Growth capital
Lightspeed invests $12m in China car after-sales platform
Lightspeed China Partners has committed $12 million to Yikuaixiu.com, a Beijing-based automotive after-sales service platform, in a Series A round of funding.
TPG buys $146m stake in India's Manipal Hospitals
TPG Capital has paid INR9 billion ($146 million) for a significant minority stake in healthcare services provider Manipal Health Enterprises (MHE).
China's N5 Capital launches $200m debut VC fund
N5 Capital, a Beijing-based venture capital firm, has launched its debut US dollar-denominated fund.
Chinese playground operator Yuyuto raises $32m
Shanghai Yuyuto Entertainment Facilities, a Chinese company that operates children’s entertainment and retail facilities in shopping malls, has secured RMB200 million ($32 million) in a new round of funding from Fortune Venture Capital, Shenzhen Cowin...
China's Galaxy Game Entertainment raises $16m
Shanghai Galaxy Game Entertainment, a Chinese mobile games developer, has raised RMB100 million ($16 million) in a Series A round of funding from Shenzhen Oriental Fortune, Shenzhen Green Pine Capital and Shanghai Cultural Industry Fund.
CLSA Capital Partners invests $10m in India's Nobel Hygiene
CLSA Capital Partners has invested $10 million in Nobel Hygiene Private, an Indian manufacturer of diapers for adults and babies
Creador invests $21.7m in India's PC Jeweller
Southeast Asia and India-focused GP Creador has acquired a minority stake in PC Jeweller, a publicly-listed Indian jewellery retail chain, for INR1.35 billion ($21.7 million).
Gaja Capital, DSG invest $6m in India's Bakers Circle
Gaja Capital, and existing investor DSG Consumer Partners, have together invested INR360 million ($6 million) in Indian frozen food manufacturer Bakers Circle.
Sequoia leads $4.5m round for Indian interior design start-up HomeLane
Sequoia Capital has led a $4.5 million Series A round of funding for HomeLane, a Bangalore-based interior design company, with participation from Aarin Capital.
Singapore space junk start-up raises $7.7m Series A
Astronscale, a Singapore-based start-up that develops satellites to remove space debris, has raised $7.7 million in a Series A round of funding from JAFCO and nine entrepreneurs from Japan.
Indian P2P rental property listings site NoBroker raises $3m
SAIF Partners and Fulcrum Ventures have taken part in a $3 million Series A round of funding for NoBroker, a Bangalore-based peer-to-peer (P2P) property listings site for renting homes.
Shunwei closes first RMB fund at $160m
Shunwei Capital Partners, a Chinese VC firm set up by Lei Jun, a founder of mobile phone maker Xiaomi, has closed its first renminbi-denominated fund at RMB1 billion ($160 million).
China manicure service app raises $50m Series C from VCs
Helijia, a Chinese mobile app for booking manicure appointments, has raised a $50 million Series C round of funding from several venture capital investors, valuing the start-up at approximately $300 million.
Australia VC: Policy permutations
Plans to reinstate tax breaks for Australian start-ups that issue share options to staff rather than pay sizeable salaries has cheered VC investors. They are generally positive about the government role in fostering innovation
Sequoia, Matrix commit $30m to Indian doctor search site
Sequoia Capital India and Matrix Partners have invested $30 million in a Series B round of funding for Practo Technologies, an Indian start-up that provides a search portal matching patients and doctors.
Actis invests $230m in Indian renewables platform
Emerging markets-focused UK GP Actis is investing $230 million to create an Indian renewable energy platform - Ostro Energy.
Japanese app monetization platform raises $36m Series C round
Metaps, a Japanese start-up that provides an app monetization platform using artificial intelligence (AI), has raised a $36 million Series C round of funding.
KIP leads $10m Series A round for China cosmetics review app
Korean Investment Partners (KIP), South Korea’s biggest venture capital firm, has led a $10 million Series A round of investment for Cosmeapp, a Chinese mobile app that provides cosmetics reviews.
Southeast Asia education: Top of the class?
With an emerging middle class willing to pay a premium for better services, Southeast Asian education has clear attractions. But investors seeking scale opportunities must pick their markets and strategies carefully.
Singapore start-ups: Another option
The Singapore Exchange and Clearbridge Accelerator are launching a capital-raising platform for Asian start-ups. Does it represent a much-needed stepping stone between private and public markets?
China B2B platform targets supply chain disruption
Chinese B2B trading platforms Zhaogang.com and Zhaosuliao.com share more than just a desire to bring about technology-enabled disruption of inefficient offline industry supply chains. They also have several backers in common: IDG Capital Partners, Matrix...
Creador invests $16.2 m in India's Ashiana Housing
Southeast Asia and India-focused GP Creador has paid INR1 billion ($16.2 million) for a minority stake in Ashiana Housing, a publicly-listed Indian property developer.
India mobile recharge platform FreeCharge raises $80m
Two hedge funds, San Francisco-based Valiant Capital Management and Hong Kong’s Tybourne Capital Management, have participated in an $80 million Series C round for Indian mobile top-up platform FreeCharge.
Alibaba to invest $590m in China smart phone maker Meizu
Alibaba Group has agreed to invest $590 million for a minority stake in Meizu Technology, a Chinese smart-phone maker.