Venture
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Entrepreneurs launch Korea start-up accelerator
A group of South Korean serial entrepreneurs has launched a start-up accelerator intended to connect domestic companies with their global counterparts. Advisors and mentors to the program include US tech entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban...
Sequoia invests in India healthcare services start-up
Sequoia Capital India has invested INR250 million ($4.6 million) into Bangalore-based Practo Technologies, a cloud-based clinic management platform. The Series A round will support the company's global expansion plans.
WI Harper leads Series B round for AdMaster
W.I. Harper has led a Series B round of funding for AdMaster, a China-based digital marketing service provider. GSR Ventures, which invested in the company’s Series A round in late 2010, also participated.
Infinity Group sells IP to Anxin-China
Infinity Group, the Israel-based private equity firm created by China Development Bank and Israeli conglomerate IDB Group, has sold intellectual property developed by two of its portfolio companies to Anxin-China Holdings.
VCs back Indian taxi firm BookMyCab
Mumbai Angels and YourNest Angel Fund, two Indian investment firms focused on early stage investments, have backed a Series A round for taxi start-up BookMyCab.
Valar leads $1.2m round for Australian IT start-up
Valar Ventures, the venture capital firm run by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, has made its first investment in Australia, leading a $1.2 million round for IT start-up ScriptRock.
CBC backs US-based power solutions provider
China Broadband Capital (CBC) has participated in a $22 million funding round for IntelliBatt, a US-based power solutions provider of power supply and battery monitoring systems. The round was led by Columbia Capital.
Plotting the future of China cleantech
Cleantech funds and investment strategies are often difficult to define in China. Some industry participants won’t touch IT, others love it. Some remain wedded to the idea of export-oriented manufacturing, while others loathe it.
Janalakshmi microfinance raises $26m from PE investors
Bangalore-based microfinance institution (MFI) Janalakshmi Financial Services has raised INR1.45 billion ($26.4 million) in a Series C round of funding from a group of investors.
CDH Investments to raise $350m VC fund - report
CDH Investments is reportedly in the process of raising a new venture capital fund worth $300-350 million. The fundraising is expected to reach a final close by the end of this year.
Singapore's Jungle Ventures invests in Mobikon
Jungle Ventures has led a $ 1.7 million round of investment in Mobikon Asia, a Singapore-India start-up that provides an integrated digital marketing platform to help hospitality and retail clients connect with consumers.
Nirvana Venture backs Indian prepaid services provider
Mumbai-headquartered payments provider TranServ has raised an undisclosed amount from Nirvana Venture Advisors. The investment will allow TranServ to scale up operations and deliver its planned products.
TA, Qiming, Ignition invest in Chinese online game developer
TA Associates, Qiming Venture Partners and Ignition Capital Partners have purchased a significant minority stake in Chinese online gaming company Forgame Tech. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.
Fidelity, Qualcomm lead Series C round for Bigshoebazaar
Fidelity Growth Partners and Qualcomm Ventures have led a Series C round of funding worth INR1 billion (US$18 million) for Indian online wholesaler Bigshoebazaar. Existing investors Nexus Venture Partners and Catamaran Ventures also participated.
Japan’s CyberAgent Ventures to open Korea office
Japan’s CyberAgent Ventures will open an office in South Korea next month. It will take the VC firm’s Asia presence to eight locations, complementing existing operations in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi.
India’s IvyCap Ventures in $19m first close for debut fund
Early-stage investor IvyCap Ventures has reached a first close of INR1.05 billion ($19 million) on its debut fund. The full target for IvyCap Ventures Trust Fund I is INR2 billion.
Gobi backs Singaporean cloud service provider
China-based venture capital firm Gobi Partners has injected S$1 million ($800,000) into Singaporean online games cloud service provider Corous360.
General Mobile gets $5m from Singtel Innov8, Mitsui
SingTel Innov8 and Japan’s Mitsui & Co. have led a $5 million round of funding for General Mobile, a company that provides mobile internet services to customers in emerging markets. Existing investors in General Mobile include Taiwan-based MediaTek,...
New Zealand’s MOVAC closes third fund at $33m
New Zealand-based early-stage investor MOVAC has raised NZ$42 million ($33.2 million) for its third fund. It will invest sums of NZ$1-5 million in local companies with an established track record that require growth capital.
India embraces e-payment
With established market leaders in India’s mainstream e-payment space, VCs are targeting opportunities in the unbanked and mobile payment markets
AVCJ China Awards: VC Professional of the Year – Bo Feng
Bo Feng, founding partner of Ceyuan Ventures, on the treats and trials of VC investing in China
AVCJ China Awards: VC Deal of the Year – Dianping.com
As China’s leading restaurant reviews website, Dianping.com has developed a business model that is difficult for others to replicate. VC backers TrustBridge, Lightspeed, Sequoia and Qiming don’t expect this to change
OneVentures backs Paloma Mobile with $1.5m
Australia-focused venture capital firm OneVentures has led a $1.5 million Series A round of funding for Paloma Mobile, a developer of smartphone services for emerging markets.
Lilly ups stake in Chinese pharma firm
Lilly Asian Ventures, the venture capital arm of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co., has injected an additional $20 million of capital into existing portfolio company Novast.