TMT
Sequoia, Shunwei invest in Singapore’s Patsnap
Sequoia Capital China has led a Series C round of funding for Singapore-based Patsnap, a web-based intellectual property analytics and management software developer.
China fitness app Hotbody secures $15m
Chinese fitness app developer Hotbody has raised approximately RMB100 million ($15 million) in a new round of funding led by domestic GP Haodao Capital, with participation from existing investor Ameba Capital.
China used car trading platform Souche raises $100m
Souche Holdings, a Chinese online second-hand car trading platform, has raised a $100 million Series C round of funding led by Alibaba Group’s financial services affiliate Ant Financial and car rental services provider Ucar.
China’s Advantech leads $15m round for AI start-up
Advantech Capital, one of two parallel funds launched by executives from Chinese GP New Horizon Capital, has led a $15 million Series A round of funding for Petuum, a US-based artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solution developer.
China VCs tell start-ups to focus on sustainability - AVCJ Forum
China VC investors are reminding portfolio companies to pursue profitability rather than sky-high paper valuations as the market continues to rationalize following an explosion of activity in recent years.
Macquarie Capital invests $10m in Korea's Yello Mobile
Korean mobile internet platform Yello Mobile has issued $10 million in convertible bonds to Macquarie Capital. The investment values the business at approximately $4 billion.
Singapore's MC Payment gets $3.5m for SE Asia expansion
Singapore private equity firm 2W Group has led a $5 million ($3.5 million) funding round for domestic financial technology company MC Payment.
IFC proposes $25m investment in CompareAsiaGroup
The International Financial Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed an investment of up to $25 million in Hong Kong-based financial comparison platform CompareAsiaGroup.
Q&A: Qunar co-founder CC Zhuang
As co-founder of Chinese online travel site Qunar, Chenchao Zhuang has experience building and selling a technology business. Now a VC investor in his own right, he offers insights into the world of start-ups
Tech & government: Living laboratories
As governments of Southeast Asia’s emerging economies look to create more workable VC policy environments, start-ups and investors have proliferated across a patchwork of imperfect systems
Q&A: Go-Jek's Nadiem Makarim
Three months on from a $550 million Series D round of funding, Nadiem Makarim, founder and CEO of Indonesia-based ride-hailing and delivery platform Go-Jek, discusses where he sees the market heading
SoftBank marks down valuations of India's Ola, Snapdeal
SoftBank has marked down the value of part of its investment portfolio, including holdings India-based ride-hailing app Ola and its e-commerce counterpart Snapdeal.
Reliance PE arm commits $12m to India real estate start-up
Square Yards, an online listings service dedicated to the property sector, has received $12 million in funding from the private equity arm of Reliance Group.
Japan's Monstar Lab gets $2.4m round
Monstar Lab, a Japan-based company specializing in global outsourcing services for IT companies, has raised JPY250 million ($2.4 million) from investors including Resona Capital.
China online learning site Smartstudy raises $29m
Smartstudy.com, a Chinese online learning site, has raised a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round of funding led by Hong Kong-based private equity firm Golden Brick Capital.
China bike-sharing start-up Ubike raises $22m
Ubike, a Chinese bike-sharing start-up, has raised a RMB150 million ($22 million) Series A round of funding led by Yicun Capital, a corporate PE arm of Shenzhen-listed chemical fiber manufacturer Jiangsu Huaxicun.
IDG, Accel invest $3m in India's Bizongo
IDG Ventures has led a $3 million Series A round for Indian business-to-business packaging marketplace Bizongo, with participation by existing investor Accel Partners.
Alibaba, Legend invest $20m in China seafood importer Gfresh
Gfresh, a China-based seafood importer and online marketplace operator, has raised $20 million from Riverhill Fund, an investment arm of Alibaba Group, and Legend Capital.
Alibaba-backed Lazada buys Singapore's RedMart
Lazada, a Southeast Asia-based e-commerce platform founded by Germany's Rocket Internet and recently acquired by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has bought Singapore-based online grocer RedMart.
Singapore's Jubilee Capital in $30m first close on tech fund
Jubilee Capital, a newly formed venture investment firm based in Singapore, has reached a first close of $30 million on an early-stage technology fund targeting $100 million.
Fund focus: Blume gets early-stage boost
Blume Ventures plans a narrower approach with its second technology-focused fund
Deal focus: J-Star helps Asiro bring law online
Asiro came into being as a means of addressing the demand-supply imbalance in Japan's legal services industry. New owner J-Star will help the company expand its platform
Southeast Asia dating app raises $32.5m round
Paktor, a Southeast Asia-focused mobile dating app, has received $32.5 million in new funding led by K2 Global – a venture capital firm that makes late-stage tech investments in Asia and the US – and Indonesia-based MNC Media Group.
Indonesia's Convergence Ventures closes $30m tech fund
Convergence Ventures, an early-stage VC firm based in Indonesia, has reached a final close of $30 million on its debut fund.