Four startups currently enrolled in Microsoft Ventures' Accelerator Plus initiative are in negotiations to be bought, though no firm announcement is set to be made until graduation later this month.

The country's securities regulator approved three applications this week but large China-based businesses are increasingly looking west to go public.

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has announced that it will make the money available to six venture capital firms for early-stage start-ups.

The China-based online travel guide has raised $200m from Ctrip, which made its third large investment in the sector inside six months.

Alibaba has partnered with Yunfeng Capital for a $1.22bn investment in video streaming service Youku Tudou in a deal that will enhance Alibaba's internet offerings.

Bangalore-based SeQuent Scientific has acquired a stake worth almost 16% in pharmaceutical ingredient developer Shasun Pharmaceuticals.

The Intel-backed business disaster software provider is reportedly seeking between $15m and $20m in order to expand geographically.

The Qatar-based telecom company will join Rocket Internet in investing in e-commerce companies in Asia through their new Asia Internet Holding joint venture.

The diversified Chinese conglomerate will extend its corporate venturing activities to the US with a $100m Silicon Valley-based VC firm.