Scooter startup Tier raises $60m led by UAE’s Mubadala Capital

One of Europe’s biggest e-scooter sharing companies said it has raised $60 million in new financing, led in part by one of the sovereign wealth vehicles behind SoftBank Group Corp.’s gargantuan Vision Fund. Berlin-based Tier Mobility, a primary competitor to U.S. e-scooter unicorns Lime and Bird, said it would use the money to accelerate its… Continue reading Scooter startup Tier raises $60m led by UAE’s Mubadala Capital

STRIVE, ITOCHU invest in Japanese flying car developer SkyDrive’s $14m round

Japanese flying car developer SkyDrive has secured $14 million in a fresh funding round, which will finance the startup to carry out flight tests with humans on board. Tokyo-based venture capital firm STRIVE III Limited Liability Partnership and ITOCHU Technology Ventures, the venture capital arm of Japanese ITOCHU Corporation, poured money into the new round.… Continue reading STRIVE, ITOCHU invest in Japanese flying car developer SkyDrive’s $14m round

Australian insurer Suncorp sells vehicle repair unit to AMA Group for $284m

Australian insurer Suncorp Group Ltd said it will sell its vehicle repair business for A$420 million ($283.5 million) as it seeks to focus on its core insurance and banking operations after disappointing results in recent times. The sale of the business, Capital S.M.A.R.T, to smash repairs firm AMA Group comes less than a month after… Continue reading Australian insurer Suncorp sells vehicle repair unit to AMA Group for $284m

India Digest: Wipro earmarks $28m for venture fund; Ola expands in UK; Sleepycat gets $1.56m

Wipro has set aside $28 million for its venture fund, which will invest in retail startups, while cab-hailing service Ola has launched in the UK. Meanwhile, mattress maker Sleepycat secured $1.56 million in a DSG-led Series A round. Wipro allocates $28m for startup venture fund Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, the FMCG brand of Wipro… Continue reading India Digest: Wipro earmarks $28m for venture fund; Ola expands in UK; Sleepycat gets $1.56m

Indonesia Digest: Grab partners ITB for R&D; Telkomsel backs PrivyID Series A2

Grab has partnered with Bandung Institute of Technology to conduct R&D while Jakarta-based digital signature firm PrivyID has secured its Series A2 funding from Telkomsel Mitra Inovasi. Grab partners Bandung Institute of Technology Southeast Asian ride-hailing app Grab has established a partnership with Bandung Institute of Technology or ITB to conduct research and development for… Continue reading Indonesia Digest: Grab partners ITB for R&D; Telkomsel backs PrivyID Series A2

India: WhistleDrive raises $10m Series B funding from Colosseum

Hyderabad-based WhistleDrive said on Thursday that it has raised ₹72 crore from Chicago-based Colosseum Group under its Series B round of funding. The company, which provides technology-enabled fleet services to corporates, now plans to enter two new cities to add to the three where it currently operates. Rakesh Munnanooru, founder and chief executive, WhistleDrive, said… Continue reading India: WhistleDrive raises $10m Series B funding from Colosseum

Indian actor Deepika Padukone’s family office invests in e-taxi startup Blu Smart

Actor Deepika Padukone’s family office has invested in Blu Smart- an electric taxi startup, as part of an angel round of $3 million, the startup said on Monday. While Padukone has invested via Ka Enterprises, other investors include JITO Angel Network, Bajaj Capital managing director Sanjiv Bajaj and Rajat Gupta, the now-disgraced former managing director… Continue reading Indian actor Deepika Padukone’s family office invests in e-taxi startup Blu Smart

Indonesian logistics startup Shipper raises $5m seed funding from Y Combinator, others

Indonesian logistics startup Shipper has secured a $5-million seed funding round from Y Combinator, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Floodgate, Insignia Ventures Partners, and Convergence Ventures, according to a TechCrunch report. The fresh capital will be used for hiring and customer acquisition, the report said. Shipper works by picking up a package and helping customers find the… Continue reading Indonesian logistics startup Shipper raises $5m seed funding from Y Combinator, others

ASX-listed iCar Asia acquires classifieds platform Carmudi Indonesia for $3m

ASX-listed automotive marketplace iCar Asia is acquiring the operations of rival Carmudi Indonesia for $3 million, according to an announcement. The deal, which is expected to be completed on 15 Oct 2019, will be paid from cash reserves in two parts – a payment of $2 million will be doled out on completion and another… Continue reading ASX-listed iCar Asia acquires classifieds platform Carmudi Indonesia for $3m

SG’s Carro enters Malaysia with $30m investment in myTukar

Carro, a Singapore-based automotive marketplace backed by SoftBank Ventures Asia, EDBI and B Capital Group, has forayed into Malaysia with a $30-million investment in myTukar, a local car bidding platform. The company said this is the first of two planned acquisitions in Malaysia, the home market of competitor Carsome. Carro had in August announced the… Continue reading SG’s Carro enters Malaysia with $30m investment in myTukar