Protos Labs secures SGD 3 million in seed funding, eyes regional growth
Singapore-based cyber risk management startup Protos Labs just scored SGD 3 million (USD 2.3 million) in an oversubscribed seed funding round, according to e27. The startup drew interest from a diverse group of investors including A2D Ventures, Beenext, VinaCapital, Artem Ventures (in partnership with FWD Insurance), Plug and Play Silicon Valley, Investible, Gan Konsulindo, 1337 Ventures, and Gobi Partners.
With this fresh injection of capital, Protos Labs is gearing up to accelerate its regional expansion and double down on product development. The startup is carving out a niche at the intersection of insurance and cybersecurity. Its artificial intelligence-driven platform is designed to help businesses and insurers not just mitigate cyber risks but also price them more accurately.
Protos Labs’ sister company, Protos Cover, offers cyber insurance directly to businesses in Singapore—a move that complements its core tech offering.
Honor gets a boost from China Mobile as IPO looms
Honor, the smartphone brand that spun off from Huawei, is getting ready for its IPO with a little help from a heavyweight: China Mobile’s parent company. While the investment amount hasn’t been disclosed, this deal—first reported by Reuters—signals that China Mobile sees strategic value in teaming up with Honor as the brand gears up for its public debut.
Honor has been on a roll, backed by substantial support from Shenzhen’s government, including funding for R&D and tax incentives. The smartphone maker, which announced its IPO plans last November, has kept quiet on the specifics, but the partnership with China Mobile is expected to be a significant lever as Honor continues to build out its product portfolio and tap into China Mobile’s extensive user base.
Laiqa Wellness lands INR 150 million to shake up women’s health
Gurgaon-based Laiqa Wellness is on a mission to transform women’s health, and it just got a serious vote of confidence. The female tech startup has secured INR 150 million (USD 1.8 million) in seed funding from IvyCap Ventures, which it plans to funnel into expanding its tech-based hormonal health solutions.
Laiqa is pioneering a new approach to women’s wellness by addressing hormonal imbalances through personalized care that syncs with each woman’s menstrual cycle. Its app is at the heart of this, offering insights and recommendations tailored to a woman’s unique hormonal pattern—think modern science meets Ayurveda.
Melbourne Capital Group deepens roots in Malaysia with latest acquisition
Melbourne Capital Group (MCG), a private wealth management firm in the Asia Pacific region, has made a strategic move into Malaysia by acquiring a wealth management firm formerly known as Blueprint Planning.
This acquisition includes the company’s capital markets service license (CMSL), allowing MCG to offer a broader range of financial planning services to Malaysian clients.
BrightChamps, SurplusLoop, EngineAI, and more led yesterday’s headlines:
- BrightChamps, an edtech company, acquired and rebranded Vietnam’s leading English communications platform, Schola, as BrightChamps Vietnam.
- SurplusLoop, a Malaysian startup specializing in surplus asset management for asset-heavy industries, raised USD 110,000 in pre-seed funding from Antler.
- EngineAI, a startup focused on the development of humanoid robots, secured nearly RMB 100 million (USD 14 million) across two angel funding rounds. The initial round was led by SenseCapital, with participation from Hefei Binhu Financial Investment. Highlight Capital led the round extension, joined by Xunsheng Capital and Hefei Binhu Financial Investment.
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