Asia

Capria Ventures, a Global South specialist venture capital firm, marks the first close of its target of $100 million fund. The new fund will focus on investing in 20 to 25 tech startups in the entrepreneurial hotspots of India, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.

Better Bite Ventures, a fund focused on Asia Pacific alternative protein startups, has on Wednesday announced four new investments under its early-stage First Bite initiative and reopens it for new applications.

Electric car sales are generally low outside the major markets, but 2022 was a growth year in India, Thailand and Indonesia. Collectively, sales of electric cars in these countries more than tripled compared to 2021, reaching 80,000.

Fuel Venture Capital, a leading early-stage investor in technology and digital companies, will conduct a roadshow in Asia next week as it looks to raise money for its next fund, which uses an innovative, new funding structure positioned to transform the private markets landscape.

TinyTap, an edtech subsidiary of Hong Kong-based gaming firm Animoca Brands, educational games, has on Tuesday announced that it has raised $8.5 million. The funding comes from investors including Sequoia China, Liberty City Ventures, Kingsway Capital, Shima Capital, Polygon, GameFi Ventures, and others.

The Ministry of Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Startups (MSS) in South Korea said it will invest around KRW 1 trillion ($748.43 million) in a fund of funds this year to boost the venture capital sector in the country.

Lokal, India's hyperlocal content, community, and classified platform, announced Tuesday it has raised INR 120 Crore ($14.6 million) in Series B funding. The funding came from new investors Global Brain and Sony Innovation Fund, with participation from India Quotient and other existing investors.

Japanese micromobility company Luup, Inc. has raised a total of approximately 4.5 billion yen ($33.55 million), bringing its total capital raised to date to approximately 9.1 billion yen ($67.85 million).

China headquartered private equity firm SKS Capital has announced its strategic investment in Grace, South Korea's largest aggregator of international health and beauty brands. SKS Capital is the lead investor in Grace Series B funding with $5 million.

With an aim to build India’s first business school focused on creating startup leaders, Indian education services provider Mesa School of Business (Mesa), has raised INR 34 Crores ($4.1 milllion) from Elevation Capital and notable angel investors.