Asia Pacific: An Evolving VC Market

Asia Pacific An Evolving VC Market
Asia Pacific
An Evolving VC Market
Thematic Report by
Nishant Sindhwani
Senior Research Analyst
Investment Research
Global Venture Capital Investors
Betting Big
on Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific has emerged as a sweet spot for Venture Capital (VC) investors
attracted by the regions growth prospects.
China and India, two key economies in the region, have grown at a substantial
rate over the past decade and are fast becoming a hotbed for global venture
capital investments.
While lack of transparency, regulatory framework, infrastructure, and poor
governance continue to act as impediments in the short-term, long-term
investment and growth prospects look robust as Asian governments continue to
focus on favorable policy reforms and good governance.
The Rise and Rise of Asia-Pacific VC Opportunities

Venture capitalism, an investment method well established in Western economies, is gaining traction in Asia-Pacific.
The rise of technology-driven ideas may lead to the development of a new hotbed for venture capital investments in
the region. The start-up ecosystem in the emerging economies of Asia-Pacific is still at a nascent stage, but is rapidly
evolving. Technology-driven start-ups such as Telison, BOE Technology Group, tap4fun from China, and Edureka from
India have been featured in the list of Deloittes top 10 fastest growing tech firms. Considering the talent base and growth
potential, several global venture capital firms are seeking opportunities to invest in Asia-Pacifics start-up ecosystem.
During 201015, nearly 7,773 companies raised funds via VC investors in Asia-Pacific. Moreover, the region witnessed
nine big ticket deals in 2014 raising over USD19.7bn, up 9 times from USD1.9bn in 2013. This trend has continued
in 2015, and since the turn of the year the region captured USD15.9bn (a total of 754 investments) in venture capital
funding till date.
Asia- Pacific
VC investment deals
Asia- Pacific VC investments

by Value (in USDmn)
Total Equity Amount Raised through VC Investments
VC Investments by Number of Deals

1,670
1,472
38,886
1,414
1,357
1,106
754
17,562
21,385
12,178
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015 YTD
2010
2011
2012
15,990
9,469
2013
2014
2015 YTD
Source: Thomson One Banker
Despite the tremendous growth potential, total VC investments in Asia-Pacific have been lower than the Western
economies due to the lack of investor confidence in emerging markets. However, VC investments in the region continue to
grow; in 2014, Asia-Pacific emerged as one of the major investment destinations, with investments worth over USD38bn
in start-ups. Currently, large global financiers, such as Blackstone and Morgan Stanley, are showing keen interest to
invest in Asia-Pacifics technology-driven start-ups.
Investment in Tech Start-ups and E-commerce Remain in Vogue

Of the 1,357 VC deals carried out during 2014 in Asia-Pacific, nearly 27% were in software-driven technologies
developed by enthusiastic start-ups to fill the gap in local markets. In addition, Asia-Pacifics e-commerce sector also
gathered momentum and raised about USD3.9bn through 100 deals (or average equity amount of around USD46mn
per company) in 2014.
Top Five Sectors

by Number of VC Deals (2014)
Top Five Sectors

by VC Investment Volume (USDmn)
Software Publisher
364
Internet Publishing and

Broadcasting
256
E Commerce
Computer Programming Services
Biotechnology
100
35
24
Software Publisher
5,636
E Commerce
3,949
Internet Publishing and

Broadcasting
3,743
Dairy & Milk Production
441
Computer Programming Services
368
Emerging Markets are Fast Closing the Gap with Global VC Strongholds:
India, China to Lead the Way
While, the global economies are expected to grow at a sluggish rate, emerging economies in Asia-Pacific are projected
to expand at a substantially higher rate, supported by favorable demographics (higher proportion of young and earning
population), rising disposable income, rapid rate of urbanization and increasing need for infrastructural facilities, presenting
a unique opportunity for investors. Despite growing popularity among global VC funds, Asia-Pacific still lags behind the
US and European market in terms of number of deals. The start-ups in the developed markets, such as the US, continue
to attract the attention of VC investors. However, the trend appears to be shifting away from Silicon Valley towards Asia
Pacific, where the software publishing, e-commerce and Internet publishing & broadcasting, and web search portal
segments are gaining traction. In 2014, the amount of capital raised in the US increased nearly 56% to USD57.1bn
through 5,541 deals compared with USD36.6bn raised in 2013. On the other hand, the amount of capital invested across
the Asia-Pacific region jumped about 311% year-on-year to USD38.9bn in 2014. The software publishing, e-commerce,
Internet publishing & broadcasting, and web search portal segments in Asia-Pacific raised USD13.3bn through 720
deals in 2014, up ~4 times from USD2.8bn in 2013.
Geographic Breakdown of VC Investments in 2014 (USDmn)
63
Number of
Deals
29
113
1,550
1,357
6,130
59,920
38,886
12,011
522
744
1,055
South America
Africa
Middle East
Europe
Asia Pacific
North America
With continually increasing investment activity, Asia-Pacific has already overtaken Europe in terms of deal value and is
expected to further narrow the gap with North America over the medium term.
Betting Big on India and China

