Venture
Sequoia leads $18m Series C for India's OneAssist
Sequoia Capital India has led an $18 million Series C funding round for Mumbai-based payment security system company OneAssist.
Legend leads $18m round for Chinese book publisher
China-focused Legend Capital has led a RMB128 million ($18 million) Series A round for Dook Book, a Shanghai-based book publisher that also has digital media and film operations.
KVIC, US tech player launch Korea VC fund
Government-back fund-of-funds Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVIC) and Applied Ventures, the VC arm of US-listed technology developer Applied Materials, have jointly launched a fund focused on Korea start-ups.
Singapore's Gordian Capital spins out Qualgro VC fund
The team behind Qualgro ASEAN, a venture capital fund established under Singapore asset manager Gordian Capital in 2015, has spun out to form an independent VC firm.
China agricultural services platform secures $29m round
Orchid Asia Group and China Growth Capital have jointly led a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round for Dafengshou, a Shenzhen-based agricultural supply chain service online platform. Existing investor Matrix Partners also participated.
China's JD.com invests $397m in PE-backed Farfetch
China-based JD.com has invested $397 million in UK-based Farfetch, a PE-backed online luxury fashion retailer, as part of a new strategic partnership to pursue growth in China.
Matrix, Falcon Edge join $31m round for India's Mswipe
Indian mobile point-of-service (POS) developer Mswipe has raised a $31 million funding round led by RNT Capital Advisors, with participation by existing investors Matrix Capital Partners, Falcon Edge Capital and DSG Consumer Partners.
Southeast Asia tourism: Thinking small
Travel start-ups in Southeast Asia are attracting scattered but enthusiastic interest from venture capital investors. Success in navigating the sector’s early days will be a matter of niche targeting
China dating app Tantan raises $70m Series D
Chinese mobile dating app Tantan has raised $70 million in a Series D round of funding led by US-listed live video streaming firm YY and Genesis Capital, with participation from SAIF Partners China and Zhongwei Capital.
Eight Roads leads $12.5m Series C for India's Unbxd
Eight Roads Ventures has led a $12.5 million Series C funding round for Unbxd, an India-founded e-commerce services company now headquartered in the US.
Co-founders depart India VC debt provider InnoVen
Ajay Hattangdi (pictured), co-founder, group CEO and COO for India at venture debt firm InnoVen Capital, has left the firm along with co-founder and deputy CEO Vinod Murali. They plan to launch a fund of their own.
Sapphire leads Series C for Australia's Culture Amp
Sapphire Ventures has led a $20 million Series C funding round for Australian business analytics services provider Culture Amp.
PE-backed car auction player Mychebao receives $74m
Chinese second-hand car online auction platform Mychebao, which is backed by several PE investors including PAG Asia Capital, has raised another RMB500 million ($74 million) in an extended Series C round of funding.
China C2C used car platform Guazi raises $400m
Guazi, an online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) used car trading platform that spun out from US-listed Chinese classifieds site 58.com, has completed a $400 million Series B round led by existing investor Sequoia Capital China.
KKR founders, Fosun join $22m round for Japan's Seven Dreamers
KKR co-founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts have joined a group of investors including Chinese conglomerate Fosun International in a JPY2.5 billion ($22.8 million) round for Seven Dreamers Laboratories, a Japan-based manufacturer of personal-use devices....
VCs in $15m round for China software start-up PingCap
PingCap, a Beijing-based start-up that provides database solutions for enterprise customers, has secured a $15 million Series B round led by China Growth Capital.
Thailand sets up $44m in VC funds
Thailand’s Government Savings Bank and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) have jointly established two venture capital funds worth a combined THB1.5 billion ($44 million).
Intudo closes debut Indonesia-focused VC fund
Intudo Ventures, a newly-formed Indonesia-focused VC firm, has raised $10 million for its debut fund that will co-found and invest in early-stage companies.
Tencent-backed Futu Securities raises $146m
Tencent Holdings has re-upped in Futu Securities International, leading a $145.5 million Series C round for the Hong Kong-registered cross-border stock trading platform.
Japan technology: Light switch
OLED technology is seen as a quantum leap forward for digital panels, but VC investors are reluctant to get on board. Japan may have to overcome this hesitancy to maintain market share in high-end electronics
China's QingCloud raises $160m, prepares for onshore IPO
China-based cloud computing platform QingCloud, which is backed by several VC investors, has raised a new round of renminbi-denominated funding worth RMB1.08 billion ($160 million).
Qiming's US healthcare fund backs Harvard spin-out
Qiming US Healthcare Fund, a sector specialist vehicle launched by China’s Qiming Venture Partners, has led a $10 million Series A round for Platelet BioGenesis, a Harvard University spin-out that builds human platelets from stem cells.
Lakson Investments becomes Pakistan's first VC firm
Pakistan’s Lakson Investments claims to have been awarded the country’s first venture capital license with the launch of a new fund that will target domestic start-ups.
Chinese agricultural drone platform secures Series A round
Farm Friend, a Beijing-based agricultural drone services platform, has raised a RMB50 million ($7 million) Series A round led by Gobi Partners.