Cinch banks USD 28.8 million to expand circular tech access across Asia
Cinch, a Singapore-based startup, has raised up to USD 28.8 million in a new funding round aimed at widening access to tech hardware while minimizing e-waste. Monk’s Hill Ventures led the investment, with participation from Z Venture Capital, 1982 Ventures, Ratio Ventures, and others.
Cinch runs a circular model for consumer tech, offering subscription-based access to devices like smartphones and laptops. Instead of cycling through products and landfilling the leftovers, Cinch refurbishes and recirculates.
The capital will go toward enhancing its backend infrastructure—especially the systems that help distributors and telecom partners manage device logistics, financing, and lifecycle tracking. “We’re connecting the dots within Asia’s infrastructure for a sustainable tech economy,” said CEO Mahir Hamid.
Gridsight raises USD 7.5 million to rewire how grids handle tomorrow’s electricity needs
Gridsight, a startup out of Sydney working to modernize the way electricity grids operate, has raised USD 7.5 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Airtree Ventures and included backing from Energy Transition Ventures, Aera VC, and Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins.
At its core, Gridsight builds software to help electricity networks adapt to a future that’s already arriving: decentralized, demand-heavy, and packed with solar panels and electric vehicles. Its orchestration platform leans on real-time analytics to provide operators with the visibility and control they need to balance fluctuating loads. Roughly half of Australia’s grid operators already use the software, according to the company.
With fresh capital in hand, Gridsight plans to scale its platform and go international. The company is riding the momentum of a recent collaboration with Endeavour Energy, an Australian grid operator. That project aimed to double the amount of rooftop solar power that households can export back into the grid—an upgrade that could translate into additional income for consumers.
Juspay lands USD 60 million in Series D round led by Kedaara Capital
Juspay, based in Bengaluru, has raised USD 60 million in a Series D round to support its overseas expansion and deepen its artificial intelligence-driven product suite. The round included both primary and secondary investments, and was led by Kedaara Capital. Existing investors SoftBank and Accel also joined.
Founded in 2012, Juspay provides a modular suite of payment infrastructure tools used by banks and merchants—covering checkout, tokenization, real-time payments, analytics, and 3D secure authentication.
The new funding will help the company open a new office in Singapore and enhance the AI systems it uses to boost merchant efficiency and employee productivity. Avendus Capital advised on the transaction.
DaveAI secures pre-Series A funding to sharpen vertical AI models
DaveAI, a conversational AI startup, has secured an undisclosed amount in a pre-Series A round to scale its cloud-based platform. The funding was led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) and SucSeed Indovation, with additional support from Soonicorn Ventures, Yes Bank, and Mohan Kumar (Crestere Technologies). The round includes a mix of equity and debt.
The Bengaluru-based startup provides tools for enterprises to build personalized virtual experiences, with a focus on vertical-specific small language models. Automotive applications are a priority. The company’s architecture is also built to operate independently of specific cloud providers—a selling point for enterprises concerned with vendor lock-in.
DriverShaab raises INR 28.2 million to streamline fleet management
DriverShaab, a B2B platform based in Kolkata that aggregates drivers for corporate and logistics use, has raised INR 28.2 million or around USD 330,000 in a pre-Series A round. The round was co-led by Inflection Point Ventures and Firstport Capital.
The company offers on-demand driver solutions tailored for businesses—supporting employee transportation, logistics services, and ad-hoc driving needs. The funds will go toward backend upgrades and platform expansion.
Zence Object raises over RMB 10 million to grow tea-based plastic alternatives
Zence Object, a Hong Kong-based startup specializing in sustainable materials, has raised over RMB 10 million (USD 1.4 million) to expand its portfolio of sustainable materials. The funding comes from AB Global Opportunities LPF and Gobi Partners, and includes a RMB 30 million (USD 4.2 million) purchase order from AB Builders Group, which is part of a broader partnership to expand overseas.
Zence is known for its tea-based bio-materials under the “Chazence” brand—offering alternatives to plastic, wood, and paper. Its materials have been used by brands such as Starbucks and TCL. Now, the company is extending its footprint into automotive and beauty, while setting up offices across Asia and the US.
Other deals completed in China:
- Linkerbot, a startup focused on embodied intelligence, has raised over RMB 100 million (USD 14 million) in seed funding. The round was jointly led by HongShan’s seed fund and Wankai New Material, with participation from Leaguer Capital, Leaguer Financial, Huacang Capital, and Human Capital. The funds will be allocated toward R&D and product iteration. —36Kr
- Mitoch, a veterinary biotechnology firm, has secured pre-Series A funding worth tens of millions of RMB. Triwise Capital led the investment. Proceeds from this round will support the clinical translation and development of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) drugs targeting geriatric diseases in animals. —36Kr
- Galaxea AI, which specializes in embodied AI, has closed its Series A2 and A3 rounds of financing, securing over RMB 300 million (USD 42 million) in total funding. Cathay Capital led the round, with participation from Lenovo Capital, Haier Capital, and follow-on investments from IDG Capital, GL Ventures, Baidu Venture, and Resonance Ventures. The company has pulled in around USD 100 million this year alone. —36Kr
- Botinkit, a developer of AI-powered digital kitchen systems, has raised an eight-figure USD sum in a Series B funding round. The round was led by 5Y Capital, with Alphaist Partners participating. Stars Capital acted as the financial advisor. The company plans to accelerate product development and international rollout. —36Kr
Nul, SkyeChip, Betterteem, and more made recent headlines:
- Nul, a climate tech startup, secured a USD 500,000 pre-seed investment from sustainability-focused venture builder Wavemaker Impact, the platform from which it launched.
- SkyeChip, an integrated circuit (IC) design firm, secured an undisclosed investment from Gobi Partners through the Dana Impak Fund, which is backed by Khazanah Nasional.
- Betterteem, a human resource tech startup based in the Philippines, has secured seed funding from 1337 Ventures. The amount was not disclosed.
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