Technology
New Zealand's AskNicely raises $32m Series B
Five Elms Capital, a specialist growth investor in software start-ups globally, has led a USD 32m Series B round for New Zealand and US-based customer feedback platform AskNicely.
Carsome hits $1.7b valuation on closing $290m Series E
Carsome, a Malaysia-headquartered used car trading platform with operations across Southeast Asia, has raised USD 290m in Series E funding led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), 65 Equity Partners, and Seatown Private Capital Master Fund.
India sports: In it to win it
Private equity interest in the commercialisation of sport globally is filtering through to India, with a couple of high-profile cricket deals. What other franchises and rights owners could be up for grabs?
Vertex, Tikehau lead Singapore SPAC charge
Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) backed by Vertex Venture Holdings (VVH) and Tikehau Capital have filed for listings in Singapore.
Singapore's Virtue Diagnostics closes $100m Series B
Singapore-based Virtue Diagnostics, a clinical testing equipment supplier for China and developing markets, has raised a USD 100m Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China and Morningside Ventures.
China's Ince raises $700m across two funds
Ince Capital, a Chinese venture capital firm established by J.P. Gan, formerly a managing partner at Qiming Venture Partners, has raised USD 700m for its second fund and for an accompanying vehicle aimed at later-stage opportunities.
TPG invests $360m in India's Fractal
TPG Capital has agreed to invest USD 360m – including primary and secondary components – in India and US-based data analytics provider Fractal. It facilitates a partial exit for Apax Partners.
Square Peg backs Vietnam digital bank Timo
Australia-based Square Peg Capital has led a USD 20m investment in digital banking start-up Timo, which claims to be the first Vietnamese player in this space.
China's Linear Capital raises $500m
Linear Capital, a China-based, technology-focused investment firm, has raised USD 500m for its fifth US dollar-denominated fund and its second opportunity Fund. It brings the firm’s total assets under management to USD 2bn.
India's Zupee closes Series B at $102m
Zupee, an Indian skill-based gaming platform, has raised a USD 72m Series B extension, taking the overall round to USD 102m. The company is now valued at USD 600m.
China AI gaming company Parametrix raises $100m
Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) gaming company Parametrix.ai has raised a USD 100m Series B round led by Sequoia Capital China. Existing investors 5Y Capital and Gaorong Capital re-upped.
Nexus co-founder Naren Gupta dies aged 73
Naren Gupta, a co-founder of Nexus Venture Partners who is acknowledged as one of the pioneers of venture capital in India, has died at the age of 73.
Jafco closes latest Asia VC fund at $130m
Japanese venture capital firm Jafco has closed its latest Asia fund with USD 130m in commitments. It will focus on China, India, and Southeast Asia.
Global VCs invest $86m in India digital bank Jupiter
Tiger Global Management, QED Investors, and Sequoia Capital India have led a USD 86m Series C round for Indian digital bank Jupiter with support from Matrix Partners India and Singapore’s Beenext.
Eastern Bell raises $2b across US dollar, renminbi funds
Eastern Bell Capital has closed its second US dollar-denominated fund and its sixth renminbi-denominated fund with aggregate commitments of more than CNY 13bn (USD 2bn).
Premji Invest leads $111m round for India's GlobalBees
GlobalBees, an India-based platform that agglomerates technology-enabled emerging consumer brands, has raised USD 111.5m in Series B funding at a valuation of USD 1.1bn.
China biotech player GenFleet raises $75m
GenFleet Therapeutics, a Chinese biotech developer focused on oncology and immunology, has secured a USD 75m Series C round led by Huagai Capital.
Northstar raises $590m for fifth Southeast Asia fund
Northstar Group has closed its fifth Southeast Asia-focused fund with $590 million in commitments. The target was $800 million.
Alpha Wave leads $300m round for India's Cars24
Indian used car platform Cars24 has raised $400 million in funding – comprising $300 million in equity and $100 million in debt – at a valuation of $3.3 billion.
India's Razorpay closes $375m Series F at $7.5b valuation
Indian payments start-up Razorpay has seen its valuation more than double in eight months on closing a $375 million Series F led by Lone Pine Capital, Alkeon Capital Management, and TCV.
Vietnam's MoMo secures $200m Series E
Mizuho Bank has led a $200 million Series E round for MoMo, a Vietnam-based mobile wallet provider, at a valuation of more than $2 billion.
Anchor invests $210m in Korean grocery player Kurly
Anchor Equity Partners has committed KRW250 billion ($210 million) in pre-IPO funding to Kurly, a Korean grocery delivery platform that earlier this year said it would list locally rather than in the US.
India's OfBusiness achieves $5b valuation with Series G
OfBusiness, an India-based B2B platform focused on industrial supply chain and procurement services, has raised $325 million in Series G funding at a valuation of $5 billion.
China's SenseTime perseveres with IPO despite blacklisting
Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) technology developer SenseTime has relaunched its IPO on the same terms, albeit excluding US investors, after being placed on another blacklist by the US government.