Alibaba

Baidu

ByteDance

Meituan

Pinduoduo

Tencent

Most Followed

KrASIA Connection

China's Auto Sector

Earnings Reports

Inside China's Startups

Venture Roundup

Our Events

View All

Collections

News

Features

Insights

Ecosystem

DeepSeek

Kuaishou

Li Auto

Xiaohongshu

Xiaomi

Xpeng

On the Radar

Cainiao is expanding its logistics operations in the Americas to meet rising cross-border e-commerce demand. Parcel volume to Brazil surged 80% in Apr…

Events

Latest

About

36Kr (EN)

Consumer

Robotics

Fintech

How does finance become frictionless? Examine digital banking, payment innovation, and lending platforms redefining financial access.

How does credit flow online? Explore digital lending tools, alternative scoring, and services accelerating capital access.

Lending

What streamlines global commerce? Examine digital wallets, cross-border remittances, and instant settlement technologies.

Payments

China

Indonesia

Southeast Asia

With a localized strategy and China-tested tech, Yup is expanding credit access across emerging markets in the region.

Can Yup become Southeast Asia’s answer to Nubank?

Decoding China&#039;s tech and business pulse

KrASIA

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.

36Kr English

What guides machine-led insights? Uncover AI applications, language models, and decision-making systems transforming sectors worldwide.

Artificial Intelligence

What lies beyond familiar frontiers? Investigate emerging tech—like quantum computing and AI—transforming traditional sectors.

Deep Tech

AI buzzwords fade fast, but with the right timing and utility, MCP could stick.

As AI agents multiply, is MCP the protocol to watch?

How do markets shape wealth creation? Study portfolio diversification, asset classes, and strategies balancing growth and risk.

Investment

When do companies invite public investment? Understand listing criteria, underwriter roles, and regulatory steps defining initial offerings.

Why do firms join forces? Investigate synergy goals, valuation methods, and negotiations driving corporate consolidation.

Merger &amp; Acquisition

What happens after acquisitions close? Examine deal structures, operational improvements, and exit strategies molding corporate outcomes.

Private Equity

What fuels startup ecosystems? Review funding rounds, investor strategies, and market insights guiding entrepreneurial growth.

Venture Capital

Central Asia

Singapore

South Korea

Thailand

Vietnam

Bringing you the latest updates on funding deals and activities in the Asia Pacific.

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

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.

Sudo Lim

KrASIA tracks China’s tech and business stories—alongside key developments across the broader Asia Pacific region.

Header Section | KrASIA

Home

Sections

Header Section

Cainiao is expanding its logistics operations in the Americas to meet rising cross-border e-commerce demand. Parcel volume to Brazil surged 80% in April, while Mexico and the US recorded strong weekly growth in May. Recent upgrades include new distribution hubs in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and Chicago, along with a three-day delivery service across Mexico.

Tokyo-based Headline Asia has closed its fifth fund at USD 145 million to back early-stage tech startups across Japan, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and selectively in South Korea. Backers include JIC, Taiwan’s NDF, South Korea’s KVIC, and SME Support Japan. The fund targets seed to Series A rounds in sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, AI, and logistics, and has already invested in 17 companies.

Leapmotor reported record Q1 2025 revenue of RMB 10.02 billion, up 187.1% YoY, as vehicle deliveries surged 162.1% to 87,552 units. Gross margin improved to 14.9%, supported by increased scale, cost controls, and a stronger product mix. Net loss narrowed to RMB 130 million from RMB 1.01 billion, with cash and equivalents totaling RMB 25.7 billion as of March 31.

Shares of Chinese battery giant CATL opened at HKD 296 in their Hong Kong debut, rising 12.5% from the IPO price of HKD 263. The listing raised USD 4.6 billion, making it the largest global IPO so far in 2025. As of 11 a.m. local time, the stock had edged up to HKD 298.8.

