Rakuten
KKR takes out Rakuten's stake in Japanese retailer Seiyu
KKR has increased its stake in Japanese supermarket operator Seiyu to 85%, having taken out a position held by local e-commerce giant Rakuten, which supported the private equity firm’s carve-out in 2020.
Japan healthcare start-up Ubie closes $43m Series C
Japanese healthcare technology start-up Ubie has closed its Series C round on JPY6.3bn (USD 43.2m) with the latest tranche featuring PE-owned pharmacy chain operator Sogo Medical.
Corporate VC in Asia: Moment of truth
Cutting non-core operations is the standard corporate response to an economic downturn. Companies in Asia must decide whether the long-term benefits of exposure to new technologies outweighs short-term pain
Temasek leads extended round for Singapore's ShopBack
ShopBack, a Singapore-based rewards platform that generates sales for online and offline retailers, has completed a $75 million extended round of funding led by Temasek Holdings.
Singapore's Carousell merges with Asia assets of Telenor
Singapore-based online consumer-to-consumer marketplace Carousell has merged with the Southeast Asia subsidiary of Norwegian telecommunications giant Telenor Group.
Singapore's RedDoorz raises $70m
Singapore hotel management and booking platform RedDoorz has raised $70 million in Series C funding less than a month after closing a $45 million Series B.
Sequoia, Matrix join $20m round for Chinese fintech player
Sequoia Capital China and Matrix Partners have joined a $20 million round for Chinese financial technology provider QFPay.
Japanese food tech start-up secures Series A round
Japan’s Base Food, a company that produces packaged meals that are said to be nutritionally complete, has raised JPY400 million ($3.7 million) in Series A funding from a group including Global Brain.
Rakuten Capital, EV Growth back Singapore's ShopBack
Rakuten Capital and EV Growth have joined a $45 million round for Singapore-based retail rewards platform operator ShopBack.
Singapore AI start-up raises $20m
ViSenze, a Singaporean artificial intelligence (AI) provider focused on e-commerce has received a $20 million Series C round led by China’s Gobi Ventures and the VC arm of Portuguese retail and technology group Sonae.
Polaris to acquire Japan's O-Net from Rakuten
Polaris Capital has agreed to acquire Japanese online marriage services and event planning business O-net from e-commerce giant Rakuten for an undisclosed amount.
Rakuten, EDBI lead $85m round for classifieds player Carousell
Rakuten Ventures and EDBI have led an $85 million Series C funding round for Singapore’s Carousell, an online flea market shopping app operator.
Indian entrepreneurs drawn to corporate VC – AVCJ Forum
Indian technology start-ups are seeing corporate venture capital arms as attractive partners, but investors must be prepared to show what differentiates them from their parent companies, industry participants told the AVCJ India Forum.
Corporate VC offers unique benefits in Southeast Asia – AVCJ Forum
Corporate venture capital investment can fill an important niche in supporting Southeast Asia’s start-up ecosystem, industry participants told the AVCJ Singapore Forum.
Japanese digital marketing player receives $28m
From Scratch, a Japanese digital marketing platform, has raised approximately JPY3.2 billion ($28.4 million) in funding from Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) and Rakuten Ventures, as well as several existing investors.
Japan fintech start-up Folio gets $16m Series A
Jafco and several other Japanese venture capital firms have joined a JPY1.8 billion ($18.7 million) Series A round for Japanese stock-trading app developer Folio.
Singapore’s ViSenze raises $10.5m Series B
ViSenze, an e-commerce-focused artificial intelligence (AI) company based in Singapore, India and the US, has completed a $10.5 million Series B funding round led by Rakuten Ventures, WI Harper and Enspire Capital.
Singapore's Carousell gets $35m Series B round
Rakuten Ventures, a corporate VC arm of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, has led a $35 million Series B round of funding for Singaporean online flea market shopping app operator Carousell.
Japan VC: Outbound ambition
Japanese start-ups are looking to address global markets from day one, but few domestic venture capital firms are equipped to support cross-border strategies. Corporate VCs could provide the solution
VCs commit $33m to Japan's Bizreach
Japanese online talent search platform Bizreach has raised a JPY3.7 billion ($33 million) Series A round led by YJ Capital, the investment arm of Yahoo Japan.
Rakuten launches $84m Japan venture fund
Rakuten Ventures, the corporate VC arm of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, has launched a JPY10 billion ($84 million) fund targeting start-ups in Japan.
Rakuten launches $100m fund for global fintech investments
Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten has launched a $100 million fund for investments in financial technology start-ups worldwide.
Rakuten invests in VC-backed China discount site Fanli
Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten has bought a less than 10% stake in VC-backed Chinese discounts site Fanli in a Series C round of funding that values the business at about $1 billion.