Microsoft
AI: Asia awakens to ChatGPT
ChatGPT has sent shockwaves through the technology sector globally. Asia is no exception as investors look for ways to leverage the platform and China contemplates a standard of its own
Square Peg backs US, Malaysia-based LottieFiles
Square Peg Capital has led a USD 37m Series B round for US and Malaysia-based motion graphics platform LottieFiles.
Australia fintech player Finder raises $21m
Finder, an Australian financial technology start-up with a diversified suite of retail investor services, has raised A$30 million ($21.5 million) from local VC firm Future Now Capital.
Microsoft VC unit leads $22m round for India’s SalesKen
M12, Microsoft’s VC arm, has led a $22 million Series B round for SalesKen, an Indian enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) provider focused on sales-related services.
Bukalapak gains 25% on debut after $1.5b Indonesia IPO
Indonesian e-commerce platform Bukalapak hit the upper limits of its trading range within minutes of debuting on the Jakarta Stock Exchange following an IDR21.9 trillion ($1.5 billion) IPO.
Deal focus: Go1 adds layers to booming HR services niche
Australia’s Go1 gains traction with a B2B approach to a rapidly expanding human resources and workforce management software industry. SoftBank Vision Fund 2 is among the believers
Australia's Go1 raises $200m Series D at $1b valuation
SoftBank Vision Fund 2, AirTree Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures have led a $200 million Series D round for Australian workforce training start-up Go1 at a valuation of $1 billion.
SoftBank leads $150m Series C for US, India-based Netradyne
SoftBank Vision Fund 2 has led a $150 million Series C round for Netradyne, a US and India-based software provider for vehicle fleet operators.
Indonesia's Bukalapak set for domestic IPO
Indonesian e-commerce platform Bukalapak – which counts GIC, and Microsoft among its investors – has unveiled plans to become the first of the country’s technology unicorns to complete a domestic IPO.
Walmart leads $1.2b round for India's Flipkart
Walmart has led a $1.2 billion funding round for Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce business in which it acquired a majority stake at a valuation of $24 billion in 2018.
Australia workforce training start-up Go1 gets $40m
Australian workforce training services start-up Go1 has raised a $40 million Series C round led by local strategic Seek and US-based Madrona Venture Group.
Vulcan Capital expands into Asia
Vulcan Capital, a US-based venture investor set up by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, has opened a Singapore office and earmarked $100 million for investment in Southeast Asia.
SoftBank expects at least $108b for second Vision Fund
SoftBank Group is set to establish its second Vision Fund focused on artificial intelligence (AI) with about $108 billion in initial commitments.
M12 leads Series B for Australian training platform
M12, the VC arm of Microsoft, has led an approximately $21 million Series B round for GO1, an Australian workforce services technology start-up focused on corporate training.
Microsoft to invest in PE-backed ride-hailing platform Grab
Microsoft has made a strategic investment in Grab as part of a wider arrangement that will see it collaborate with the Southeast Asia-focused ride-hailing business on digital services.
India, US-based Netradyne gets $21m Series B round
Netradyne, a US and India-based developer of artificial intelligence (AI) technology focused on automotive applications, has raised $21 million in Series B funding from a group of VC and strategic investors.
Australia's Simple gets $17m expansion round
Australian marketing platform operator Simple has raised $17 million for global expansion in a round led by local investor BBRC Private Equity. It is the GP’s first investment.
Walmart to pay $16b for majority stake in India's Flipkart
Walmart has agreed to pay $16 billion for a 77% stake in Flipkart, an Indian e-commerce business that has received substantial private funding. The deal will facilitate full exits for several investors, including SoftBank’s Vision Fund.
PE and AI: The machinists
After decades of tantalizing but patchy progress, artificial intelligence is finally seen as ready for mass commercialization. Investors must now weigh an unmissable opportunity with a world of uncertainty
India’s Flipkart confirms $1.4b downround
Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has confirmed an investment of $1.4 billion from Microsoft, eBay, and China’s Tencent Holdings at a post-deal valuation of $11.6 billion, down from $15 billion as of its previous round.
Microsoft, Salesforce lead $23m round for India's Helpshift
Microsoft Ventures and Salesforce Ventures have led a $23 million Series B round for Indian customer service platform Helpshift.
GenNext Ventures, Microsoft India launch tech accelerator
GenNext Ventures, the VC arm of Reliance Industries, has tied up with Microsoft Ventures India to launch an accelerator program, with a view to catalyzing the Indian technology start-up ecosystem.
Microsoft Ventures backs 19 Asian start-ups
Microsoft Ventures, a corporate VC arm of Microsoft, has selected 19 Asian companies for the fourth batch of start-ups entering its Beijing-based accelerator program.