Venture
SoftBank leads $120m round for India's Grofers
Indian hyperlocal delivery service Grofers has raised $120 million in Series C funding led by SoftBank Corp.
Allianz, Baidu, Hillhouse form Chinese insurance JV
Chinese search giant Baidu, German insurer Allianz and China-based Hillhouse Capital have formed an internet insurance company to distribute insurance products in China.
China's Renren leads $22m round for US job search platform
China’s social networking platform Renren has led a $22 million Series B round of funding for Shiftgig, a US mobile marketplace for short-term jobs.
Global Brain, Dentsu, Mitsui in $6.1m round for Japan's Kabuku
Japan-based Kabuku, manager of 3-D printing service Rinkak, has closed a JPY750 million ($6.1 million) Series A round with participation by Global Brain, Dentsu Digital Holdings and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital.
Northstar closes PE fund at $810m, VC fund at $89m
Northstar Group has reached a final close of $810 million on its fourth fund, which targets Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Indonesia. Meanwhile, the firm’s VC unit, NSI Ventures, has closed its debut fund at $89 million.
China's Weibo leads $200m round for video app maker
Chinese social media platform Weibo Corporation has led a $200 million Series D round of funding for Yixia Technology, a Beijing-based mobile video app developer.
Mitsui commits $52m to India's Naaptol
Mitsui & Co. Global Investment, the VC arm of Japanese conglomerate Mitsui, has invested another INR3.4 billion ($52 million) in Indian TV shopping and e-commerce platform Naaptol.
Lufax, China private funds to launch online products
Shanghai Lujiazui International Financial Asset Exchange (Lufax), a Chinese online financial platform controlled by Ping An Insurance Group, has signed agreements with 30 domestic private investment fund managers that will see their products distributed...
India tech M&A: Treading water
India’s internet giants are becoming more acquisitive, but they still play a minor role in VC firms’ planning. To raise their influence these companies first need to stabilize their own operations
Venturra leads $4m round for Malaysia's Kaodim
Venturra Capital, a Southeast Asia-focused VC fund sponsored by the Lippo Group, has led a $4 million Series A round for Malaysian local services marketplace Kaodim.
Ping An Ventures leads $200m round for China's Mogujie
Ping An Ventures, a VC arm under Ping An Insurance, has led a Series D round worth $200 million for Mogujie.com, a Chinese social networking and shopping platform.
China B2B travel site raises $78m Series B round
Lvyouquan.cn, a Chinese business-to-business (B2B) online travel platform, has raised RMB500 million ($78 million) in a Series B round of funding from a group of domestic investors.
NEA, Accel commit $12.5m to India's MindTickle
Accel Partners and New Enterprise Associates (NEA) have invested $12.5 million in a Series A round of funding for Indian business training and networking platform MindTickle.
Alibaba picks Gobi, CDIB to run HK, Taiwan entrepreneur funds
Alibaba Group has officially launched its entrepreneur funds - worth a collective $450 million - in Hong Kong and Taiwan, picking Gobi Partners and China Development Industrial Bank (CDIB) to manage the vehicles in those respective markets.
Shenzhen Qianhe leads $47m round for China education platform
Shenzhen Qianhe Capital, an investment firm set up by former leading Chinese mutual fund manager Yawei Wang, has led a RMB300 million ($47 million) Series B round for education group Uniquedu.
Bessemer leads $25m round for India's UrbanClap
Bessemer Venture Partners has led a $25 million Series B funding round for Indian local services marketplace UrbanClap.
Kalaari commits $4m to India's ScoopWhoop
Kalaari Capital has invested $4 million in Indian internet news and media outlet and production company ScoopWhoop.
Ameba Capital closes second China VC fund at $157m
Ameba Capital, an early-stage VC firm co-founded by former executives from Alibaba Group and Kingsoft, has closed its second renminbi-denominated fund at RMB1 billion ($157 million).
Chinese online education platform TutorGroup raises $200m
TutorGroup, a Chinese online education platform, has raised $200 million in a Series C round of funding from new investors including GIC Private and the Russia-China Investment Fund (RCIF).
Taiwan's CDIB Capital launches cross-strait VC fund
CDIB Capital, the PE arm of Taiwan’s China Development Financial (CDF), is raising a later-stage venture fund to focus on cross-strait expansion.
CHAMP's Ferris to lead Innovation Australia
Bill Ferris, co-chairman and co-founding partner of CHAMP Private Equity, has been appointed chairman of Innovation Australia, an independent, government-established body with a mandate that includes supporting start-ups and venture capital.
China cinema ticket sales app Wepiao raises $234m
Wepiao, a Chinese mobile app specializing in movie ticket sales, has completed a Series C round of funding worth RMB1.5 billion ($234 million) led by the government-backed Beijing Cultural Assets Chinese Film & Television Fund.
Sequoia, Lightspeed lead $34m round for India's Craftsvilla
Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Ventures have led a $34 million Series C round for Indian online ethnic products marketplace Craftsvilla.
Taiwan VC: Marginal gains
Taiwan’s government has announced a slew of measures to encourage global venture capital funds to invest in local start-ups. Is it doing enough to create a robust VC ecosystem?