Venture
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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.
Thailand's Kasikorn Bank launches $29m fintech fund
Beacon Venture Capital, the VC arm of Thailand-based Kasikorn Bank, has launched a fund aimed at financial technology start-ups with a corpus of THB1 billion ($29 million).
Deal focus: CounterTack locks up funding for security
At a time when websites have never seemed more vulnerable, CounterTack has a software solution that can plug holes in online security systems. It has raised $20 million in Series D funding to support expansion
Singapore's VC-backed MoneySmart gets $10m Series B
MoneySmart, a personal finance portal backed by Golden Gate Ventures, has received a $10 million Series B funding round led by Japanese shopping price comparison site operator Kakaku.
Qualgro leads $8m Series B for Singapore's Wavecell
Singapore-based cloud communications platform Wavecell has raised an $8.2 million Series B round led by Qualgro, a VC firm active in Southeast Asia and Australia.
Deal focus: Swiggy aims to deliver on food promise
Swiggy plans to use its $80 million Series E round of funding to challenge the likes of Zomato and Food Panda for market leadership in India's online food delivery industry
Chinese courier start-up gets $50m Series C-plus
Chinese intercity courier services provider Shansong has secured an extended Series C round of funding led by Shunwei Capital Partners and Chinese retailer Beijing Hualian Group.
Sequoia discloses China, India fundraising activity
Sequoia Capital has topped up its fourth India fund – having closed the fifth country vehicle early last year – and disclosed that its most recent China growth vehicle closed at $899.5 million.
China regulator relaxes exit rules for PE, VC firms
The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has eased rules for private equity and venture capital firms by reducing their post-IPO lock-up period in an A-share listed companies from three years to one year.
OneVentures invests $7.4m in Australia’s Prota Therapeutics
Australia’s OneVentures has invested A$10 million ($7.4 million) in Prota Therapeutics, a domestic immunotherapy technology developer aiming to commercialize new peanut allergy treatments for children.
Singtel Innov8 backs US, Singapore-based CounterTack
SingTel Innov8, the venture arm of Singapore telecom giant SingTel, has co-led a $20 million Series D round for US and Singapore-based cybersecurity company CoutnerTack alongside US-based SAP National Security Services.
OrbiMed leads $19m round for Sino-US drug developer
OrbiMed Asia Partners has led a $19 million Series B round of funding for InventisBio, a pharmaceutical developer based in Shanghai with operations in China and the US.
Temasek, Telstra back $149m Australian innovation push
IP Group, which specializes in commercializing intellectual property, has raised a new round of funding from investors including Temasek Holdings and Telstra Super, and pledged to invest A$200 million ($149 million) in Australia and New Zealand.
Deal focus: Chubao targets mass market appeal
Having built its business by licensing mobile software to smart phone manufacturers, China's Chubao has raised $100 million to bankroll a freemium model that will allow it to interact directly with users
Australia VC: Meet the neighbors
Australia’s growing technology sector is set to benefit from long-term socioeconomic trends in Asia. Success will depend on both operational tenacity and a fundamental shift in expansion philosophy
China’s Lyfe Capital raises $420m for second healthcare fund
China-based healthcare specialist Lyfe Capital has raised more than $420 million for its second fund, which comprises parallel US dollar and renminbi-denominated tranches.
Warburg Pincus leads $120m round for China’s Yuanfudao
Warburg Pincus has led a $120 million round of funding for China’s Yuanfudao in what is said to be the largest-ever PE investment in the country's online tutoring industry.
Naspers leads $80m round India's VC-backed Swiggy
South African internet conglomerate Naspers Group has led a Series E round of funding worth $80 million for Swiggy, an India-based online food-ordering and delivery platform.