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Fund focus: Square Peg goes formal with $180 fund
In response to rising LP demand, Square Peg Capital left its deal-by-deal days behind and raised a formal VC fund. The firm is targeting start-ups in Australia, Southeast Asia and Israel
China Growth Capital leads $14m round for Tiger Brokers
China Growth Capital has led an extended Series B round worth RMB100 million ($14 million) for Tiger Brokers, a Beijing-based online brokerage start-up, with participation from existing investor ZhenFund.
VCs invest $33m in Japan's Dely
Jafco, YJ Capital, and Gumi Ventures have taken part in a JPY3.7 billion ($33 million) funding round for Japanese online food media start-up Dely.
Tencent leads $350m round for VC-backed Kuaishou
Kuaishou, a Chinese live-streaming video app backed by VC investors and search engine Baidu, has raised $350 million in a new round of funding led by Tencent Holdings.
Carlyle, Tiger invest $100m in India's Delhivery
The Carlyle Group has led an investment of more than $100 million in Indian delivery e-commerce logistics service Delhivery. Existing backer Tiger Global Management also took part in the funding round.
Singapore auto marketplace Carro gets $12m
A group of Southeast Asian VCs have committed $12 million to Singaporean automobile marketplace Carro as part of an operational expansion into artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled car financing services.
China video communication player Xiaoyu Link gets $18m
Xiaoyu Link, a Chinese video communication services provider, has raised a RMB125 million ($18 million) Series B round of funding jointly led by ZhenFund and Zhen Cheng Fund.
China real estate financial services player Dadao raises $29m
Shenzhen Qianhai Dadao Financial Services, a Chinese start-up that specializes in residential property financial services, has raised a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round led by Huaxing Capital Partners, the private equity arm of China Renaissance.
Sequoia, Fosun Kinzon invest $15m in India travel site Ixigo
Sequoia Capital has led a $15 million Series B round for Indian online travel marketplace Ixigo, with participation by Fosun Kinzon Capital, the investment arm of Chinese conglomerate Fosun International.
China’s state-backed SME fund leads round for Tianyancha
China’s National Small & Medium Enterprises Development Fund has led a RMB130 million ($18 million) Series A round for Tianyancha, a Beijing-based business data search firm.
Alibaba assumes control of VC-backed online ticket platform
Alibaba Group has taken full ownership of Damai.cn, a leading Chinese online ticketing platform that previously raised funding from VC investors.
Japan's Moneytree raises $9m Series B
Japan-based SBI investment has led a JPY1 billion ($9 million) Series B funding round for domestic financial technology services company Moneytree.
Australia's Square Peg raises $180m for debut VC fund
Square Peg Capital, an Australian venture capital firm set up by Paul Bassat, co-founder of job listings site Seek, has closed its debut fund at A$234 million ($180 million), exceeding the A$200 million target.
CMC, HG Capital lead $26m round for China’s Newrank
China-focused GPs CMC Capital Partners and HG Capital have jointly led a RMB180 million ($26 million) Series B round of funding for Newrank, a Shanghai-based media platform.
India's Flipkart raises $1b in downround – report
Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has reportedly raised a $1 billion round of funding at a valuation of about $10 billion – a drop from $15 billion as of its previous round.
China travel sites Woqu, Lulutrip merge, raise $25m
Chinese outbound online travel platforms Woqu.com and Lulutrip – both of which have received several rounds of funding from VC and strategic investors – have agreed to merge. The combined entity has received $25 million in new funding.
Kubera Partners exits India's Planetcast
New York and Mumbai-based private equity firm Kubera Partners has agreed to sell its 28% stake in India’s Planetcast Media Services through a secondary transaction with an undisclosed PE buyer.
Chinese car-trading platform Mychebao gets $100m Series C
PAG Asia Capital has led a $100 million Series C round of funding for Mychebao.com, a Chinese online auction platform for second-hand cars.
Germany's Hubert Burda seeks Series B deals in SE Asia
The investment arm of Hubert Burda Media, a European technology and media company that has made LP commitments to several Southeast Asia-focused venture capital funds, has opened an office in Singapore.
VC value-add: Personal touch
Chinese VC firms are expected to offer value-added services as a way of differentiating themselves from the competition. Are formalized concierge services for founders and their families a step too far?
CMC, Sequoia launch sport fund, back China kickboxing business
CMC Holdings – a unit of media-focused GP CMC Capital Partners – and Sequoia Capital China have formed a sports investment fund and led a Series A round of funding for Wanmingyang Media, which organizes and video streams kickboxing events in China.
Qualcomm, Accel back India-China IoT player Borqs
Qualcomm Ventures and Accel Partners India have co-led a new round of funding worth $10 million for Borqs, an India-China venture that develops internet-of-things (IoT) devices.
Legend leads $36m round for China truck logistics platform
Legend Capital has led a RMB250 million ($36 million) Series C round for Fuyoukache, a Beijing-based online truck logistics platform.
Business cycles: China bike-sharing start-ups
Mobike and Ofo are engaged in a battle of private equity-fueled one-upmanship as they strive for supremacy in China's bike-sharing space. Will they die off, merge or become differentiated (and profitable)?