Technology
China chip IP specialist Akrostar raises $78m
Akrostar, a Chinese chip designer established less than a year ago by a team that spun out from US-headquartered industry leader Synopsys, has raised RMB500 million ($78 million) in Series A funding.
Anchor invests $550m in Japan unit of Korea's Kakao
Anchor Equity Partners, a mid-market private equity firm focused on opportunities in North Asia, with a particular focus on Korea, has invested JPY60 billion ($550 million) in the Japan unit of Korean internet giant Kakao.
Lilly Asia leads $90m round for China's Duality Biologics
Lilly Asia Ventures has led a $90 million Series B round for Duality Biologics, a Chinese developer of oncology and autoimmune drugs.
Alibaba, Baring Asia back Masan's Vietnam grocery push
A consortium led by Alibaba Group and Baring Private Equity Asia has invested $400 million in the combined consumer goods and grocery retail operations of Vietnam conglomerates Masan Group and Vingroup.
Japan's UTEC seeks $275m for Fund V
University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC) has secured a first close of undisclosed size on its fifth deep tech fund and expects to exceed a target corpus of JPY30 billion ($275 million) next month.
India's Pine Labs raises $285m
Pine Labs, an India-based payments start-up that recently expanded its Southeast Asia footprint through the acquisition of Malaysia’s Fave, has secured $285 million in new funding.
Q&A: Gaw Capital Partners' Christina Gaw
Hong Kong-based real estate investor Gaw Capital Partners has leveraged its knowledge and networks to expand into technology and education. Christina Gaw, a managing principal, explains how
India's Moglix raises $120m Series E at $1b valuation
Indian B2B services player Moglix has raised a $120 million Series E round led by Falcon Edge Capital and Harvard Management Company at a valuation of $1 billion.
Indonesia's Gojek, Tokopedia merge as GoTo
Gojek and Tokopedia, two of Indonesia’s best-funded technology start-ups, have completed a merger, forming what they claim is the largest mobile on-demand services and payments platform in Southeast Asia.
Japan microsatellite developer gets $24m Series C
Japanese microsatellite developer Axelspace has raised JPY2.6 billion ($24 million) in Series C funding from a group of domestic VCs, including Sparx Group.
KKR invests $95m in India's Lenskart
KKR has invested $95 million in Indian eyewear retail leader Lenskart via a secondary transaction that facilitated partial exits of undisclosed size for TPG Growth and TR Capital.
Baring Asia exits SAI Global's assurance business
Baring Private Equity Asia is set to exit a significant part of Australia-based SAI Global, having agreed to sell the standards and assurance services business to UK-listed Intertek Group for A$855 million ($664 million).
Hong Kong NFT player raises $89m at $1b valuation
Hong Kong’s Animoca Brands, a blockchain-based games developer diversifying into non-fungible tokens (NFTs), has raised $88.9 million from a group of VCs at a valuation of $1 billion.
China HR SaaS player Beisen raises $260m
Beisen, China’s largest integrated human resources software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, has raised $260 million in Series F funding. It is said to be the largest-ever round in this segment of enterprise services.
China's WeRide closes Series C, hits $3.3b valuation
Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide has achieved a valuation of $3 billion on closing a Series C round of undisclosed size. It comes four months after the company raised $310 million in Series B funding.
SoftBank increases commitment to second Vision Fund
SoftBank Group has increased its commitment to Vision Fund 2 from $10 billion to $30 billion after a revival in the fortunes of Vision Fund 1 meant the company returned to profit over the past 12 months.
James Murdoch launches Asia-focused SPAC
James Murdoch, son of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, has launched a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that will pursue deals in Southeast and South Asia, with a particular focus on India.
LG Chem to anchor IMM's Korea battery fund
IMM Private Equity’s recently established credit unit has launched a KRW400 billion ($353 million) Korea-focused fund that will invest in components for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and other environmentally friendly industrial materials.
Vision Fund leads $330m investment in China grocery platform
Dingdong Macai, a China-based online fresh produce delivery business, has raised $330 million in an extended Series D round led by SoftBank Vision Fund.
China self-driving truck start-up agrees $3.3b SPAC merger
Plus, a China-based autonomous driving technology developer that specializes in trucks, has agreed to merge with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at a valuation of $3.3 billion.
Hong Kong crypto start-up gets $40m Series A
Sequoia Capital China, Tiger Global Management, and Boyu Capital have joined a $40 million Series A round for Hong Kong cryptocurrency services provider Babel Finance.
China medical tech supplier AMS raises $100m
China and US-based Access Medical Systems (AMS) has raised a $100 million round co-led by Sequoia Capital China and GL Ventures.
Deal focus: The e-commerce agglomeration effect
Inspired by Thrasio buying up e-commerce brands in the US and using its resources to drive growth, Una Brands wants to do the same in Asia. The start-up has secured $40 million to kick-start this effort
India retail: Bazaar bedrock
Traditional micro-retailers continue to dominate India’s consumer economy, thriving amid COVID-19, encroaching supermarkets, and the rise of e-commerce. So, why is investing in them so hard?