Technology
China biosynthesis start-up Bluepha raises $58m
Bluepha, a Chinese start-up focused on bio-based chemicals, has raised CNY 400m (USD 58m) in a fourth tranche of Series B funding.
China GPs back pre-Series A for software start-up Affine
Affine, a Chinese-founded and Singapore-based collaborative software start-up, has raised USD 10m in pre-Series A funding led by Redpoint China, China Growth Capital, and Sinovation Ventures.
PeerCapital hits $37m first close on India early-stage fund
PeerCapital, an Indian venture capital firm that participates in seed and Series A rounds, has reached a first close of INR 3bn (USD 36.3m) on its debut fund.
Saudi Arabia's PIF backs China e-sports platform
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has invested USD 265m in China’s VSPO, an e-sports broadcaster and events promoter formerly known as VSPN.
China's Pudu Robotics extends Series C to $170m
Pudu Robotics, a China-based manufacturer of service robots, has closed a third tranche of Series C funding with more than USD 15m in commitments. It was led by local VC firm Puhua Capital.
Australia quantum computer maker raises $18m
Australian quantum computer start-up Quantum Brilliance has raised USD 18m from several local VC firms, plus US-based investors Ultratech Capital Partners and CM Equity Partners.
Sequoia Southeast Asia leads Series C for Australia's Shift
Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia has led a Series C round of AUD 27m (USD 18.5m) for Australia-based credit and payments platform Shift.
Ribbit, Tiger Global, TVS commit $100m to India's PhonePe
Ribbit Capital, Tiger Global Management, and TVS Capital Funds have committed USD 100m to Indian digital payments platform PhonePe, joining an ever-lengthening investor roster.
Eight Roads builds out China team
Eight Roads Ventures has added three partners to its China team through promotion, bringing the total number in the country to 10.
Alibaba-backed eWTP pursues $1bn in VC fundraise
EWTP Arabia Capital, an investment arm of the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) backed by Alibaba Group and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has raised nearly USD 1bn for an Asia-Middle East fund.
Goldman Sachs, TVS lead $150m round for India's InsuranceDekho
Goldman Sachs and TVS Capital Funds have led a USD 150m Series A round for India’s InsuranceDekho, an online insurance policy comparison and brokerage service.
Singapore's Aspire closes Series C on $100m
Singapore-based B2B banking platform Aspire has closed an oversubscribed Series C round with USD 100m in commitments. Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia took the lead.
Deal focus: Taking electrification to China’s skies
TCab Tech has won USD 15m in funding to bankroll its electric-powered alternative to helicopters. The path to market might be relatively short, but the wait for revenue will be longer
Grand Flight leads $15m round for China urban air mobility player
Shanghai-based TCab Tech has raised CNY 100m (USD 14.7m) in a pre-Series A round led by Grand Flight, an industrial investment fund mainly initiated by Far East Horizon.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Fundraising of the Year – Venture Capital: Qiming Venture Partners
Qiming Venture Partners defied tough conditions to close its eighth US dollar-denominated fund on USD 2.5bn. Managing Partner Nisa Leung looks back on the process and examines the prospects for healthcare
Indian drone start-up Garuda Aerospace raises $22m
Recently established Indian VC firm SphitiCap has led a USD 22m Series A round for Garuda Aerospace, a local industrial drone maker and related services provider.
Novo Tellus seeks $375m for third industrial tech fund
Novo Tellus Capital Partners, a Singapore-based private equity firm that invests in industrial technology assets across the Indo-Pacific region, has set a target of USD 375m for its third fund.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Exit of the Year – Mid Cap: Probe CX
Five V Capital identified an opportunity in Australia-based outsourced business services and brought in Quadrant Private Equity to help scale the concept. A USD 792m exit to KKR was their reward
Sequoia leads $17m round for Singapore's Tazapay
Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia has led a USD 16.9m Series A round for Singaporean cross-border payments start-up Tazapay.
India's Rezolve.ai secures $11m Series A
SIG Venture Capital has led a USD 11m Series A round for Rezolve.ai, a US and India-based start-up that applies conversational artificial intelligence (AI) to human resources services.
Hesai gains 11% on debut after $190m US offering
Hesai Technology, a China-based developer of sensors used in autonomous driving, traded up on debut after completing the largest US IPO by a Chinese company since Didi in 2021.
Bessemer, SIG lead Series B for India's Entropik
Bessemer Venture Partners and SIG Venture Capital have led a USD 25m Series B round for Indian marketing research platform Entropik.
China's Oriza Rivertown raises $236m
Oriza Rivertown, the growth investment arm of Suzhou-based Oriza Holdings, has raised CNY1.6bn (USD 236m) across two funds, bringing its total asset under management to CNY 4.5bn.
Potentia gains due diligence access to Australia's Nitro
Potentia Capital has been invited to perform due diligence on buyout target Nitro Software after trumping a rival bid for the listed Australian company, ending months of board resistance to its overtures.