SMBC Asia Rising Fund Injects Fresh Capital into Easy Home Finance, Vayana, and DPDzero
SMBC Asia Rising Fund, a $200 million corporate venture fund launched in 2023 by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Incubate Fund , has deployed $12 million to $15 million in follow-on investments across three prominent Indian FinTech startups: Easy Home Finance, Vayana, and DPDzero.
According to Rajeev Ranka, partner for India investments at SMBC Asia Rising Fund, the capital injection aligns with a strategy of increasing conviction in portfolio companies that demonstrate sustained operational execution and growing market opportunities. The fund aims to support institutions that expand credit access and improve capital efficiency within India's financial ecosystem.
The recipient companies have all concluded notable funding milestones recently:
- Easy Home Finance: The affordable housing finance company raised a $30 million Series round in January, bringing its total aggregate funding to date to $80 million.
- Vayana: The trade finance platform secured primary and secondary follow-on investments from existing shareholders. This follows its procurement of an NBFC license last year and a previous $20.5 million funding round in 2024, which was also led by the Asia Rising Fund.
- DPDzero: The Bengaluru-based startup, which focuses on AI-driven debt collection, previously secured $7 million in an August round led by Japanese venture capital firm GMO Venture Partners.
Asia Rising Fund, which operates with a 10-year tenure, continues its core mandate of backing Asian FinTech entities across lending, payments, supply chain finance, digital assets, and banking-as-a-service. Management noted that all three companies are currently exhibiting disciplined growth and strengthening operating leverage.
Norbert Gehrke
