Venture
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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.
Tamarisc leads Series A round for Australia’s Serraview
Australian software-as-a-service (SaaS) start-up Serraview has raised a Series A round of funding from US-based venture capital firm Tamarisc as it looks to expand into US markets.
Vertex leads investment in China household services app
Vertex Venture, an investment unit of Temasek Holdings, has led a Series B round for Ayibang, a Chinese housekeeping service booking app, with participation from Shunwei Capital Partners and Ceyuan Ventures.
Tencent, Tiger Global lead $350m round for China mobile shopping app
Koudai Gouwu, a Chinese mobile shopping portal, has raised a $350 million Series C round of funding led by Tencent Holdings and Tiger Global. H Capital, VY Capital and DST Advisors also participated.
Sequoia leads $55m Series C for Chinese English-study site
Sequoia Capital has led a $55 million Series C round of funding for 51Talk, a Chinese online English-teaching platform, with participation from Shunwei Capital Partners and DCM.
Singapore’s Infocomm Investments extends reach to Europe
Infocomm Investments, a VC arm of the Singapore government-backed Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), has opened an office in London, its second overseas base after Silicon Valley.
Korea's KnowRe raises $6.8m Series A from VC backers
SoftBank Venture Korea (SBVK) has a led a $6.8 million Series A investment in Seoul-based education technology start-up KnowRe.
SoftBank leads $100m round for Indonesia e-commerce player
SoftBank will lead a $100 million round of funding for Tokopedia, an Indonesian online marketplace. Sequoia Capital will also participate alongside existing investor SB Pan Asia Fund.
China’s Baidu, Ping An, Qihoo360 invest in Israeli VC fund
Israeli VC firm Carmel Ventures has reached a $194 million final close on its latest VC fund with participation Chinese tech giants Baidu and Qihoo360 as well as insurer Ping An Group.
Lightbox II builds on Indian legacy
Earlier this year Kleiner Perkins Caufeild & Byers (KPCB) and Sherpalo Ventures - the investment firm founded by Ram Shriram - decided to bring their nine-year Indian adventure to a close and refocus on the US.
Profile: JFDI.Asia's Hugh Mason
As co-founder of Singapore-based JFDI.Asia, Hugh Mason has been at the vanguard of the Asia tech accelerator movement since 2010. But his record as an entrepreneur and innovator goes back further
Australia's OneVentures hits $53m first close on second VC fund
Australian venture capital firm OneVentures has reached a A$60 million ($53 million) first close second fund, which is looking to raise $100 million for Series B and C stage investments.
Intel Capital invests $28m from China smart device fund
Intel Capital, the US chip maker's corporate venture capital arm, has invested $28 million from its China Smart Device Innovation Fund (CSDIF) into a batch of technology start-ups.
VC-backed eHi Car Rental invests in China’s Kuaidi Dache
Chinese car rental firm eHi Car Services, which has several VC backers and is targeting a US IPO, has invested $25 million in Kuaidi Dache, one of the country’s two dominant taxi-booking apps.