Venture
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Chinese self-driving car start-up Momenta raises $46m
Momenta, a Beijing-based start-up that develops road sensors and mapping software for self-driving cars, has raised a $46 million Series B round of funding led by NIO Capital, an investment unit of local electric-vehicle maker NIO.
SoftBank, Didi Chuxing invest $2b in Southeast Asia's Grab
Southeast Asian ride-hailing app operator Grab has received $2 billion from SoftBank and Chinese peer Didi Chuxing as part of what is expected to be a $2.5 billion funding round.
IDG leads $50m round for China online pet store
IDG Capital has led a Series B round of funding worth $50 million for Epet.com, a Chinese e-commerce platform that sells pet-related food products and other services.
Thailand's Zanroo receives $7.4m Series A
Zanroo, a Thailand-based company that uses big data analytics to offer clients real-time marketing services, has received a $7.4 million Series A funding round from domestic investor Shift Ventures.
China self-service karaoke booth operator raises $15m
Xingtang MiniKTV, a three-month-old Chinese start-up that operates self-service karaoke booths, has raised $15 million across three tranches of funding.
China smart convenience store operator raises $19m
Xiaomai, a Chinese cashier-free convenience store operator much like US-based Amazon Go, has secured RMB125 million ($19 million) in funding led by Aplus Fund and Chenshan Capital.
IDG, Jungle back India's Vayana Network
IDG Ventures India and Jungle Ventures have jointly invested $4 million in a Series A funding round for Indian financial services company Vayana Network.
IoT in Asia: Things to come
A number of political factors have positioned Asia Pacific to be a global leader in internet-of-things development. Investors must now navigate an unwieldy field of technologies, markets and social drivers
Angel investor launches in New Zealand
Richard Coon, a director and co-founder at private equity-backed New Zealand insurance provider Partners Life, has launched a new domestically facing venture group known as Angel Investors Marlborough (AIM).
Singapore's Spring Seeds to invest $73m in tech start-ups
Singapore-government backed Spring Seeds Capital has committed S$100 million ($73 million) to an investment program targeting domestic start-ups developing high-end technology.
AirTree leads Series B for Australia consulting marketplace
AirTree Ventures has led a A$13 million ($10.1 million) Series B round of funding for Expert360, an Australia-based online marketplace that connects small companies with independent consultants.
Asian space debris start-up gets $25m Series C
Astroscale, a Singapore-based satellite technology company focused on removing hazardous debris from orbit, has raised a $25 million Series C round with participation from a number of Japanese venture firms.
Singapore’s BeMyGuest raises $8.4m Series A round
Singapore’s Raffles Venture Partners has led a Series A funding round for domestic travel start-up BeMyGuest that brings the company’s total equity funding to S$11.5 million ($8.4 million).
China warehouse robot developer gets $60m Series B
Geek+, a Chinese manufacturer of robots for use in logistics and warehousing, has received $60 million in Series B funding led by Warburg Pincus. Several existing investors, including Volcanics Ventures, also participated.
GGV leads $10m round for Asian snacks business
GGV Capital has led a $10 million Series A funding round for Yamibuy, a US-based e-commerce player focused on Asian snacks, beauty products, health supplements and home appliances.
Kalaari, Nexus back Indian online grocery marketplace
Kalaari Capital and Nexus Venture Partners have committed $8.5 million in Series A funding to Indian online grocery marketplace Jumbotail.
VCs back $26m investment in Singapore blockchain player
Several venture capital firms have backed a $26 million investment in Funfair, a Singapore-based company that uses blockchain technology to operate an online cryptocurrency casino.
Japan's Floadia closes $14m Series B
Floadia, a Japan-based company specializing in microchip memory technology, has closed a JPY1.6 billion ($14.1 million) Series B fund round from a number of Taiwanese, Japanese and US venture capital firms.
China bike-sharing player Ofo gets $700m Series E round
Alibaba Group has led a $700 million Series E round of funding for Chinese bike-sharing start-up Ofo – less than a month after Tencent Holdings led a Series E of $600 million for Mobike, the company’s closest rival.
India's Droom raises $20m Series C
Indian used-car trading marketplace Droom has raised a $20 million Series C round from investors including Lightbox India Advisors and Beenos Asia.
China B2B steel-trading platform raises $74m
Chinese B2B steel-trading platform Zhaogang.com has received RMB500 million ($74 million) from existing investors China Renaissance Private Equity Fund and West Fund, as well as the Russia-China Investment Fund (RCIF).
China-US EV: Electric avenue
US cleantech start-ups have emerged as important suppliers in China’s fast-growing electric vehicle industry. Venture capital firms will play a key role in keeping the cross-border traffic flowing
China cross-border VC: Home from home
Chinese capital is chasing deals in America’s technology space, but success in Silicon Valley requires a long-term commitment. Does the new breed of US-born Chinese VCs have the right cross-border strategy?
VC-backed gaming company Razer files for Hong Kong IPO
Razer, a manufacturer of gaming peripherals such as headphones, joypads and mice, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO. The company, which was co-founded by a Singaporean but is based in the US, has numerous venture capital backers.