Technology
Tencent leads round for Chinese rural e-commerce site
Tencent Holdings and Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacturer MediaTek have led a round of funding - reportedly worth more than $200 million - for Mmb.cn, a Chinese mobile e-commerce platform catering to rural consumers and urban migrants. Existing investor...
IAN leads round for speech software firm Uniphore
Indian Angel Network (IAN) has led a round of investment for India's Uniphore Software Systems, a company that develops Indian language speech recognition software.
Former Baidu COO David Zhu joins GGV Capital
David Zhu, former chief operating officer of Chinese internet giant Baidu, has joined GGV Capital as a partner.
Mayfield re-ups in India's Securens - report
US-based venture capital firm Mayfield is investing another $6 million in Indian online alarm systems provider Securens Systems.
GREE, Transcosmos back Singapores's Luxola
Singapore-based online beauty store Luxola has raised $10 million in a Series B round of funding led by Japanese e-commerce services firm Transcosmos with existing backer Gree Ventures.
FidelisWorld invests in India sports management firm
FidelisWorld Asset Management (FAM) - an Indian GP focusing on sports, media and entertainment - has bought a significant minority stake in Technology Frontiers India (TFI), a Chennai-based sports management firm.
PE-backed Prime Focus to acquire Dax
India's Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), a unit of PE-backed movie effects and entertainment company Prime Focus, is to acquire DAX, a developer of a cloud-based workflow software-as-a-service (SaaS) for the media industry, for $9.1 million.
CyberAgent leads $12m round for Korean food delivery app
Japan's CyberAgent Ventures has been joined by previous investors Altos Ventures, IMM Investment and Stonebridge Capital for a $12 million investment in Woowa Bros, the start-up behind Korean food delivery app Baedalui Minjok.
INCJ-backed Japan Display IPO prices at bottom of range
Japan Display, the world's biggest maker of screens for tablets and smart phones, has priced its IPO at the bottom of indicative range following a lukewarm response from overseas investors.
Shenzhen Capital leads $10m round for wearables maker
Shenzhen Capital has led a RMB60 million ($10 million) Series B round of funding for Codoon, a Chinese manufacturer of wearable electronic devices, with participation from CITIC Capital.
INCJ invests $6m in copper paste business
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested JPY600 million ($6 million) in Material Concept, a manufacturer of copper paste for use in electrical components and solar panels. Daiwa Corporate also invested an undisclosed amount in the...
Japan's Globis re-ups in UK educational app developer
Globis Capital Partners, the Japanese venture capital firm, has returned to lead a GBP3.4 million ($5.8 mllion) Series B round for Quipper, a UK company that develops educational mobile applications.
Gaorong Capital leads $48m round for China's Avazu
Avazu, a Shanghai-based digital advertising firm, has raised $48 million in a Series A round of funding led by Gaorong Capital. An undisclosed US-based internet-focused private equity fund and a consortium of internet companies also took part in the round....
SoftBank Venture backs Thai video game firm Ini3 Digital
SoftBank Ventures Korea (SBVK), the corporate investment arm of the Japanese telecoms giant, has taken a 23% stake in Thai online video game operator Ini3 Digital. The financial terms were not dislosed.
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.
VCs keep the faith in Snapdeal
Saama Capital was one of a group of VCs that backed Indian online jewelry store Bluestone.com in early 2012. It is a vertical play in the country's e-commerce industry - targeting a particular market segment - and this might ordinarily have been a turn...
Carlyle to buy Tyco's Korea unit for $1.93b
The Carlyle Group has agreed to buy fire safety and security systems provider Tyco International’s South Korean business for $1.93 billion. According to AVCJ Research, it is the largest-ever buyout in Korea by a global private equity firm.
Oak Capital invests another $4.9m in Japan's Softfront
Oak Capital has invested JPY500 million ($4.9 million) in JASDAQ-listed IT services firm Softfront, increasing its stake in the company to 20.8%.
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.
Nissay Capital invests $1.9m in Japan home renovation site
Nissay Capital has invested JPY200 million ($1.9 million) in Sekaie, the Japanese e-commerce start-up behind home renovation services website Rinoko.
INCJ invests $4.7m in Trigence Semiconductor
The Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested $4.7 million in Trigence Semiconductor, a developer of digital audio technology.
Scentan invests $75m in SaaS start-up Tradeshift
Tradeshift, a start-up which provides businesses with free payment management tools, has raised $75 million from Singapore-based Scentan Ventures.
Carlyle nears deal to buy Korea's Tyco unit - report
The Carlyle Group has been selected as preferred bidder for Tyco International's South Korean security systems unit - ADT Caps
VC-backed robot suit maker files for Tokyo IPO
Cyberdyne, a Japanese robotics company that counts Jafco Ventures, Nissay Capital and the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) among its investors - has received approval for its Tokyo IPO.