TMT
B Capital launches SPAC
B Capital Group, a US-based venture capital firm with a presence in Singapore and a significant Asia portfolio, is looking to raise $300 million for a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).
Korea's Tmon closes $276m pre-IPO round
PS Alliance, an investment unit of South Korean automotive and electronic components manufacturer Poongsung Group, has led a KRW305 billion ($276 million) commitment to local e-commerce platform Tmon.
KKR loses managing director in Singapore
Terence Lee, a managing director at KKR who leads technology, media and telecom (TMT) and growth equity investments in Southeast Asia, has left the firm.
PE-backed JD Logistics set for Hong Kong listing
JD Logistics, a supply chain solutions and logistics provider that spun-out from Chinese online retailer JD.com, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO. The company has received $2.57 billion in private funding.
Carlyle to invest $200m in Korea's Kakao Mobility
The Carlyle Group has invested $200 million in Kakao Mobility, a transportation-focused spinout from Korea’s Kakao Corporation that offers taxi-hailing, designated driver, and other services.
Q&A: Gushcloud's Althea Lim
Singapore’s Gushcloud, a VC-backed influencer talent agency and content producer, operates at the frontlines of a young, fast-changing media landscape. CEO Althea Lim tours the latest developments
India Quotient seeks $80m for Fund IV
India Quotient, a venture capital firm known for making seed-stage investments in the likes of ShareChat, Sugar, and Lendingkart, is targeting $80 million for its fourth fund.
Korean e-commerce player Coupang set for US listing
Coupang, a Korean e-commerce business that has secured approximately $3.5 billion in private funding over the past decade, has filed for an IPO in the US.
Asia to play larger role in Eurazeo's second smart city fund
Asia is expected to feature more prominently – in terms of investors and investments – in Eurazeo’s second smart city venture capital fund, which has reached a first close of EUR80 million ($97 million).
Iron Pillar co-founder launches India venture growth firm
Sameer Nath, co-founder and a managing partner at Indian VC firm Iron Pillar, has spun out to form TrueScale Capital, which will follow a similar venture growth remit.
Sequoia, Tencent lead Series E for China’s Miaoshou Doctor
Beijing Yuanxin Technology, operator of China-based online healthcare services platform Miaoshou Doctor, has raised RMB3 billion ($466 million) in Series E funding led by Sequoia Capital China and Tencent Holdings.
Indian news app Dailyhunt raises $100m
Indian news app Dailyhunt has raised $100 million led by Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Glade Brook Capital Partners. It extends a $102 million Series H round last year featuring Google.
Match buys VC-backed Korean social platform for $1.7b
Hyperconnect, a Korean social media platform backed by Altos Ventures and SoftBank Ventures Korea, has agreed to an acquisition by online dating giant Match Group for $1.73 billion in cash and stock.
China robotics: Automation nation
China is a global leader in robot manufacturing, but only in areas characterized by high volumes and low technology value. Can more start-ups climb from medium-tech to hard-tech?
MIRA makes $2.6b bid for Australia's Vocus
Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets (MIRA) has offered to acquire Australian broadband internet provider Vocus Group for about A$3.4 billion ($2.6 billion). It follows a string of abandoned bids.
AVCJ Awards 2020: Special Achievement: Lip-Bu Tan
Recognized as one of the pioneers of venture capital in Asia, Walden International’s Lip-Bu Tan still gets a kick out of leveraging his years of experience to help nascent start-ups
Deal focus: Opportunity knocks in Japan's pricey auto space
Dream Incubator's VC arm started tracking Nyle after the Japanese online media start-up made a timely pivot into car leasing. It led to a JPY5 billion ($48.3 million) funding round
China's Kuaishou surges on debut after $5.4b Hong Kong IPO
Kuaishou, a Chinese video-sharing and social networking platform backed by Tencent Holdings, 5Y Capital and DST Global, started trading at nearly three times its IPO price following a Hong Kong IPO that valued the company at HK$1.1 trillion ($142 billion).
India gaming platform MPL gets $95m Series D
Mobile Premier League (MPL), an Indian mobile gaming platform that matches users for competitive play, has raised a $95 million Series D round at a post-money valuation of $945 million.
India's Moonfrog Labs acquired by Swedish gaming studio
Swedish free-to-play gaming studio Stillfront has agreed to acquire 100% of Indian mobile games developer Moonfrog Labs, setting up exits for Tiger Global Management and Sequoia Capital India.
CDH leads $108m Series B for China baby care brand
Babycare, a Chinese baby products brand, has raised RMB700 million ($108 million) in Series B funding led by CDH Investments. Sequoia Capital China and Huaxing Growth Capital also participated.
Orchid, Matrix commit $100m to China gaming platform
Orchid Asia and Matrix Partners China have participated in a $100 million Series B round for Chinese gaming company Quwan Network Technology. Matrix led the Series A last year.
China gas station location platform Newlink raises $100m
Newlink Group, operator of a platform that helps drivers in China locate the best value gas stations, has raised $100 million in funding led by CMB International. Other investors include Hongtai Capital, Joy Capital and Nio Capital.
GGV closes latest US dollar funds at $2.5b
GGV Capital has closed its latest set of US dollar-denominated funds with $2.52 billion in aggregate commitments. It represents the largest fundraising since the firm’s inception in 2000.