News
China robotics, AI player Data Ground raises $35m
Data Ground, a Chinese robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technology developer, has raised RMB270 million ($35 million) in an extended Series B round led by Shenzhen Venture Capital.
ADV backs China postgraduate, vocational training specialist
ADV Partners has completed its investment in Universal Education Holdings, a China-based online provider of postgraduate test preparation and vocational training under the Wanxue brand.
Tencent, Sequoia invest $244m in property manager Shimao
Shimao Services, the property management arm of Hong Kong-listed Shimao Property, has raised $244 million from Tencent Holdings and Sequoia Capital China.
India's Sixth Sense targets $200m for third fund
Sixth Sense, an Indian venture capital firm that invests in early-stage start-ups, has set a target of INR15 billion ($200 million) for its third fund.
Tencent invests in PE-backed Tim Hortons China expansion
Tencent Holdings has invested in the China franchise of coffee-and-donut chain Tim Hortons, which operates as a joint venture between Restaurant Brands International (RBI) and Cartesian Capital Group.
Japan biotech player raises $25m Series B
Japanese biotech developer Modulus Discovery has raised $25.5 million in Series B funding from a group of local VCs including SBI Investment.
Indian agtech start-up raises $5.9m Series A
Indian agricultural technology start-up Intello Labs has raised $5.9 million in a Series A funding round led by Saama Capital, Singapore’s Grow and SVG Ventures-Thrive.
Gaorong leads Series A for Chinese gene sequencing player
Qitan Technology, a Chinese gene sequencing company, has raised RMB100 million ($14 million) in Series A funding led by Gaorong Capital. Other backers include Yinxinggu Capital and Yahui Preision Medical Fund.
QIC explores Virgin Australia bid
Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) has been asked by the state government, its ultimate owner, to explore a bail-out for beleaguered airline Virgin Australia Holdings (VAH).
Intel Capital backs three Chinese start-ups
Intel Capital has invested in two Chinese semiconductor suppliers and a Chinese medical technology developer as part of a $132 million commitment spread across 11 start-ups.
UAE’s EMPG acquires Rocket-backed Lamudi Global
EMPG, a real estate classifieds marketplace group headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, has acquired Lamudi Global, which runs property market portals in the Philippines and Indonesia.
China last-mile delivery platform files for US IPO
Dada Nexus, a Chinese last-mile delivery platform backed by the likes of JD.com, Walmart, Sequoia Capital China, and DST Global, has filed for a US IPO.
KKR to buy majority stake in Australia's Colonial First State
KKR will buy a 55% stake in Colonial First State (CFS), the wealth management arm of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), in a deal that values the business at A$3.3 billion ($2.1 billion).
Sequoia leads $109m round for Indonesia coffee chain
Sequoia Capital India has led a $109 million Series B round for Kopi Kenangan, an app-driven grab-and-go coffee chain based in Indonesia.
Singapore SME financing platform gets $20m
Validus, a Singapore-headquartered financing platform for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia, has raised $20 million in a Series B+ round co-led by Vertex Growth and Orion Fund.
China's Oceanpine reaches $200m first close on Fund II
Oceanpine Capital has reached a first close of $200 million on its second fund, 30% of which was committed by the GP. The target is $400 million.
Tribe Capital leads $13m round for Indian logistics aggregator
Shiprocket, an Indian logistics aggregator that primarily solves shipping needs of small businesses, has raised $13 million in a funding round led by US VC firm Tribe Capital.
Dragon Ball, CDH lead Series C in China's Lehe Food
Lehe Food, a China-based distributor of fresh food and ingredients, has secured RMB400 million ($56 million) in Series C funding led by Dragon Ball Capital and CDH Investments. Existing backer Hezhi Investment re-upped.
AirTree backs Australia property intelligence platform
AirTree Ventures has led a A$6 million ($3.9 million) Series A round for Archistar, an Australian online property platform that allows users to click on blocks of land and see what can be built.
Hummingbird Bioscience gets $25m extended Series B
Hummingbird Bioscience, a Singapore and US-based drug developer with two cancer treatments on course to enter clinical trials, has received $25 million in an extended Series B round of funding led by the holding company of Korea’s SK Group.
Vertex leads $26.5m Series D for Taiwan’s M17
Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has led a $26.5 million Series D round for Taiwan-based media streaming company M17 Entertainment.
Sunshine Life leads Series C-plus for China's Huisuanzhang
Huisuanzhang, a Chinese finance and tax management software developer, has raised $60 million in an extended Series C round of funding led by Sunshine Insurance Group. Existing investors Gaocheng Capital, Xiaomi and Swift Hover re-upped.
Korea's Kurly raises $164m Series E
Kurly, operator of Korean grocery delivery platform Market Kurly, has raised KRW200 billion ($164 million) Series E round from a group of domestic and international VCs.
Carlyle pursues control of India's SeQuent for $210m
The Carlyle Group has reached agreements that could see it pay INR16.3 billion ($216 million) for up to 74% of Indian animal healthcare services provider SeQuent Scientific.