Venture
Bain leads $18m investment in Korean car-sharing service
Bain Capital has led a KRW18 billion ($18 million) Series A round of funding for Socar, a Korean car sharing company.
CyberAgent, Mizuho back Japan venue rental marketplace
CyberAgent Ventures and Mizuho Capital have together invested JPY100 million (about $1 million) in SpaceMarket, a Japanese online platform that lists vacant spaces that users can rent for corporate events such as meetings and training courses.
PayU acquires VC-backed Indian payments start-up
Online payment solutions provider PayU India has acquired Cobboc, the VC-backed start-up behind mobile payments app Eashmart.
Tencent leads $100m round for Chinese medical service platform
Tencent Holdings has led a $100 million round of funding for Guahao.com, a Chinese healthcare information portal.
Intel invests in China cloud communication service Gotye
Intel Capital, the corporate investment arm of the US chipmaker Intel Corp, has invested an undisclosed sum in Gotye.com, a Shanghai-based start-up that provides cloud communication technology solutions.
Gree Ventures backs Japan marketing start-up
Japanese online marketing firm Somewrite has raised JPY100 million (about $1 million) from corporate venture capital arm Gree Ventures and other undisclosed investors.
Japan's BrainWars app raises $2.8m in VC funding
East Ventures, Skyland Ventures, Genuine Startups and Line Ventures, the VC unit of messaging app firm Line Corp, have together invested JPY300 million ($2.8 million) in TransLimit, the Tokyo-based start-up behind social quiz app BrainWars.
China's Baidu buys VC-backed Brazilian online discount site
Chinese search giant Baidu has bought a controlling stake in Brazil-based Peixe Urbano, an online discount platform that has received several rounds of VC funding, for an undisclosed sum.
Alibaba invests $50m in US TV remote app Peel
Alibaba Group, China's largest e-commerce player, has invested $50 million in Peel Technology, a California-based start-up that has developed a TV remote control mobile app.
Sun Hung Kai invests in China P2P lending site Dianrong
Sun Hung Kai & Co.(SHK), a leading Hong Kong financial institution, has invested in a Series B round of funding for Chinese peer-to-peer (P2P) lending service Dianrong.
Japan's Mercari raises $22m Series C round
Mercari, the Japanese start-up behind the mobile flea market app of the same name, has raised JPY2.36 billion ($21.8 million) in Series C funding from World Innovation Lab (WiL) and existing investors Global Brain, Globis Capital Partners, GMO Venture...
Singtel Innov8's Bao Bean joins SOS Ventures
William Bao Bean, formerly managing director with corporate venture unit Singtel Innov8, has joined SOS Ventures as its investment partner in China.
GIC leads $150m round for US e-commerce start-up Square - report
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private is said to have led a $150 million Series E round investment in US e-payments start-up Square.
Matrix India backs recruitment service GrownOut
Matrix Partners India has provided a first institutional round of funding for GrownOut, an online platform that helps companies identify potential recruits on the basis of referrals sourced via employees’ professional networks.
Google Capital in debut China VC investment
Google's discomfort at the growing level of censorship imposed on US internet players by the Chinese authorities after 2008 saw the company withdraw from the M&A scene. There were no deals at all until last week, when Google Capital – a $300 million growth-stage...
Ayannah banks on the unbanked
Explaining why cross-border remittances into the Philippines are not his core business, Mikko Perez points to Hong Kong’s Central district on a Sunday, when the domestic helpers are out in force. “It’s so cut throat – we are talking basis points of spread...
VC-backed Chinese car rental firm eHi files for US IPO
EHi Car Services, a Shanghai-based car rental company backed by a string of VC investors, has filed for an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
GGV, Tencent invest $13m in US tracking device maker
Tile, a US start-up that makes devices used to track lost items, has raised $13 million in funding from China-based investors.
VIDEO: Yilu Zhao of Qunar
Many VC-backed start-ups are cautious about accepting strategic capital due to concerns that these large investors will exert too much influence, particularly in terms of a potential public market exit. Yilu Zhao, chief strategy officer at Chinese travel...
Rocket Internet shares close down 13% on Frankfurt debut
German internet incubator and investor Rocket Internet saw its shares close down 13% on the first day of trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange following a EUR1.6 billion ($2 billion) IPO.
Matrix India backs online food-ordering platform LimeTray
Matrix Partners India has provided a Series A round of funding for Alchemy Web Private, operator of online food-ordering platform LimeTray. The size of the commitment was not disclosed.
Gree Ventures backs Philippines payments business
Gree Ventures has participated in a Series C round of funding for Philippines-based digital payments business Ayannah. Wavemaker Labs, Golden Gate Ventures, IMJ Investment Partners and Beenos Asia also participated.
Sinarmas takes Ardent cross-border
Ardent Capital is registered in Hong Kong, but Bangkok remains its home. Previous investments by the VC firm have followed the same model – start in Thailand, then expand into other Southeast Asian markets. Now, though, Ardent is preparing to incubate...
Top-up time: VC opportunity funds
Northern Light Venture Capital would like to have participated in the recent $50 million Series D round of funding for Daojia, but it could not. The Series C round last September wasn’t possible either. As it stands, the VC firm has recorded a handsome...