seed
Vietnam government launches ‘Silicon Valley Project’
Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology will build two accelerators under its Silicon Valley Project for technology commercialization - turning research into practical applications.
Profile: Innovation Works' Chris Evdemon
A cold email to Innovation Works founder Kai-fu Lee landed angel investor Chris Evdemon a full-time role at the Beijing-based incubator. Now he is looking to follow the firm into Silicon Valley
KKR, CDH go greenfield in China
KKR isn’t known for backing start-ups, but the risks associated with the firm’s recent foray into dairy farm ownership in China are tempered by the presence of familiar partners. For its first control deal in China and its first greenfield deal globally,...
Singapore government to invest $39m in start-up ecosystem
The Singapore government is to pump an extra S$50 million ($39 million) into its early stage co-investment vehicle in a bid enliven the city state's start-up ecosystem.
KKR, CDH invest in $140m China dairy farm joint venture
KKR has completed its first majority investment in China, partnering with CDH Investments and China Modern Dairy in a $140 million greenfield farming joint venture that will deliver premium raw milk to domestic consumers.
Hong Kong start-ups: The Silicon Harbour
Hong Kong is touting itself as Asia's next great tech start-up hub. It must first address expensive real estate, the role of government as facilitator, and strategic positioning vis-à-vis mainland China
Hong Kong investors contemplate "Silicon Harbour"
Hong Kong has the potential to become an innovation center for Asia, say industry participants, but not quite in the mold of Silicon Valley.
Patent funds: Creative returns
Asia is now responsible for just over half of all patent filings worldwide. Will independent patent funds, which have already won a niche following in the US, catch on over here?
Blume Ventures backs India software firm Kuliza
Bangalore-based Kuliza Technologies, a marketing software maker has raised seed funding from Blume Ventures. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
JFDI.Asia launches latest accelerator program
Joyful Frog Digital Incubator (JFDI.Asia) - a Singapore-based accelerator - has launched its latest 100-day program with an intake of 10 new start-ups. The teams were chosen through an open competition that attracted 321 applications.
Zodius seed funding supports Antuit's US acquisition
Zodius Capital provided $3 million in seed funding to Antuit, a Singapore-headquartered big data and analytics company. A portion of the capital will be used to finance the purchase of Marketwell, giving the company a readymade footprint in the US market.
Australia’s RecruitLoop secures seed funding
Australian recruitment marketplace RecruitLoop (RL) has raised $500,000 from Russian firm The Untitled VC, Microsoft executive Todd Forest and a Middle East-based recruiter to fund its expansion in the US.
Q&A: Rocket Internet's Tito Costa
Rocket Internet, which has raised more than $1 billion in funding in the last year, is known for launching copycats of successful sites. Tito Costa, managing director for Southeast Asia, outlines a different strategy for the region
China’s Zhonglu VC invests in five start-ups
A venture capital arm of Shanghai Zhonglu Group, a Chinese bicycle manufacturer, has invested a total of RMB36.4 million ($5.9 million) in five online technology start-ups. Zhonglu VC will take a 20% stake in each company.
Indian Angel Network invests in IndiaCollegeSearch
Indian Angel Network (IAN) investor members Vikram Kant Upadhyaya, Anupam Mittal and Varun Khurana have committed an undisclosed amount to IndiaCollegeSearch (ICS), a website that provides information on over 7,000 professional educational institutes.
Microsoft consolidates India start-up programs
Microsoft India has brought its start-up offerings under a single platform – known as Microsoft Ventures – following a similar restructuring at group level. Existing VC investment programs including BizSpark, Bing Fund and Accelerator will now operate...
INCJ invests $27m in Japan patent fund
Government-backed Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested JPY2.75 billion ($27.8 million) in a fund that will buy unused patents and license them to domestic start-ups.
Artesian Ventures, University of Queensland to launch start-up fund
Artesian Capital Management, an alternative investment arm spun out of ANZ Banking Group, has partnered with University of Queensland to create a A$1.5 million ($1.4 million) Accelerate Investment Fund. The vehicle will invest in graduates from the university’s...
Pearson, Village Capital to fund Indian education start-ups
Pearson - a UK education company which owns the Financial Times and publishers Penguin Random House - has teamed up with social investor Village Capital to set up a business incubator for Indian education start-ups.
Australia's PushStart closes accelerator program
PushStart, an Australian firm that offers mentoring to early stage Australian tech startups, has shut down its accelerator program.
Samurai Incubate Fund invests in Japanese child monitor app
Samurai Incubate Fund has backed Japanese mobile app developer Unirings - the company behind child monitoring app Mimamoru. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Microsoft Ventures enters China market
Microsoft has launched Microsoft Ventures in China to provide seed funding and other resources to local start-ups.
Angels in Asia: Exporting Silicon Valley
Early-stage investors in the US are casting their eyes eastwards as they seek out new partnerships in Asia. But what can these angels offer the region’s start-up community?
Gray Matters invests in social banker Unitus Capital
Bangalore-based social investment bank Unitus Capital (UC) has received an undisclosed commitment from Gray Matters Capital (GMC)-owned First Light Ventures fund. The vehicle acts as an incubator and investment partner to seed-stage, for-profit social...