FB Pixel no scriptKrASIA | Decoding China's tech and business pulse
MENU
KrASIA

Insights

As China’s luxury market cools, brands turn to food and wine to stir demand

5 mins read

Pulses

US, China leaders expected to hold trade call

just now
Reuters
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak this week to address trade tensions, including tariffs and mineral export restrictions, according to the White House. The call follows a 90-day truce agreed in Geneva but comes amid slow progress, ongoing legal challenges, and unresolved structural issues.

Neuralink closes Series E funding round

just now
Neuralink
Neuralink has confirmed the closure of its Series E funding round at USD 650 million, with backing from Ark Invest, DFJ Growth, Founders Fund, G42, Human Capital, Lightspeed, QIA, Sequoia Capital, Thrive Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Vy Capital, and others. The funding will expand its clinical trials in the US, Canada, and UAE, and advance brain-computer interface applications for vision and speech restoration.

Wada FoodTech raises USD 5 million

just now
Wada FoodTech
Wada FoodTech has raised USD 5 million in a pre-Series A3 funding round co-led by MindWorks ETEC Fund and Golden Resources, bringing its total backing to over USD 10 million. The company will use the funds to scale its hot-chain bento vending platform across Japan, the UK, EU, and Australia through franchising and AI-powered logistics.

BYD targets Japan’s kei car market

just now
Financial Times
BYD plans to launch a low-cost electric kei car in Japan by 2026, targeting the USD 18 billion minicar segment that accounts for roughly 40% of local automotive sales. The EV will be tailored to Japan’s unique minicar specs and tax incentives, marking one of BYD’s first models designed specifically for export.

Truely raises funding to grow eSIM service

just now
Truely
Truely has raised an additional USD 2 million from DG Daiwa Ventures, Goodwater Capital, Disrupt.com, and existing investor Beenext, bringing its total funding to USD 5.5 million. The travel tech firm offers eSIM data access without requiring SIM swaps and is expanding globally through consumer growth and B2B2C partnerships across travel and fintech sectors.

GCash parent approves stock split ahead of IPO

just now
Bloomberg
Globe Fintech Innovations, the company behind GCash, has approved a stock split to increase its authorized shares from 2.15 billion to 71.7 billion ahead of a potential IPO. The move maintains a PHP 2.15 billion capital base and is pending regulatory clearance, shareholder Ayala Corporation said.

Nvidia plans compliant AI chip for China

just now
The Information
Nvidia is developing a China-specific AI chip, the B30, that reportedly enables multi-unit clustering and complies with US export rules. Expected in July and based on the Blackwell platform, the chip is key to Nvidia’s efforts to retain market share amid H20 restrictions and mounting competition from Huawei.

Temu gains ground in UK after two years

just now
Ebrun
Nearly two years after launching in the UK, e-commerce platform Temu is winning over local consumers, with 80% calling it good value and citing 25% average savings in the past year, according to Ipsos. Price remains the top reason for continued use among 60% of users, while 74% would recommend the platform and 40% plan to spend more in 2025.

Amber Premium’s revenue jumps post-merger

just now
Amber International
Amber Premium posted Q1 2025 revenue of USD 14.9 million, rebounding to profitability after merging with iClick. Wealth management solutions led with USD 9.9 million, while client assets rose 11% to nearly USD 1.3 billion. Adjusted EBITDA reached USD 1.6 million, driven by product expansion and platform scale.

Touch-sensitive robots get funding boost

just now
KrASIA
Lumos Robotics has secured nearly RMB 200 million across three angel funding rounds to scale its visuotactile robotics platform. Its LUX series modules, designed for touch sensitivity, integrate haptic and visual input for fine control. The funds will support commercialization and deployment of its tech in logistics, manufacturing, and service robots.

Deepthink debuts AI imaging in GAC cars

just now
KrASIA
Deepthink’s AI imaging tech has debuted in GAC’s Hyptec HL, with broader rollout planned across the brand’s vehicle lineup. Previously focused on drone-based night vision, the company is shifting to automotive applications, enhancing imaging in low-light conditions. Founder Zhang Qining expects the firm to turn a profit this year.

