Consumer
India's AgroStar raises $3.6m from IDG Ventures, Aavishkaar
IDG Ventures has led a $3.6 million funding round for Indian agriculture-focused mobile commerce firm AgroStar, with participation by existing investor Aavishkaar Venture Management Services.
Bessemer leads $50m round for Indian online grocer
Indian online grocer BigBasket has raised a $50 million funding round led by existing investor Bessemer Venture Partners.
Indian payments security start-up raises $7.5m Series B round
Indian online payment security system developer OneAssist has raised a $7.5 million Series B round led by US insurance firm Assurant, with participation by existing investors Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
CITIC Goldstone leads $31m round in China’s Zhubaijia
Zhubaijia, a Chinese short-term vacation rentals platform, has raised RMB200 million ($31 million) in a Series B round of funding led by CITIC Securities’ direct investment arm Goldstone Investment.
Alibaba acquires 20% stake in Hony-backed Suning
Alibaba Group has agreed to invest RMB28.3 billion ($4.63 billion) in Suning Commerce, a leading Chinese consumer electronics retail chain backed by Hony Capital, in exchange for a 19.99% stake.
Japan sportswear firm buys PE-backed UK brand
Japanese sportswear company Descente has bought an 80% stake in UK sports brand Inov-8, providing an exit for the firm's private equity backer Livingbridge. The financial details were not disclosed.
EQT exits Singapore's Classic Fine Foods to German retail group
EQT Partners has exited Singapore-based food service company Classic Fine Foods (CFF) to the listed German retailing company Metro Group in a deal valuing the company at $290 million.
Helion invests $3m in India mobile services player Doormint
Helion Venture Partners has committed $3 million in a Series A round of investment to Blackcotton Solutions, the start-up behind Indian mobile home services platform Doormint. Kalaari Capital also took part in the round.
VC-backed Mogujie leads $30m round for China C2C retail player
Mogujie – a Chinese online shopping platform and social network that has received several rounds of VC funding – has led a $30 million investment in Taoshiji, a cross-border consumer-to-consumer (C2C) mobile retail app.
Tiantu leads $60m round for China electronics recycling site
Consumer-focused GP Tiantu Capital has led a $60 million Series C round of funding for Aihuishou, which claims to be the largest online electronics recycling platform in China.
Baidu leads $100m round for China’s laundry app Edaixi
Baidu has led a $100 million Series B round of funding for Edaixi, an mobile-based on-demand laundry service.
Tencent backs take-private for China travel site eLong
Tencent Holdings has offered to buy Chinese online hotel booking site eLong - which it holds a 15% stake - and privatize the NASDAQ-listed company.
All-Stars Investment leads $300m round for China’s Tujia
All-Stars Investment has led a $300 million new funding round for Tujia.com, valuing the Chinese vacation-rental website at more than $1 billion.
India's TripFactory raises Series A round from Aarin Capital
Aarin Capital has committed a Series A round to Indian online travel agent TripFactory.
Ajisen, Hina back Baidu’s online food-ordering platform
Ajisen Holdings, a Chinese fast casual restaurant chain operator, has teamed up with The Hina Group and its affiliate Hanking Group to invest up to $70 million in Baidu Takeout Delivery, an online food delivery ordering platform run by the Chinese search...
Indian home services portal Zimmber raises $2m
IDG Ventures and Sherpalo Ventures have taken part in a $2 million pre-Series A round for Rejuvenate Solutions, operator of Indian home services portal Zimmber.
SAIF, Tiger in $50m round for online discount start-up
Paytm has joined SAIF Partners and Tiger Global to lead a $50 million round of funding for Little, an Indian online discount start-up launched by the founders of fashion e-commerce platform Zovi.
Carlyle commits $85m to China’s Ubox
The Carlyle Group has invested RMB530 million ($85 million) in Beijing Ubox Technology & Trade, a vending machine operator in China.
PE-backed online liquor retailer Jiuxian gets another $81m
Jiuxian.com, a Chinese e-commerce site that sells wines and spirits, has raised RMB500 million ($81 million) in a new round of funding.
Chunxiao invests $16m in China agri e-commerce player
Chunxiao Capital has provided RMB100 million ($16 million) in Series A plus funding for Cloud Farm, a China-based e-commerce platform dedicated to the agricultural sector.
India's VC-backed Jugnoo buys ride hailing app BookMyCab
Indian autorickshaw-hailing start-up Jugnoo, a portfolio company of Snow Leopard Technology Ventures, has bought taxi aggregator BookMyCab for an undisclosed sum.
Chinese celebrities in VC: Profile booster
Chinese celebrities are entering the venture capital space, offering start-ups endorsement as well as financial support. But can a pop star’s cachet translate into long-term sustainable growth?
Deal focus: NSI Ventures in robot kitchen play
The old proverb is that necessity is the mother of invention, but in an age of robotics it seems that simple inconvenience is enough to give birth to the next great innovation. Such is the case with the Rotimatic, a “robot” invented specifically to...
India's furniture retailer Pepperfry raises $100m
Online furniture retailer Pepperfry has raised $100 million in Series D funding from a group of investors including Goldman Sachs and Zodius Technology Fund.