 "Tencent's biggest investments of 2015")
Tencent threw a lot of money at start-ups last year – and that trend accelerated in 2015.
Our data shows that Tencent was involved in about 50 deals around the world. For this list, we’ve combined the 20 biggest ones to show you what the web giant and WeChat maker is interested in now.
Note that some funding rounds include other investors, where Tencent contributed only an unspecified portion.
Flightcar
Total round: $20.7 million
Other investors in round: Priceline, GGV Capital, General Catalyst Partners, Softbank Capital, First Round Capital
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Stage: series B
Country: US
FlightCar is car rental with a twist. Users park at the airport when they head off on a trip, and while they’re away, a random person using the app rents out the car. The vehicle owner gets free parking as a result.
The start-up seems to be going through a rough patch with employee departures and dissatisfied customers, raising the spectre of this being money down the drain – just like with Fab.
Enjoy Learning
Total round: $24 million
Other investors in round: unknown
Stage: series B
Country: China
Tencent put in $20 million in June before other investors added a little more to this edtech start-up. Enjoy Learning is a marketplace for private tutors, aimed at parents with kids of any age.
Line0
Total round: $30 million
Other investors in round: Sequoia Capital, Gobi Partners
Stage: series B
Country: China
In the first week of 2015, Line0 revealed that it had gobbled up $30 million to stay in China’s heated meal delivery battle.
Tencent threw in the most money, with Sequoia Capital and Gobi Partners also contributing.
This is an excerpt from Tech in Asia. You can read the full article here.