Indonesian trucking startup Kargo Technologies secures strategic investment from Coca-Cola’s VC Amatil X; Singapore-based VC Vickers Venture Partners raised $ 200 million for its sixth fund.
India
Report: India’s media and entertainment industry will grow 9% in 2019. According to ET Tech, India ’s media and entertainment industry will grow by 9% in 2019 to Rs 1.82 billion (approximately US $ 240 million). Among them, streaming media revenue surpassed the film entertainment industry, second only to television and printing industry, ranking third. Online gaming has become the fastest growing market segment (41%), and achieved an overall user growth of 31%.
Digital software company Accion Labs India has secured financing from US PE company. According to DealStreetAsia, PE TA Associates and Basil Technology Partners have completed a strategic investment in digital software engineering company Accion Labs. The exact amount of the investment was not disclosed, and TA Associates ‘main investment target is Accion Labs’ India branch.
Although the central government has given a green light, some state governments still prohibit takeaway operations. According to Inc42, even though the central government has instructed all states to open up takeaway services, states such as Tamil Nadu, UP, Gujarat and Goa have banned services including takeaway platforms Swiggy and Zomato. In addition, Delhi and Bangalore yesterday issued a pass policy for delivery services.
Southeast Asia
Singtel ’s local Southeast Asian streaming platform HOOQ is applying for liquidation. According to DealStreetAsia, HOOQ Digital, a video streaming service controlled by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., said it is applying for liquidation because it cannot provide sustainable returns and pay for rising operating costs. The company was formed in 2015 by a joint venture of Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros Entertainment. But as international competitors such as Netflix Inc expanded in the region, it failed to gain sufficient market share.
Indonesian trucking startup Kargo Technologies secures strategic investment from Coca-Cola’s VC Amatil X. According to DealStreetAsia, Kadir Gunduz, President and Director of Amatil Indonesia, said, “Kargo Technologies is our first venture investment in Indonesia and working with them will increase our overall logistics capabilities. Kargo is currently completing two major Land transport routes and additional routes will be added in the future. “Kargo said the new funds will be used to improve the technology to meet all Coca-Cola trucking needs.
Singapore-based VC Vickers Venture Partners raised $ 200 million for its sixth fund. According to DealStreetAsia, Singapore-based VC Vickers Venture Partners has raised US $ 200 million for its US $ 500 million sixth fund to invest in deep tech startups in Asia and globally. The VC founder and chairman Finian Tan said that due to the impact of the outbreak, the company is not sure whether it can raise the remaining $ 300 million in the original planned time.
Nexus Indonesia, a US new energy company, launched its second batch of incubation and acceleration programs. According to e27, the California-based company has selected six startups focused on renewable energy for its second batch of incubation and acceleration plans in Indonesia, covering the Internet of Things (IoT), digitalization, and energy Access, energy efficiency, clean energy and business model innovation. By participating in the program, the startup will receive $ 4 million in seed funding.
Singapore Seed Venture Capital Fund KK Fund launches anti-epidemic project. According to e27, the fund aims to provide a solution to the outbreak and match investors with Thai startups. It is reported that more than 20 investment plans have been signed for the project.
Africa
The co-founder of fintech company Fawry has set up a new $ 25 million fund. According to MENAbytes, Mohamed Okasha, co-founder of Egypt’s leading fintech company Fawry, has stepped down as managing director. He said that a new $ 25 million fund is being launched to invest in fintech startups in Egypt.
WhatsApp usage is up 40%. According to IT News Africa, Kantar’s new research report indicates that WhatsApp usage has increased by as much as 40% in the past few months as a result of the global outbreak. The use of the platform increased by 27% in the early stages of the outbreak, increased by 41% in the medium term, and increased by 51% in the later stages.
Latin America
Superlogica, a Brazilian payment management platform, has invested $ 63.5 million. According to LatamList, Brazil’s payment management platform Superlogica has raised $ 63.5 million (300 million reais) from the US VC fund Warburg Pincus. The company provides a complete financial system for companies using recurring payment models, such as real estate, and the funds will be used to significantly increase their apartment rental services.
Fapesp, a Brazilian public agency, will invest $ 5.97 million in startups that provide outbreak solutions. According to LABS, São Paulo-based public agency Fapesp will allocate 30 million reais (approximately $ 5.97 million) to invest in startups that provide products or services for outbreak solutions. RODRIGO GARCIA, deputy governor of São Paulo, said that in addition to digital technologies and artificial intelligence solutions for medical services or patient care, products such as diagnostic kits and ventilators will become investment priorities.
The Brazilian government is considering providing credit to micro, small, and medium companies through POS machines. According to LABS, the Brazilian government is considering a new proposal by the Stone Card to grant credit to micro, small and medium-sized companies affected by the outbreak and quarantine through POS machines. The current proposal includes 100 billion reais (approximately $ 19.9 billion) in credit at an interest rate of 3.75% per year, with a three-year term and a one-year grace period. It is reported that sales of micro, small and medium-sized companies have fallen by 70% in the most affected areas in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina.
Others
Shangtang Technology has reached a cooperation with Japanese expressway operator “NEXCO in Japan”. On March 27, Shangtang Technology and the Japanese expressway operator “NEXCO in Japan” reached a cooperation and will try to introduce it in the NEXCO Japan’s “Application of Traffic Video Analysis Technology in Expressway” proposal Shangtang’s original intelligent video analysis technology based on image processing and machine learning. (Securities Times)
文 | Zehui @ 出海
Picture | Unsplash
