Technology
Japan’s Wizpra raises $2m from VCs
A consortium of Japanese investors including Gree Ventures, Mobile Internet Capital, SMBC Venture Capital, and Mizuho Capital has invested JPY230 million ($1.9 million) in internet-based market research platform Wizpra.
China food-ordering platform Ele.me raises $350m
Ele.me, a Chinese online food-ordering platform, has received $350 million in a Series E round of funding from CITIC Private Equity and Sequoia Capital as well as strategic investors Tencent Holdings, JD.com and Dianping.
Sailing invests $100m in China cross-border e-commerce site
Sailing Capital, a PE firm backed by Shanghai International Group, has committed $100 million in Series B funding to Ymatou, an e-commerce site that connects global retailers to Chinese consumers.
Chinese local supermarket O2O player gets $100m
CITIC Private Equity, Fortune Capital, GP Capital and Zhejiang Zheshang Investment Management have invested $100 million in Huimin, a Chinese B2B and B2C e-commerce platform that focuses on small-scale supermarkets.
China's Meituan enters the big league
Asked whether, two years ago, he could have envisaged Chinese group-buying site Meituan achieving a $7 billion valuation Feng Deng, founding managing director of Northern Light Venture Capital, gives a swift no.
Goldman backs Antuit’s big data ambitions
Various factors influence the amount of milk a cow produces – breed, diet, weather, living conditions and the calving cycle among them. Working with one of its clients, dairy giant Fonterra, Singapore-headquartered big data analytics firm Antuit now...
China VIEs: An end to uncertainty?
China has proposed a new set of rules that would regulate the use of variable interest entity (VIE) structures that underpin VC investment in restricted industries. It is a positive sign but questions remain
Asia start-ups: The SoftBank effect
SoftBank has laid down a marker in Asia’s technology space over the past six months, investing nearly $2 billion and promising much more. What does this say about the Japanese giant’s broader ambitions?
Singapore: Start-up central
When looking for an example of how Singapore start-ups previously struggled to get funding, one of the founders of tenCube was happy to oblige. Bootstrapped into existence in 2005, the mobile security solutions provider spent a frustrating 18 months trying...
China’s Renren invests in US online broking platform
Chinese social networking platform Renren has committed $40 million to Motif Investing, a US-based online broking platform that has previously received funding from several venture capital investors.
Taiwan’s NDF commits $84m to VC funds
Taiwan’s National Development Fund (NDF) will invest up to $84 million into four venture capital funds as part of efforts to support local start-ups.
Shenzhen Capital leads $16m round for China game review site
Shenzhen Capital Group has led a RMB100 million ($16 million) Series A round of funding for Mofang.com, a Chinese mobile gaming reviews site, with participation from Matrix Partners.
Singapore expands Block 71 tech start-up hub
Singapore start-up hub JTC LaunchPad @ one-north – better known to many as Block 71 – has been expanded to accommodate 500 companies and 35 incubators, with plans to create space for 250 more.
Frontier markets-focused classifieds platform receives $40m
Saltside Technologies, which operates online classifieds platforms in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana, has received a $40 million round of funding led by Chinese investor Hillhouse Capital.
Chinese radio mobile app raises $20m Series C round
Lizhi.FM, a Chinese radio broadcasting mobile app, has raised $20 million in a Series C round of funding from Chinese smart phone manufacturer Xiaomi and Shunwei Capital Partners.
Goldman leads $56m round for big data firm Antuit
Goldman Sachs has led a $56 million round of funding for Antuit, a Singapore-headquartered big data analytics start-up. Zodius Capital, which provided seed funding for the company in 2013, also participated.
Japan's Mitsui Global backs clinical SaaS start-up
Japan’s Mitsui Global Investment and Dolby Family Ventures have together invested $12 million in cloud-based, clinical study software start-up goBalto.
China taxi-booking apps: Road war
High-powered alliances are forming in China’s mobile taxi-booking space around Kuaidi Dache and Didi Dache as part the ongoing battle between the big internet companies. What does it mean for VC investors?
Facebook co-founder, Velos back India start-up Hopscotch
Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and Singapore-based Velos Partners have committed $11 million in Series B funding to Indian babywear and kidswear retailer Hopscotch.
JD Capital invests in China online finance site 91Wutong
China-focused PE fund manager JD Capital, Tongxin Securities Direct Investment and Shenzhen Jidi Xintian Venture Capital have invested in a Series A round of funding for 91Wutong, a Chinese online finance platform.
VCs commit $100m to China app launcher Apus
Chengwei Ventures, SIG Ventures and Qiming Venture Partners have led a $100 million Series B round of funding for Apus, a Beijing-based company that has developed a suite of products intended to speed up Android operating systems.
SBCVC leads $20m in China education platform Xuexibao
SoftBank China Venture Capital (SBCVC) has led a Series B round of funding worth $20 million for Xuexibao, a Chinese online education platform. Existing investor GSR Ventures also participated.
Tiger Global leads $100m round for India’s ShopClues
Tiger Global has a led a $100 million Series C round of funding for Clues Network, the US parent of Indian e-commerce platform ShopClues.
VC-backed China group-buying site Meituan raises $700m
Meituan.com, a Chinese group-buying site backed by Alibaba Group and several venture capital firms, has raised $700 million in a new funding round from undisclosed investors.