Dunhuang scrolls go digital with AI

just now
Tencent Cloud
Over 9,900 ancient Dunhuang manuscripts are now searchable and readable via a new AI-powered platform launched by the Dunhuang Research Academy and Tencent Cloud. The “Digital Library Cave” uses smart indexing, LLMs, and multilingual support to offer summaries, translations, and real-time Q&A, making millennia-old Buddhist and historical texts accessible for the first time.

Pony.ai to deploy 1,000 robotaxis in Shenzhen

just now
Pony.ai
Pony.ai will deploy over 1,000 Gen 7 robotaxis in Shenzhen through a partnership with taxi operator Xihu Group. Under an asset-light model, Xihu will manage fleet operations while Pony.ai provides autonomous driving technology and dispatch, aiming to scale driverless mobility in urban China.

BYD expands megawatt charging network

just now
Shanghai Securities News
BYD will partner with Xiaoju Charging and Xindiantu to co-build 15,000 megawatt-level fast chargers across China, expanding its existing network of over 500 stations and accelerating the nationwide rollout of high-speed EV charging.

iQiyi slashes virtual studio rental rates

just now
Sina
iQiyi slashed the daily rental price of its XR virtual production system to as low as RMB 35,000 from RMB 160,000, effective June 1. The move aims to lower cost barriers for creators as virtual production use across the company's projects rose 50% YoY, supported by major infrastructure upgrades in Hebei and Zhejiang.  

China’s RISC-V chipmaker Eswin targets IPO

just now
Shanghai Securities News
Eswin Computing, a leading Chinese RISC-V chip provider led by BOE founder Wang Dongsheng, filed for a Hong Kong IPO on May 30. The firm derives most of its revenue from smart terminal solutions and could become China’s first listed RISC-V specialist, underscoring momentum in domestic chip innovation.

Ant’s AI health app clears trust review

just now
36Kr
Ant Group’s AI health assistant has become the first product to pass China’s trusted model review for medical applications, according to CAICT. Launched in September 2024, the service is said to support over 40 million users with features like report reading and diagnosis support, backed by AI agents representing more than 60 leading physicians.

US investors race to license China biotech

just now
WSJ
US investors are rushing to license drugs from China as the country’s biotech sector gains global clout. Nearly 30% of recent pharmaceutical licensing deals involved Chinese firms, up sharply from prior years. VCs cite competitive pricing, speed, and innovation, with companies like Pfizer and Verdiva already securing major deals.

Synopsys halts China sales amid US curbs

just now
Reuters
Synopsys halted sales, services, and support in China from May 29 after receiving new US export restrictions. The freeze affects all users in China, including global clients' local operations. The company also suspended forecasts and is awaiting clarification, as Washington tightens tech curbs on semiconductors.

Samsung may preload Perplexity AI on devices

just now
Bloomberg
Samsung is reportedly nearing a deal to preload Perplexity AI’s assistant on future devices, including default integration in the Galaxy S26 line, with talks also covering Bixby upgrades. The tie-up may involve an investment in Perplexity’s USD 500 million funding round as Samsung seeks to expand its AI stack and lessen reliance on Google.
See All

Icon for Editor’s PicksEditor’s Picks

Insights

Beneath the bureaucracy: How state capital made (and remade) China’s venture ecosystem

A new model of state capital is taking root in China—one that’s redefining how venture capital works, from funding mechanics to policy alignment.

30 mins read
  • Features

    ByteDance launches Coze, its new AI agent platform, in beta

    8 mins read

Venture RoundupVenture Roundup

  • News

    Deals in brief: Temasek’s Xora invests in GridCare, Airwallex raises Series F funding, Antler backs three early-stage SEA startups, and more

    7 mins read
    • See All

    Automaker InsightsAutomaker Insights

    • See All

    Retail and CommerceRetail and Commerce

    • See All

    Icon for Casual ChroniclesCasual Chronicles

    Our EventsOur Events

    • See All