Softbank
Chinese smart robot maker files for US IPO
Chinese cloud-based robotics developer CloudMinds has filed for an IPO in the US with a view to raising up to $500 million.
SoftBank invests $250m in India's Ola Electric
SoftBank has invested $250 million in Ola Electric, an electric vehicle (EV) company that spun out from Indian ride-hailing platform Ola earlier this year. The new investment reportedly brings Ola Electric’s valuation to over $1 billion.
Singapore's EV Growth closes debut fund at $200m
Singapore-based EV Growth, a joint venture between East Ventures, Indonesia’s Sinar Mas Digital Ventures (SMDV) and Japan’s YJ Capital, has closed its first fund at $200 million.
Deal focus: Grofers returns to growth with Series F
Grofers is emerging from a rough patch in its mission to leverage India’s online grocery boom with an overhauled business model and a $200 million Series F round led by SoftBank Vision Fund
SoftBank leads $200m round for India's Grofers
Indian online grocer Grofers has raised more than $200 million in a Series F funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund.
Vision Fund leads $225m round for Hong Kong’s Klook
Klook, a Hong Kong-headquartered booking platform for attractions, tours, dining and local experiences, has raised $225 million in an extended Series D round led by SoftBank Vision Fund.
SoftBank to invest $1.6b in China’s Didi Chuxing
SoftBank plans to invest around $1.6 billion in Chinese ride-hailing app operator Didi Chuxing, marking the Japanese internet giant’s third investment in the company.
SoftBank Vision Fund invests $1.5b in SE Asia's Grab
Southeast Asian ride-hailing and online-to-offline (O2O) services platform Grab has secured a $1.46 billion investment from SoftBank Vision Fund. The commitment brings the capital raised in its ongoing Series H to over $4.5 billion.
Carlyle, Fosun join $415m round for India's Delhivery
The Carlyle Group and Fosun International have joined a INR29 billion ($415 million) Series F round for Indian e-commerce logistics services provider Delhivery led by SoftBank Vision Fund.
SoftBank Vision Fund invests $1.5b in China’s Chehaoduo
Chehaoduo, a Chinese online auto services provider that runs consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used car trading platform Guazi and new car trading platform Maodou has raised $1.5 billion from SoftBank Vision Fund.
SoftBank invests $150m in India's FirstCry
SoftBank Vision Fund has committed $150 million to Indian online baby and child-focused retailer FirstCry as the first tranche in a planned $400 million Series E round.
SoftBank Vision Fund to invest in India's Delhivery
SoftBank Vision Fund is planning to purchase a stake of up to 38% in Indian e-commerce logistics services provider Delhivery.
SoftBank, Alibaba lead $1.1b round for Indonesia's Tokopedia
SoftBank Vision Fund and Alibaba Group have joined a $1.1 billion round for Indonesian e-commerce and related online services provider Tokopedia.
Vision Fund invests $2b in Korea’s Coupang
SoftBank Vision Fund has committed $2 billion to South Korean e-commerce business Coupang, reportedly valuing the company at $9 billion.
Deal focus: Oyo passes the $1b mark
Oyo Rooms has taken a budget hotel marketing strategy that worked in India and applied it to overseas markets, notably China. Investors were bullish enough on its growth potential to provide a $1 billion Series E round
TPG, SoftBank Ventures Korea team up for $300m China fund
TPG Capital and SoftBank Ventures Korea are launching a $300 million China fund that will invest in start-ups focusing on technology, media, and the internet.
SoftBank, Sequoia back $1b round for India's Oyo
India-based online hospitality platform Oyo has raised a $1 billion funding round aimed at supporting domestic and overseas expansion from existing investors including SoftBank Vision Fund and Sequoia Capital India.
SoftBank Vision Fund forms JV with Chinese insurer Zhong An
SoftBank Vision Fund has entered into a technology development joint venture (JV) with Zhong An, a PE-backed Chinese insurance company. It will see each party contribute $100 million.
Alibaba merges food delivery units, raises $3b
Alibaba Group has merged Ele.me, a China-focused food delivery platform that it acquired earlier this year, with its local services platform Koubei. The combined platform has raised $3 billion from investors including Alibaba and SoftBank Group.
WeWork raises $500m for China unit
Trustbridge Partners, Temasek Holdings, SoftBank Group and the SoftBank Vision Fund, and Hony Capital have led a $500 million Series B round for the China branch of US-based co-working space operator WeWork.
Yahoo acquires Japan's VC-backed Dely
Yahoo Japan has acquired Dely, the VC-backed Japanese start-up that operates online recipe-sharing service Kurashiru.
SoftBank Vision Fund leads $200m round for India's PolicyBazaar
SoftBank Vision Fund, the global technology investment vehicle managed by Japan’s SoftBank Group, has led a $200 million Series F round for Indian online financial services portal PolicyBazaar.
Japan robotics: Friendly faces
Japan’s home robotics industry is still in its early stages, and considerable work is required to create devices that can both appeal to everyday consumers and meaningfully contribute to their lives
SoftBank's Japanese AI incubator targets $55m fund
Deepcore, a Japanese incubator focused on artificial intelligence (AI) that was set up last year by Softbank Corp, has launched a fund targeting JPY6 billion ($55 million) for seed to early-stage companies.