Technology
Chinese EV maker Hozon raises $305m
Zhengjiang-based Electronic Vehicle (EV) start-up Hozon Auto has raised RMB2 billion ($305 million) from Huading Capital, a specialist EV investor.
China's Chang Guang Satellite raises $376m
Chang Guang Satellite Technology, a China-based commercial satellite developer, has raised RMB2.46 billion ($376 million) in pre-IPO funding. It is the largest-ever funding round in China’s commercial aerospace industry.
Jerry Yang positive on prospects for Taiwan VC - AVCJ Forum
Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang believes Taiwan “has all the raw materials” for a successful venture capital industry but warned that progress requires people and patience, the AVCJ Taiwan Forum heard.
Japan's MedVenture closes second fund at $95m
MedVenture Partners, a Japanese VC firm focused on medical devices, has closed its second fund with JPY9.9 billion ($95 million) in commitments.
Deal focus: Cashfree targets merchants in India's payments boom
Apis Partners' support of India-based Cashfree is driven by a recognition that the democratization of digital payments is as much about empowering traditional merchants as unbanked consumers
LP interview: Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University has aggressively expanded its endowment program by ramping up its appetite for risk. Asian venture capital is playing a key role in this agenda
Australia's NextGen launches AI fund
NextGen Funds Management, a newly established GP in Australia, has launched what it is calling the country’s first dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) fund.
3W leads $43m Series E for China's CANbridge
Hong Kong’s 3W Fund Management has led a $43 million Series E round for CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, a Beijing-based drug developer that focuses cancer and rare diseases.
Alibaba, Jeneration lead $196m round for China's Nice Tuan
Shihuituan, a China-based community group buying platform also known as Nice Tuan, has raised $196 million in the third tranche of a Series C round led by Alibaba Group and Jeneration Capital.
China AI chip designer Vastai raises $50m
Vastai Technologies, a China-based chip designer, has raised $50 million in Series A funding led by video-sharing platform Kuaishou, Redpoint China Ventures, and 5Y Capital.
JD Health targets largest Chinese PE-backed IPO in two years
JD Health, a Chinese online-to-offline healthcare business that raised around $1.9 billion from private investors after it spun out from JD.com, is looking to raise HK$26.9 billion ($3.48 billion) in its Hong Kong IPO.
Deal focus: PingCap puts its head in the cloud
Real-time analytical support and limitless scale underpin the rise of Chinese cloud database provider PingCap. Will it be part of a new breed of local enterprise software giants?
Tiger, Dragoneer back India's Unacademy at $2b valuation
Indian online education business Unacademy has received funding from Tiger Global Management and Dragoneer Investment Group at a valuation of $2 billion, up from $1.4 billion in its previous round just two months ago.
BRI reaches first close on Indonesia fund
BRI Ventures, a unit of Bank Rakyat Indonesia has reached the first close of IDR150 billion ($11 million) on its locally incorporated tech venture fund.
Taiwan & tech tensions: Silicon island
Taiwan’s technology sector must play an awkward balancing game amid US-China tensions. This could be a surprisingly favorable position for opportunistic investment and global diversifications
Anacacia backs Australia's Pump Haircare
Anacacia Capital has acquired a controlling stake in Pump Haircare, an Australian organic hair products brand that is looking to further expand its online distribution channels.
Apis invests $35m in India's Cashfree
Apis Partners has invested $35 million in Indian digital payments services provider Cashfree as part of a Series B round also featuring Smilegate Investment and Y Combinator.
DST leads $200m Series E for India's Cars24
Russia’s DST Global has led a $200 million Series E round for Indian used car platform operator Cars24 at a valuation of more than $1 billion.
China trucking platform Manbang raises $1.7b
Manbang Group, China's so-called "Uber for trucks" that matches shippers with drivers and fleet operators, has raised a $1.7 billion round led by SoftBank Vision Fund, Sequoia Capital China, Permira and Fidelity.
Sequoia leads $46m Series D for Chinese chip maker Yunyinggu
Yunyinggu, a Chinese manufacturer of integrated circuits used in flat screen displays, has raised RMB300 million ($46 million) in Series D funding led by Sequoia Capital China.
Cross-border e-commerce player Wish files for US IPO
Wish, a cross-border e-commerce platform that connects Chinese merchants who primarily sell products through domestic channels like Alibaba Group’s Taobao and Tmall with consumers in the US and Europe, has filed for a US IPO.
500 Startups launches Cambodia division
500 Startups has launched a Cambodian unit in partnership with Khmer Enterprise, a start-up ecosystem support arm of the local government’s Entrepreneurship Development Fund.
Baring Asia leads $198m round for Chinese coding start-up
Codemao, a Chinese online education platform that teaches coding to children, has raised RMB1.3 billion ($198 million) in Series D funding led by Baring Private Equity Asia.
India's Reliance Retail marks close of $6.4b fundraise
Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has announced the completion of a funding round for its retail unit with INR472.7 billion ($6.4 billion) in commitments from eight investors.