TMT
Chinese local supermarket O2O player gets $100m
CITIC Private Equity, Fortune Capital, GP Capital and Zhejiang Zheshang Investment Management have invested $100 million in Huimin, a Chinese B2B and B2C e-commerce platform that focuses on small-scale supermarkets.
China's Meituan enters the big league
Asked whether, two years ago, he could have envisaged Chinese group-buying site Meituan achieving a $7 billion valuation Feng Deng, founding managing director of Northern Light Venture Capital, gives a swift no.
China VIEs: An end to uncertainty?
China has proposed a new set of rules that would regulate the use of variable interest entity (VIE) structures that underpin VC investment in restricted industries. It is a positive sign but questions remain
Asia start-ups: The SoftBank effect
SoftBank has laid down a marker in Asia’s technology space over the past six months, investing nearly $2 billion and promising much more. What does this say about the Japanese giant’s broader ambitions?
Singapore: Start-up central
When looking for an example of how Singapore start-ups previously struggled to get funding, one of the founders of tenCube was happy to oblige. Bootstrapped into existence in 2005, the mobile security solutions provider spent a frustrating 18 months trying...
Taiwan’s NDF commits $84m to VC funds
Taiwan’s National Development Fund (NDF) will invest up to $84 million into four venture capital funds as part of efforts to support local start-ups.
Shenzhen Capital leads $16m round for China game review site
Shenzhen Capital Group has led a RMB100 million ($16 million) Series A round of funding for Mofang.com, a Chinese mobile gaming reviews site, with participation from Matrix Partners.
Singapore expands Block 71 tech start-up hub
Singapore start-up hub JTC LaunchPad @ one-north – better known to many as Block 71 – has been expanded to accommodate 500 companies and 35 incubators, with plans to create space for 250 more.
Frontier markets-focused classifieds platform receives $40m
Saltside Technologies, which operates online classifieds platforms in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana, has received a $40 million round of funding led by Chinese investor Hillhouse Capital.
Chinese radio mobile app raises $20m Series C round
Lizhi.FM, a Chinese radio broadcasting mobile app, has raised $20 million in a Series C round of funding from Chinese smart phone manufacturer Xiaomi and Shunwei Capital Partners.
Banyan closes second China VC fund at $362m
Banyan Capital, a China-focused VC firm that spun out from IDG Capital Partners, has closed its second US dollar-denominated fund at $362 million.
Capital Today, New Horizon lead $100m round for Beibei
Capital Today and New Horizon Capital have led a $100 million Series C round for Beibei.com, a Chinese online discount retail platform for maternity and baby products. Existing investors Banyan Capital and IDG Capital Partners also participated.
China taxi-booking apps: Road war
High-powered alliances are forming in China’s mobile taxi-booking space around Kuaidi Dache and Didi Dache as part the ongoing battle between the big internet companies. What does it mean for VC investors?
Facebook co-founder, Velos back India start-up Hopscotch
Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and Singapore-based Velos Partners have committed $11 million in Series B funding to Indian babywear and kidswear retailer Hopscotch.
JD Capital invests in China online finance site 91Wutong
China-focused PE fund manager JD Capital, Tongxin Securities Direct Investment and Shenzhen Jidi Xintian Venture Capital have invested in a Series A round of funding for 91Wutong, a Chinese online finance platform.
VCs commit $100m to China app launcher Apus
Chengwei Ventures, SIG Ventures and Qiming Venture Partners have led a $100 million Series B round of funding for Apus, a Beijing-based company that has developed a suite of products intended to speed up Android operating systems.
SBCVC leads $20m in China education platform Xuexibao
SoftBank China Venture Capital (SBCVC) has led a Series B round of funding worth $20 million for Xuexibao, a Chinese online education platform. Existing investor GSR Ventures also participated.
Tiger Global leads $100m round for India’s ShopClues
Tiger Global has a led a $100 million Series C round of funding for Clues Network, the US parent of Indian e-commerce platform ShopClues.
VC-backed China group-buying site Meituan raises $700m
Meituan.com, a Chinese group-buying site backed by Alibaba Group and several venture capital firms, has raised $700 million in a new funding round from undisclosed investors.
SoftBank leads $600m round for China taxi-booking app Kuaidi Dache
SoftBank Group has agreed to lead a $600 million round of investment for Travice, operator and developer of Chinese taxi-booking app Kuadi Dache, with participation from existing backers Alibaba Group and Tiger Global Management.
Tiger Global invests in China P2P online lending site Dianrong
Tiger Global Management has invested an undisclosed sum in Dianrong.com, a Chinese VC-backed peer-to-peer (P2P) online lending service platform.
Investors back WeLab’s financial innovation
For Hong Kong-based financial technology start-up WeLab, setting up a peer-to-peer lending (P2P) platform was never the priority. Rather, the company wanted to develop and leverage its capabilities in the design of internet finance products and big data...
Yunfeng joins $1.6b deal for China drug maker Baiyunshan
Yunfeng Capital and other investors have agreed to invest up to RMB10 billion ($1.6 billion) in Chinese drug maker Guangzhou Baiyushan Pharmaceutical Holdings.
L Capital Asia targets India e-commerce
L Capital Asia, a PE firm sponsored by French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Group, could invest up to $150 million in India this year as it targets opportunities in the country's fast growing e-commerce sector.