The availability of seed, angel, and venture capital funding remains the key factor in the development of a successful
start-up ecosystem. In developed countries, particularly the US, VC investors have played an important role in nurturing
companies that offer new and innovative services. Compared to the developed economies, the VC industry in India and
China is still at a nascent stage; however, with a well-developed education system and technological advancements,
entrepreneurship is being promoted and rewarded with increasing investor interest in these countries. In 2014, 507
start-ups with innovative technologies and service offerings raised their first round of capital from VC investors.
Asia
Asia
Pacific
Pacific
An Evolving
An Evolving
VC Market
VC Market
EMs
EMs
July 27,
July
2015
27, 2015
Initial Funding Scenario in China
Initial Funding Scenario in India
In USDmn In USDmn
25,000
20,000
25,000
587
595
587
595
20,630.4 20,630.4
20,000
1,600
700
600
1,400
600
500
15,000
10,000
15,000
322
10,619.6 10,619.6
10,000
7,678.9 7,678.9
5,000
5,000
0
2010
322
229
382
229
382
203
400
300
203
200
2,305.9 2,305.9 2,968.8 2,968.8

2,231.8 2,231.8
100
2011
2010
2012
2011
2013
2012
2014
2013
In USDmn In USDmn
700
1,200
500
1,000
400
800
300
600
200
400
1,200
100
200
200
0
0
2015YTD
2014 2015YTD
Equity Amount
EquityInvested
Amount (LHS)
Invested (LHS)
Number ofNumber
Deals (RHS)
of Deals (RHS)
1,600
1,423.9 1,423.9
208
1,295.7
1,400 1,295.7
181 148
181
1,000
800 120
120 650.2
600
650.2
390.3
400
0
2010
208
2010
2011
2011
2012
2012
2013
148
125
125
575.5
100
575.5
490.9
390.3
2013
2014
250
250
200
200
150
150
100
100
490.9
100
50
50
0
0
2014 2015YTD
2015YTD
Equity Amount
EquityInvested
Amount (LHS)
Invested (LHS)
Number ofNumber
Deals (RHS)
of Deals (RHS)
In recent years, venture investment returns have somewhat dried down in the Western countries. Big ticket investors are
on the lookout for options that can ensure higher returns than underperforming equity markets. China and India, which
were largely unaffected by the global economic downturn and have continued to register a good GDP growth rate over
the past few years, are becoming major hotbed for venture capital investments. In 2014, the start-ups operating in these
two rising economies of the east have managed to have jointly raised USD34.6bn. Historically, China has led India in
attracting investors; however, with Chinas economy showing signs of subdued growth in recent years, investors might
turn their attention toward India in the long run.
Venture Capital Landscape in Asia-Pacific in 2014 - India and China come out as clear winners
400
350
China, $30,006 mn
300
250
200
India, $4,633 mn
150
Japan, $857 mn
100
Australia, $457 mn
South Korea, $639 mn
50
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Number of Deals
Source: Thomson One Banker; Note: Bubble Size represents aggregate equity invested in the country
Chinese and Indian start-ups are not only raising funds from regional investors but also attracting Silicon Valleys big
spenders. Both these countries witnessed eight deals in the start-up ecosystem in excess of USD100mn totaling
USD19.7 bn.
Number of Venture Capital Deals by Deal Size in 2014
638
260
0
Less than $10 mn
$10.01 - 25 mn
$25.01 - 50 mn
China
7
1
$50.01 - 75 mn
$75.01 - 100 mn
1
More than $100 mn
India
Major VC Investments in China and India

Country
Company Name
Industry
Equity Invested
(USDmn)
Investors
China
Sinopec Marketing
Petroleum and
Petroleum Products
17,457.9
Shanghai Fosun VC Management and

CICC Qianhai Development Fund
China
Xiaomi Technology
Software Publisher
1,100.0
Digital Sky Technologies and Yunfeng

Fund II
India
Flipkart Online
Services
E-commerce
1,000.0
Accel Partners, GIC Special Investments,

Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment
Partners, and Tiger Global Management
China
ZhongAn Online P&C

Insurance
Insurance
931.1
SAIF Partners
China
TCL Corp
AV Equipment
Manufacturing
913.3
Tianjin Chengbai Equity Investment

Partner and other undisclosed funds
Emerging Trends Shaping Up the Industry

Several factors are attracting investor in Asia-Pacific. Although China and India are perennial favorites due to their strong
economic growth rates, investors are also looking to invest in other countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
With increasing number of investors entering the region, rising fund activity and inflated valuations are two key trends that
are likely to define the future of venture capital industry in Asia-Pacific.
Rising Asia Focused Venture Funds
The Venture Capital industry has witnessed strong fund raising growth in recent years, with nearly USD47.6bn being
raised by 148 Asia-focused VC funds in 2014. Furthermore, in 2015, 54 Asia-focused funds have raised USD10.6bn until
date. The primary investment focus of these funds was on technology driven startups, however consumer sector has
also attracted some interest from investors.
The Emergence of Asia Focused Venture Funds

