Venture
Monk's Hill commits $5m to Hong Kong-based Playlab
Hong Kong-based mobile game studio Playlab has raised $5 million in Series B funding from Monk's Hill Ventures.
Sailing, Yunfeng lead $158m round for China's Rong360
Sailing Capital and Yunfeng Capital have jointly led a RMB1 billion ($158 million) Series D round of funding for Rong360, a Chinese online search platform for loan products.
IFC to invest $25m in India's BigBasket
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, will commit $25 million to Indian online grocer BigBasket.
Australian LPs and domestic VC: Toe in the water
Australian super funds are showing renewed interests in domestic venture capital, supporting firms that offer flexible structures with co-investment opportunities. Can this approach work for all GPs?
Hong Kong vs Singapore VC: Flawed comparisons
Singapore has easily surpassed Hong Kong in terms of venture capital investment for the last four years, but that data should be assessed in the context of wider industry dynamics
Deal focus: Dianping-Meituan war reaches logical conclusion
Following the announced merger of Dianping and Meituan, further consolidation is expected in China's online-to-offline (O2O) services market
Fund focus: Venturra taps experience for SE Asia start-ups
Venturra Partners will draw on its founders' investment and entrepreneurial experience, plus a strategic connection to Lippo Group, as it helps Southeast Asian start-ups achieve scale
AngelList raises $400m from China's CSC Group
Start-up funding platform AngelList has raised a $400 million early-stage focused fund from CSC Venture Capital, the US arm of private equity firm China Science & Merchants Investment Management Group, also known as CSC Group.
NLVC leads round for China-based English learning platform
Northern Light Venture Capital (NLVC) has led a $20 million Series B round of funding for VIPKID, a China-based English-language learning platform that targets primary and secondary school students.
Vertex Ventures appoints India head
Vertex Ventures, a VC firm controlled by Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has appointed Ben Mathias as managing director and head of India. He joins from New Enterprise Associates.
IDG leads $15m round for China healthcare start-up
IDG Capital Partners has led a $15 million Series A round for Zhangshang Tangyi, a Chinese start-up that is developing a health data tracking device and mobile app for people with diabetes.
Philippines' PLDT Capital backs US start-up
PLDT Capital, the recently-formed investment arm of Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT), has committed $10 million to US mobile app development platform Phunware and will support expansion in Southeast Asia.
Sequoia, Kalaari commit $10m to India's Grabhouse
Sequoia Capital and Kalaari Capital have committed $10 million in Series B funding to Indian start-up Cryptopy Technologies, the developer of rental property listing platform Grabhouse.
Lippo sponsors Southeast Asia VC fund
Former Monk's Hill Ventures partner Stefan Jung has announced the launch of Venturra Capital, a new Southeast Asia-focused VC fund backed by the Lippo Group.
China internet players Dianping, Meituan agree merger
Rival Chinese online-to-offline (O2O) services platforms Dianping and Meituan – both of which have received substantial private equity and strategic funding – have agreed to merge. It is thought the combined entity would be worth at least $15 billion....
China's CreditEase reaches first close on Israel fund
CreditEase, a leading Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) microcredit lender, has reached a first close of $30 million on its debut Israel-focused fund.
Golden Gate leads $3.3m Series A for Singapore's HipVan
Golden Gate Ventures has led a S$4.7 million ($3.3 million) Series A round for HipVan, a Singapore-based online store for designer furniture.
Australian design platform Canva raises $15m in Series A
Canva, an Australian online design platform, has raised $15 million in a Series A round of funding led by Felicis Ventures alongside existing investors Blackbird Ventures and Matrix Partners.
Convergence, Golden Gate in Series A for Singapore's MoneySmart
Singapore-based personal finance portal MoneySmart has raised S$2.8 million ($2 million) in a Series A round led by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) Media Fund, with participation by Convergence Ventures, OPT SEA and Golden Gate Ventures.
Fund focus: Vertex strengthens its global foothold
Vertex Venture Holdings will use its new $600 million allocation from Temasek Holdings to invest in Vertex family funds across the US, Israel and China
Deal focus: H&Q's reinvigoration factor
H&Q Asia Pacific's Silicon Valley-based innovation hub is intended to help established Asian companies find new avenues of growth in an increasingly challenging commercial landscape
Peepul Capital commits $15m to Indian online jeweler Voylla
Peepul Capital has committed $15 million to Indian online jewelry and accessory retailer Voylla.
Vertex raises $600m for China, US, Israel investments
Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Singapore's Temasek Holdings, has received $600 million from its parent to invest in start-ups in China, the US and Israel.
SoftBank leads $1b round for Renren-backed US online lender
Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group has led a $1 billion Series E round of funding for Social Finance (SoFi), a Silicon Valley online lending marketplace also backed by China social networking site Renren.