Startups

Venture capital firms provided over 30% of the funding to Japanese startups last year. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Startups

Japan to press for greater transparency at domestic VC firms

Disclosures code of conduct looks to draw international institutional investors

22 December 2023
The Ho Chi Minh city skyline. The IMF projects Vietnam to be one of the 20 fastest-growing economies globally in 2024.
DealStreetAsia

Vietnamese private equity firms might deploy more capital in 2024

Slowdown this year reflects more selective global trends in assessing deals

20 December 2023
Line says the investment in Line Next is the largest funding round in the Asian blockchain Web3 industry this year. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
DealStreetAsia

Line Next obtains funding from Peter Thiel-linked investors

South Korean Web3 and blockchain-focused venture launched by Line in 2021

15 December 2023
Novel treatments available overseas typically take a long time to go on sale in Japan, if they do at all. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)
Pharmaceuticals

Japan seeks more cutting-edge treatments with better drug price support

Changes aim to encourage foreign pharma startups to enter market

13 December 2023
The investment in Sarvam aligns with the global trend of pouring money into AI companies early. (Nikkei montage/Source photo Sarvam AI website)
DealStreetAsia

Indian AI startup snags fast $41m from Lightspeed and others

Funding set to support Indian languages and voice-first interfaces

8 December 2023
Shoppers at a Masan Group shop. Bain Capital is injecting an additional $50 million into the Vietnamese conglomerate.
DealStreetAsia

Bain Capital pours another $50m into Vietnam's Masan Group

Injection comes amid rising operating profit in conglomerate's retail business

7 December 2023
Robot software developer Mujin's valuation soared 29-fold over the past year. (Mujin)
Startups

Japan's future unicorns take on challenges from automation to fusion

Despite government help, new billion-dollar companies still scant, survey shows

7 December 2023
OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved sees investment opportunities in Southeast Asian food tech and AI. (Photo by Hiroki Endo) 
Startups

Israeli VC OurCrowd to target Southeast Asian AI, food tech

$50m fund plans to invest in up to 30 companies in the region, CEO says

6 December 2023
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman would not comment on a secret AI project that reportedly could "threaten humanity," and may have contributed to his short-lived exile. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Technology

OpenAI rethinking its corporate structure to fix 'bugs,' Sam Altman says

CEO of ChatGPT maker calls its growth 'painful'; rebuffs query on secret project

6 December 2023
A partnership between TikTok and Tokopedia could help TikTok re-engage with Indonesian consumers before it loses them permanently, and also make e-commerce competition in Southeast Asia more attractive. (Source photos by Getty Images and Reuters) 
DealStreetAsia

TikTok, Tokopedia could announce Indonesian e-commerce deal soon

Talks for partnership and investment said to be in final stages

6 December 2023
The Shanghai skyline. GLP Capital Partners specializes in thematic investing industries, including logistics, digital infrastructure and renewable energy. (Xinhua via AP)
DealStreetAsia

GLP Capital Partners builds $608m new China income fund

Partnership with domestic insurance provider aimed at demand for industrial assets

5 December 2023
Shrimp is one of Indonesia's main export commodities.
DealStreetAsia

Indonesian aquatech startup JALA Tech raises about $13.1m in funding

Company uses technology to help shrimp farmers protect production

5 December 2023
Singapore at sunset. Insurance technology startup Igloo is based in the city-sate and focused on Southeast Asia.
DealStreetAsia

Singapore insurance tech Igloo raises $36m for Southeast Asia push

Startup looking for merger and acquisition opportunities in region

4 December 2023
Codashop allows gamers to buy content and credits using various payment methods. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Startups

GIC-backed Coda offers fresh alternative to Big Tech app stores

Singapore startup expands payment system for game publishers, content creators

4 December 2023
Anton Yuriev, co-founder of the Greco restaurant. (Photo by Ilona Makedon)
Ukraine war

Ukraine entrepreneurs bring new businesses in war-hit economy

From restaurant to 'dry shower,' new launches exceed closures despite Russia's invasion

2 December 2023
Jakarta is notorious for its pollution, but a wave of Indonesian startups are now offering climate-related technology to help clean the environment.
DealStreetAsia

Early-stage Indonesian climate startups lure investors

Companies offer tech in sectors such as carbon capture or waste management

1 December 2023
A construction site in Vietnam's capital city, Hanoi. FEBE Ventures is based in the rapidly developing Southeast Asian nation.
DealStreetAsia

Vietnam's FEBE Ventures launches $75m second fund

Looking to support early-stage startups in Southeast Asia and beyond

30 November 2023
Asia is increasingly turning to wind and other sources of renewable energy as it battles to reduce carbon emissions.
DealStreetAsia

Swiss investor launches $500m Asia-focused climate strategy

Firm called responsAbility Investments targets renewable energy, other sectors

29 November 2023
Technology-driven health care models are generating investor interest in India as a shortage of medical professionals continues to haunt the sector.
DealStreetAsia

India-focused HealthQuad on road to raise $300m fund

Sources say company has been talking to investors in India and abroad

27 November 2023
CEO Eric Cheng says Carsome is "continuously optimizing our ecosystem to deliver the best customer experience in the used-car industry." (Nikkei montage/Source photos courtesy of Carsome) 
Startups

Malaysian unicorn Carsome keen to expand in Southeast Asia

Used-car platform eyes a strategic positioning in region's projected $270bn market

27 November 2023
Nagoya-based Acompany, which provides cryptographic technology-related services, pays its employees "workplace attendance allowances." (Photo by Tetsuji Iso)
Work

Japan's post-COVID reality: Paying workers to come to the office

Bonuses help balance the benefits of telecommuting and real-world camaraderie

26 November 2023
Established in June 2014, ROC Partners specializes in private equity in the Asia-Pacific region. (Source photos by AP and ROC Partners website)
DealStreetAsia

Australia's ROC Partners raising $300m for latest Asia fund

Private equity investment manager has taken in about $66m so far

24 November 2023
The International Finance Corporation since 2013 has invested over $2.5 billion in financers and developers of affordable housing in India.
DealStreetAsia

IFC intends to make more affordable housing investments in India

Low-priced, green residences remain a strategic focus for World Bank Group member

23 November 2023
Japan aims to give slow-developing startups, such as drug companies better access to capital by easing restrictions on investment in such companies by banks. (Photo courtesy of PeptiDream)
Finance

Japan to ease investment rules for banks to boost startups

Government wants to give slow-growing companies better funding access

22 November 2023
A fruit market in Hanoi. Vietnam-based private equity firm Asia Business Builders says the nation's economy has performed better than some other markets.
DealStreetAsia

Vietnam-based PE firm ABB hits $52m first close of second fund

Executive sees final close by October 2024 with $100m target for second vehicle

22 November 2023