Overseas:
1. Redpoint Ventures is raising another $400M to invest in Chinese companies
2. Venture capital funding of cybersecurity firms hit record high in 2018
3. SoftBank considers $750M bond buyback
4. JP Morgan published the 2019 Global M&A Outlook report
5. Fossil to sell smartwatch technology worth $40 million to Google, shares rise
6. In 5G play, Vodafone and IBM link up cloud systems for business
7. ‘Pokémon Go’ developer secures US$245mil in Series C funding
8. Payments company Square launches debit card for small businesses
9. Pinterest is interviewing bankers — a sign that the IPO is finally happening
11. Spotify launches Car View on Android to make using its app less dangerous behind the wheel
12. Amazon shareholders want the company to stop selling facial recognition to law enforcement
13. Walmart abandons plans for video streaming service and will focus instead on Vudu
14. OrCam’s MyMe uses facial recognition to remember everyone you meet
China:
1. Tencent releases test version of Game of Thrones smartphone game
2. China steps up push to nurture cybersecurity companies to support digitisation of economy
3. Baidu launched AI input method
5. Hello Chuxing got over 1million drivers applying for being a carpool driver in 20 days
7. Payment leader Yeepay is preparing IPO in USA (Rumor)
Blockchain:
Coinstar machines will start selling Bitcoin at the grocery store
Emerging Market:
1. India’s e-commerce curbs could hit online sales by $46 billion by 2022
2. Indian edtech firm Byju’s acquires US-based Osmo for $120M
3. With latest e-commerce tax, Indonesia wants to cash in on its unicorns
4. Singapore Event marketplace Delegate raises US$1 million
Cover picture credits from JP Morgan