Technology
INCJ, VCs back Japan big data firm Smart Insight
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) is to invest up to JPY1 billion ($10.3 million) in Smart Insight Corp, a big data analysis software developer for the corporate sector. The business has also secured JPY400 million from Energy & Environment...
Mavcap to launch fund targeting tech-based companies
Malaysia Venture Capital Management (Mavcap) plans to launch a $200 million investment fund platform fund later this year that will back technology-based companies at home and abroad.
Kyoto University launches $60m venture fund
Japan's Kyoto University has launched its second venture fund, a $60 million vehicle which will invest in start-ups in Japan and the rest of Asia.
Matrix backs hotel reservation site Stayzilla.com
Matrix Partners India has acquired a significant minority stake in Stayzilla.com, a site which allows users to research and reserve hotels at discounted rates in more than 750 Indian cities. The financial details of the deal, in which Matrix was the sole...
Alibaba leads $50m Series C round for Quixey
Alibaba Group has led a $50 million Series C round of investment for Quixey, an US-based search engine for apps. New investor GGV Capital and existing backers Atlantic Bridge, Innovation Endeavors, Translink Capital, US Venture Partners, and WI Harper...
Temasek commits $100m in China 21Vianet
Temasek Holdings has invested $100 million in 21Vianet Group, a US-listed Chinese carrier-neutral internet data center services provider, for about a 10% stake.
IDG, CreditEase to launch financial innovation fund
IDG Capital Partners and CreditEase, a Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) microcredit lender, have set up a financial innovation fund, targeting a first close of $100 million. The vehicle - IDG CreditEase Financial Innovation Fund – will support online financial...
500 Startups raises $44.1m second fund
Silicon Valley-based incubator 500 Startups has held a final close of $44.1 million second fund that will back seed and accelerator companies. The vehicle – 500 Startup Fund II - is larger than its predecessor but below the $50 million target.
VC-backed Chinese online marketplace targets $150m US IPO
Chinese venture capital-backed local marketplace website 58.com filed for its US IPO, targeting up to $150 million.
KKR acquires Panasonic healthcare unit for $1.67b
KKR has agreed to acquire an 80% stake in Panasonic Healthcare, a unit of the Japanese electronics giant, for JPY165 billion ($1.67 billion) - the buyout firm's biggest deal in the country to date.
KPCB, IPV back Singapore stock market app Series A round
Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers (KPCB) and IPV Capital have together led a $10 million Series A round for MyHero, the Singapore-based start-up behind the stock market simulation app TradeHero.
Japan's KDDI, Cisco lead $10m Series A for Moxtra
Japanese telecom firm KDDI Corp and US tech giant Cisco Systems have led a $10 million Series A round of investment for Silicon Valley-based app developer Moxtra. Other investors include China's Innovation Works and Starwood Capital's Barry Sternlicht....
Ant Capital invests $11m in construction software firm Kozo Keikaku
Japanese private equity firm Ant Capital Partners has agreed to acquire a 30.4% stake in Japan-listed construction software developer Kozo Keikaku Engineering from existing shareholders for JPY1.15 billion ($11 million).
NTT Docomo Ventures, Livesense lead $5.5m investment in Japan's Aratana
NTT Docomo Ventures, the corporate VC arm of the Japanese mobile giant, and internet media firm Livesense have together led a JPY550 million ($5.5 million) investment round for Aratana, a social e-commerce platform developer. Existing VC backers JAFCO,...
Investors book passage with Tuniu
Most Travel e-commerce companies in China are essentially search engines that provide information on hotel and flight bookings plus a payment mechanism. The team at Tuniu opted for a different tack, focusing specifically on packaged tourism, and they...
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
Malaysia's Khazanah exits Time Engineering stake for $21m
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has sold its entire stake in local IT firm Time Engineering (TEB) to Censof Holdings for RM69.8 million ($21.3 million)
Australia's BlueChilli targets $10m for angel fund
Australian venture firm BlueChilli is looking to raise a $10 million angel fund for early-stage tech investments.
KKR leads race for Panasonic healthcare unit - report
KKR is said to have taken the lead in the bidding for a majority stake in Panasonic's healthcare unit - a potential $1.5 billion deal that would represent the firm's largest Japanese buyout to date.
Patni Brothers set up incubator for India big data start-ups
The co-founders of Nirvana Venture Advisors, brothers Arihant and Amit Patni, have set up Hive Technologies to help launch and fund Indian big data start-ups.
Nissay Capital leads $1.5m round for Japan skills marketplace
Nissay Capital has a led a JPY150 million ($1.5 million) round of investment in WelSelf, the Tokyo-based start-up behind online skils marketplace Coconala. Other investors include internet marketing companies Opt and Adways, and the CEO of cosmetics site...
Shenzhen Capital Group invests in China credit IT system e-Buy
Shenzhen Capital Group has invested in China e-Buy Technology, a Shanghai-based firm which provides credit redemption solution. Investment size has reportedly amounted to RMB32.4 million ($5.29 million).
Indonesia VCs, incubators form lobbying alliance
Eight Indonesian venture capital firms and incubators have come together to form a lobbying group known as the Alliance of Venture Capitals in Indonesia (AVCII). Members include CyberAgent Ventures, East Ventures, GEPI, Grupara, Ideosource, Jakarta Founders...
SMBC, IGPI invest $1.3m in Japanese game design platform
SMBC Venture Capital and Industrial Growth Partners (IGPI) have invested JPY130 million ($1.3 million) in Mugenup.com, a start-up that crowd-sources design talent to work on projects for game developers.