Technology
KKR commits $70m to China education player Tarena
KKR has invested $70 million in Tarena International, a provider of professional education and training in China, forming a new partnership with a PE backer as existing investors trim their holdings.
Tech in Asia secures $4m funding round
Tech in Asia, a Singapore-based digital media company that focuses on Asian start-ups, has raised a $4 million round led by SB ISAT Fund, a $50 million vehicle backed by Japan's SoftBank and Indonesia's Indosat.
Google, Lightspeed-backed InnoLight files for US IPO
InnoLight Technology, a manufacturer of components used in cloud computing and Google Capital’s first China-based portfolio company, has filed for an IPO in the US.
Shenzhen Fortune invests $48m in Focus Media
Fortune Capital has invested RMB300 million ($48 million) in Focus Media, a PE-backed Chinese outdoor advertising firm on course for a $7.37 billion backdoor listing in Shenzhen.
China regulator allows 100% foreign ownership in e-commerce
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has permitted foreign investors to fully own and operate e-commerce companies operating within the country.
India's Hansa Customer Equity gets $4.7m round
Indian GP ASK Pravi has invested INR300 million ($4.7 million) in Hansa Customer Equity (Hansa Cequity), a Mumbai-based company that provides consulting services covering marketing, customer strategy, data management, and customer relationship management...
Faering leads $11m Series C for FundsIndia
Faering Capital has led a INR700 million ($11 million) Series C round for Wealth India Financial Services, the parent company of online financial services platform FundsIndia.
NSSF joins funding round for Alibaba’s Ant Financial
The National Council for Social Security Fund (NSSF) has participated in a funding round for Alibaba Group’s internet finance affiliate – Ant Financial Services – that is said to value the business at more than $40 billion.
Alibaba, Foxconn invest $236m in SoftBank robotics division
Alibaba Group and Foxconn Technology Group have agreed to invest JPY29 billion ($236 million) in SoftBank Robotics Holding Corp, which manages SoftBank's robotics business.
Dianping leads $30m round for China’s Farmlink
Farmlink, which operates a digital platform through which small and medium-sized restaurants in China can order food supplies, has received a $30 million in Series B funding led by listings and group-buying specialist Dianping.
PE consortium submits take-private bid for China's Qihoo
Chinese internet security software provider Qihoo 360 Technology has received a take-private offer from its chairman and CEO, plus CITIC Securities, China Renaissance Holdings and Sequoia Capital.
Tembusu invests $10m in New Zealand’s CricHQ
Singapore-based GP Tembusu Partners has committed $10 million to New Zealand’s CricHQ, a cricket-focused digital platform used by the sport’s administrative bodies as well as by clubs and fans.
Qiming, Trustbridge back China education app developer
Chinese online education app developer Xuebajun has raised a $50 million Series B round led by Qiming Venture Partners and Trustbridge Partners, with participation by existing investor Vertex Ventures.
VC in Japan's universities: Getting schooled
For the past decade, Japan’s universities have been working with venture capital to commercialize their research. Recent developments in the public and private sectors suggest this relationship is evolving
VC-backed iDreamSky gets take-private offer
IDreamSky Technology, a VC-backed Chinese mobile game publisher, has received a take-private proposal from its chairman and CEO barely 10 months after going public on NASDAQ.
Sequoia's Shen joins China take-private wave
Neil Shen, managing partner at Sequoia Capital China, is supporting take-private bids for budget hotel operator Home Inns and online real estate agency E-House as a growing number of US-listed Chinese companies turn their attention to domestic listings.
Hong Kong's GoGovan gets $10m Series B round
Hong Kong app-enabled logistics start-up GoGoVan has raised $10 million in Series B round of funding. Investors in the round included Hu Zemin, the former CEO of Android app store 91 Wireless, and social media firm RenRen.
Hong Kong storage start-up Boxful raises $6.6m
Hong Kong-based "valet storage" start-up Boxful has raised a HK$51.1 million ($6.6 million) Series A round from a consortium including Arocrest Capital, Lonsdale Capital, and several real estate investors.
Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui backs GMO Payment
Japan's GMO Internet - which runs its own early-stage investment unit, GMO Venture Partners - has raised JPY8 billion ($65 million) from Sumitomo Mitsui to develop e-commerce payment solution GMO Payment Gateway (GPG).
Indian fashion app Voonik raises $5m from Sequoia, Seedfund
Voonik, a personalized fashion shopping portal based in India, has raised $5 million in Series A funding from Sequoia Capital and existing investor Seedfund.
India's Swiggy raises $16.5m from Norwest, Accel, SAIF
Indian food delivery platform Swiggy has raised $16.5 million in a Series B round led by Norwest Venture Partners, along with existing investors Accel Partners and SAIF Partners and an unnamed investor.
Deal focus: Aspada backs India’s agri-tech ‘Uber’
Indian agriculture is woefully inefficient. This is in part due to the extreme fragmentation of land ownership; the UN estimates the average farm holding is 1.6 hectares, or just larger than two football pitches. As a result, the nation’s food producers...
Deal focus: Advantage rings up TeleGuam return
Ties between Japan and the US territory of Guam go back a long way. Much of this is do with their relatively proximity, and the fact Japan held the island during the Second World War. But visitors coming from Japan are much more welcome today. Guam is...
Korea e-commerce: Appetite for disruption
Capital is gravitating to the leaders in Korea’s e-commerce space as consumers swap shopping malls for mobile devices. Efficient logistics and effective payment systems sit at the top of the agenda