Thailand
Thailand's Pomelo gets $19m Series B
Thailand-based clothing retailer Pomelo Fashion has received a $19 million investment from Provident Capital Partners, Lombard Investments and JD.com. It is said to be the largest Series B ever raised by a Thai company.
Gobi leads $14.5m round for Southeast Asia's Deliveree
Deliveree, a Southeast Asia-focused last-mile logistics marketplace, has raised a $14.5 million Series A round of funding led by Gobi Partners.
Vertex closes Southeast Asia, India fund at $210m
Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has closed its latest Southeast Asia and India fund at $210 million, exceeding the $150 million target.
VCs back Thai fintech player Finnomena
Krungsri Finnovate, the VC arm of Thai financial institution Bank of Ayudhya, has led a $3.2 million Series A round for domestic financial technology start-up Finnomena.
Provident, JD.com back Thailand e-commerce, fintech JVs
Southeast Asia-focused Provident Capital has partnered with Chinese online retailer JD.com, JD Finance, and Thai conglomerate Central Group on an investment of up to $500 million in e-commerce and financial technology services in Thailand.
Southeast Asia's Zilingo gets $17m Series B
Sequoia Capital India and Burda Principal Investments, the VC arm of German internet conglomerate Hubert Burda Media, have led a $17 million Series B round for Thailand-based online fashion marketplace Zilingo.
Armstrong makes debut exit from Thailand's Symbior
Singapore-based Armstrong Asset Management has secured a first exit from its Southeast Asia-focused cleantech fund, selling its entire stake in six solar projects controlled by Thailand’s Symbior Solar Siam.
Navis sells duck genetics business to Chinese strategic investors
Navis Capital Partners has sold Cherry Valley Group (CVF), a duck genetics supplier and a breeder of Peking ducks, to Beijing Capital Agribusiness Group (Sunlon) and CITIC Agri Fund Management for an undisclosed sum.
Token sales: Cryptic beginnings
The sale of digitized contracts known as tokens has become a dominating force in early-stage start-up funding. Venture capitalists are beginning to cautiously participate as the phenomenon matures
Thailand's Zanroo receives $7.4m Series A
Zanroo, a Thailand-based company that uses big data analytics to offer clients real-time marketing services, has received a $7.4 million Series A funding round from domestic investor Shift Ventures.
Financial institutions and fintech: Bouncing checks
Southeast Asia’s traditional banks have begun to take a strong interest in the financial technology environment, but their early-stage involvement in the ecosystem is still tentative
VC-backed Omise raises $25m, acquires Thai competitor
Omise, a Thailand-based financial technology company backed by a number of venture capital firms, has raised $25 million and acquired Paysbuy, a fintech subsidiary of domestic telecom player Dtac.
Fund focus: Thailand gets serious about fintech
Expara Thailand and Premier Advisory Group have been appointed to manage two funds with a combined corpus of $44 million that are intended to push forward the country's financial technology agenda
IFC set to back Morgan Stanley's $300m Thailand fund
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering an investment of up to $25 million in a Thailand-focused fund launched by Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA).
Thailand sets up $44m in VC funds
Thailand’s Government Savings Bank and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) have jointly established two venture capital funds worth a combined THB1.5 billion ($44 million).
Thailand's Kasikorn Bank launches $29m fintech fund
Beacon Venture Capital, the VC arm of Thailand-based Kasikorn Bank, has launched a fund aimed at financial technology start-ups with a corpus of THB1 billion ($29 million).
Naspers invests $5m in Philippines-based Coins
The venture capital division of South African media firm Naspers has invested $5 million in Coins, a US-founded blockchain and financial technology company operating in the Philippines.
Q&A: Armstrong Asset Management's Andrew Affleck
Andrew Affleck, managing partner of Singapore’s Armstrong Asset Management, explains the role private equity investors can play in developing renewable energy assets in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia VC: Common tastes
Venture capital investors increasingly view Southeast Asia as a single market as start-ups focus their attentions on a handful of large cities whose young populations have similar consumption habits
Thailand's Bangkok Bank launches fintech accelerator
Bangkok Bank has launched a start-up accelerator to support financial technology development in Thailand. Hong Kong venture investor Nest will co-manage the program.
Indonesia's Kejora reaches first close on second VC fund
Indonesian VC firm Kejora Ventures has reached a first close of nearly $25 million on its second fund and plans to expand into Thailand with the support of one of its LPs, the Chareon Pokphand family, which controls local conglomerate CP Group.
Oaktree merges Fitness First Asia with Navis-owned gym business
The Hong Kong and Southeast Asia business of Fitness First, which is controlled by Oaktree Capital Management, has agreed to merge with Celebrity Fitness, a Southeast Asia gym operator owned by Navis Capital Partners.
Impact investors and Asian banks: Developing interest
Despite the rise of non-banking finance companies, traditional banks in emerging markets still appeal to impact investors. Using them to their potential means adapting to each market
Thailand's Kuvera leads $3m round for domestic IT start-up
Thai investment firm Kuvera Capital has led a $3 million round of funding for Bangkok-based IT services provider D8.