Naluri raises USD 5 million to expand digital health services
Naluri, a Singapore-based digital employee health and wellbeing provider, has raised USD 5 million in funding. Telus Global Ventures’ Pollinator Fund for Good led the investment, while Sumitomo Corporation Equity Asia, M Venture Partners, and unnamed investors also participated.
The raise is part of a broader USD 14 million Series B round, structured in multiple tranches. The funding will support working capital, expansion into the Philippines and Vietnam, and Naluri’s new commercial partnership with Telus Health.
Naluri’s platform integrates mental health support, preventive behavioral care, and chronic disease management for enterprise clients.
Prefer raises USD 4.2 million to scale sustainable cocoa and coffee
Prefer, a Singapore-based food tech startup, has raised USD 4.2 million in an oversubscribed funding round co-led by At One Ventures and Chancery Hill Capital, with participation from Forge Ventures.
The raise coincides with the launch of Prefer’s soluble coffee and cocoa powders, developed from food manufacturing byproducts such as rice and soy. Using proprietary fermentation and roasting processes, the company said its products match the taste and functionality of conventional coffee and cocoa while producing up to 85% lower emissions and costing 50% less than Arabica beans.
Prefer last raised USD 2 million in a seed round led by Forge Ventures, with participation from 500 Global and others, as reported in February 2024.
Prefer has signed its first international partnerships with Ajinomoto and The Coffee Ferm in Australia and New Zealand. The funds will be used to scale pilot production, advance cocoa R&D, and deepen partnerships across Asia.
Antler invests USD 2.8 million in Southeast Asian AI startups
Antler, an early-stage investor and venture builder, has invested USD 7.4 million across Southeast Asia in the first half of 2025. That includes USD 2.8 million in seven AI startups through its “AI Disrupt” residency in Singapore.
Each startup received USD 400,000 in capital and more than USD 650,000 in AI development credits. The program targets companies with MVPs (minimum viable products) and early customer traction.
The cohort includes:
- Iris, which builds no-code AI agents for workflow automation and real-time data capture.
- Nugen, which develops domain-specific models for complex agent workflows.
- IndustrialMind.ai, which focuses on AI tools for manufacturing efficiency and predictive maintenance.
- Lambdai Space, which uses radar imaging for climate monitoring and insurance risk insights.
- Anamaya AI, which aggregates corporate travel data to improve booking efficiency and cost control.
- AppSecAI, which automates application security testing.
- 5.Y, which deploys AI-driven systems for customer engagement in regulated sectors.
Nibertex raises USD 7 million to grow PFAS-free textile membrane production
Nibertex, a Singapore-headquartered manufacturer of textile membranes, has raised USD 7 million in a Series A funding round led by TNB Aura. Other investors include Asian Development Bank, Faircrest Holding, and Foxmont Capital Partners.
The company’s proprietary nanospinning technology produces waterproof and breathable membranes for apparel, healthcare, and industrial use, eliminating environmental risks associated with PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Nibertex will use the capital to expand manufacturing operations in the Philippines, support R&D, and drive customer acquisition amid increasing global regulations against PFAS.
Nibertex last raised funds in a pre-Series A round from Foxmont Capital Partners, ADB Ventures, as reported in February.
Equatic raises USD 11.6 million to scale carbon removal and green hydrogen production
Equatic, a climate tech firm, has raised USD 11.6 million in a Series A funding round co-led by Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H), an initiative of Temasek Trust, and Kibo Invest. Other backers include a consortium of global investors.
The funds will support development of Equatic’s first 100-kiloton carbon dioxide removal facility, along with commercialization and further technology development.
Equatic’s seawater electrolysis process has been piloted in Los Angeles and Singapore. It is now expanding with demonstration plants in Singapore and Canada. Buyers of its carbon credits include Boeing and other industrial clients.
Graas.ai nets pre-Series B funding to expand agentic commerce platform
Graas.ai, a Singapore-based data and automation company for e-commerce, has raised more than USD 9 million in pre-Series B funding, according to YourStory. The round was led by Tin Men Capital, with backing from Incred Wealth, Orzon, Integra Partners, and Yuj Ventures.
The capital will be used to launch its Agent Foundry platform in India, enabling usage of agentic artificial intelligence to tackle e-commerce pain points such as pricing, customer acquisition, and inventory management.
Recent deals completed in China:
- Zhendian Zhigan, a sensor tech company, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in an angel financing round led by KylinHall Partners, with participation from Shuimu Tsinghua Alumni Seed Fund. The startup, founded this year, is developing new sensor technologies and energy harvesting platforms. Proceeds will go toward R&D, test line construction, commercialization, and team growth. —36Kr
- BCIFlex, a life sciences company, secured over RMB 300 million (USD 42 million) in a Series funding A round co-led by a Zhongguancun fund (managed by Legend Capital Management) and IDG Capital. Other participants include Yuanbio Venture Capital, China Life Capital, Lenovo Capital, Meituan’s DragonBall Capital, and Baidu Venture. —36Kr
- LindenBot, based in Hefei, has closed a nine-figure RMB angel funding round for its general-purpose embodied robotics. The round was led by Oriza Hua and joined by Xunfei Ventures, PreIPO Capital, Yingke Private Equity, Tianzhi Investment, and Hefei Hi-tech VC. —36Kr
- Porosvoc, an audio tech company, has raised an eight-figure RMB in Series A funding from Hanlian Semiconductor Industry Fund. Founded in 2018, Porosvoc develops tri-core audio AI chips and algorithms for use in smart devices and toys. —36Kr
- Xunlu Innovation Technology, an electric bike manufacturer, has raised an eight-figure RMB in a funding round led by HongShan’s seed fund, with continued support from Shunwei Capital and other existing backers. The funds will go toward the mass production of its debut model and R&D for new products. —36Kr
- Artificial Productivity, an AI hardware startup founded in 2024 by former 4Paradigm chief scientist Tu Weiwei, has secured a seven-figure USD sum in seed funding. Backers include Ameba Capital, SenseCapital, and 4Paradigm, with Yuanhe acting as financial advisor. The company has delivered its first companion robot and plans to launch a mass-produced smart toy for children next month. —36Kr
SG Enviro, TopView, Oncode, and more made recent headlines:
- SG Enviro, a Singapore-based wastewater engineering company, secured SGD 8 million (USD 6.2 million) in funding led by Emerald Technology Ventures.
- TopView, a Singapore-based platform that enables brands to create product content using artificial intelligence, raised USD 8.5 million in a Series A funding round led exclusively by Kamet Capital.
- Oncode Scientific, a Malaysia-based molecular diagnostics company, received an undisclosed investment from the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC).
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