Biotechnology firm Phase Scientific has completed a USD 34 million Series A funding round led by a private equity fund managed by Value Partners Group, with support from undisclosed new and existing investors. The funds will be used to accelerate R&amp;D and commercialization of the company’s urine-based diagnostic technology, aimed at making early disease detection more accessible through at-home testing.

Qifu Technology reported Q1 2025 revenue of RMB 4.69 billion and non-GAAP net income of RMB 1.93 billion, up roughly 12.9% and 59.9% YoY, respectively. The company facilitated RMB 88.9 billion in loans across 24.4 million transactions. Nearly half of its lending volume now comes from capital-light models, with funding provided by partners through automated systems and third-party platforms.

<a href="/company/ant-group">Ant Group’s</a> international division generated nearly USD 3 billion in revenue in 2024 and recorded its second consecutive year of adjusted profit. Headquartered in Singapore, the unit is expanding across Southeast Asia through platforms such as Alipay+, Antom, WorldFirst, and other cross-border financial solutions.

Prop tech startup MilikiRumah has launched a USD 50 million rent-to-own housing fund, achieving a first close of USD 10 million. Backed by Ruifeng Wealth Management, Tembusu Partners, and Trigger Asset Management, along with angel investors, the four-year closed-end fund aims to deliver freehold homes to Indonesia's underbanked. It targets a 20% IRR and will focus on municipalities across Greater Jakarta.

Officials from Hong Kong and mainland China have signed a new agreement to link their respective digital customs clearance platforms. The deal aims to enhance cross-border trade efficiency through data sharing, document reuse, and phased system integration by 2026.

Hon Hai Precision, also known as Foxconn, invested USD 1.5 billion into its India unit to support new factories and increased production. The move is part of Apple’s broader strategy to diversify its supply chain, with plans to manufacture most US-bound iPhones in India by late 2026. Apple assembled USD 22 billion worth of iPhones in India over the past year, marking a 60% YoY increase.

<a href="/company/geely">Geely’s</a> Egyptian distributor Abou Ghaly Motors has delivered 150 locally assembled Emgrand sedans to the National Bank of Egypt under a new fleet agreement. The vehicles were produced at Geely’s plant in 6th of October (city), which began operations in January 2025 and sources approximately 45% of key components locally.

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.

East Asia

Leapmotor

What powers tomorrow’s roads? Explore EV adoption, charging infrastructure, and battery advances sparking the shift toward sustainable transport.

Electric Vehicles

How is the way we move evolving? Explore developments in autonomous transportation, electric vehicles, and more efficient urban transit.

Mobility

How do goods and people flow worldwide? Examine transport networks, logistics innovations, and policies shaping global connectivity.

Transportation

Europe

Backed by Stellantis, the Chinese automaker is narrowing losses and gaining ground at home, but trade tensions may cloud its European expansion.

Leapmotor rebounds in Q1 on strong EV sales, but Europe remains a looming test

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/6ff53490f679f358bf543998d228fb32?s=96&d=blank&r=g

BYD, a Chinese EV maker, produces electric cars, buses, and batteries, accelerating adoption of sustainable transportation worldwide.

Chery

Geely, a Chinese automaker, integrates advanced engineering, EV tech, and international brand acquisitions to expand its global footprint.

Geely

Offshore production poised to drive more foreign sales, echoing Japan’s path.

Chinese automakers reach crossroads after conquering export markets

As part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with Nikkei, you can read selected content from Nikkei Asia on KrASIA.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/aec5e55596415464d13490d0e0caa9a2?s=96&d=blank&r=g

Nikkei Asia

The latest funding will support Whale’s expansion of its product suite and global presence across Asia, Europe, and North America.

With USD 60 million and heavyweight backers, Whale charts its course in enterprise AI

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/cd0d29f7b9fd019c7c0d49a09a1ec8b1?s=96&d=blank&r=g

Cainiao sees cross-border surge in Americas

Latest Pulses

Most Recent

Leapmotor rebounds in Q1 on strong EV sales, but Europe remains a looming test

Chinese automakers reach crossroads after conquering export markets

With USD 60 million and heavyweight backers, Whale charts its course in enterprise AI