DealStreetAsia

29/03/2025

World Bank Group member International Finance Corporation (IFC) has proposed to invest up to $75 million in a senior tranche of asset-backed securities (ABS) to support digital lending activities by SeaMoney. Mars Mosqueda's report:

The investment includes $50m from IFC's account and the rest from external investors.

29/03/2025

Tina Chopra, co-founder and CEO of Addlly AI, spoke to Corry Anestia about her experience of being a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated tech industry. "The tech ecosystem tends to have a ‘bro culture’ where women don’t always get the same opportunities to be a part of the team, let alone in leadership roles. We’ve made a conscious effort to ensure Addlly AI doesn’t fall into that pattern," she says in an interview for the report Women Founders in SE Asia: 2024 Funding Review.

"To level the playing field, ensure founders are judged on the strength of their business," says Tina Chopra.

28/03/2025

Mumbai-based growth-stage focused fintech investor Beams Fintech Fund plans to invest around $58.3 million (Rs 500 crore) across five Indian startups by the end of this year. Read Abhishek Chatterjee's report for the details:

Beams Fund 1 closed at around $80m in Oct last year.

28/03/2025

In the latest edition of Beyond the Buyout, our weekly private equity newsletter, we read between the lines of Everstone's exit from Domino's Pizza Indonesia. While the PE firm managed to strike a deal, several other multi-million dollar transactions are in limbo, involving global PE firms and their stakes in companies that operate US brands such as Starbucks and Pizza Hut, in Indonesia and Malaysia. Reason? Consumer boycotts owing to the perception of links to the US support for Israel's war in Gaza

Also, what’s behind Canadian funds pulling out of China?

28/03/2025

Despite DeepSeek’s success, several top Chinese investors believe that the country’s AI sector remains underinvested. Consider this: AI startup funding in China was a fraction of what US AI startups raised in 2024. Only $5.2 billion was raised by Chinese AI startups in 2024, which was 7% of the $76.3 billion raised by US companies, according to data provider CB Insights.
Stephanie Li explains the funding gap faced by the sector:

AI startup funding in China was a fraction of what US AI startups raised in 2024.

28/03/2025

Is there still hope for Southeast Asia's agritech sector after the scandal at eFishery? Even as investors reassess their commitments to the sector, there is still optimism that promising companies will continue to secure funding, even in Indonesia. Cases in point: The recent funding rounds of Vietnam’s Techcoop and Indonesia’s Elevarm. Read Gita Rossiana's and Marsya Nabila's report:

There is still optimism that promising companies will secure funding.

27/03/2025

The International Finance Corporation has proposed to invest up to $100 million in a special purpose vehicle (SPV) managed by global institutional asset manager Arena Investors. The proposed vehicle will target asset-backed credit, distressed assets, and special situations across emerging markets in Asia, reports Mars W. Mosqueda Jr.

The SPV will target asset-backed credit, distressed assets, and special situations across emerging markets in Asia.

27/03/2025

Syed Yasir Arafat Syed Abd Kadir, who transformed Malaysia's Ekuinas into a 4 billion ringgit ($900 million) private equity fund, will step down as CEO by the end of this month. He has been with Ekuinas since its inception, and took the helm in 2016. Aliff Omar Mohamad Omar, currently Senior Director of Investment, will assume the role of acting CEO. Ngoc Nguyen's report:

Syed Yasir Arafat has been with Ekuinas since its inception.

27/03/2025

Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara has a newly constituted team which includes influential members and political figures. While the starry lineup can generate investments and strong returns for the SWF, it could also complicate the decision-making process. Gita Rossiana spoke to several experts on the implications. Read the report:

Indonesia's new SWF poses questions around decision-making, and transparency of ops.

27/03/2025

Today we released the latest version of our twice-yearly report on the state of private equity fundraising in Southeast Asia. Only four SE Asia-focused PE funds secured final closes in 2024, collectively raising $1.32 billion. The final close volume and value were at a seven-year low according to the Southeast Asia Private Equity Funds: H2 2024 Review.

Only four SE Asia-focused PE funds secured final closes in 2024.

26/03/2025

Private equity giant EQT has joined marquee names such as Mphasis, Hexaware Technologies, TPG Capital, and ChrysCapital for acquiring a majority stake in Bengaluru-based technology services firm SLK Software, report Paramita Chatterjee and Vibhuti Sharma.

Mphasis, Hexaware, TPG, and ChrysCapital are also said to be eyeing a majority stake in the firm.

26/03/2025

Chinese medical device firm EverBridge Group has secured 1 billion yuan ($137.7 million) in a Series A funding round led by healthcare-dedicated asset management firm CBC Group, reports Stephanie Li.

Beijing Shunxi Venture Capital Fund Management and Beishang Capital also participated in the Series A round.

26/03/2025

TARS has raised $120 million in what is arguably the largest angel round in China’s fast-rising embodied intelligence industry, reports Eudora Wang. Lanchi Ventures and Qiming Venture Partners acted as the lead investors.

Lanchi Ventures and Qiming Venture Partners were the lead investors in the round.

26/03/2025

Singapore-headquartered asset manager SC Capital Partners has closed its sixth Asia Pacific opportunistic real estate fund at $900 million, reports Mars W. Mosqueda Jr. The amount raised, however, fell short of the $1-billion target set by the firm, per its filings in late 2022.

Real Estate Capital Asia Partners VI fell short of the original $1b target.

26/03/2025

Amrita Malik, co-founder and president of the payment gateway and point of sales provider Innoviti Technologies speaks to Pramugdha Mamgain about the inspiration behind starting the business. "For female founders, the scrutiny is often higher, with additional layers of judgement," says Malik. Read the interview:

As more young professionals take charge of industries, changes will happen: Amrita Malik.

26/03/2025

Horizon Quantum Computing, a Singaporean startup backed by Peak XV Partners and Tencent, last month signed a letter of intent for a S**C merger that would take it public at a pre-money valuation of $500 million. CEO Joe Fitzsimons tells Pimfha Chan that the startup is riding on the latest breakthroughs in quantum computing as well as the comeback of the S**C markets. Read the interview:

The potential transaction highlights the future commercial opportunity for quantum computing.

26/03/2025

Indonesian multi-brand F&B operator DailyCo is in advanced talks to acquire multiple food brands this year. The company is currently evaluating more than 15 food brands for potential acquisition. Founder and CEO Kelvin Subowo speaks to Marsya Nabila and Aastha Maheshwari:

It is said to be evaluating several potential acquisitions, including Dunkin’ Indonesia and PT Inti Prima Rasa.

25/03/2025

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