Technology
Japan’s LifeRobotics raises $4.4m in Series A round
LifeRobotics, the developer of an industrial collaborative robot called Coro, has raised JPY500 million ($4.4 million) in Series A funding aimed at a marketing initiative and technological developments.
BlueRun leads $100m Series C for China's QingCloud
China-based cloud computing platform QingCloud has raised a $100 million Series C round led by existing investor BlueRun Ventures.
Accel leads $3m Series A round for India's Ninjacart
Accel Partners has led a $3 million Series A round for Indian business-to-business (B2B) online marketplace Ninjacart.
Philippines-based PDS secures funding
Philippines-based mobile fintech start-up Pitaca Digital Services has raised a funding round managed by Carillion Partners, a boutique investment services and financial advisory company affiliated with Hong Kong-based Angeon Advisors.
Alibaba buys Hong Kong-listed AGTech
Alibaba Group and its financial services affiliate Ant Financial have purchased Hong Kong-listed gaming technology company AGTech in a move aimed at expanding the target’s existing mobile and internet lottery businesses.
China VC-backed online campus store 8Dol raises $30m
8Dol.com, a Chinese campus O2O services provider backed by several VC investors, has raised an extended Series B round worth RMB200 million ($30 million) led by Longrich, a Chinese cosmetics company.
China's LeTV raises $153m for cloud-computing unit
LeTV Cloud, a cloud-computing service platform owned by Chinese online video company Leshi Internet Information & Technology (LeTV), has raised RMB1 billion ($153 million) from state-owned Chongqing Industrial Investment Fund.
India's Access buys network solutions provider Teleysia
Access Asset Managers has taken a controlling interest in Indian wireless telecom consultancy Teleysia Networks.
Guo Jin leads $15m round for China education platform
Guo Jin Capital, a Shenzhen-based early-stage VC firm, has led a RMB100 million ($15.3 million) Series B round for ABC360, an online English learning platform.
Japan marketplace Mercari gets $74m Series D round
Japan’s Mitsui & Co has co-led a JPY8.4 billion ($74 million) Series D round of funding for smart phone peer-to-peer marketplace Mercari.
UK-based Blippar raises $54m for Asia expansion
Blippar, a UK-based developer of augmented reality, computer vision and artificial intelligence technology, has raised a $54 million Series D round to support its Asia expansion plans.
Malaysia car sale platform raises $2m Series A round
Malaysian PE fund IdeaRiverRun has led a $2 million Series A round of funding for Carsome, a local car purchasing platform.
Investec backs Australia fintech investor H2 Ventures
Investec has acquired a stake in Australia-based financial technology investor H2 Ventures. It is part of a broader collaboration that will see Investec contribute to H2’s accelerator and early-stage investment program.
INCJ leads $35m investment in Singapore's Astroscale
Singapore-based satellite services and space technology company Astroscale has secured up to $35 million in funding from VC investors including Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Jafco.
Legend leads $30m round for China cloud services provider
Legend Capital has led a $30 million Series C round of funding for Haizhi, a China-based cloud computing service provider.
Q&A: BHR Partners' Jonathan Li & Xin Wang
BHR Partners was set up as an extension of Bohai Industrial Investment Fund to support Chinese companies going overseas. CEO Jonathan Li and Managing Partner Xin Wang explain the strategy
China cross-border industrial buyouts: Strategic rationale
Chinese outbound investment in advanced technology assets is soaring, but the patchy nature of deal flow underlines the gulf in class between those that aspire to do deals and those that get them done
Kings of content: Investors target China media
From Alibaba Group to Wanda Group, Chinese companies are looking to tighten their hold on the media value chain, moving upstream and downstream. Private equity can profit from this evolving ecosystem
China cloud technology start-up Transwarp secures $24m
Transwarp Technology, a Chinese big-data technology developer, has raised a RMB155 million ($24 million) Series B round of funding from domestic investors including Shanghai Real Power Emerging Industry Funds and Shenzhen Capital Group.
Blue Sky-backed Alcidion lists in Australia
Blue Sky Alternative Investments-backed healthcare technology company Alcidion has listed in Australia with a A$2 million ($1.4 million) IPO priced at A$0.03 a share.
Telstra backs Monk's Hill Southeast Asia fund
Australia’s Telstra Ventures has made an LP commitment to Singapore-based Monk's Hill Ventures' debut Southeast Asia fund - which is targeting S$100 million ($80 million) - as part of an ongoing pivot to Asian venture capital.
China cross-border shopping platform gets $15m
California-based Chinese cross-border shopping platform 55Haitao has raised $15 million in Series A funding from JJ Capital, a VC arm of Chinese game developer JJ.
Eight Roads leads $8m round for Japan's Port
Eight Roads Ventures Japan has led a JPY900 million ($7.9 million) round of funding for Tokyo-based online content developer Port.
Shunwei leads round for China legal services platform
Shunwei Capital Partners has led a Series B round of funding for Kuaifawu.com, a Chinese legal services platform that targets at small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).