China
China EV player Leapmotor targets Hong Kong IPO
LeapMotor has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong, putting it on course to become the fourth of China's "new force" electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to go public.
China chip designer Yige raises $42m angel round
Suzhou Yige Technology, a China-based semiconductor chip designer also known as EagleChip, has raised a CNY 286m (USD 41.5m) angel round led by Matrix Partners China, Redpoint China, Sequoia Capital China, CTC Capital, and Vlight Capital.
GP profile: CMC Capital Partners
China-focused CMC Capital Partners’ remit has expanded from media to consumer and technology, but the firm believes its knowledge and discipline as a specialist investor have never been more relevant
Fund focus: Cherubic continues to scale
Early-stage investor Cherubic Ventures initially struggled to get traction with its idiosyncratic Greater China-US strategy, but the firm sees its USD 110m haul for Fund V as validation of the thesis
Korea's Gentle Monster backs China AR player Nreal
Nreal, a Chinese manufacturer of augmented reality (AR) glasses that resemble normal sunglasses, has received USD15m from South Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster.
Renminbi GPs wary of government guidance funds as LPs
Chinese government guidance funds represent a potentially rich source of capital for managers in the renminbi-denominated space, but some are reluctant to take it, the Hong Kong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association's (HKVCA) China forum heard.
LPs emphasize differentiation in China venture capital
LPs want to back Chinese venture capital firms that are differentiated from their peers, although there remains an element of discomfort with efforts to achieve this through increasingly popular China-plus strategies.
Baidu-backed autonomous truck developer raises $67m
DeepWay, an intelligent driving solutions provider for trucks established by Baidu, has raised a Series A round of CNY 460m (USD 67m) led by Qiming Venture Partners.
China’s Whale Capital achieves first close on food fund
Chinese consumer-focused VC firm Whale Capital has reached a first close of undisclosed size on its latest renminbi-denominated fund, which will specialise in the food industry. The target is CNY 500m (USD 73m).
Prosperity7 backs China-founded unstructured data specialist Zilliz
Prosperity7 Ventures, a venture capital fund established by Saudi Arabia state oil giant Saudi Aramco, has led a USD 60m Series B extension for China-founded open-source software developer Zilliz.
China luxury goods player Secoo gets private equity bailout
Secoo Holding, a US-listed Chinese luxury goods retailer that has seen its stock price fall by 95% since the start of 2020 and has filed for bankruptcy twice in the past eight months, has received USD 4m in funding.
Winreal hits $150m first close on China tech fund
Winreal Investment, a China-based venture capital firm established by a former chief engineer at domestic telecom equipment provider ZTE Corporation, has reached a first close of CNY 1.3bn (USD 150m) on its latest renminbi-denominated fund.
China Merchants Group backs CDMO player Porton Advanced
Three entities under China Merchants Group (CMG) have led a USD 80m Series B round for Porton Advanced Solutions, a local contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) that focuses solely on gene and cell therapy services.
China carmaker SAIC raises $148m for mobility unit
Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor has raised CNY 1bn (USD 148m) to support the expansion of its mobile services unit, which last year launched a fleet of robotaxis.
C2 invests $25m in Eat Just to support China expansion
C2 Capital Partners, a China-based private equity firm that focuses on consumer sector investments, has committed USD 25m to Eat Just, owner of plant-based egg brand Just Egg.
Mobility: Batteries and beyond
The electrification of transportation has created a wealth of opportunities in energy saving and storage. Investors across Asia – led by China – are looking at batteries and other technologies
Energy transition case study: Beyonics
Precision manufacturer Beyonics has cut back on truck journeys, switched to gas-fired power, and automated its factories – in the pursuit of efficiencies rather than as part of a specific energy agenda
Energy transition case study: Towngas Smart Energy
Towngas Smart Energy wants to offer solar and energy management solutions to its existing piped gas customers across China’s industrial parks. Affinity Equity Partners is supporting the rollout
Energy transition case study: GLP
GLP’s sprawling warehousing and transport interests offer a unique view of the myriad energy issues that permeate the logistics value chain. Tech and common sense are the primary maintenance tools
China e-commerce SaaS player Dianxiaomi raises $150m
Chinese e-commerce software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider Dianxiaomi has secured a USD 110m Series D round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Sequoia Capital China.
China blockchain developer Bit raises $13m
Bit, a China, Singapore, and US-based blockchain infrastructure provider set up by former employees of Tencent Holdings, has raised USD 13m in Series A funding led by CMB International.
Energy transition case study: Axilone
Energy accounts for a relatively small portion of cosmetics packaging producer Axilone’s overall costs, but rising prices in Europe prompted owner Trustar Capital to accelerate transition efforts