Vertex Management (II)
Deal focus: VCs see potential in karaoke booths
Telephone booth-sized karaoke units in shopping malls are the latest penchant among China's emerging middle-class millennials. A group of VCs has invested $15 million in MiniKTV to support a nationwide roll-out
China self-service karaoke booth operator raises $15m
Xingtang MiniKTV, a three-month-old Chinese start-up that operates self-service karaoke booths, has raised $15 million across three tranches of funding.
Zombie start-ups: On the same side
Zombie companies present a special challenge for VC investors, whose exit goals may not match the aims of the founders. Successful GPs will try to ensure a positive experience for all parties
Q&A: Vertex Ventures' Ben Mathias
Ben Mathias, managing director and head of India at Temasek Holdings-backed Vertex Ventures, discusses the firm’s priorities for adding value to Indian start-ups looking to the global stage
China automobile services platform Lechebang gets $44m
Lechebang, a Chinese online automobile services platform focused on after-sale services, has completed a RMB300 million ($44 million) Series B round led by Grand Flight Investment.
Due diligence: Behind the curve
Gaining an accurate impression of an industry is vital for investors, but this can be difficult in markets where information is patchy or unreliable. Those who hope to prosper must learn to judge data carefully
Chinese logistics robot developer Geek+ secures $14m
Chinese logistics and warehousing robotics developer Geek+ has raised a RMB100 million ($14 million) round of funding led by Vertex Ventures China.
Deal focus: Q&A start-up Xueba to enter the classroom
Chinese education app provider Xueba raises a $100 million Series C round as it looks to monetize its user base through one-to-one tuition and in-classroom services
China VCs lead $100m round for local education app Xueba
China Merchants Capital and Grand Fight Investment have co-led a $100 million Series C round of funding for Xueba, a Chinese education app that helps students understand homework exercises.
China online dancing content app Tangdou raises $20m
Tangdou.com, a Chinese online platform through which users can share their dancing experiences and join recreational dance groups, has completed a $20 million Series B round of funding across two tranches.
Vertex leads $5.5m round in Singapore's Spacemob
Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Singapore's Temasek Holdings, has led a $5.5 million seed round for Singapore-based co-working space developer Spacemob.
VC-backed FirstCry buys rival Babyoye
VC-backed Indian baby and child-focused retailer FirstCry.com has acquired rival children's store chain and e-commerce outlet Babyoye.
Deal focus: Vertex sees silver lining for CloudCherry
Venture capital investors back CloudCherry's comprehensive, technology-enabled approach to helping corporates better understand their customers in India
Vertex leads $6m round for India's CloudCherry
Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Singapore's Temasek Holdings, has led a $6 million Series A round for Indian customer experience management platform CloudCherry alongside Cisco Investments, the corporate VC arm of Cisco Systems.
Deal focus: HappyFresh prepares shopping list
Buyoed by a Series B round, Southeast Asian online grocery delivery business HappyFresh is refocusing on core markets with a view to deepening its sourcing relationships with major supermarkets
India tech M&A: Power plays
Recent consolidation moves in India’s technology sector are a welcome sight for investors that have poured money into battles for market share. However, not all start-ups should be resigned to this fate
Singapore’s Paktor raises $10m for Japan, Korea expansion
Paktor, a Southeast Asia-focused mobile dating app, has raised $10 million in a new round of funding led by Japan’s YJ Capital, the corporate venture arm of Yahoo Japan.
Deal focus: InstaRem leverages convenience in money transfers
By offering lower fees and faster turnarounds than Western Union and PayPal, InstaRem hopes to steal a march on its rivals and build a truly Asia-focused money transfer platform
PE-backed ZhongDi Dairy targets $65m Hong Kong IPO
China ZhongDi Dairy Holdings, a private equity-backed dairy farm operator that supplies raw milk to leading brands such as Mengniu Dairy and Yili Group, is targeting a Hong Kong IPO of up to HK$508.4 million ($65.6 million).
Vertex launches $200m captive fund for SE Asia, India
Vertex Venture Holdings, the VC arm of Singapore-based Temasek Holdings, has launched a $200 million captive fund for investments in India and Southeast Asia.
China exits: Open to alternatives
With China’s public markets still dogged by uncertainty – and, at time of writing, new share offerings suspended – PE investors are looking at other options. Trades in particular are getting more traction
Q&A: Vertex China's Choon Chong Tay
Vertex Ventures’ China team recently raised their first fund independent of the Singapore parent. Managing Director Choon Chong Tay explains the organizational changes and discusses the team’s investment strategy
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.
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