Technology
Mobile payments: Breaking down barriers
Driven by strong demand from consumers underserved by traditional payment channels, VC and strategic investors are increasingly active in Southeast Asia mobile payment. It is too early to identify winners.
China mobile marketing firm Lomark raises $30m
A group of VC investors – DFJ DragonFund, KPCB, ABC Capital and Shenzhen Fortune Venture Capital – have committed $30 million in Series B funding to Lomark, a Chinese mobile advertising firm.
CDH VC, Pine invest in China cloud service provider Upyun
CDH Ventures and Pine Capital have provided a Series A round of funding for Upyun, a Chinese cloud services specialist.
Tamarisc leads Series A round for Australia's Serraview
Australian software-as-a-service (SaaS) start-up Serraview has raised a Series A round of funding from US-based venture capital firm Tamarisc as it looks to expand into US markets.
Singapore's Infocomm Investments extends reach to Europe
Infocomm Investments, a VC arm of the Singapore government-backed Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), has opened an office in London, its second overseas base after Silicon Valley.
Korea's KnowRe raises $6.8m Series A from VC backers
SoftBank Venture Korea (SBVK) has a led a $6.8 million Series A investment in Seoul-based education technology start-up KnowRe.
China's Baidu, Ping An, Qihoo360 invest in Israeli VC fund
Israeli VC firm Carmel Ventures has reached a $194 million final close on its latest VC fund with participation Chinese tech giants Baidu and Qihoo360 as well as insurer Ping An Group.
Intel Capital invests $28m from China smart device fund
Intel Capital, the US chip maker's corporate venture capital arm, has invested $28 million from its China Smart Device Innovation Fund (CSDIF) into a batch of technology start-ups.
Japanese mobile app Quan gets VC backing
Japanese mobile game developer Quan has received an undisclosed sum from a group of domestic VC investors.
Tiger Global leads Series C round for GrabTaxi
Tiger Global Management has led a Series C round of funding for GrabTaxi, a Southeast Asian-focused taxi-booking mobile phone app.
Chinese VC-backed semiconductor specialist files for US IPO
VeriSilicon Holdings, a China-based semiconductor design services provider backed by several VC investors, has filed for a US IPO.
Japan online home-hunter service bags $2m from VCs
Japan's YJ Capital and Incubate Fund have invested JPY200 million ($1.9 million) in Ietty, a Tokyo-based start-up that runs an online platform for home-hunters.
Telstra, Global Brain lead $19m round for India's Adnear
India location-based mobile advertising platform Adnear has raised a $19 million Series B round of funding from Telstra Ventures, the Australian telecom giant's corporate venture capital arm, and Japanese VC Global Brain.
Qiming-backed life science firm BBI files for Hong Kong IPO
BBI Life Sciences Corporation, a Chinese genetic engineering specialist backed by Qiming Venture Partners, has filed for an IPO in Hong Kong. The company has yet to disclose the size and pricing of the offering.
JFDI.Asia launches fifth start-up batch
Singapore-based start-up accelerator JFDI.Asia has launched the fifth batch of its program which will include 12 new companies.
India's Snapdeal set for $650m funding round – report
Indian e-commerce business Snapdeal is expected to raise up to $650 million in a new round of funding lead by Japan's SoftBank Corporation with existing investors also participating.
India's Lightbox reaches $100m close on Fund II
Indian venture capital firm Lightbox Management has reached a INR6.1 billion ($100 million) close on its second fund.
CyberAgent, Mizuho back Japan venue rental marketplace
CyberAgent Ventures and Mizuho Capital have together invested JPY100 million (about $1 million) in SpaceMarket, a Japanese online platform that lists vacant spaces that users can rent for corporate events such as meetings and training courses.
Intel invests in China cloud communication service Gotye
Intel Capital, the corporate investment arm of the US chipmaker Intel Corp, has invested an undisclosed sum in Gotye.com, a Shanghai-based start-up that provides cloud communication technology solutions.
Gree Ventures backs Japan marketing start-up
Japanese online marketing firm Somewrite has raised JPY100 million (about $1 million) from corporate venture capital arm Gree Ventures and other undisclosed investors.
China's Xiaomi commits $14m to GPS firm Careland
Chinese VC-backed smart phone maker Xiaomi has invested RMB84 million ($14 million) in Careland Information System, a Shenzhen-based GPS mapping technology developer.
Alibaba invests $50m in US TV remote app Peel
Alibaba Group, China's largest e-commerce player, has invested $50 million in Peel Technology, a California-based start-up that has developed a TV remote control mobile app.
Foxconn VC invests $98m in Taiwan Mobile
Hongyang Venture Capital Investment, a corporate investment arm of electronics manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group, has invested NT$2.98 billion ($98 million) in local telecom operator Taiwan Mobile.
Google Capital in debut China VC investment
Google's discomfort at the growing level of censorship imposed on US internet players by the Chinese authorities after 2008 saw the company withdraw from the M&A scene. There were no deals at all until last week, when Google Capital – a $300 million growth-stage...