36 Kr receives $14.4m investment for expansion

36 Kr, an ecological service platform for internet startups has completed its latest round of fundraising with more than 100 million yuan ($14.4 million), mainly from China Merchants Venture, a move to provide more professional and in-depth services for tech start-ups.

36 Kr is splitting its current businesses, including Kr Space, media, venture and finance. This is the second time within a month that 36 Kr has introduced important strategic investors to its subordinate Kr Space, a co-working space that just announced a 200-million-yuan A+ series of fundraising from Prometheus Capital and IDG Capital.

36 Kr will also establish a fund for venture, media and industry and hope to integrate its business.

China Merchants Group, a leading state-owned conglomerate based in Hong Kong, has three business platforms including industry, finance, capital investment and operation. The group established a 5-billion-yuan "internet plus" fund last year an innovative investment fund.

The business scope of 36 Kr has expanded from technology media to incubator Kr Space, and financing platform. It aims to establish a complete entrepreneurship ecosystem.

It announced an equity crowd-funding platform in June last year, focusing on formats and product innovation.

Liu Chengcheng, founder of 36 Kr said the capital from China Merchants Venture has a milestone meaning to 36 Kr, and the two sides will carry out in-depth cooperation comprehensively to provide services for entrepreneurs.

Liu added that 36 Kr will strengthen its team building and establish specialized funds to become the biggest technology entrepreneurial service group.