TMT
IDG, Sequoia, Hidden Hill lead Series E for China's eSign
China-based electronic signature service provider eSign has raised RMB1.2 billion ($186 million) in Series E funding led by IDG Capital, Sequoia Capital China, and Hidden Hill Capital, an investment arm of logistics platform and fund manager GLP.
China's Ximalaya abandons US IPO
Ximalaya, a Chinese online audio platform backed by the likes of Tencent Holdings, General Atlantic, and Goldman Sachs, has canceled its planned IPO.
East, Saratoga back Indonesia e-commerce player Sirclo
Sirclo, an Indonesia-based e-commerce enabler that acquired mother-and-baby-focused online retailer Orami earlier this year, has received $36 million in funding led by East Ventures and Saratoga Investama Sedaya (SIS), a listed vehicle with ties to Saratoga...
India's Leap Finance raises $55m Series C
US education technology specialist Owl Ventures has led a $55 million Series C round for Leap Finance, an Indian start-up that helps students pay for overseas studies.
Baring Asia tilts towards growth
Baring Private Equity Asia expects 10% of its eighth pan-regional fund to be deployed in growth-stage investments, underlining how Asia’s traditional large-cap buyout funds are increasing their focus on minority deals in high-growth sectors like technology....
China ride-hailing app Caocao raises $588m
Caocao Chuxing, the ride-hailing arm of Chinese automaker Geely, has raised a RMB3.8 billion ($588 million) Series B round from five state-backed investors.
Intudo raises $115m for third Indonesia fund
Intudo Ventures has closed its third VC fund focused exclusively on Indonesia at $115 million after less than three months in the market.
Deal focus: Affinity capitalizes on enforced divestment
Delivery Hero was instructed to offload Yogiyo as a condition of buying Woowa Brothers. Affinity, Permira, and GS Retail made the most of a $685 million opportunity to enter Korea’s food delivery space
China take-privates: Holding pattern
Pressure is mounting on Chinese companies listed in New York, from domestic and US regulators. Is another wave of PE-backed take-privates imminent?
Deal focus: India's AppsForBharat inspires VC devotees
AppsForBharat aims to be the first mobile player to create a product that sticks in the hard-to-monetize spirituality services space. Sequoia Capital India and Matrix Partners India are among the faithful
Malaysia's Carsome raises $200m at $1.3b valuation
Malaysia-headquartered used car trading platform Carsome has achieved a valuation of $1.3 billion with the close of an extended Series D funding round worth $170 million.
China's DayDayCook agrees $300m SPAC merger
DayDayCook, a China-focused direct-to-consumer brand that started as a cooking-themed video platform, has agreed to merge with a US-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) at an enterprise valuation of $300 million.
India's Prime Venture reaches $75m first close on Fund IV
Prime Venture Partners has reached a first close of $75 million on its fourth India-focused VC fund. The overall target is $100 million.
Tribe, Moore Strategic lead Series C for India's Khatabook
Tribe Capital and Moore Strategic Ventures have led a $100 million Series C round for Khatabook – an India-based bookkeeping app aimed at small merchants – at a valuation of $600 million.
Bazaar secures Pakistan's largest-ever Series A round
Online B2B marketplace Bazaar has completed what it claims is Pakistan’s largest-ever Series A round with a $30 million commitment led by Wavemaker Partners and US-based Defy Partners.
China comic platform Kuaikan raises $240m
Kuaikan, China’s largest publishing platform for comics, has raised $240 million from CCB International, Korean mobile app marketplace One Store, Tencent Holdings, Coatue Management, and Tiantu Capital.
India's 3one4 names new partner
Indian venture capital firm 3one4 Capital has elevated Anurag Ramdasan to partner level, alongside a rush of more junior promotions.
China's Deepexi raises $100m Series B
Deepexi, a Chinese start-up that provides digital transformation solutions to enterprise customers, has raised $100 million in a Series B funding round led by Guotai Junan Securities and an investment arm of China Industrial International Trust Asset...
Korea's Danggeun Market raises $162m at $2.7b valuation
DST Global has led a $162 million Series D round for Danggeun Market, operator of Korean flea market app Karrot, at a valuation of $2.7 billion.
Pakistan's Airlift raises $85m Series B
Airlift, a Pakistani last-mile delivery app, has raised an $85 million Series B round in what is being called the largest-ever start-up investment in Pakistan and the Middle East and North Africa region.
China's PatPat gets $160m in Series D extension
PatPat, a Chinese-founded children’s wear brand, has raised $160 million from Softbank Vision Fund in a Series D round extension.
Affinity backs Singapore financial SaaS platform
Affinity Equity Partners has taken a joint controlling stake alongside management in Singapore-based technology-enabled financial services provider M-Daq, following an investment of approximately S$200 million ($148 million).
India's Dailyhunt raises $450m at $3b valuation
VerSe Innovation, operator of Indian news app Dailyhunt, has raised $450 million in Series I funding featuring The Carlyle Group at a valuation of about $3 billion.
India's Eruditus raises $650m at $3.2b valuation
India’s Eruditus Executive Education, operator of professional upskilling portal Emeritus, has raised a $650 million Series E round led by Accel and SoftBank Vision Fund 2 at a valuation of $3.2 billion.