Author: Rebecca Fannin
Are Chinese Tech Startups Overvalued?
Technology startups in China are raising cash at a record pace from private investors, prompting concerns about potential overvaluation. The latest hot deal is an $800 million-plus round for Shanghai-based Dianping, an online-review site similar to Yelp Inc., as the WSJ’s Rick Carew and Juro Osawa report. Late demand from new investors increased the fundraising, pushing Dianping’s...
Why Asia’s Tech Titans Are Investing In U.S. Startups
Asia’s wealthiest technology companies are leading a wave of investment in U.S. startups with the hope of gaining a toehold in Silicon Valley and taking some hot new products home. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., China’s largest online retailer, recently invested $200 million in Snapchat Inc. The investment pushed the Venice, Calif., mobile-messaging company’s value up to...
Huawei’s Leaps Ahead In Mobile With Wearable Smartwatch
Huawei has introduced a 7-inch tablet with cellular voice capabilities alongside its Android Wear smartwatch that was leaked before the Mobile World Congress event. Huawei already sells a large phone direct to consumers in the U.S.: You can buy the Ascend Mate2 with its 6.1-inch display for $299.99 off contract. The new MediaPad X2 brings the screen...
Gov. Christie Confidante Bob Grady Joins Private Equity Firm
Bob Grady, a close confidant of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former chairman of the $81 billion New Jersey Investment Council, has agreed to join mid-market private equity firm Gryphon Investors as a partner, according to Fortune. He also will lead Gryphon’s general industries group, which is one of the San Francisco-based firm’s four areas of...
Investors Beware: Today’s $100M+ Late-stage Private Rounds Differ from an IPO
Every successful technology company raises money throughout its lifecycle, perhaps starting with a seed investment and progressing through Series A, B, C, late-stage investments, and, for the most successful companies, an IPO. Historically, different financial institutions specialized in different stages, because the assessment of risk and opportunity was considered unique at each stage — for example,...
Shenzhen Drone Maker: How Hong Kong Let It Get Away
Once upon a time Hong Kong was close to making itself home to one of the world’s most innovative companies – but eventually missed the golden opportunity for both political and economic reasons. Even more sadly, apparently almost no one in Hong Kong realised or cared about the missed opportunity until recently when “start-up” became the...
Silicon Dragon London 2015
China-UK Route Opens for Tech E-Trade: Leveraging the Opportunities
The Cash Funnel For Startup Exits
Viewpoint by venture capitalist Tytus Michalski of Fresco Advisers contends that tech titans are raising cash at low rates to become more aggressive in acquiring startups. See
Can Hong Kong Be A Dream City For A Startup?
One of the main problems facing any startup is how to eventually scale up the business. The key question for Hong Kong is whether it is an ideal place for start-ups to grow. The answer is mixed, depending on whether you view Hong Kong as just a local market or a gateway to the global market. If...
Tech E-Trade Route Between The UK And China Opens Up
Struggling to think of any strong startup connections between the UK and China? Think again. Incubators, accelerators, tech delegations, stock exchanges, and U.K.-based business leaders are eyeing growth and profits by leveraging opportunities in the Far East. Trade flows have always been strong, but not for tech innovation and venture investment. Now that’s changing as more and more...
Valuation game: India’s Micromax Nowhere Close To China’s Xiaomi
Home-grown mobile handset maker Micromax Informatics, which sold as many or even more smartphones in the past couple of quarters than global smartphone leader Samsung in India, is reportedly seeking a valuation of $3-3.5 billion for a potential stake sale. The valuation, which is close to three times its annual sales, is too low compared to its...
