Technology
China’s PE-backed Tubatu files for HK IPO
Tubatu, a Chinese online home renovation platform backed by Matrix Partners and Sequoia Capital, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
SoftBank Vision Fund forms JV with Chinese insurer Zhong An
SoftBank Vision Fund has entered into a technology development joint venture (JV) with Zhong An, a PE-backed Chinese insurance company. It will see each party contribute $100 million.
Australia's Simple gets $17m expansion round
Australian marketing platform operator Simple has raised $17 million for global expansion in a round led by local investor BBRC Private Equity. It is the GP’s first investment.
Q&A: Top Tier Capital Partners' David York
David York, a managing partner at venture capital-focused fund-of-funds Top Tier Capital Partners, assesses the motivations behind the flood of capital into the US late-stage technology space
China's Shansong Express raises $60m
Shansong, a Chinese start-up that provides intercity courier services, has raised $60 million in the first tranche of a Series D round. It comes 15 months after the company closed its Series C at $100 million.
Japan hotel-booking start-up raises $6.3m
Metro Engines, a Tokyo-based start-up that provides pricing tools for online hotel booking sites, has raised JPY700 million ($6.3 million) from a group of Japanese venture capital and strategic investors.
Singapore IoT supplier UnaBiz gets $10m
UnaBiz, a Singapore-based technology provider focused on the internet-of-things (IoT), has received a $10 million funding round from a group of investors including Japan’s KDDI Corporation and Global Brain.
US VC leads $15m round for Australia's Flare
US-based VC Point72 Ventures has led a A$21 million ($15.4 million) round for Australian staff management technology provider Flare.
Alibaba merges food delivery units, raises $3b
Alibaba Group has merged Ele.me, a China-focused food delivery platform that it acquired earlier this year, with its local services platform Koubei. The combined platform has raised $3 billion from investors including Alibaba and SoftBank Group.
Visa joins Series C for Japan fintech player Paidy
Visa has committed an undisclosed amount to a Series C funding round for Paidy, a Japanese financial technology company with several VC and corporate backers.
China’s GL commits $12.5m to UK-listed healthtech platform
GL Capital, a healthcare-focused GP based in China, has invested GBP9.75 million ($12.5 million) in UK-listed health technology platform Oxford BioDynamics (OBD) as part of a larger partnership aimed at expansion in China.
Chinese fintech start-up Blackfish gets $50m
A group of VCs including Lightspeed Venture Partners has invested $50 million in Blackfish Technology, a Chinese financial technology start-up offering a range of retail banking services.
Orchid, TPG lead $110m Series C for China's Duiba
Orchid Asia and TPG Capital have led a $110 million Series C round for Duiba, a Chinese enterprise services company that specializes in marketing and user engagement programs.
China’s Maimai gets $200m Series D
Maimai, a Chinese social networking app for professionals that is seen as the country’s equivalent to LinkedIn, has raised $200 million in Series D funding led by DST Global.
Autonomous vehicles: Driving ambition
Asia’s driverless car space has become an increasingly popular investment destination in recent years, but a number of significant challenges must be resolved for the sector to gain widespread social acceptance
JD.com-backed Farfetch to go public in US
UK-based luxury online fashion retailer Farfetch, which has received significant funding from Asian investors including China’s JD.com, has filed for a US IPO.
CDC Group backs India's Pi Ventures
CDC Group has committed $6 million to a fund managed by Pi Ventures, an Indian firm focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and internet-of-things (IoT).
Sequoia India closes sixth fund at $695m
Sequoia Capital India has closed its sixth fund at $695 million, surpassing a target range of $625-675 million.
Chinese news aggregator Qutoutiao preps for US offering
Qutoutiao, a Chinese news aggregator app that seeks to differentiate itself from market leader Jinri Toutiao by focusing on entertainment-oriented content, has announced plans to list in the US.
China's PE-backed AsiaInfo files for HK IPO
AsiaInfo Technologies, a Chinese telecommunications software provider backed by a number of private equity firms, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO.
Chinese online crafts platform raises $44m Series B
Cathay Capital has led a RMB310 million ($45 million) Series B round of funding for Tongshifu, a Chinese online crafts platform that specializes in decorative brass works.
Asia data center player raises $621m
AirTrunk, a Singapore-based data center provider focused on Australia, has raised A$850 million ($621 million) in senior debt financing and capital from existing investors Goldman Sachs and TPG Capital.
Trending China: On technology, trade and millennials
A few China-related observations, largely influenced by AVCJ’s recent special issue on how PE is responding to technology, a white paper released by Henry McVey, KKR’s head of global macro and asset allocation, and Sino-US trade rumblings
Singapore's Qualgro reaches $60m first close on second fund
Qualgro, a Southeast Asia and Australasia-focused VC firm that spun out from Singapore asset manager Gordian Capital, has secured a first close of $60 million on its second fund.