Earth Venture Capital invests in Aalo Atomics’ USD 27 million Series A round
Earth Venture Capital (Earth VC), a climate tech venture capital firm based in Vietnam, has invested in the USD 27 million Series A funding round of Aalo Atomics. The round was co-led by 50Y and Valor Equity Partners, with Earth VC participating alongside Harpoon Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Preston-Werner Ventures.
Aalo Atomics is pioneering the development of small nuclear reactors produced in gigafactories to provide scalable, cost-effective clean energy. The company will use the capital to expand its team, establish a new headquarters in Austin, and advance the de-risking of the licensing process.
Sarana AI secures pre-seed funding
Sarana AI, a human resource tech startup based in Indonesia, has raised an undisclosed amount in a pre-seed funding round led by Fortress Data Services (FDS), according to e27.
The startup will allocate the new capital toward the development of its artificial intelligence-driven platform, which aims to address Indonesia’s urgent need for advanced workforce development.
According to Sarana AI, the platform will help enhance employee retention and enable the upskilling of the workforce in response to evolving industry demands.
Shift closes AUD 35 million Series D round
Shift, an Australian provider of credit and payment solutions for businesses, has secured AUD 35 million (USD 23.7 million) in a Series D funding round led by Peak XV Partners. This round follows Shift’s AUD 230 million (USD 155.8 million) asset-backed securitization in May 2024.
The new funds will be used to further develop Shift’s proprietary data models and platforms, as part of its strategy to become the leading provider of credit and payments for Australian businesses.
Farquhar VC invests in South Korean edtech startup Catius
Singapore-based Farquhar VC (FVC), a venture capital firm, has invested in South Korean edtech startup Catius via its pre-Series A funding round, according to TechNode Global. The round was jointly led by Smilegate Investments and STIC Ventures.
Catius is the second South Korean startup to join FVC’s portfolio, which is said to include over 40 international startups. FVC has also recently signed partnership agreements with the Goyang Investment Authority and Twin Ventures to support cross-border startup collaborations between South Korea, Singapore, and Southeast Asia.
Recent deals completed in China:
- Pelliot, a leading name in outdoor apparel, secured an eight-figure RMB sum in its Series B funding round. Qiming Venture Partners took the lead, with Sinovation Ventures, GSR Ventures, and others following suit. The capital infusion is set to drive innovation in Pelliot’s professional and high-end product lines, bolster its offline presence, and refine its global supply chain. Founded in 2012, Pelliot now ranks among the top three in China’s outdoor apparel market. —36Kr
- Uppervoid, an outdoor apparel brand blending aesthetics with cutting-edge materials, has landed an eight-figure RMB sum in its latest funding round. One Capital led the investment, with Meier Fashion stepping in as a strategic investor. Established in 2021, Uppervoid is on a mission to reconnect people with nature through meticulously crafted outdoor gear. —36Kr
- EasyYa, a cross-border e-commerce platform, has pulled in RMB 150 million (USD 21.1 million) in new funding. A CICC Capital-managed fund spearheaded the round, joined by GSR United Capital, Guangzhou Tianhe Fund, and Beijing Yuanyi. The funds are earmarked for enhancing its factory system, expanding selection tools on TikTok, and broadening its international channels. —36Kr
- Ruicycle, a technology company specializing in lithium battery recycling, has locked in an eight-figure RMB sum during its Series C round. The round saw participation from Guoxin Venture Capital, Legend Capital Management, and Hidden Hill Capital. The fresh capital will fuel market expansion and tech development. —36Kr
- Weibuild (Weijian Technology), a smart construction innovator, has amassed over RMB 120 million (USD 16.9 million) across two funding rounds at the Series A++ and A+++ stages. Xiamen C&D and Unicorn Capital Partners led the rounds, respectively, with RayVC and Linear Capital joining in. —36Kr
Every Half, EcoSpirits, Return Helper, and more led last Friday’s headlines:
- Every Half Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee brand in Vietnam, secured an undisclosed amount in initial funding, led by Openspace Ventures, with participation from DSG Consumer Partners.
- EcoSpirits (stylized as “ecoSPIRITS”), a Singapore-based innovator in circular packaging technology, raised USD 3 million in trade finance from DBS Bank, marking one of the region’s first green loans for the packaging industry.
- Return Helper, a Hong Kong-based startup specializing in managing cross-border e-commerce returns, raised USD 1.8 million in a new funding round led by Hirac Fund, with Pegatron Venture Capital also participating.
If there are any news or updates you’d like us to feature, get in touch with us at: [email protected].