Venture
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.
Australia's Saluda Medical secures $40m round
Action Potential Venture Capital (APVC), an investment arm of British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, has led a A$53 million ($40 million) all-equity Series D round for Australia’s Saluda Medical.
Sequoia, Perfect World back China online bookstore business
Sequoia Capital China has co-led a funding round for online reading business Zongheng Literature, working in tandem with Perfect World, the Chinese movies-to-gaming company that controls Zongheng.
Tech investors leverage changing Chinese consumption patterns
The disruption caused by technology in China's consumer and business services sectors - and the change this brings to traditional business models - is generating increased deal flow for private equity and venture capital investors.
Naspers invests $5m in Philippines-based Coins
The venture capital division of South African media firm Naspers has invested $5 million in Coins, a US-founded blockchain and financial technology company operating in the Philippines.
China automobile services platform Lechebang gets $44m
Lechebang, a Chinese online automobile services platform focused on after-sale services, has completed a RMB300 million ($44 million) Series B round led by Grand Flight Investment.
China genomics: Coded messages
Investors are looking to tap the massive potential of China’s genomic industry, with a particular focus on companies that leverage large amounts of patient data to support drug development and testing services
China biopharma player gets $25m Series B
CANbridge Life Science, a Beijing-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing Western drug candidates in China and North Asia, has raised a Series B round worth $25 million.