Venture
Singapore's EDBI, TAL Education in $52m round for US-based Knewton
New York-based adaptive learning system developer Knewton has raised $52 million from a consortium of investors including EDBI - the corporate VC arm of Singapore's Economic Development Board - and Chinese education company TAL Education Group.
VC-backed China bus service start-up raises $26m
Dada Bus, a mobile-enabled provider of bus services in China, has raised RMB173 million ($26 million) in a round led by a Shenzhen-listed construction materials manufacturing company.
Alibaba leads $793.5m round for US-based Magic Leap
Chinese internet giant Alibaba Group has led a $793.5 million Series C round for Magic Leap, a Florida-based augmented and virtual reality (VR) technology developer.
China Merchants Bank leads $102m round for Boqii.com
China Merchants Bank has led a $102 million Series C round of funding for Boqii.com, a Chinese social network and e-commerce platform for pet owners.
Wipro Ventures leads $4m round for India's Altizon
Wipro Ventures, the strategic investment arm of Indian technology company Wipro Group, has led a $4 million Series A round for internet development platform provider Altizon Systems.
Hong Kong: Start-up central
Hong Kong ranks low in a new study of global start-up ecosystems, but has the potential to fly high. A mixture of policy, patience and positive attitude is required
India VC: Smooth waters ahead?
India’s government has made promising signals about its willingness to engage the venture capital community. GPs are optimistic, but reservations remain about the details
Fund focus: SBCVC moves with the times in China
Having raised $459 million for its latest venture capital fund, SBCVC is tracking the latest developments in China technology with a focus on robotics and advanced industrial applications
Hong Kong is world's fifth fastest-growing start-up ecosystem – study
Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem is expanding rapidly from a low base and was the fifth fastest-growing ecosystem globally last year, according to a new report.
Venturra leads $12m round for Malaysia's KFit
Venturra Capital has led a $12 million Series A round for Malaysia-based gym membership app KFit.
VC-backed China healthcare platform raises $20m
We Doctor Group, a Chinese online healthcare information portal formerly known as Guahao.com, has raised a further $20 million from Shanghai-listed property developer Shandong Tyan Home.
Sequoia closes fifth India fund at $920m
Sequoia Capital has closed its latest India fund – which has a minority allocation to Southeast Asia – at $920 million, comprising an $875 million institutional corpus and a GP commitment of $45 million.
China's Adagene raises $28m
Adagene, a China-based life sciences company focused on smart antibody technology, has raised a $28 million Series B round led by GP Healthcare Capital, the medical-focused subsidiary of China's GP Capital.
Everbright ReinFore invests in China's Huasheng Finance
Everbright ReinFore, a private equity arm under China Everbright Group, has led a Series B round of funding for Huasheng Finance, a Chinese online lending platform.
Rakuten launches $84m Japan venture fund
Rakuten Ventures, the corporate VC arm of Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, has launched a JPY10 billion ($84 million) fund targeting start-ups in Japan.
Shanghai to compensate VCs for financial losses
The Shanghai government has proposed new measures to compensate early-stage investors’ for financial losses incurred by investing in local start-ups.
Jungle Ventures adds to management team
Singapore-based Jungle Ventures, which is currently raising its second fund, has strengthened its management team with the appointment of a new CFO, director of corporate development, and head of finance.
Singapore's Eyeota raises $7m Series A round
Global Brain, Infinity e.Ventures and Project A Ventures have committed $7 million in Series A funding to Singapore-based adtech company Eyeota.
Nissay commits $1.7m to Japan's Oneteam
Nissay Capital has invested $1.7 million in Series A funding in Japanese workplace chat app Oneteam.
Deal focus: Fintech start-up WeLab seeks scale
With $160 million in Series B funding, Hong Kong-based WeLab wants to upgrade its people and technology in order to build a China online lending platform of real scale
Deal focus: Investors see value in China auto disrepair
China Pacific Insurance leads a Series B round for Bochewang, a car-trading platform that transfers damaged vehicles from insurers to rebuilders
Late starter: Hong Kong boosts innovation support
Hong Kong is following in Singapore’s footsteps with the announcement of meaningful support for technology start-ups. Why is the government moving on the issue now, and what difference can it make?
China venture: After the boom
Venture capital investors are set for a less frenetic year in China, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing for early-stage players
Yunfeng leads round for China reviews site
Yunfeng Capital has led an extended Series A round of funding for Du Yao, a China-based book and movie reviews platform.