Technology
China's GSR to invest $405m in US-based Overstock
Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital has agreed to invest up to $405 million in US-listed online retailer Overstock.com and its financial technology subsidiary tZero through three separate transactions.
India's Epiq closes first three investments
Epiq Capital, an India-focused private equity firm founded by Matrix Partners India co-founder Rishi Navani, has completed its first three investments in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions, financial technology company Mswipe, and online home rental...
TPG, MBK agree sale of Wharf T&T to Hong Kong’s HKBN
TPG Capital and MBK Partners have agreed to sell Hong Kong telecom services provider Wharf T&T to internet service provider Hong Kong Broadband Network (HKBN) at an enterprise valuation of HK$10.5 billion ($1.3 billion).
Samsung to expand VC program in $22b innovation drive
Korea’s Samsung has committed KRW25 trillion ($22 billion) to a technology innovation drive that will focus strongly on domestic R&D and include an expansion of the company’s venture incubation program.
IDG backs Chinese sports video streaming service
IDG Capital and government-backed Huiying Borun Investment have committed RMB500 million ($73 million) to iQiyi Sports, a newly established division of the Chinese video streaming platform that listed in the US earlier this year.
Chinese P2P lending player Dianrong gets $40m
Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) lending business Dianrong has received $40 million in funding from Dalian Financial Industry Investment Group – a joint venture investment platform established by Orix Group and the Dalian city government – against a backdrop...
China's PE-backed Weimob applies for HK IPO
Weimob, a Shanghai-based provider of marketing and cloud services to online merchants that is backed by Tencent Holdings and several private equity firms, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong.
India's Shadowfax raises $22m Series C
Shadowfax, an Indian online-to-offline (O2O) logistics provider focused on hyperlocal delivery, has raised a $22 million Series C round led by Nokia Growth Partners (NGP).
Yunfeng records $2.5b final close on third China fund
Yunfeng Capital, a Chinese private equity firm established by Jack Ma and David Yu, founders of Alibaba Group and Target Media, respectively, has raised $2.5 billion for its third US dollar-denominated fund.
China's CureGenetics gets $17m Series A round
Qiming Venture Partners has led a $17 million Series A funding round for Chinese biotechnology company CureGenetics.
VCs commit $22m to China laser developer
SDIC Fund Management, a GP under China’s State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC), along with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Suzhou Chengxin Venture Capital, has invested RMB150 million ($22 million) in Everbright Photonics, a maker...
Decheng leads Series C for China's Impact Therapeutics
Chinese biopharmaceuticals developer Impact Therapeutics has raised $30 million in Series C funding from a group of investors led by Decheng Capital.
Australia's OneVentures launches $74m venture debt fund
Australia’s OneVentures has partnered with Israel-based Viola Credit to launch a A$100 million ($74 million) venture debt fund that is said to be the first vehicle of its kind in Australia.
Chinese second-hand goods trading platform raises $65m
Sequoia Capital China has led an extended Series B round worth $65 million for Xiangwushuo, a Chinese online trading platform for second-hand goods. The company, which was founded as recently as 2017, has now raised $110 million in cumulative funding.
Technology risk: Big brother
Advanced technologies experiencing rapid commercialization such as artificial intelligence will be subject to a range of social and regulatory risks. Investors must not ignore the debate on ethical deployment
Chinese electric car maker Xpeng raises $587m
Primavera Capital Group and Morningside Ventures have led a RMB4 billion ($587 million) Series B-plus funding round for Chinese electric car manufacturer Xpeng Motors, working alongside the company’s chairman and CEO, Xiaopeng He.
Q&A: iCapital Network's Lawrence Calcano
Launched in 2013 and backed by a string of placement agents, iCapital Network leverages technology to give high net worth investors access to alternatives. CEO Lawrence Calcano discusses the democratization of capital raising
Automation and investment: Channeling the flow
Investors are beginning to experiment with automation in various aspects of the deal-making process. Results to date are encouraging but lack detailed cost-benefit insight
India bus-hailing app Shuttl gets $11m
Amazon India has led an $11 million Series B funding round for India-based bus-hailing app operator Shuttl, with participation by several other VC investors.
SE Asia's Grab raises $2b in Toyota-led funding round
Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing business Grab has raised $2 billion in its latest round of funding led by Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation and involving a number of other global investors.
China’s 51Zhaoyou gets $150m in Series C funding
Chinese B2B oil trading platform 51Zhaoyou.com has raised $150 million across two tranches of Series C funding.
PE and tech investment: The late show
Private equity firms are participating in late-stage rounds in Asia’s technology space as they look to gain a toehold in start-ups with the potential to transform economies. But do the valuations make sense?
Tech investment case study: True North and Seedworks
True North aimed to set Indian seed maker Seedworks apart from its competitors by leveraging digital technology. Two years into its investment the private equity firm is seeing its initiatives pay off
Accel, Sequoia lead $100m round for US, India-based Freshworks
Freshworks, a cloud business software developer based in India and the US, has raised a $100 million funding round led by Accel Partners and Sequoia Capital.