Venture
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China’s Advantech leads $15m round for AI start-up
Advantech Capital, one of two parallel funds launched by executives from Chinese GP New Horizon Capital, has led a $15 million Series A round of funding for Petuum, a US-based artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solution developer.
Singapore's MC Payment gets $3.5m for SE Asia expansion
Singapore private equity firm 2W Group has led a $5 million ($3.5 million) funding round for domestic financial technology company MC Payment.
Tech & government: Living laboratories
As governments of Southeast Asia’s emerging economies look to create more workable VC policy environments, start-ups and investors have proliferated across a patchwork of imperfect systems
Tech & government: 20 years of early days
Since the dawn of the internet in the mid-1990s spurred a global rebalancing of economic power, Asia’s newest VC heavyweights have raised questions as to how this technology-driven shift will be governed
Q&A: Go-Jek's Nadiem Makarim
Three months on from a $550 million Series D round of funding, Nadiem Makarim, founder and CEO of Indonesia-based ride-hailing and delivery platform Go-Jek, discusses where he sees the market heading
Reliance PE arm commits $12m to India real estate start-up
Square Yards, an online listings service dedicated to the property sector, has received $12 million in funding from the private equity arm of Reliance Group.
Japan's INCJ invests $10m in Treasure Data
Innovation Network Corporation of Japan (INCJ) has invested $10 million in Treasure Data, a Silicon Valley-based big data start-up founded by two Japanese entrepreneurs.
China online learning site Smartstudy raises $29m
Smartstudy.com, a Chinese online learning site, has raised a RMB200 million ($29 million) Series B round of funding led by Hong Kong-based private equity firm Golden Brick Capital.
China bike-sharing start-up Ubike raises $22m
Ubike, a Chinese bike-sharing start-up, has raised a RMB150 million ($22 million) Series A round of funding led by Yicun Capital, a corporate PE arm of Shenzhen-listed chemical fiber manufacturer Jiangsu Huaxicun.
IDG, Accel invest $3m in India's Bizongo
IDG Ventures has led a $3 million Series A round for Indian business-to-business packaging marketplace Bizongo, with participation by existing investor Accel Partners.
Alibaba, Legend invest $20m in China seafood importer Gfresh
Gfresh, a China-based seafood importer and online marketplace operator, has raised $20 million from Riverhill Fund, an investment arm of Alibaba Group, and Legend Capital.
Sovereigns and VC: An eye on the future
Australia's Future Fund appears to have overcome the philosophical and structural challenges facing face large-ticket LPs that want exposure to early-stage innovation
Southeast Asia dating app raises $32.5m round
Paktor, a Southeast Asia-focused mobile dating app, has received $32.5 million in new funding led by K2 Global – a venture capital firm that makes late-stage tech investments in Asia and the US – and Indonesia-based MNC Media Group.
China short-term rental site Xiaozhu raises $65m
Chinese short-term rental site Xiaozhu.com has collected a total of $65 million across two tranches from a group of China-focused VC investors.
IDG, Promethus invest $30m in China’s KR Space
IDG Capital Partners and Prometheus Capital have invested RMB200 million ($30 million) in an extended Series A round of funding for KR Space, a provider of collaborative workspaces for Chinese start-ups
China smart home device maker Orvibo raises $16m
Orvibo, a Shenzhen-based smart home device maker, has secured a RMB110 million ($16 million) Series B round of funding led by A-share listed electronics manufacturer Topband.
India's Ather Energy raises $31m for electric motorcycles
Indian motorcycle giant Hero MotoCorp will invest about INR2 billion ($31 million) in domestic VC-backed electric vehicle (EV) start-up Ather Energy.
Partners For Growth commits $15m to Yello Mobile's marketing unit
Yello Digital Marketing (YDM), the digital marketing unit of South Korean mobile internet company Yello Mobile, has received $15 million in funding from Partners For Growth (PFG), the PE arm of SVB Financial Group.
IDG, Walden lead $65m round for US-China AI start-up
IDG Capital Partners and Walden International have led a $65 million Series B funding round for US and China-based artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics company Rokid.
JD Finance leads $30m round for China's Microseer
JD Finance, the financial subsidiary of Chinese online retailer JD.com, has led a $30 million Series B round for Microseer, a Shanghai-based human resources and IT outsourcing services start-up.
Walmart commits $50m to JD.com’s delivery platform
US-based retailer Walmart has made a $50 million strategic investment in New Dada, a Chinese online grocery and delivery platform part-owned by JD.com.
New Horizon leads $37m Series B in China AR toy maker
Neobear, a China-based company that develops interactive learning tools for children, has raised a RMB250 million ($37 million) Series B round of funding led by Chinese GP New Horizon Capital.
US fintech raises $5m for Philippines, Southeast Asia push
Quona Capital has led a $5 million Series A round of funding for US-based financial technology start-up Coins. It will support an expansion in Southeast Asia with an emphasis on the Philippines.
India's Techcelx launches $15m tech fund
Indian technology investment firm and accelerator Techcelx has launched a INR1 billion ($15 million) venture fund targeting domestic companies in banking, education and healthcare.