Technology
CVC buys currency trading platform to support Asia expansion
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to acquire currency trading platform Oanda Global Corporation with a view to helping the company further develop its business in Asia.
China online-to-offline: Retail reorientation
As technology brings the buyer closer to the seller, some investors are put off by the uncertainty while others see opportunities in finding ways to digitize – or further disrupt – traditional retailers
India’s Unitus reaches $15m first close on second impact fund
Indian VC firm Unitus Ventures (formerly Unitus Seed Fund) has reached a first close of INR1 billion ($15 million) for its second early-stage impact investment fund.
China's Baidu to establish internet, AI-focused fund
Chinese search giant Baidu has announced plans for an investment fund that will concentrate on start-ups with pan-internet and artificial intelligence (AI) strategies. The vehicle – known as Changcheng Investment Partners – will have initial capital...
TPG, Carlyle lead $1.9b round for Baidu's financial services unit
TPG Capital and The Carlyle Group have led a $1.9 billion funding round for Chinese search giant Baidu’s financial services unit, which is being spun out as Du Xiao Man.
SIG leads $13.5m round for US, China-based Castbox
SIG China has led a $13.5 million Series B funding round for Castbox, a US and China-based podcasting platform with content in multiple languages.
China car-trading platform Renrenche gets $300m
Goldman Sachs, Tencent Holdings and ride-hailing business Didi Chuxing have led a $300 million funding round for Renrenche, a Chinese consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used-car trading platform.
Corporates embrace VC to understand disruption - AVCJ Forum
Southeast Asian corporates are becoming increasingly involved in technology investment as they seek to understand how their traditional businesses might be disrupted, executives told the AVCJ Indonesia Forum.
China VC specialization to accelerate as ecosystem expands
China’s venture capital ecosystem is set to see a rapid proliferation of niche sector funds as overall economic growth piques domestic competition in the asset class.
Deal focus: MiningLamp brings AI to low-tech China
China Renaissance backs MiningLamp's ambitions to power the information processing needs of China's small businesses
India’s PE-backed Bharti, Indus to merge
Indus Towers, an Indian telecom tower network backed by Providence Equity Partners, will merge with domestic rival Bharti Infratel, whose investors include KKR and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).
VCs should favor originality in SE Asia start-ups - AVCJ Forum
International venture capital firms are misguided in their attempts to find established parallels for Southeast Asian businesses in other markets because they could end up missing out on true innovation, industry participants told the AVCJ Indonesia Forum.
NSI goes independent, rebrands as Openspace Ventures
NSI Ventures, a Southeast Asian early-stage investor affiliated to Northstar Group, is to become fully independent and rebrand itself as Openspace Ventures.
Japan’s D4V closes debut venture fund at $46m
D4V, a firm set up by Japanese seed-stage investor Genuine Startups and US-based design consultancy Ideo, has closed its debut venture capital fund with more than JPY5 billion ($46 million) in commitments.
Sinovation confirms Fund IV close at $500m
Chinese VC firm Sinovation Ventures has confirmed a final close for its fourth fund at the targeted corpus of $500 million.
Deal focus: Opportunities at the end
TR Capital takes secondary stakes in Indian eyewear chain Lenskart and microfinance specialist Arohan Financial Services
Q&A: PropertyGuru's Steve Melhuish
In 11 years, PropertyGuru has evolved from a Singapore start-up into the leading online real estate listings platform in five Southeast Asian markets. Co-founder Steve Melhuish reviews the ups and downs
SoftBank leads $1.9b funding round for China’s Manbang
The Full Truck Alliance Group, a Chinese trucking logistics firm also known as Manbang, has raised a $1.9 billion funding round led by SoftBank Group.
Fund focus: Qiming sees growing opportunity set
Qiming has chosen to stick to its successful formula with its sixth US dollar-denominated vehicle, which recently closed at $935 million
Singapore accelerators: Corporate orientation
The rise of corporate-backed innovation programs in Singapore suggests the emergence of a new model for start-up development. Stakeholders are monitoring the pros and cons of the phenomenon
Eight Roads launches $275m China tech fund
Eight Roads Ventures, the proprietary investment arm of Fidelity International, has launched a China-focused technology fund worth $275 million. The parent company is the sole LP.
Ron Cao's Sky9 raises $200m for China VC fund
Sky9 Capital, a venture capital firm established by Ron Cao (pictured), formerly of Lightspeed China, has closed its debut US dollar-denominated fund at $200 million.
Shenzhen government launches $79m blockchain fund
The government of Shenzhen has launched a VC fund with an initial corpus of RMB500 million ($79 million) to invest in blockchain start-ups in the city.
Shenzhen Capital backs Asia push by US 3D printing player
Shenzhen Capital has joined a $30 million Series C round for US-based 3D printing company Formlabs that will support an expansion effort in China and Asia.