Technology
GL Ventures leads $130m round for China’s Biren
Biren Technology, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) chip design company, has raised a RMB900 million ($130 million) pre-Series B round led by GL Ventures, the VC unit of Hillhouse Capital.
India’s Lumikai launches gaming VC fund
Lumikai, an Indian venture capital firm, has launched a fund targeting local gaming and interactive entertainment start-ups. The size of the fund was not disclosed.
Ant Capital targets $253m buyout of Japan's Softbrain
Ant Capital Partners has launched a tender offer for Softbrain, a Japanese sales and marketing software developer, that values the business at approximately JPY26.9 billion ($253.1 million).
China medical device player Hanyu Medical secures $72m
China-based medical devices manufacturer Hanyu Medical has raised a RMB500 million ($72 million) Series D co-led by HighLight Capital, CPE (formerly known as CITIC Private Equity), and Yingke Private Equity.
Airbus Ventures sets up Japan office
Airbus Ventures, the US-based VC unit of European aeronautics giant Airbus, has set up an office in Japan and received investment from a number of Japanese investors for its third fund.
Singapore's Anchanto raises $12m funding round
Anchanto, a Singapore-headquartered technology provider that helps with e-commerce enablement, raised S$16.6 million ($12 million) in a Series C round.
China's Vision Medicals raises $28m
CDH Investment has led a RMB200 million ($28 million) Series B round for Guangzhou-based precision diagnosis and gene sequencing company Vision Medicals.
Yunfeng backs take-private of China-US biotech player
Yunfeng Capital, a private equity firm co-founded by Jack Ma, is backing the privatization of Cellular Biomedicine, a US and China-based biotech developer.
Australia's Taronga Ventures launches in Singapore
Taronga Ventures, the venture arm of Australian real estate investment firm Taronga Group, has set up Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore.
Start-up profiles: Sustainability agendas
Early-stage innovators across the region are leveraging both enterprise and consumer-facing models to address sustainability challenges with one eye on rapid commercialization
Rocketship targets Asia with second global VC fund
Rocketship, a US-based data science-focused venture capital firm that has backed a number of Indian start-ups, has closed its second global fund at $100 million with a strong focus on Asia.
Chinese CRO player Yaoyanshe raises $86m
Yaoyanshe, a Chinese contract research organization (CRO) for novel drugs, has raised RMB600 million ($86 million) across two rounds in the past eight months.
India cosmetics brand MyGlamm acquires content platform
MyGlamm, an online Indian cosmetics brand, has agreed to acquire POPxo, a women-focused content platform, for an undisclosed sum. Both companies have several VC backers.
MUFG launches Singapore venture debt business
Japan’s MUFG Bank has set up a Singapore-based venture debt business alongside Israeli financial technology start-up Liquidity Capital. Its debut fund has been set up with an initial $80 million.
China clean energy: Policy power
China’s aggressive renewable energy development targets are creating opportunities for investors in various points along the supply chain, but inconsistent regulation remains a concern
Chinese chip design company Brite raises $50m
Chinese integrated circuit (IC) design company Brite Semiconductor, has raised a RMB350 million ($50 million) Series D round led by Haitong Securities and sector specialist Sunic Capital.
PAI Capital invests $212m in Chinese video display business
PAI Capital, a Hong Kong and London-based asset manager that primarily caters to high net worth individuals (HNWIs), has paid RMB1.45 billion ($212 million) for a 24.22% stake in Vtron Group, a Shenzhen-listed video display systems manufacturer.
India used car platform Spinny acquires rival Truebil
Indian online used car marketplace Spinny has acquired local counterpart Truebil, setting up several venture capital exits.
Globis joins $32.6m round for Japan's Photosynth
Globis Capital Partners has joined a JPY3.5 billion ($32.6 million) Series C round for Photosynth, a Japanese internet-of-things (IoT) developer specializing in smart locks for office buildings.
India's Byju's acquires online coding school
Byju’s, an Indian online learning platform backed by several PE and VC firms, has acquired WhiteHat Jr, a platform that helps students learn to code.
Intudo leads Series A for Indonesia restaurant app
Wahyoo, a digital solutions provider for Indonesian eateries, has raised $5 million in a Series A round led by Intudo Ventures.
Navis exits Malaysian business solutions player
Navis Capital Partners has sold its controlling stake in Malaysian IT firm Strateq to a local subsidiary of Singapore telecommunications company StarHub.
Chinese EV maker Xpeng raises another $300m
Alibaba Group has led a $300 million round for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Xpeng Motors. It comes barely two weeks after the company closed an extended Series C round of $500 million.
EDBI backs US cybersecurity player's Asia push
EDBI, the investment arm of Singapore’s Economic Development Board, has invested in Vesta, a US-based fraud and payment technology start-up with ambitions to expand into Asia.