Deals of the week: Bukalapak gets more GIC funds; EDBI backs cancer biotech

Claudia Chong
Published Mon, Apr 19, 2021 · 09:04 AM

    DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.

    THESE South-east Asian tech deals made headlines in the past week:

    1. Bukalapak raises US$234 million led by Microsoft, GIC and Emtek

    According to a sale document seen by Reuters, the funding round for the Indonesian e-commerce unicorn also included South Korean web portal Naver and SC Ventures, the investment arm of Standard Chartered.

    Bukalapak is reportedly planning to list in Indonesia before eyeing a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in the US.

    2. Biotech startup Immunoscape raises US$14 million

    Immunoscape, which specialises in cancer treatment, raised US$14 million co-led by EDBI and existing investors US-based Anzu Partners and Japan-based University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners.

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    The EDBI investment was made through the S$285 million Special Situation Fund for Startups. The money will be used to scale up operations in Singapore and the US, as well as to improve the startup's immune-profiling technology.

    3. Genesis Alternative Ventures closes US$80 million debt fund

    The firm's first venture debt fund was anchored by family office Sassoon Investment Corp, which is a shareholder in The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Other investors include Japan's Aozora Bank, Korea Development Bank and Hong Kong multi-asset investment firm Silverhorn Group.

    Seattle-based global investment impact fund Capria Fund and Indonesia's PT Bank CIMB Niaga also invested in the fund.

    4. Vietnamese electric motorbike startup Dat Bike raises US$2.6 million

    The company's pre-Series A round was led by Jungle Ventures. Other investors included Wavemaker Partners, Hustle Fund and iSeed Ventures.

    The funds will be used for research and development, improving customer-facing operations and expanding the Dat Bike team.

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