Technology
Asian start-up hubs: Global mandates
Innovation hubs have traditionally been defined by the size of their immediately addressable market. But with better access to capital, information and technology, some Asian jurisdictions are going global
Intel invests in two Taiwanese tech firms
Intel Capital, the US chip maker's eponymous venture capital unit, has backed two Taiwanese start-ups as part of an overall $62 million investment across 16 technology ventures.
Pakistan online marketplace gets $3.5m from VCs
Pakistan online marketplace PakWheels.com has raised $3.5 million in funding from Malaysia-based venture capital fund Frontier Digital Ventures.
Sequoia leads $8m round for Indian car-rental firm Zoomcar
Sequoia Capital has led an $8 million round of funding for Zoomcar, an Indian car-rental start-up, alongside existing investors including Empire Angels, FundersClub, Basset Investment Group and Triangle Growth Partners.
DCM leads $30m Series B for China gay social app
DCM has led a $30 million Series B round of funding for Blued, a Chinese gay dating app.
Japan’s MegaChips to buy VC-backed SiTime
MegaChips Corp, a Tokyo-listed semiconductor maker, is to acquire SiTime Corporation, a VC-backed US semiconductor company for $200 million.
Catcha launches VC unit for Southeast Asia TMT deals
Southeast Asia-focused media company Catcha Group has launched a venture capital unit that will invest in new media, technology and mobile businesses throughout the region.
China’s Highsun plans $245m entertainment, internet fund
Guangdong Highsun Group, Chinese property developer and chemicals producer, is launching a RMB1.5 billion ($245 million) PE fund that will invest in entertainment and internet-related assets.
India taxi-booking app gets $210m round led by SoftBank
India taxi-booking app Ola has raised $210 million in a Series D round of funding led by SoftBank. Existing investors Tiger Global, Matrix Partners India and Steadview Capital also participated.
Softbank injects $627m into India e-commerce firm Snapdeal
Japanese tech giant SoftBank Group has agreed to invest $627 million in Indian e-commerce site Snapdeal, bringing the start-up's total funding to more than $1 billion.
SoftBank bets big on Indonesia e-commerce
Softbank's first investment in Alibaba Group came 14 years ago. The initial $20 million was followed by around $80 million more, and by the time of Chinese e-commerce giant's IPO earlier this year, the Japanese tech firm held a 32.4% stake. This holding...
Mobile payments: Breaking down barriers
Driven by strong demand from consumers underserved by traditional payment channels, VC and strategic investors are increasingly active in Southeast Asia mobile payment. It is too early to identify winners.
China photo-sharing app Blink secures $20m round
Blink, a Chinese photo sharing and messaging mobile app, has raised $20 million in Series A funding from Tencent Holdings, Sequoia Capital, H Capital, ZhenFund and Innovation Works.
CDH VC, Pine invest in China cloud service provider Upyun
CDH Ventures and Pine Capital have provided a Series A round of funding for Upyun, a Chinese cloud services specialist.
Tamarisc leads Series A round for Australia’s Serraview
Australian software-as-a-service (SaaS) start-up Serraview has raised a Series A round of funding from US-based venture capital firm Tamarisc as it looks to expand into US markets.
Singapore’s Infocomm Investments extends reach to Europe
Infocomm Investments, a VC arm of the Singapore government-backed Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), has opened an office in London, its second overseas base after Silicon Valley.
Korea's KnowRe raises $6.8m Series A from VC backers
SoftBank Venture Korea (SBVK) has a led a $6.8 million Series A investment in Seoul-based education technology start-up KnowRe.
SoftBank leads $100m round for Indonesia e-commerce player
SoftBank will lead a $100 million round of funding for Tokopedia, an Indonesian online marketplace. Sequoia Capital will also participate alongside existing investor SB Pan Asia Fund.
China’s Baidu, Ping An, Qihoo360 invest in Israeli VC fund
Israeli VC firm Carmel Ventures has reached a $194 million final close on its latest VC fund with participation Chinese tech giants Baidu and Qihoo360 as well as insurer Ping An Group.
Intel Capital invests $28m from China smart device fund
Intel Capital, the US chip maker's corporate venture capital arm, has invested $28 million from its China Smart Device Innovation Fund (CSDIF) into a batch of technology start-ups.
VC-backed eHi Car Rental invests in China’s Kuaidi Dache
Chinese car rental firm eHi Car Services, which has several VC backers and is targeting a US IPO, has invested $25 million in Kuaidi Dache, one of the country’s two dominant taxi-booking apps.
Japanese mobile app Quan gets VC backing
Japanese mobile game developer Quan has received an undisclosed sum from a group of domestic VC investors.
Tiger Global leads Series C round for GrabTaxi
Tiger Global Management has led a Series C round of funding for GrabTaxi, a Southeast Asian-focused taxi-booking mobile phone app.
Chinese VC-backed semiconductor specialist files for US IPO
VeriSilicon Holdings, a China-based semiconductor design services provider backed by several VC investors, has filed for a US IPO.