Technology
Indonesia’s Kredivo raises $270m Series D
Indonesian consumer credit company Kredivo, formerly known as FinAccel, has completed a USD 270m Series D round led by Mizuho Bank, which provided USD 125m.
Accenture buys India's VC-backed Flutura
Flutura, an India-headquartered provider of artificial intelligence-enabled (AI) analytics services to industrial customers, has been acquired by Accenture. The deal facilitates an exit for several VC investors, including Vertex Ventures.
Samsung backs Korea autonomous delivery start-up
Samsung Venture Investment has invested in Korea’s Neubility, a robot maker aiming to “automate urban sidewalks” via autonomous rolling boxes capable of on-demand deliveries.
China pool cleaning robot start-up gets $29m angel round
GL Ventures, Shunwei Capital, and Source Code Capital have participated in a CNY 200m (USD 29m) angel round for Xingmai Innovation, a China-based developer of robots that clean swimming pools.
Deal focus: WorldLink reaches into Nepal’s hinterlands
British International Investment and Dolma Fund Management are supporting WorldLink’s rollout of internet services in Nepal, having been impressed how the company handled COVID-19
Southeast Asia VC: Drought survivors
As weaker sentiment for technology risk cools venture capital markets globally, Southeast Asia is lagging in limbo. Investors remain bullish but continue to hold their fire amidst questions around valuations
China energy storage player Weview raises $87m
Weview, a China-based battery manufacturer, has raised a Series A of CNY 600m (USD 87m) led by two state-backed investors - Guohe Xinli, which is a fund under the State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC) and Zhuhai-based Da Heng Qin Group.
Singapore electronics marketplace Reebelo extends Series A to $50m
Singapore electronics marketplace Reebelo has lifted its Series A round to USD 50m with a USD 29m commitment led by Cathay Innovation.
Malaysia's Khazanah launches start-up programme
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has launched a VC collaboration and start-up investment programme with an initial MYR 180m (USD 40m).
Australia's Potentia wins majority shareholder approval for Nitro bid
Potentia Capital has secured support from more than half of Nitro Software’s shareholders for a take-private bid that values the listed Australian company at up to approximately AUD 552m (USD 370m).
China generative AI player LangBoat gets pre-Series A
LangBoat, a China-based generative artificial intelligence (AI) company, has raised a pre-Series A round led by Beijing Zhongguangcun Science City. Eight Roads and Sinovation Ventures re-upped.
China chatbot maker Xiao-I trades down after US IPO
China-based chatbot company Xiao-I has traded down 17.5% since raising USD 39m in a disappointing NASDAQ IPO on March 9.
China cell therapy developer Neowise raises $29m
Chinese cell therapy company Neowise has raised an extended Series A round of CNY200m (USD 29m) from a group including Oriza Seed Fund Management and Marathon Venture Partners.
Heritas hits $20m first close on Asia impact fund
Singapore-based private equity firm Heritas Capital has reached a first close of USD 20m on its latest Asia impact fund against an overall target of USD 50m. DBS contributed USD 10m.
India's HealthPlix raises $22m Series C
India’s HealthPlix, a medical records platform for doctors that aims to democratize access to digital healthcare in remote areas, has raised a USD 22m Series C round led by Avataar Venture Partners.
China UAV player United Aircraft raises $290m
United Aircraft, a Chinese start-up specialising in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has raised a Series D of CNY 2bn (USD 290m) from an assortment of local investors.
India's Rockstud targets $37m for sophomore angel fund
India’s Rockstud Capital, an early-stage VC investor backed by high net worth individuals, has launched its second angel fund with a target of INR 3bn (USD 37m).
Japan's Anri leads $27m round for start-up lending platform
Japanese venture capital firm Anri has led a JPY 3.6bn (USD 27m) Series D round for local start-up lending platform Funds.
China IPOs: Back to New York
With regulatory challenges receding, Chinese companies are once again targeting US listings. But the journey to New York – in terms of approvals, locations, and valuations – isn’t necessarily smooth
Deal focus: Glimmer in a dormant Pakistani ecosystem
Pakistan’s Trukkr quietly spent a hardscrabble pre-seed period building infrastructure while competitors leveraged a short-lived VC boom to grow quickly. The patience appears set to pay off
Deal focus: K-wave media savvy explores new markets
Korean audience interaction technology provider Bemyfriends hopes a sizeable Series A round led by Cleveland Avenue, a lifestyle-focused VC firm in the US, will jumpstart a global expansion
Deal focus: Mapping malls and metaverses
Mapxus sees indoor maps of high-traffic areas in high-density cities as the last piece of infrastructure to digitalise. The Hong Kong start-up has won corporate and VC backing to expand region-wide
BPEA EQT hits first close on mid-market fund, seals debut deal
BPEA EQT – which was formed through the merger of Baring Private Equity Asia and EQT – achieved a first close on its pan-regional mid-cap fund at the end of last year and the vehicle recently completed its debut investment in a Malaysia-headquartered...
China industrial supplies platform ZKH pursues US IPO
ZKH Group, a China-based industrial supplies platform backed by the likes of Eastern Bell Capital, Genesis Capital, Tencent Holdings, and Tiger Global Management, has filed to list in the US.