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
366
286
73.2
400
350
43.4
40.7
300
245
250
47.6
200
34.8
150
148
134
10.6
54
2010
2011
2012
Total Amounts Raised (USD'bn, LHS)
2013
2014
2015YTD
100
50
0
Number of Funds
As global investors plan to capitalize on Asia-Pacifics growth story, domestic investors are also coming up with Angel
funds and helping companies in the seed rounds. In India and China particularly, 302 domestic funds raised USD10.7bn
in 2014.
Soaring Valuations
Over the past few years, economic reforms in Asia-Pacific have enabled the consumer class to grow, increasing
the number of Smartphone users and improving Internet penetration. Asia-Pacific is currently considered the hub of
technological innovations. Tech start-ups in the region are attracting huge VC investments. In 2014, 11 start-ups in China
raised Venture Investments at an aggregate post-money valuation of USD46.8 bn, while five companies in India raised
venture investment at a post-money valuation of USD10.6bn. This soaring valuation of start-ups in the region indicates
that the venture investors are investing in the companies with a long term view and are filling in the coffers to create
technology giants in the region.
Rising Valuations of Start-ups in Asia-Pacific (USDbn)
Average Post-money Valuation

3.6
2.4
0.2
2010
2011
0.1
0.3
2012
2013
0.7
2014
2015
Source: Thomson One Banker; Note: Only deals where post-money valuation was disclosed were considered
In an attempt to gain a share of Asia-Pacifics growing technological ecosystem, VC firms are investing at multiples
significantly higher than their peers in the US and Europe. For instance, Flipkart, Indias largest e-commerce company
was valued at around USD11bn after its latest round of funding. This valuation amount is more than three times its gross
merchandise volume (GMV) of over USD3bn. In contrast, e-commerce veteran eBay trades at roughly equal to its GMV.
Over the past one year, post-money valuation in the initial funding rounds has soared up in the region. Several companies
in India and China, such as Flipkart (which raised USD1bn in recent round of funding) and Xiaomi (which raised USD1.1bn
in recent round of funding), were valued well above USD1bn at post-money valuations in their first few rounds of funding.
Although high valuations at an early stage are helping to develop the start-up ecosystem in Asia-Pacific and encouraging
entrepreneurs, late-stage investors are being cautious about the rising valuations of companies.
Key Concerns Weigh Heavy On Attractive Opportunities in Asia-Pacific
The success and failure of a VC investment is determined by the value a VC firm is able to generate from its portfolio
company at the time of exit. An exit strategy is a vital part of the VC cycle and plays a crucial role in assessing the VC
investments performance. An investor can consider various routes at the time of exit, with trade sale (acquisition by a
strategic or financial buyer) and IPO being the two most popular options among VC investors.
Globally, an IPO has been the most preferred exit route, with companies raising USD83.2bn in 2014. In the past, the IPO
option has provided huge gains to VC investors in Asia-Pacific; however, with soaring valuations at initial stages, the IPO
route appears to be a distant option.
Number of VC Exits by Type in Asia-Pacific
215
191
149
130
112
105
96
21
2010
79
20
100
58
2011
2012
IPO
Trade Sale
124
3
2013
54
9
2014
4
2015
Secondary Sale
In 2014, Asia-Pacific witnessed 149 VC-backed IPOs that raised a median amount of USD15.5bn. In addition, M&A is
not a viable exit option for VC investors, with the region witnessing 124 deals worth USD14.6bn, substantially lower than
541 deals raising USD58.8bn for VC investors in the US.
Governance and Infrastructure Issues Persist
Although Asia-Pacific has been one of the key destinations for international investors, several VC investments have
underperformed. Venture capitalists face numerous challenges in the form of weak regulatory systems, poor infrastructure,
and cultural differences, which makes it difficult for the investors to monitor their investments in the region.
Despite the presence of abundant talent across the region, the start-up ecosystem is still evolving. Recently, many
countries in the region introduced start-up friendly norms and have started promoting first-generation entrepreneurs, but
the basic infrastructure is still not appropriate for new and upcoming technologies and service providers. As Asia-Pacific
prepares for the next level of technology boom, the start-up ecosystem would require strong support from government
authorities.
The Way Forward
Spreading from India to Japan and China to Australia, Asia-Pacific is a diverse market. Although the region is collectively
underdeveloped, it presents a wide range of opportunities for investors with a long-term horizon. VC investments have
gathered pace in recent years, and considering the technology boom in the region, these investments are expected to
further rise in the near term.
Historically, VC investments in Asia-Pacific have been largely profitable and have generated reasonable returns for their
investors. The average time to exit is low compared with other major geographies. However, rising valuations may be
a cause of concern for late-stage investors. Nonetheless, with portfolio companies largely catering to the underserved
consumer base in Asia-Pacific, robust returns are expected over the long run.
DISCLAIMER
This report is published by Aranca, a customized research and analytics services provider to global clients.
The information contained in this document is confidential and is solely for use of those persons to whom it is addressed and may not
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This document is based on data sources that are publicly available and are thought to be reliable. Aranca may not have verified all of
this information with third parties. Neither Aranca nor its advisors, directors or employees can guarantee the accuracy, reasonableness
or completeness of the information received from any sources consulted for this publication, and neither Aranca nor its advisors,
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