Lightspeed Venture Partners
China's VC-backed PPDai files for US IPO
PPDai, a consumer finance marketplace backed by several VC investors, has become the latest Chinese company to try and take advantage of soaring public markets by filing for an IPO in the US.
Tech M&A: Tactical forays
A new generation of Chinese technology companies – conscious of the need to stay competitive – are becoming more active M&A players as they choose to buy rather than build their way into multiple verticals
SoftBank Vision Fund leads $250m round for India's Oyo
SoftBank Vision Fund, the global technology investment vehicle managed by Japan’s SoftBank Group, has led a $250 million Series D round for Indian online hospitality platform Oyo.
Moving time: How VCs replace start-up CEOs
From Uber to Flipkart, there are high-profile examples of founders being replaced as CEOs of their start-ups. It isn’t common practice in Asia, and for reasons of corporate culture, this isn’t likely to change
Sequoia leads $18m Series C for India's OneAssist
Sequoia Capital India has led an $18 million Series C funding round for Mumbai-based payment security system company OneAssist.
Lightspeed leads $4m Series A for India's Darwinbox
Lightspeed India Partners has led a $4 million Series A round for Indian human resources (HR) services platform operator Darwinbox.
PE-backed IEX files for India IPO
Online energy trading platform India Energy Exchange (IEX) has filed for an IPO, providing a partial exit for several private equity backers.
China’s QingCloud raises $160m, prepares for onshore IPO
China-based cloud computing platform QingCloud, which is backed by several VC investors, has raised a new round of renminbi-denominated funding worth RMB1.08 billion ($160 million).
VC investors to exit India's ItzCash to strategic
US-based software developer Ebix has agreed to buy a majority stake in Indian financial technology firm ItzCash, providing an exit for its VC backers including Lightspeed Venture, Matrix Partners and Intel Capital.
Lightspeed China closes debut renminbi fund at $87m
Lightspeed China Partners has closed its first renminbi-denominated venture fund at RMB600 million ($87 million).
China video communication player Xiaoyu Link gets $18m
Xiaoyu Link, a Chinese video communication services provider, has raised a RMB125 million ($18 million) Series B round of funding jointly led by ZhenFund and Zhen Cheng Fund.
China travel sites Woqu, Lulutrip merge, raise $25m
Chinese outbound online travel platforms Woqu.com and Lulutrip – both of which have received several rounds of funding from VC and strategic investors – have agreed to merge. The combined entity has received $25 million in new funding.
China cloud computing: Billowing forth
China’s nascent cloud computing industry appears set to replicate a US-style growth trajectory. Venture investment, however, may play a larger role due to a range of cultural and economic differences
China VC: Early birds
With concerns that China's venture capital boom is heading for a bust, investors are increasingly targeting early-stage strategies. Renminbi funds are also coming more into the reckoning
Lightspeed leads $4m round for India's ShareChat
Lightspeed Venture Partners has led a $4 million Series A round for Indian social networking platform ShareChat.
China VCs tell start-ups to focus on sustainability - AVCJ Forum
China VC investors are reminding portfolio companies to pursue profitability rather than sky-high paper valuations as the market continues to rationalize following an explosion of activity in recent years.
Blockchain: Ethereal frontiers
As blockchain segments mature in Asia, private equity and venture capital investors will benefit from a range of new entry points. Pitfalls related to the technology’s obscure nature, however, will persist
VC-backed Tujia acquires Ctrip, Qunar's homestay assets
Chinese vacation rental platform Tujia, which has several VC and PE investors, has acquired the homestay businesses of travel websites Ctrip and Qunar, strengthening its already dominant position in China’s accommodation sharing market.
China tech M&A: Friends or rivals?
Consolidation is becoming a dominant theme in China’s internet industry as ever more sophisticated companies use M&A as a means of remaining dominant in their core areas and exploring new ones
VC value-add: Operational gambit
As competition for VC deals intensifies in Asia and capital becomes commoditized, GPs are stressing their value-add credentials. Should we believe the hype?
Sequoia, Zuckerberg lead $50m round for India's Byju's
Indian education start-up Byju’s has received a $50 million funding round led by Sequoia Capital and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), a vehicle established by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan.
China Huace invests $64m in VC-backed Xiao Hong Chun
China Huace Film & TV has acquired a 35% stake in Xiao Hong Chun, a Chinese VC-backed video e-commerce platform, for $63.85 million.
Australia's Future Fund leads round for US-based MapR
Australia’s Future Fund has led a $50 million round of funding for US-based big data services company MapR Technologies.
HTC VR accelerator adds 8 VC funds, backs 33 companies
Vive X, the accelerator program for virtual reality (VR) start-ups backed by Taiwan-based hardware developer HTC, has added eight VC funds to its backers, and announced the first 33 companies to receive its support.