Technology
China’s United Imaging Healthcare raises $509m Series A
Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare, a China-based medical imaging device maker, has completed a RMB3.33 billion ($509 million) Series A round of funding co-led by state-backed SDIC Fund Management and China Life Healthcare Fund.
India's Unacademy raises $11.5m Series B round
Sequoia Capital India and SAIF Partners have led a $11.5 million Series B funding round for Indian free-to-use learning platform operator Unacademy.
Provident, JD.com back Thailand e-commerce, fintech JVs
Southeast Asia-focused Provident Capital has partnered with Chinese online retailer JD.com, JD Finance, and Thai conglomerate Central Group on an investment of up to $500 million in e-commerce and financial technology services in Thailand.
Asus launches $50m cross-border VC fund
Taiwan-based hardware giant Asus has launched a $50 million VC fund aimed at helping US start-ups expand in Asia.
VCs invest $17m in Indian night vision company
Tonbo Imaging, an Indian night vision technology specialist serving the defense, surveillance and transportation safety markets, has received $17 million in Series B funding led by US-based WRV Capital.
Trump blocks sale of Lattice Semiconductor to Chinese GP
US President Donald Trump has vetoed the sale of US-based chip maker Lattice Semiconductor to Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, a private equity firm backed by Chinese LPs, citing national security concerns.
Formation 8 backs Yello Mobile's O2O unit
Formation Group, a Silicon Valley and Asia-focused venture capital firm established by Formation 8 co-founder Brian Koo, has invested KRW112.5 million ($99 million) in the online-to-offline (O2O) services unit of Korean mobile internet platform Yello...
China's PE-backed Secoo seeks $115m in US IPO
Secoo, a private equity-backed Chinese e-commerce platform that focuses on luxury goods, is looking to raise up to $114.8 million through a US IPO.
Toshiba, Bain sign MOU for chip unit - update
Japanese conglomerate Toshiba has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bain Capital regarding the sale of its Nand flash memory unit to a consortium led by the PE firm.
Japan's Infostellar receives $7.3m Series A
Infostellar, a Japanese company developing cloud-based satellite communication technology, has closed a $7.3 million Series A funding round led by US-based Airbus Ventures.
Deal focus: Gridtential charges up for Asia expansion
US-based Gridtential is looking to bring its innovative battery technology to Asian markets with the help of 1955 Capital and several strategic investors
Southeast Asia's Zilingo gets $17m Series B
Sequoia Capital India and Burda Principal Investments, the VC arm of German internet conglomerate Hubert Burda Media, have led a $17 million Series B round for Thailand-based online fashion marketplace Zilingo.
Hony, Poly Capital to open VR cinemas with China's Digital Domain
China-focused private equity firms Hony Capital and Poly Capital have partnered with Digital Domain Holdings, a Hong Kong-listed digital visual effects and virtual reality (VR) technology developer, to establish a joint venture that will open VR theaters...
Tiantu re-ups in Chinese online grocer FreshMarket
China-based online grocery retailer FreshMarket has secured an extended Series C round of funding worth RMB290 million ($44 million) led by its existing investor Tiantu Capital.
Hong Kong's TNG Fintech raises $115m Series A
Chinese private equity firm NewMargin Capital has led a $115.3 million investment in Hong Kong’s TNG Fintech. It is said to be the largest Series A round for a Hong Kong start-up to date.
Australia invests $11m across three biotech start-ups
The Australian government has agreed to invest A$13.3 million ($11 million) into three local healthcare start-ups via it’s Biomedical Translation Fund (BTF).
Malaysia Debt Ventures tech fund to invest up to $954m
Government-owned Malaysia Debt Ventures (MDV) has launched its third fund with a view to investing up to MYR4 billion ($954 million) in technology companies across the next 20 years.
Seven Seas leads $54m round for China robot start-up
Seven Seas Partners, a Sino-US cross-border VC firm founded by a former executive at Tencent Holdings, has led a RMB350 million ($54 million) Series B round of funding for Roobo, a home service robot developer.
1955 Capital backs US-based Gridtential to expand in Asia
1955 Capital, a cross-border PE firm set up by former Khosla Ventures partner Andrew Chung, has led an $11 million Series B round for US-based energy storage technology developer Gridtential aimed at supporting its Asia expansion.
Jafco leads $14.8m investment in Japan's Tech Bureau
Tech Bureau, a Japan-based cryptocurrency exchange platform operator, has received JPY1.6 billion ($14.8 million) in Series B funding led by domestic venture capital firm Jafco.
SoftBank Vision Fund leads $250m round for India's Oyo
SoftBank Vision Fund, the global technology investment vehicle managed by Japan’s SoftBank Group, has led a $250 million Series D round for Indian online hospitality platform Oyo.
Sequoia China leads $240m round for WuXi NextCode
WuXi NextCode, a genome sequencing analysis business with ties to China-based contract research organization WuXi PharmaTech, has completed a $240 million extended Series B round of funding led by Sequoia China and featuring Temasek Holdings, Yunfeng...
Regulators seek to curb initial coin offerings
Start-up fundraisings via the sale of cryptographic tokens, also known as initial coin offerings (ICO), are set to experience elevated legal enforcement risk in Asia following regulatory pressure in China and Hong Kong.
China clothing rental site Yi23 raises $50m
China-based Yi23, a female clothing rental platform, has raised a $50 million Series C round of funding jointly led by Alibaba Innovation Ventures, SBCVC and Sequoia Capital.