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China fresh produce retail: Changing channels
From online grocers to group buying platforms, capital is pouring into China’s fresh produce space as e-commerce finally makes it mark. Which business model will prevail?
Tiger, Temasek commit $160m to India's Zomato
Tiger Global Management and Temasek Holdings have contributed $160 million to an ongoing Series J round for India-based food delivery company Zomato.
Cool Japan leads $40m Series C for Taiwan’s Vpon
Cool Japan Fund has led a $40 million Series C round for Vpon, a Taiwan-based big data and advertising services provider.
China apps going global: Empires on hold
China’s data-driven consumer apps are having a harder time keeping politics out of business as they become increasingly competitive in global markets. Lessons are plentiful; solutions are not
Silver Lake backs India edtech player Byju's
Silver Lake has extended a string of large investments for India-based education technology platform Byju’s at a valuation of around $11 billion.
Australia's Blackbird launches New Zealand fund
Australia’s Blackbird Ventures has launched a NZ$60 million ($40 million) New Zealand-dedicated fund with a cornerstone investment of NZ$21.5 million from the government.
China mixed reality player Nreal secures $40m Series B
Nreal, a Chinese manufacturers of advanced virtual reality glasses that resemble normal sunglasses, has raised $40 million in Series B funding led by local video sharing platform Kuaishou.
Singapore's Livspace raises $90m Series D
Singapore-based home interiors renovation platform Livspace has raised a $90 million Series D round featuring TPG Growth and Goldman Sachs.
Sequoia leads Series B for Chinese coffee brand
Saturnbird, a Chinese coffee brand, has raised more than RMB100 million（$14 million) in a Series B funding round led by Sequoia Capital China. Existing backer Frees Fund re-upped.
3one4 hits first close on third India VC fund
India’s 3one4 Capital has reached a first close on its third flagship early-stage venture capital fund.
Korean wave: Killer content
From Oscar-winning films to record-breaking pop bands, Korean content has started to replicate its success in Asia in the West. Venture capital investors are looking for ways to ride the K-wave
TPG, KKR invest $220m in Singapore’s PropertyGuru
Singapore-based real estate portal PropertyGuru has confirmed S$300 million ($220 million) in new commitments from existing backers TPG Capital and KKR.
Fund focus: MDI leads the way in Indonesia
MDI Ventures has seen a significant step-up in fund size because the success of Indonesia’s start-up ecosystem in recent years means investors need more firepower
CDC commits $10m to India’s Chiratae
UK-based development finance institution CDC Group has committed $10 million to the fourth fund being raised by India’s Chiratae Ventures.
India venture capital: Local largesse
India’s venture capital industry is entering a new decade with a growing pool of local early-stage managers, a wider variety of funding sources, and a host of new risks and opportunities
US-China tensions worry tech investors - M&A Forum
Asia technology investors warned that an escalation in US-China tensions that impedes the development of start-ups will ultimately cost end-consumers as well as public market investors.
Taiwan AI player iKala gets $17m Series B
Taiwan-based IT hardware manufacturer Wistron has led a $17 million Series B round for local enterprise-facing artificial intelligence (AI) developer iKala.
Indonesia's MDI Ventures raises $500m fund
MDI Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of state-controlled Telkom Indonesia, has closed its latest fund at $500 million.
Hillhouse founder emphasizes tech transformation opportunities
The most attractive investment opportunities in a post-COVID-19 world involve helping traditional businesses that have been “victims of the creative destruction of technology” play catch-up, according to Lei Zhang, founder and CEO of Hillhouse Capital.
Xiaomi-backed Soocas raises $25m pre-IPO round
Soocas, a Shenzhen-based electric toothbrush maker backed by smart phone maker Xiaomi has raised a RMB175 million ($25 million) pre-IPO round led by Grand Flight Investment Management.
Tencent plots merger of China live-streaming platforms
Tencent Holdings has proposed a merger of Douyu and Huya – China’s two largest game-centric live-streaming platforms. Both NASDAQ-listed companies have a number of VC investors.
ByteDance acquires Chinese medical platform for $72m
ByteDance, the PE-backed owner of TikTok and the Toutiao news aggregation service, has acquired VC-backed Chinese medical information platform Baikemy for RMB500 million ($72 million).
MUFG launches Singapore venture debt business
Japan’s MUFG Bank has set up a Singapore-based venture debt business alongside Israeli financial technology start-up Liquidity Capital. Its debut fund has been set up with an initial $80 million.
India used car platform Spinny acquires rival Truebil
Indian online used car marketplace Spinny has acquired local counterpart Truebil, setting up several venture capital exits.