Venture
Asian start-up hubs: Global mandates
Innovation hubs have traditionally been defined by the size of their immediately addressable market. But with better access to capital, information and technology, some Asian jurisdictions are going global
IDG, Morningside lead $60m round for China P2P car-rental site
IDG Capital Partners and Morningside Technologies have led a $60 million Series B round of funding for PPzuche, a Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) car-rental provider launched by Singapore’s iCarsclub.
Matrix, SIG commit $20m to Tencent-backed laundry app
Matrix partners and SIG have committed $20 million in a Series A round of funding for Edaixi, a mobile laundry service app owned by Beijing-based laundry franchise Rongchain.
Intel invests in two Taiwanese tech firms
Intel Capital, the US chip maker's eponymous venture capital unit, has backed two Taiwanese start-ups as part of an overall $62 million investment across 16 technology ventures.
Pakistan online marketplace gets $3.5m from VCs
Pakistan online marketplace PakWheels.com has raised $3.5 million in funding from Malaysia-based venture capital fund Frontier Digital Ventures.
Helion provides Series A for Indian packaged food maker
Helion Venture Partners has provided INR350 million ($5.7 million) in a Series A round of funding for iD Fresh Foods, an Indian ready-to-cook packaged foods company.
Legend Holding invests in China P2P lending platform Eloancn
Legend Holdings, the parent company of Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group, has invested an undisclosed sumin Eloancn, a Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) online lending platform.
Denham provides $130m for start-up Australia mining platform
Resources-focused GP Denham Capital has backed Auctus Minerals, a Australian start-up mining platform, with a $130 million capital injection.
Chinese courier mobile app wins backing from Tencent, Banyan
Tencent Holdings and Banyan Capital have invested $15 million in a Series A round of funding for Renren Kuaidi, a Chinese express delivery mobile app.
India's GHV forms partnership with Japan's WiL
India's Green House Venture (GHV) Accelerator has teamed up with Japan and US-based early-stage investor World Innovation Labs (WiL) to back Indian start-ups with the potential to go global.
Sequoia leads $8m round for Indian car-rental firm Zoomcar
Sequoia Capital has led an $8 million round of funding for Zoomcar, an Indian car-rental start-up, alongside existing investors including Empire Angels, FundersClub, Basset Investment Group and Triangle Growth Partners.
DCM leads $30m Series B for China gay social app
DCM has led a $30 million Series B round of funding for Blued, a Chinese gay dating app.
DFJ-owned Wavemaker bolsters Southeast Asia team
Singapore-based early stage VC Wavemaker Pacific - a member of the DFJ Global Network - has appointed two tech entrepreneurs, Dennis Goh and Nix Nolledo, to its investment team.
Japan's MegaChips to buy VC-backed SiTime
MegaChips Corp, a Tokyo-listed semiconductor maker, is to acquire SiTime Corporation, a VC-backed US semiconductor company for $200 million.
Catcha launches VC unit for Southeast Asia TMT deals
Southeast Asia-focused media company Catcha Group has launched a venture capital unit that will invest in new media, technology and mobile businesses throughout the region.
BVCF-backed Jaguar Animal Health targets $54m US IPO
Jaguar Animal Health, a veterinary drugs developer backed by China-focused healthcare investor BVCF, is looking to raise as much as $54 million through a NASDAQ IPO.
India taxi-booking app gets $210m round led by SoftBank
India taxi-booking app Ola has raised $210 million in a Series D round of funding led by SoftBank. Existing investors Tiger Global, Matrix Partners India and Steadview Capital also participated.
Softbank injects $627m into India e-commerce firm Snapdeal
Japanese tech giant SoftBank Group has agreed to invest $627 million in Indian e-commerce site Snapdeal, bringing the start-up's total funding to more than $1 billion.
SoftBank bets big on Indonesia e-commerce
Softbank's first investment in Alibaba Group came 14 years ago. The initial $20 million was followed by around $80 million more, and by the time of Chinese e-commerce giant's IPO earlier this year, the Japanese tech firm held a 32.4% stake. This holding...
Mobile payments: Breaking down barriers
Driven by strong demand from consumers underserved by traditional payment channels, VC and strategic investors are increasingly active in Southeast Asia mobile payment. It is too early to identify winners.
Canada's Cycle Capital to enter China cleantech market
Canada-based cleantech investor Cycle Capital Management (CCM) will help set up a venture capital fund in Qingdao as part of an investment partnership with the eastern China city.
China mobile marketing firm Lomark raises $30m
A group of VC investors – DFJ DragonFund, KPCB, ABC Capital and Shenzhen Fortune Venture Capital – have committed $30 million in Series B funding to Lomark, a Chinese mobile advertising firm.
China photo-sharing app Blink secures $20m round
Blink, a Chinese photo sharing and messaging mobile app, has raised $20 million in Series A funding from Tencent Holdings, Sequoia Capital, H Capital, ZhenFund and Innovation Works.
CDH VC, Pine invest in China cloud service provider Upyun
CDH Ventures and Pine Capital have provided a Series A round of funding for Upyun, a Chinese cloud services specialist.