Capital, SOSV to launch angel, growth funds
Shenzhen Capital Group and SOSV Investments have agreed to establish a China-focused angel investment fund as well as a growth stage vehicle targeting European companies.
Fund focus: EVP mines Australia’s budding VC space
Driven by an existing portfolio that includes workforce management platform Deputy, Australia's EVP successfully tapped high net worth investors for its $25 million second fund
China coffee shops: Out of Luckin?
Luckin Coffee has won substantial private equity funding for an expansion strategy that involves taking the fight to Starbucks. But is the Chinese coffee shop chain’s business model sustainable?