Technology
China project funds: Cut to fit
Project funds have become popular in China on the back of increased demand for PE exposure from corporates and high net worth individuals. It remains to be seen if they have true staying power
Chinese self-driving car start-up Momenta raises $46m
Momenta, a Beijing-based start-up that develops road sensors and mapping software for self-driving cars, has raised a $46 million Series B round of funding led by NIO Capital, an investment unit of local electric-vehicle maker NIO.
SoftBank, Didi Chuxing invest $2b in Southeast Asia's Grab
Southeast Asian ride-hailing app operator Grab has received $2 billion from SoftBank and Chinese peer Didi Chuxing as part of what is expected to be a $2.5 billion funding round.
IDG leads $50m round for China online pet store
IDG Capital has led a Series B round of funding worth $50 million for Epet.com, a Chinese e-commerce platform that sells pet-related food products and other services.
360 Capital seeks buyout of Australia data center business
Australian property funds manager 360 Capital is seeking to acquire Asia Pacific Data Centre Trust (APDC), a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns three data centers in Australia.
Indian furniture rental company gets $10m Series B
RentoMojo, an Indian financial technology company that facilitates rentals of furniture and other household items, has raised a $10 million Series B round led by Bain Capital Ventures and fintech entrepreneur Renaud Laplanche.
Thailand's Zanroo receives $7.4m Series A
Zanroo, a Thailand-based company that uses big data analytics to offer clients real-time marketing services, has received a $7.4 million Series A funding round from domestic investor Shift Ventures.
Chinese GP to buy Camtek's printed circuit board business
Chinese private equity firm Principle Capital has agreed to buy the printed circuit board (PCB) business of Israel-based semiconductor component manufacturer Camtek for $35 million.
China self-service karaoke booth operator raises $15m
Xingtang MiniKTV, a three-month-old Chinese start-up that operates self-service karaoke booths, has raised $15 million across three tranches of funding.
China smart convenience store operator raises $19m
Xiaomai, a Chinese cashier-free convenience store operator much like US-based Amazon Go, has secured RMB125 million ($19 million) in funding led by Aplus Fund and Chenshan Capital.
IDG, Jungle back India's Vayana Network
IDG Ventures India and Jungle Ventures have jointly invested $4 million in a Series A funding round for Indian financial services company Vayana Network.
IoT in Asia: Things to come
A number of political factors have positioned Asia Pacific to be a global leader in internet-of-things development. Investors must now navigate an unwieldy field of technologies, markets and social drivers
China logistics platform Yimidida secures $44m Series B
CDH Investments has led a RMB300 million ($44 million) Series B round for Yimidida, a Shanghai-based logistics services platform that focuses on rural areas.
Singapore's Spring Seeds to invest $73m in tech start-ups
Singapore-government backed Spring Seeds Capital has committed S$100 million ($73 million) to an investment program targeting domestic start-ups developing high-end technology.
AirTree leads Series B for Australia consulting marketplace
AirTree Ventures has led a A$13 million ($10.1 million) Series B round of funding for Expert360, an Australia-based online marketplace that connects small companies with independent consultants.
Asian space debris start-up gets $25m Series C
Astroscale, a Singapore-based satellite technology company focused on removing hazardous debris from orbit, has raised a $25 million Series C round with participation from a number of Japanese venture firms.
Texas County & District backs IDG's latest China VC fund
Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) has committed $30 million to IDG Capital’s latest China venture capital fund – the first to be raised since the GP acquired the global investment business of International Data Group (IDG).
Financial institutions and fintech: Bouncing checks
Southeast Asia’s traditional banks have begun to take a strong interest in the financial technology environment, but their early-stage involvement in the ecosystem is still tentative
Singapore’s BeMyGuest raises $8.4m Series A round
Singapore’s Raffles Venture Partners has led a Series A funding round for domestic travel start-up BeMyGuest that brings the company’s total equity funding to S$11.5 million ($8.4 million).
China warehouse robot developer gets $60m Series B
Geek+, a Chinese manufacturer of robots for use in logistics and warehousing, has received $60 million in Series B funding led by Warburg Pincus. Several existing investors, including Volcanics Ventures, also participated.
China's SenseTime closes $410m Series B round
Sense Time, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning technology start-up has closed a $410 million Series B round of funding across two tranches, led by CDH Investments and Sailing Capital, respectively.
SBI invests Indian fintech player
Indian payments technology service Innoviti Embedded Solutions has raised a INR1.2 billion ($18.6 million) funding round led by SBI-FMO Fund.
GGV leads $10m round for Asian snacks business
GGV Capital has led a $10 million Series A funding round for Yamibuy, a US-based e-commerce player focused on Asian snacks, beauty products, health supplements and home appliances.
Affinity submits $1.6b offer for Australia's Vocus
Affinity Equity Partners has submitted a bid to buy Australian high-speed broadband internet provider Vocus Group for about A$2.2 billion ($1.6 billion), matching an offer made by KKR.