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

Chinese investment banks are charging as little as USD 100 to underwrite bond deals, as state-owned issuers dominate a tepid credit market. One RMB 35…

Events

Latest

About

36Kr (EN)

Consumer

Robotics

Fintech

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

Artificial Intelligence

How do virtual worlds expand reality? Discover AR/VR tools, content creation, and platforms layering digital information onto everyday life.

Augmented and Virtual Reality

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

Deep Tech

China

Far from seeing Xiaomi as a threat, Inmo’s CEO says its arrival lifts the tide for all startups.

Inmo eyes lead in China’s AI glasses market with RMB 150 million boost

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

A real debate is brewing over whether Moonshot AI’s latest open-source model belongs in the top echelon of AI.

Is Kimi K2 strong enough to spark China’s next “DeepSeek moment?”

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

Australia

Hong Kong

Oceania

Singapore

Southeast Asia

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

Deals in brief: Respiree raises Series A funding, HeyMax expands with Krip acquisition, 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

Chinese investment banks are charging as little as USD 100 to underwrite bond deals, as state-owned issuers dominate a tepid credit market. One RMB 35 billion issue saw six banks split a 0.0002% fee. Regulators are probing lowball tactics, but enforcement remains limited as firms race to secure mandates and boost league table rankings.

Repair demand for banned <a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> chips is reportedly rising in China, with firms said to be refurbishing hundreds of smuggled H100 and A100 units each month. Shops simulate server environments and charge up to RMB 20,000 per chip, reflecting continued usage despite export bans and the availability of legal alternatives like the H20.

US President Donald Trump visited the Federal Reserve on July 24, pressing chair Jerome Powell to deliver steep rate cuts and criticizing the USD 2.5 billion renovation of its headquarters. Powell stood by the project amid disputes over cost estimates. Trump said he won’t fire Powell, despite ongoing clashes over policy.

Prices of Chinese smartphones exported to the US fell 45% YoY in June, with shipments down 71%, as firms absorbed 20% tariffs to maintain market share. Game consoles saw a 23% drop, with prices falling across most categories. Analysts warn that prolonged losses could lead to layoffs and broader economic fallout.

<a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a> is preparing to launch GPT-5 as early as August, CEO Sam Altman confirmed. The model will come in full, mini, and nano versions, integrating o-series reasoning, and will be available via API and ChatGPT. A separate open-weight model is expected first, OpenAI’s first such release since GPT-2 in 2019.

<a href="/company/geely">Geely</a>-backed Aerofugia has unveiled a smart luxury cabin for its AE200 <a href="/industry/evtol">eVTOL</a> aircraft, aiming to bring car-like comfort to low-altitude flight. The cabin features adaptive seating and automotive-grade interfaces, built to aviation safety standards. The AE200 is entering final test phases, with certification and ride-hailing rollout targeted for 2026.

<a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> said on July 24 that data centers built with smuggled chips are a "losing proposition,” following reports that USD 1 billion worth of its chips entered China despite US export restrictions. The company added it does not support unauthorized hardware and reaffirmed that proper licensing is required.

Stellantis-backed <a href="/company/leapmotor">Leapmotor</a> has launched the B01 electric sedan, priced from RMB 89,800, to challenge <a href="/company/tesla">Tesla’s</a> Model 3. The <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> features LiDAR, fast charging, and up to 650 kilometers of range, targeting global markets as the company pursues growth abroad amid intensifying price pressures at home. Deliveries in China begin this month, with overseas plans yet to be announced.

US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said on July 24 that TikTok will be banned in the US unless China allows American ownership and control of the app. ByteDance has until September 17 to divest TikTok’s US operations. Deal talks remain unresolved as political pressure mounts.

Shanghai police have arrested seven suspects, including former Ele.me CEO and logistics head Han Liu, in a commercial bribery case involving more than RMB 40 million. Han allegedly accepted bribes from suppliers in exchange for favorable delivery zone access. Authorities suspect Han and three others took bribes 30 times over two years, storing cash and gifts in multiple rented homes.

<a href="/company/dji">DJI</a> has released a teaser for its first robot vacuum, the Romo, with a launch set for August 6. The model reportedly features a transparent dock, automatic emptying, and advanced navigation. While mopping capabilities remain unclear, the device is expected to highlight DJI’s strength in object detection.

But tensions with the US still cast a cloud over overseas expansion ambitions.

Inside China's AI rise: Youth infusion pushes country past "follower" status

Inside China&#8217;s AI rise: Youth infusion pushes country past &#8220;follower&#8221; status

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

What shapes modern healthcare and agriculture? Examine biotech startups, gene editing, and drug discovery unlocking biological potential.

Biotechnology

New capital, maturing pipelines, and a more global R&D mindset are pushing valuations higher, even as competition tightens.

Hong Kong biotech enters its second act with a licensing supercycle

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/a6b9ace74da9df391d5f7ba1892f4393?s=96&d=blank&r=g

With AI-powered systems and energy-efficient infrastructure, the site reflects Midea’s smart building ambitions.

Cutthroat price war hits investment banks

Latest Pulses

Most Recent

Inside China’s AI rise: Youth infusion pushes country past “follower” status

Hong Kong biotech enters its second act with a licensing supercycle

Midea opens new Shanghai campus to anchor its global innovation push