Venture
Protean Electric gets $70m round led by GSR, targets China expansion
GSR Ventures has participated in a $70 million financing round for Protean Electric, a US automobile equipment developer with an expanding operations base in China.
IIFL leads $30m round for India's BlueStone
IIFL Asset Management has led a INR2 billion ($30 million) Series D round for online jeweler BlueStone.
Singapore VC: Get smart
Singapore’s smart nation urban development policy has attracted noticeable interest from the VC industry. The plan’s broad inclusiveness and lack of hard targets could bode well for its sustainability
BOV Capital launches $14.9m Sri Lanka VC fund
Sri Lanka and Singapore-based venture firm BOV Capital has launched its maiden INR1 billion ($14.9 million) vehicle, with a mandate to invest in early-stage Sri Lankan technology companies.
Singapore's Hera backs social media content publisher
Singapore private equity firm Hera Capital has made an undisclosed equity investment in My Social Book, a company that publishes personalized hardback scrapbooks, diaries and photo albums based on customers’ timestamped social media resources.
Singapore's Aslan Pharma raises $23m pre-IPO round
Singapore-based biotech company Aslan Pharmaceuticals has raised $23 million in a pre-IPO financing round that attracted participation from a range of new investors, including a number of Taiwanese groups.
Australia's Alchemy Ventures launches $150m fund
Australian venture capital firm Alchemy Ventures has launched a A$200 million ($150.3 million) fund that will focus largely on regional start-ups specializing in electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Stripes Group leads $81m round for India's Bigtree Entertainment
US venture capital firm Stripes Group has led an INR5.5 billion ($81.4 million) funding round for India’s Bigtree Entertainment, the company behind cinema and events ticketing site BookMyShow.
China vacation rental site Tujia acquires VC-backed peer Mayi
VC-backed Chinese vacation-rental website Tujia.com has agreed to take control of its industry peer Mayi.com, which has also received venture investment, for an undisclosed sum.
Omidyar in $20m round for Indian venture debt player
Intellegrow Finance, a non-banking financial company (NBFC) and venture debt lender that targets small and growing businesses in India, has raised INR1.34 billion ($20 million) from investors including existing backer Omidyar Network.
Golden Gate closes $60m SE Asia VC fund
Singapore-based Golden Gate Ventures has closed its second early-stage venture fund focused on Southeast Asia at $60 million.
Sequoia, Unitus back $4m Series A for India's Cuemath
Sequoia Capital and Unitus Seed Fund have invested $4 million in a Series A round of funding for Indian education network operator Cuemath.
Chengwei backs China electronics recycling platform
China-focused Chengwei Capital has led a Series A round of funding worth about RMB100 million ($15 million) for Huishoubao, a Chinese electronic devices recycling platform.
Alibaba, Ant Financial to re-up in China's Didi Chuxing
Alibaba Group and its financial affiliate Ant Financial plan to invest a further $400 million in Didi Chuxing. This comes as the Chinese ride-hailing app operator is raising a new round of fund said to be as large as $2.5 billion.
China online grocer Benlai raises extended Series C round
Benlai.com, a Chinese B2C-focused online grocery supplier, has raised an extended Series C round of funding worth $17 million.
Healthcare app launched by China's Ping An Insurance raises $500m
Ping An Good Doctor, a healthcare-focused mobile app controlled by Chinese Ping An Insurance Group, has raised $500 million in a Series A round of funding at a valuation of $3 billion.
Sydney exchange creates small cap platform
The Sydney Stock Exchange (SSX) has initiated development of a blockchain-based equities market settlement and registration system that is expected to facilitate exits for VC firms.
SBCVC leads round for China robotics start-up CloudMinds
SBCVC has committed $10 million to a $30 million seed round of funding for CloudMinds, a Chinese cloud-based robotics start-up.
China Fosun Kinzon VC loses top management team
Three senior executives – including Jun Wang, the managing partner and chairman – have left Fosun Kinzon Capital, the venture capital arm of China’s Fosun Group, to set up their own firm.
China dating app Tantan raises $32m Series C
Tantan, a Chinese version of US-based dating app Tinder, has completed a $32 million Series C round led by DST Global, Vision Plus Capital and LB Investment.
Deal focus: WiL chisels start-up gold from corporate Japan
Having previously developed its technology under the wing of NTT Docomo, Soracom went independent with World Innovation Lab's assistance and is now targeting global expansion
GGV, Morningside lead $32m round for China fitness app
GGV Capital and Morningside Venture Capital have co-led a $32 million Series C round for Keep, a Chinese mobile app that provides fitness training programs.
Meridian Capital seeks $307m for China VC fund
Meridian Capital, a Chinese technology-focused venture capital firm, is looking to raise RMB2 billion ($307 million) for its latest renminbi-denominated fund.
Apple invests $1b in China ride-hailing app Didi Chuxing
Apple has made $1 billion strategic investment in Didi Chuxing, China's leading ride-hailing app operator.