Shiok Burger snags pre-Series A funding to fuel Southeast Asia expansion
Shiok Burger, a fusion burger brand, has closed its pre-Series A funding round led by AC Ventures. Existing investors CFF Fund, Spiral Rise Capital, and a publicly listed Chinese food conglomerate also participated, significantly increasing their stakes.
Proceeds from the round will support the expansion of Shiok Burger’s central kitchen, enabling operations across more than 30 stores. The company also plans to open new outlets, upgrade its digital systems, and invest in talent acquisition and franchise development.
Founded with a focus on regional flavors and scalable operations, Shiok Burger is positioning itself as a key player in Southeast Asia’s casual and fast food sector.
3cat completes pre-Series A round to scale secondhand tech platform
3cat, a Malaysia-based platform for refurbished electronics, has reportedly completed its pre-Series A funding round, per e27. The investors include The Radical Fund, AEON, and returning backers Iterative, TA Ventures, and TheVentures. The investment amount was not disclosed.
Launched in 2023, 3cat acquires, refurbishes, and resells secondhand smartphones through both physical stores and a digital platform. The company aims to scale up to nearly 100 outlets across Malaysia and will open a new vertically integrated refurbishment center in Kuala Lumpur.
The fresh capital will also support the rollout of embedded services such as device protection, financing options, and mobile plans.
Timah Partners gets USD 50 million to address SME succession in Southeast Asia
Timah Partners, based in Singapore, has received USD 50 million in Series A funding to launch a permanent holding company focused on succession solutions for small and medium enterprises in Southeast Asia.
Its backers include Mitch Rales (Danaher), Nick Howley (TransDigm), Alex Behring (3G Capital), and Compounding Labs.
Timah’s model involves acquiring succession-ready businesses and developing new leadership through its CEO-in-training program. The company aims to provide founders with long-term continuity while creating pathways for emerging operators to lead and build equity.
Kazam lands USD 6.2 million in Series B round for EV charging tech
Kazam, a Bangalore-based electric vehicle charging technology company, has raised USD 6.2 million in a Series B funding round. The round was led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), with participation from existing backers Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India and Avaana Capital Advisors.
This brings Kazam’s total funding to USD 19.2 million. The new capital will support expansion into new markets, product development, and operational scaling.
Jobizo raises INR 120 million to enhance healthcare hiring
Jobizo, a healthcare HR platform based in Gurugram, has secured INR 120 million (USD 1.4 million) in pre-Series A funding. The round was led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), with participation from Alkemi Ventures.
Founded in 2021, Jobizo connects healthcare institutions with verified professionals and leverages AI for real-time job matching. The funds will be used for technology enhancements, marketing efforts, team expansion, and working capital.
Giva bags INR 5.3 billion in Series C round to boost lab-grown diamond business
Giva, a Bengaluru-based jewellery brand, has raised INR 5.3 billion (USD 61.8 million) in a Series C funding round led by Creaegis. Existing investors Premji Invest, Epiq Capital, and Edelweiss Discovery Fund also participated.
The funding will support Giva’s expansion in the lab-grown diamond category, upgrade its tech-enabled supply chain, and grow its physical and online retail footprint. The company plans to open up to 150 new outlets this year, focusing on tier-two cities across India.
AuraML secures USD 1 million in pre-seed funding to enhance robotics simulation
AuraML, a deep tech startup based in New Delhi, has raised USD 1 million in pre-seed funding to develop its generative simulation platform for industrial and warehouse robotics. The round was led by Turbostart and included backing from DeVC, GSF Accelerator, IAN, and other investors.
AuraSIM, the company’s flagship platform, aims to replace expensive physical trials with sensor-rich, AI-driven virtual environments. Target users include companies developing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), warehouse systems, and other physical AI technologies.
The funding will accelerate product development, support US market expansion, and facilitate pilot programs with enterprise clients.
Recent deals completed in China:
- Interstellor, a space tech company, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in an angel plus funding round. The funding was jointly invested by Zhongtian Fortune and BeFor Capital. Interstellor will use the proceeds to accelerate development of its reusable spacecraft, the CYZ1, and to initiate production of its first prototype. Interstellor focuses on suborbital human spaceflight and tourism. —36Kr
- Casbot, a Zhongguancun-based developer of humanoid robots, has raised nearly RMB 100 million (USD 14 million) in an angel plus funding round. The investors include Lens Technology, Tianjin Jiayi, and returning backers SDIC Unity Capital and Henan Asset Management. Casbot plans to channel the funds toward scaling production, advancing R&D, and expanding into new markets. —36Kr
- Xiaoge Intelligent Technology, a commercial dishwasher leasing company, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in a Series A funding round led by Capital Wings. The company will invest the proceeds in building a smart manufacturing facility in Anhui and expanding into overseas markets. Established in 2021, Xiaoge serves business clients across the foodservice sector with equipment leasing, software solutions, and operational support. —36Kr
- Tingsn Technology, a Chinese medtech company specializing in ultrasound imaging, has secured nearly RMB 100 million (USD 14 million) in a Series B+ funding round. The round was led by Yifeng Capital, with participation from existing investors Qiming Venture Partners and Huangpu Medical Fund. Poseidon Hill Capital acted as the financial advisor. Tingsn will use the funding to advance R&D and clinical validation for its 4D intracardiac echocardiography products. —36Kr
Salmon, InstaPay, 10Ants, and more made recent headlines:
- Salmon Group, a financial services platform, secured USD 88 million through a mix of bond and equity funding. Spice Expeditions led the equity round, joined by US institutional investors, Antler Elevate, and existing backers including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Abu Dhabi’s Lunate, Northstar, and Back in Black Capital.
- InstaPay Technologies, a Malaysia-based digital payments company, closed a Series A2 funding round, raising approximately USD 3 million. The round was led by US-based family offices, with follow-on participation from ACA Investments.
- 10Ants, an urban revitalization startup, secured USD 500,000 in pre-seed funding from Wavemaker Impact.
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