seed
Indian Angel Network launches incubation program
The Indian Angel Network (IAN) has launched an incubation program in association with German developmental aid agency GIZ and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
Accelerator fundraising: Backing the batch
The start-up accelerator can offer attractive opportunities for early-stage investors but the business model is still in its infancy and educating potential backers can still be challenge
Indosat, SoftBank form $50m Indonesia VC fund
Indonesian mobile telecom operator Indosat and Japanese Softbank have launched a $50 million venture capital fund targeting Indonesian start-ups.
Zhenfund invests $2m in China innovation platform
Chinese early-stage investor Zhenfund has committed $2 million to Taihuoniao, a platform that helps turn business concepts into products.
Australia scales back start-up funding schemes
Support for technology start-ups is among the casualties in Australia’s austerity budget, with several programs discontinued, including the Innovation Investment Fund (IIF), which sponsors VC funds.
ZhenFund invests $1.6m in China robot education school
China-focused early-stage investor ZhenFund has committed RMB10 million ($1.6 million) in seed funding to Roborobo, a China-based robot teaching school.
Indian regulator to issue crowdfunding guidelines
India’s securities regulator plans to issue guidelines for crowdfunding as part of efforts to open up additional financing channels for start-ups.
KDDI incubator announces five start-ups for new program
KDDI Mugen Labo, an incubator backed by Japanese telecoms giant KDDI, has revealed the next batch of five start-ups to enter its boot camp program.
China health data start-up secures $2m angel round
China health data mobile app provider 37 Health has secured a RMB10 million ($2 million) seed funding round led by Broadhi Capital.
Taiwan fitness site iFit receives angel funding
Cherubic Ventures, an early-stage VC investor, has provided NT$25 million ($818,000) in seed funding for iFit, a Taiwanese online fitness information provider.
Singapore accelerator JDFI raises $2.1m
Singapore-based tech accelerator Joyful Frog Digital Incubator (JFDI) has raises S$2.7 million ($2.1 million) from investors.
China ZJ Capital targets $50m co-investment VC fund
Zhijing Capital Management (ZJ Capital), a Shanghai-based early-stage VC firm, is seeking $50 million for its debut US dollar-denominated fund. The vehicle will make co-investments in Chinese start-ups.
Indian Angel Network in UK start-up SwiftShift
The Indian Angel Network (IAN) has committed an undisclosed sum in London-based workforce management tool SwiftShift. This is the group's first UK investment.
Artesian launches Australian crowdfunding platform
Early-stage venture capital firm Artesian Venture Partners has launched its equity-based crowdfunding platform – VentureCrowd – in Australia with over 200 registered investors and 36 start-ups.
Israeli crowdfunding platform launches in Australia
OurCrowd, an Israeli equity crowd-funding platform set up by serial entrepreneur Jon Medved, has established operations in Australia.
Japan's Digital Garage leads $10m round for Betaworks
Japanese incubator Digital Garage (DG) has invested $10 million in Betaworks, a New York-based early-stage tech investor. DG contributed $7.5 million to the round with the balance coming from a group of angel investors.
India impact investments total $390m in 2013 - Unitus
Private equity impact investments in India totaled $390 million across 80 deals last year – comprising 23% of all PE transactions in the country - says Bangalore-based financial advisor Unitus Capital.
Jungle Ventures backs Singapore's Klinify
Klinify, a Singapore-based electronic medical records management service provider, has received S$770,000 ($604,000) in seed funding round led by Jungle Ventures.
Blume Ventures leads seed round for India’s Turtle Yogi
Blume Ventures has led a seed round of funding for Bangalore-based Turtle Yogi Technologies, which runs cloud-based video calling service 1Click.io. Chennai Angels member R. Narayanan and Shead Holdings are also investors in the round.
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.
BootstrapLabs launches Korea accelerator
Silicon Valley-based accelerator program BootstrapLabs, and Coolidge Corner Investment (CCVC), a Korean technology venture firm, have together formed BootstrapAccelerator Korea, a Seoul-based six-month accelerator program.
Nazara Technologies launches gaming-focused seed fund
Indian mobile games developer and publisher Nazara Technologies has launched a seed stage fund to back game developers.
US retailer Target to launch India accelerator
Target plans to launch a corporate incubator in Bangalore in January 2014. The Target Accelerator Program will give Indian start-ups specializing in big data, content aggregation, mobility and search up to $30,000 in funding.
Google launches incubation program in Hong Kong
Google has partnered with The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to launch a one-year incubation program to help students and young entrepreneurs in Hong Kong build their own businesses.