Technology
Goldman raises $5.2b global growth fund
Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) has closed its debut global growth fund with USD 5.2bn in commitments. It claims this is one of the largest first-time growth vehicles ever raised globally.
AVCJ Awards 2022: Deal of the Year – Small Cap: Well-Link
By taking computing to the cloud, graphics-as-a-service player Well-Link Technologies is looking to broaden access to video games and help power the metaverse. VC investors are keen to get involved
AI: Asia awakens to ChatGPT
ChatGPT has sent shockwaves through the technology sector globally. Asia is no exception as investors look for ways to leverage the platform and China contemplates a standard of its own
AVCJ Awards 2022: Exit of the Year – IPO: GoTo
GoTo’s rocky start on the Indonesia Stock Exchange betrays the pioneering nature of the listing and cements a legacy as an ecosystem lynchpin. Long-time backer Openspace Ventures reflects
New Zealand hydrogen player raises $14m
New Zealand hydrogen and zero-emission technologies developer Fabrum has raised a NZD 23m (USD 14.5m) Series A round led by UK-based AP Ventures.
Japan's Baseconnect gets $41m Series B
Japanese corporate contact and recruitment database provider Baseconnect has raised a JPY 5.4bn (USD 41m) Series B round led by Z Venture Capital (ZVC), formerly YJ Capital.
India, US-based Usher closes $50m Series C
Third Point Ventures has led a USD 50m Series C round for India and US-based enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technology provider Ushur.
LP interview: Quilvest Capital Partners
Fund-of-funds Quilvest Capital Partners was an early-mover in PE globally but has maintained a lean profile that speaks to its family office roots. It is pressing ahead with a China and India-focused Asia strategy
Deal focus: Serving the sole trader
Accounting software provider Hnry has built up a following among freelancers and self-employed tradespeople in New Zealand and Australia. A USD 25m Series B will help it look further afield
Fund focus: ChrysCapital accumulates $1.4b India war chest
For ChrysCapital Partners, raising India’s largest private equity fund reflects the growth in the economy and in the investment opportunity, with bigger deals across more sectors on the agenda
Monolith sets $250m hard cap for China fund
Monolith Management, an investment firm established by Xi Cao, formerly a partner at Sequoia Capital China, has set the hard cap at USD 250m for its debut China venture capital fund.
Shunwei, Xiaomi lead round for China automotive chip maker
Rhino, a China-based developer of chips used in autonomous driving, has raised an extended angel round of several hundreds of millions of renminbi.
Singapore accelerator targets packaging industry
Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and US packaging giant Avery Dennison are bankrolling a start-up accelerator that will explore everything from new boxing materials to tech-enabled tags.
Southeast Asia's Openspace seeks $650m for latest vintage
Southeast Asia-focused Openspace Ventures is targeting USD 300m for its fourth venture capital fund and USD 350m for its second growth vehicle.
Sequoia backs China hydrogen battery player
Sequoia Capital China has led a CNY 240m (USD 36m) Series C round for Suzhou-based Thinkre New Material, a battery technology supplier focused on hydrogen fuel cells.
China hydrogen energy player raises $44m Series C
Chinese hydrogen power company TangFeng Energy has raised a Series C round of CNY300m (USD 44m) led by GP Capital, Qianyan Investment, and a unit of Dongfeng Motor Corporation.
Japan's JGIA targets Wow World take-private
Japan Growth Investments Alliance (JGIA) has won board approval from Tokyo-listed Wow World Group for a take-private that values the business communications technology provider at JPY 6bn (USD 46.4m).
Airtree leads $25m round for New Zealand's Hnry
Australia’s Airtree Ventures has led a NZD 35m (USD 25mm) Series B round for New Zealand small business financial technology provider Hnry.
India exits: Sustainable trend?
GPs saw abundant exits in India in 2021 and the flow continued last year even as other markets stumbled. Investors must assess the merits of various contributing cyclical and structural factors
Deal focus: Newlink doubles down on new direction
Having established itself in China’s gas station services space, Newlink Group embraced the electric vehicle opportunity when it arrived. A spinout, reverse merger, and more capital were the result
China battery component supplier secures $296m pre-IPO round
Kuntian New Energy, a China-based developer of artificial graphite used in lithium-ion batteries, has raised a pre-IPO funding round of CNY2 bn (USD 296m) from a string of financial and strategic investors.
India's Enzene Biosciences raises $50m
Indian biotech company Enzene Biosciences has raised a USD 50m round featuring Eight Roads Ventures and F-Prime Capital.
IMM commits $121m to Korea cloud business
IMM Investment is providing KRW 150bn (USD 121m) in Series A funding for Korean cloud computing business NHN Cloud at a valuation of KRW 1trn.
China adult online education platform raises $41m in US IPO
QuantaSing Group, a Chinese adult tuition platform that spun out from wealth management and investment education business Erwan Technology, has traded relatively flat following a USD 41m IPO on NASDAQ.