Venture
rtf
India e-commerce: The return of red tape
India has unveiled significant changes to its e-commerce industry, allowing 100% foreign ownership of marketplaces but restricting these businesses control over pricing. Industry feedback is mixed
VC-backed Dada Nexus merges with JD’s O2O business
Dada Nexus, a China-based crowdsourcing delivery platform backed by several VC investors, has agreed to merge with JD Daojia, the online-to-offline (O2O) business unit of e-commerce giant JD.com.
Fosun Kinzon leads $23m round for China’s Huivo
Fosun Kinzon Capital, a VC arm of Fosun Group, has led a RMB150 million ($23 million) extended Series B round of funding for Huivo, a Chinese online education solutions provider for kindergartens.
China online finance site Licaifan completes $51m round
Licaifan, a Chinese online finance platform, has raised a RMB330 million ($51 million) Series C round of funding from domestic investor Yingda Investment.
China discounted e-commerce site Juanpi raises $93m
Juanpi.com, a Chinese online platform selling discounted consumer products, has raised a RMB600 million ($93 million) Series C round of funding co-led by Tiantu Capital and China Merchant Bank International.
Alibaba invests $1.25b in food delivery platform Ele.me
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and its online finance affiliate Ant Financial Services Group have invested $1.25 billion in Ele.me, a VC-backed online food-ordering platform.
GGV reaches $1.2b final close on Sino-US VC fund
GGV Capital has closed its latest VC fund at $1.2 billion across three vehicles – a core venture fund, an early stage fund and an entrepreneurs fund – that will target start-ups and growth-stage technology deals in China and the US.
Chinese travel app developer Huoli secures $144m
Shenzhen Huoli Tianhui Technology, the parent company of Chinese flight management app Flights Manager, has raised RMB933 million ($144 million) in a Series C round of funding.
China Growth Capital leads round for auto-focused lending platform
China Growth Capital has led an extended RMB217 million ($34 million) Series A round for Chedai.com, a Chinese automobile financial lending platform.
JD Finance invests in VC-backed Meili Jinrong
JD Finance, the financial subsidiary of Chinese online retailer JD.com, has invested an undisclosed sum in Meili Jinrong, a peer-to-peer (P2P) online lending platform with a focus on consumer finance. Both companies are backed by several VC investors.
China Everbright boosts exposure to Haiyin’s cross-border fund
China Everbright has committed an additional $15 million to Haiyin Capital’s latest VC fund, also claiming co-investment rights in the fund's US portfolio companies.
China’s Xiaomi leads $25m round for India-based Hungama
Chinese smart phone maker Xiaomi has led a $25 million round of funding for Hungama Digital Entertainment, an Indian music and video online platform.
Softbank Ventures Korea invests in India's True Balance
Softbank Ventures Korea has committed an undisclosed amount of Series A funding to India's True Balance, developer of an app to help users check their prepaid SIM card balance.
China used car trading platform Guazi.com raises $205m
Guazi.com, a Chinese C2C second-hand car trading platform, has completed a $205 million round of funding from several international investors.
China commercial property service platform raises $39m
Haozu.com, a Chinese O2O commercial real estate service platform, has raised a RMB250 million ($39 million) Series A round of funding led by Joy Capital and Black Hole Capital.
China recruitment site Lagou raises $34m
Lagou.com, a Chinese job-seeking platform, has raised RMB220 million ($34 million) in a Series C round of funding led by domestic investor Hongdao Capital.
China’s Travelzen raises $93m, plans for onshore exit
Travelzen.com, a Chinese B2B online travel platform, has raised a RMB600 million ($93 billion) Series C round from a group of domestic GPs, having removed its variable interest entity (VIE) structures in preparation for an onshore exit.
Fosun Kinzon leads $15m round for China medical app
Fosun Kinzon Capital, a VC arm backed by Fosun Group, has led a RMB100 million ($15 million) Series B round for Easyhin, a Chinese mobile app that provides healthcare services to mothers and children.
China B2B online liquor retailer Yi Jiu Pi raises $30m
Yi Jiu Pi, a Chinese B2B online liquor retailer, has raised an extended Series B round worth RMB200 million ($30 million) co-led by domestic GPs Yuan Sheng Ventures and Eastern Bell Venture Capital.
Sequoia, TrustBridge back China chemicals e-commerce site
Sequoia Capital and TrustBridge Partners have co-led a Series C round of funding for Molbase, a Chinese B2B e-commerce platform that sells chemical products.
China co-working space operator raises $31m
UrWork, a co-working space for Chinese start-ups, has raised RMB200 million ($31 million) in an extended Series A round of funding.
China GPs wary of inflated unicorns – AVCJ Forum
China has no shortage of technology unicorns with valuations in excess of $1 billion, but picking the right team to back requires careful assessment, China-focused GPs said at the AVCJ China Forum.
China VC-backed online campus store 8Dol raises $30m
8Dol.com, a Chinese campus O2O services provider backed by several VC investors, has raised an extended Series B round worth RMB200 million ($30 million) led by Longrich, a Chinese cosmetics company.
China's LeTV raises $153m for cloud-computing unit
LeTV Cloud, a cloud-computing service platform owned by Chinese online video company Leshi Internet Information & Technology (LeTV), has raised RMB1 billion ($153 million) from state-owned Chongqing Industrial Investment Fund.