ArrowBiome raises USD 1 million to develop microbiome management solutions
ArrowBiome, a biotechnology company based in Singapore, has announced a USD 1 million seed funding round, invested by early-stage venture capital firm Cocoon Capital.
The proceeds will support the development and commercialization of ArrowBiome’s innovative microbiome management solutions, which precisely target specific bacterial strains. The company leverages lysins, proteins evolved by bacteriophages, to selectively kill bacteria. Its initial target market is the treatment of acne and body odor. ArrowBiome’s technology has demonstrated significant efficacy and selectivity across multiple bacterial strains, addressing a need in microbiome management by maintaining a healthy microbiome balance and minimizing the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
ArrowBiome will use the funds for R&D, clinical validation, and establishing commercial partnerships.
Autify secures Series B funding to break into the South Korean market
Autify, an artificial intelligence-driven quality engineering platform, has raised USD 13 million in a Series B funding round. The round was co-led by Globis Capital Partners and LG Technology Ventures, with participation from existing investors World Innovation Lab (WiL), Salesforce Ventures, Archetype Ventures, and Uncorrelated Ventures.
Autify plans to use the funds to expand into the South Korean market and strengthen its collaboration with LG CNS, while continuing to serve its core markets in the US and Japan.
The company has also released a beta version of Zenes, an autonomous AI agent for software quality assurance, which aims to optimize the software testing process by generating and maintaining automated test cases.
DataMesh receives funding to expand its metaverse focus
DataMesh, a Singapore-based provider of digital twin and extended reality (XR) solutions, has closed a new funding round. The investors include the KDDI Open Innovation Fund 3 and Singtel Innov8.
The funds raised will accelerate the R&D efforts and market expansion of DataMesh’s “industrial metaverse” platform, driving digital transformation across the industrial sector through the application of digital twin and XR technologies.
Temasek enters AUD 300 million agreement with Australian ETF manager Betashares
Betashares, an Australian financial services company, has entered into a binding agreement for Temasek, a global investment firm headquartered in Singapore, to invest up to AUD 300 million (USD 198.7 million).
Following the investment, Temasek will hold a minority share in Betashares, joining existing shareholders including Betashares staff and TA Associates. This investment follows a period of significant growth for Betashares, which now manages over AUD 38 billion (USD 25.1 billion) across its range of exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Betashares plans to use the capital to expand its product offerings and continue its growth trajectory, including the launch of Betashares Direct, a retail investment platform, and its entry into the Australian superannuation industry.
South Korea’s Grinergy reaches investment agreement with North American backer
Grinergy, a South Korean startup specializing in lithium-titanate (LTO) batteries, has announced an investment agreement with an unnamed global investment group based in North America. This partnership aims to facilitate Grinergy’s entry into overseas energy markets, including North America, Europe, and the US.
The investment group, with subsidiaries in New York and Paris, manages venture capital and private equity funds totaling KRW 45 trillion (USD 32.5 billion) globally. The agreement, structured as a share subscription facility, enables Grinergy to raise up to KRW 40 billion (USD 28.9 million) from late 2025, as needed.
Grinergy plans to use the funds to expand production facilities and equipment at its Yeoju plant and secure IP for future growth. Additionally, Grinergy is working with UK-based Snapfast to establish a joint venture for local LTO battery production, supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding.
Recent deals completed in China:
- Aluksen Technology, a chip supplier specializing in optoelectronics, has raised an undisclosed amount in its Series B financing round. The round was led by SDIC Venture Capital, with participation from Walden International, Sany Group, HX Capital, and Zhuhai Hi-tech Venture Capital. The proceeds will be utilized for further R&D and market expansion. —36Kr
- HYLIC, a developer of solid-state lithium-ion batteries, has completed its pre-Series A funding round, raising an eight-figure RMB sum. The investors include Huai’an State-owned Assets Management, Ruitai New Energy, Tianhong Laser, Huai’an Financial Development Group, Huai’an Mingcheng Holdings Group, and Royal Capital. The funds will support the development and commercialization of HYLIC’s advanced battery technologies. —36Kr
- Leman Biotech, a Shenzhen-headquartered clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on cancer immunotherapy, has completed two extended angel funding rounds, securing a total of RMB 50 million (USD 6.8 million). New investors include Fuho Capital and Cloudsail Technology, alongside private financial investors, while existing investors Tiantu Capital and XtalPi increased their stakes. Additionally, the company received approximately RMB 20 million (USD 2.7 million) in grants. Since its establishment in 2021, Leman Biotech has raised about RMB 150 million (USD 20.6 million). —36Kr
- SenseArray, an AI solution developer, has raised RMB 50 million in a Series A financing round. The primary investor was Turing, and the funds will be allocated to team building and the advancement of the Ya’an supercomputer project, as well as strategic clustering in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and North China regions. —36Kr
- Innostellar Biotherapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in gene therapy drug discovery, has completed its Series B+ financing round. Shanghai Healthcare Capital led the round, with participation from Shanghai Alliance Investment. —36Kr
- Huantian Wisdom, a Chengdu-based space tech company, has completed its Series B funding round, with CDH Investments as the lead investor. The capital will be used to enhance the company’s product offerings and expand its market reach. —36Kr
- Conan AI, a firm developing AI-driven educational products for children, has raised several million RMB in its angel funding round. The round was led by Liufeng and Genmia’s founder, with China Peakedness acting as the exclusive financial advisor. —36Kr
- Leadbio Tech, a Hangzhou-based medtech company, has raised tens of millions of RMB in a Series A+ funding round. The funds will be used to advance clinical trials of existing products and develop new applications for artificial blood vessels, accelerating multiple preclinical research projects in regenerative medicine. —36Kr
- QCraft, a provider of advanced driver assistance solutions, has raised a nine-figure RMB sum in its Series C financing round from ZGC Science City and Cuihu Fund. The funds will be used to enhance the functionality of its mass-produced driving solutions, develop a platform-based product system, and standardize delivery processes to accelerate large-scale production and market penetration. —36Kr
Arches, Paper.id, Asuene, and more led last Friday’s headlines:
- Arches, a knowledge-sharing platform focused on the Asia Pacific region, raised USD 3 million in a funding round led by Kusabi, with participation from Visional, SMBC Venture Capital, and angel investors.
- Paper.id, an Indonesian B2B fintech company, raised an undisclosed sum of Series B funding in a round led by Square Peg Capital. The SMBC Asia Rising Fund, co-founded by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Incubate Fund, also participated, along with existing backer Argor Capital.
- Asuene, a Japan-headquartered climate tech startup, raised USD 26.7 million in the first close of its Series C funding round, jointly led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, SBI Investment, and Sparx Asset Management’s Mirai Creation Fund III.
If there are any news or updates you’d like us to feature, get in touch with us at: [email protected].