Chinese robot developer Robosen raises $14.5m in Series A funding

Robosen, a Chinese manufacturer of intelligent auto-transforming robot, has raised Rmb100 million ($14.5 million) in its Series A funding round, led by CMB International Capital Corporation (CMBI), an investment unit of China Merchants Bank. In a statement, Robosen, founded in 2011 in Beijing, said the funding round also saw participation of Hu Yu, the co-founder… Continue reading Chinese robot developer Robosen raises $14.5m in Series A funding

Amazon keen to buy prepaid brand Boost from T-Mobile, Sprint

Amazon.com Inc is interested in buying prepaid cellphone wireless service Boost Mobile from U.S. carriers T-Mobile US Inc and Sprint Corp, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Amazon is considering buying Boost – currently one of Sprint’s prepaid brands – mainly because the deal would allow it to use the new T-Mobile’s wireless… Continue reading Amazon keen to buy prepaid brand Boost from T-Mobile, Sprint

Vietnam’s ride-hailing firm BE partners VPBank to launch payments services

BE Group, the local rival of Grab and GOJEK in Vietnam, has launched its digital financial services in partnership with Vietnamese lender VPBank. beFinancial will integrate VPBank’s services into the be app to become a platform that comprises ride-hailing, payments, loyalty and reward and other online financial services for drivers and local SMEs. Earlier in… Continue reading Vietnam’s ride-hailing firm BE partners VPBank to launch payments services

SoftBank’s Vision Fund plans to borrow $4b against Uber equity stake

SoftBank Group Corp.’s Vision Fund plans to borrow about $4 billion against its equity stakes in Uber Technologies Inc. and other startups, according to a report in the Financial Times. The fund is discussing the loan with banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and would use as collateral its holdings in Guardant Health Inc. and… Continue reading SoftBank’s Vision Fund plans to borrow $4b against Uber equity stake

Nissan CEO sees no major downside to $35b FCA-Renault merger

Nissan sees no major downside to partnering with a combined Renault and Fiat Chrysler (FCA), it said on Wednesday in a lukewarm endorsement of the proposed $35 billion tie-up, which would complicate an already uneasy alliance. The leaders of Nissan Motor Co, France’s Renault SA and junior partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp gathered at Nissan‘s headquarters in Yokohama for a scheduled alliance meeting which was overshadowed… Continue reading Nissan CEO sees no major downside to $35b FCA-Renault merger

Intel Capital leads $17m Series A investment in Israeli startup TriEye

Israeli startup TriEye on Wednesday announced that it has raised $17 million in a Series A funding round, led by Intel Capital, the global investment arm of US tech giant Intel Corporation. Other investors who participated in the current round of funding include Marius Nacht, co-founder of Check Point Software Technologies, and TriEye’s existing backer… Continue reading Intel Capital leads $17m Series A investment in Israeli startup TriEye

Toyota may invest about $550m in Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi

A Toyota Motor Corp. badge is displayed on the wheel hub of a vehicle inside the Toyota City Showcase exhibit at the company’s Mega Web car theme park in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Feb. 3, 2017. Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg Toyota Motor Corp is considering investing about 60 billion yen ($550 million) in Chinese ride-hailing giant… Continue reading Toyota may invest about $550m in Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi

Indian hyperlocal delivery startup Dunzo in talks to raise $50m in Lightbox-led round

Venture capital fund Lightbox Ventures is in talks to lead a $50 million funding round in hyperlocal on-demand delivery startup Dunzo amid renewed investor interest, said three people aware of the matter on condition of anonymity. Mint first reported on 6 May that Dunzo is in talks with new investors to raise approximately $50 million.… Continue reading Indian hyperlocal delivery startup Dunzo in talks to raise $50m in Lightbox-led round

Tiger Global, Sachin Bansal join $51m funding round in electric scooter maker Ather

Electric scooter maker Ather Energy raised $51 million in a fresh round of funding, the startup said on Tuesday, at a time when rising pollution levels have prompted the Indian government to push for more electric vehicles on the road. Earlier this month, the government’s leading think tank proposed electrifying most motorbikes and scooters within… Continue reading Tiger Global, Sachin Bansal join $51m funding round in electric scooter maker Ather

Beijing E-Town Capital inks JV with Nio, to invest $1.45b in new entity

China’s Nio Inc will form a joint venture with Beijing E-Town International Investment and Development Co. Ltd which will invest 10 billion yuan ($1.45 billion) in the new entity, the electric vehicle (EV) maker said in a statement on Tuesday. E-Town Capital will support a new manufacturing facility for Nio’s next-generation platform 2.0 (NP2) vehicles,… Continue reading Beijing E-Town Capital inks JV with Nio, to invest $1.45b in new entity