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Vietnam’s Alterno has raised an undisclosed sum of funding from UntroD Capital Asia’s second global fund, with participation from ADB Ventures. The co…

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Once mistaken for a foreign brand, Pelliot is now bound for an IPO as one of China’s top outdoor apparel labels.

Budget brand no more? Pelliot readies Hong Kong IPO after profit surge

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36Kr is China's most influential business and technology network, delivering high-quality content focused on China’s innovation and new economy trends since 2010. With its extensive traffic and network, 36Kr has built a comprehensive database and strong data analytics capabilities to provide insights into China’s technology landscape.

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The Beijing-based firm is rolling out enterprise deployments built on a framework that pairs AI agents with “vertical world models.”

4Paradigm eyes AGI with 30% revenue growth, new compute stack

An alias used when humans and machines team up in our newsroom. Articles under this byline may be shaped with the help of AI, but are always vetted by a human before publication.

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Deals in brief: Granite Asia leads investment in VFlowTech, Alterno and BrioHR raise funding, latest China deals, and more

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Vietnam’s Alterno has raised an undisclosed sum of funding from UntroD Capital Asia’s second global fund, with participation from ADB Ventures. The company will use the capital to scale its clean heat platform, support international pilot deployments, and expand across Asian markets.

<a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> is planning a new R&amp;D center in Shanghai to adapt AI chip development to US export restrictions and support local market needs. CEO Jensen Huang discussed the project with Shanghai’s mayor last month and has warned that exiting China could cede ground to domestic rivals like <a href="/company/huawei">Huawei</a>.

<a href="/company/geely">Geely</a> plans to launch 3–4 new car models this year and expand exports, with 1–2 models slated for Q4 2025 and a six-seat Galaxy SUV set to debut in Milan. The rollout builds on a strong Q1, which saw NEV sales reach 339,000 units and Galaxy sales, led by the E8, more than triple YoY.

<a href="/company/xiaomi">Xiaomi</a> founder Lei Jun announced on <a href="https://weibo.com/1749127163/PrYfduSL4?pagetype=profilefeed">Weibo</a> that the company will launch its XringO1 mobile chip in late May. Designed in-house using Arm architecture and manufactured by TSMC on a 3-nanometer process, the chip is intended for premium phones and tablets as Xiaomi ramps up competition with Apple and Huawei’s custom silicon.

Fast fashion giant <a href="/company/shein">Shein</a> has leased nearly 15 hectares of warehouse space near Ho Chi Minh City, its first such facility in Vietnam, sources said. The move aims to position goods closer to global shipping routes and reduce exposure to US-China trade tensions. Shein remains heavily reliant on China-based suppliers and vulnerable to shifts in tariff policy.

TikTok owner <a href="/company/bytedance">ByteDance</a> is targeting 2025 revenue of USD 186 billion, a 20% increase from 2024, putting it just shy of Meta’s projected USD 187 billion. The company now reports over 4 billion monthly active users across its apps, despite slowing ad demand on Douyin and ongoing US pressure to divest TikTok.

China said on May 15 the US is misusing export controls after US authorities <a href="https://kr-asia.com/pulses/153489">warned of legal risks</a> tied to <a href="/company/huawei">Huawei’s</a> Ascend AI chips. A commerce ministry spokesperson said the move threatens supply chain stability and vowed to safeguard Chinese companies' interests. Huawei’s chips compete with <a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia’s</a> in China.

Synyi AI, a <a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a>-backed Chinese startup, launched a trial clinic in Saudi Arabia in April to test AI-led diagnoses and prescriptions under human doctor oversight. Backed by Almoosa Health Group, the pilot covers 30 respiratory conditions and is generating regulatory data. The company aims to enter commercial use within 18 months.

China's NEV exports rose 44.2% YoY in April to 189,000 units, accounting for 44.6% of total passenger car exports, up 14 percentage points from a year earlier. Total automotive production and sales each exceeded 10 million in the first four months of 2025, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

China and Latin American nations set a three-year cooperation roadmap at the latest China-CELAC Forum, announcing over 100 joint projects. The agenda also shifts focus beyond trade to AI, green energy, and industrial tech. Starting June 1, China will offer visa-free entry to travelers from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay.

The EU has issued preliminary findings that <a href="/company/tiktok">TikTok</a> violated ad transparency rules, risking a fine of up to 6% of global sales. The probe comes amid wider scrutiny into the platform’s content systems, data practices, and foreign interference risks. TikTok says it disagrees with parts of the finding and will respond.

By rethinking overlooked tools, Cocinare is bringing specialty brewing into homes—and onto Amazon’s bestseller lists.

What if your coffee gear had algorithms? Cocinare is brewing that future now

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Alibaba, China’s e-commerce giant, operates online retail marketplaces, cloud computing services, and digital payment networks across Asia and beyond.

Alibaba Cloud powers scalable cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity solutions, supporting businesses’ digital transformation worldwide.

Alibaba Cloud

Cainiao, Alibaba’s logistics arm, streamlines supply chains with data-driven solutions, offering efficient e-commerce delivery and cross-border shipping services.

Cainiao

China’s tech ecosystem serves as a driving force behind the world’s second largest economy, influencing global digital markets.

Explore East Asia’s thriving tech hubs, global electronics producers, and fast-evolving digital platforms shaping cross-border innovation.

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Lazada, an e-commerce marketplace in Southeast Asia, links shoppers to a wide range of products, deals, and cross-border brands.

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Taobao, Alibaba’s consumer-to-consumer marketplace, connects Chinese shoppers with diverse products, from fashion and electronics to everyday essentials.

Taobao

Tmall, Alibaba’s B2C platform, hosts premium brands and official stores, offering authenticated products to Chinese consumers seeking quality goods.

Tmall

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Enterprise services is an over-arching term to describe an architecture combining engineering discipline and computer science to solve practical business problems. 

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Steady performance in commerce and strong growth in AI-driven cloud services lifted Alibaba’s profit, though an EPS shortfall tempered investor sentiment.

Cloud and AI gains boost Alibaba’s profit, but EPS misses

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Alterno secures backing for clean heat tech

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What if your coffee gear had algorithms? Cocinare is brewing that future now

Cloud and AI gains boost Alibaba’s profit, but EPS misses

4Paradigm eyes AGI with 30% revenue growth, new compute stack