January 23, 2018
In multiple investments in the region, Tokyo-based culinary media firm Dely has raised $30.25 million in venture funding while Indonesian user car marketplace BeliMobilGue.co.id has secured a $3.7 million pre-Series A. Meanwhile, AI & biometrics software startup GTRIIP has secured a seven-figure sum Series A funding round.
Dely closes $30.25m venture round
Japanese startup Dely, which runs video-centric culinary media Kurashiru, announced in a media release the completion of a JPY 3.35 billion ($30.25 million) fundraise from Softbank, Akatsuki and returning investors YJ Capital and United.
To date, Dely – which was launched in April 2014 – has raised in excess of $60 million while its competitor Every, which operates Delish Kitchen, has secured $50 million in equity funding, following an $18 million investment it raised in December 2017.
Investment proceeds will see it expand its workforce and engage in marketing as well as exploring acquisitions of other firms as part of its growth strategy. The firm, whose seed round in September 2014 was backed by Anri, started as a food delivery service but pivoted to video curation media in February 2016.
BeliMobilGue.co.id closes $3.7m Series A
Indonesian online marketplace for used cars BeliMobilGue.co.id announced the close of a $3.7 million Series Pre-A round of financing led by Intudo Ventures, according to a press release.
Other investors in the round include corporate and venture capital firms, Go-Jek co-founder Michaelangelo Moran and several Indonesian family offices.
Investment proceeds will finance the expansion of its physical network, enhance sales and marketing efforts, as well as expand its team. It also plans to expand its physical store network across the Greater Jakarta Region, country-wide and additional neighbouring markets, as well as enhance consumer outreach and market education efforts.
BeliMobilGue.co.id is a Southeast Asian joint venture (JV) between Berlin-based Frontier Car Group, a platform specializing in used-automotive marketplaces within emerging market economies; and Intudo Ventures, an independent institutional venture capital firm. Frontier Car Group was co-founded in 2016 by Sujay Tyle, Peter Lindholm, and Andre Kussmann and is backed by Balderton Capital and TPG/Satya.
GTRIIP closes Series A funding
AI & biometrics software startup GTRIIP has announced that it has secured a seven-figure sum Series A round of funding from institutional investors, according to a press release.
Headquartered in San Francisco with an APAC office in Singapore, the startup will use the new funds to expand its AI-powered cognitive technology features that have been making waves in the hospitality industry.
GTRIIP allows hotels to increase productivity by reducing repetitive tasks and provide guests with an improved hotel experience. The app allows guests to check in by taking a selfie in an automated process that uses fingerprint and facial recognition technology.
“This round of funding allows GTRIIP to reach our true potential and scalability in providing a wide range of AI-powered cognitive solutions for the hospitality and corporate real estate industry,” says Huang Siheng, co-founder and CTO of GTRIIP.