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
Author: Deal Street Asia Online News
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
Flying taxi startups look to Asian markets for takeoff
The world’s first passenger-drone services may debut in Asia — but the technology behind these flying taxis will be largely European. Volocopter GmbH of Germany said Thursday it will open a landing facility in Singapore later this year for trial flights, while Austria’s FACC AG is working to produce hundreds of passenger drones for Chinese… Continue reading Flying taxi startups look to Asian markets for takeoff
Used car retailing platform Spinny raises $13.2m led by SAIF Partners, Accel
Valuedrive Technologies, which owns and operates used car retailing platform Spinny, has raised $13.2 million in a Series A round of funding, led by venture capital firms SAIF Partners and Accel Partners. The round also saw participation from existing investors such as Blume Ventures and Simile Ventures, while venture debt firm Alteria Capital provided debt,… Continue reading Used car retailing platform Spinny raises $13.2m led by SAIF Partners, Accel