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

Press Releases

Anker

DeepSeek

Li Auto

MiniMax

Xiaomi

Xpeng

On the Radar

Alibaba's Hema will close its final X membership store in Shanghai on August 31, ending its foray into the warehouse club model launched in 2020. The …

Events

Latest

About

Consumer

Robotics

Fintech

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

Biotechnology

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

Deep Tech

China

As patent cliffs approach and new mechanisms gain ground, COPD drugs like HRS-9821 are fast becoming coveted assets.

After Hengrui’s USD 500 million deal with GSK, which biotech firms are next in line?

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

How does automation advance industry? Analyze robotic arms, drones, and AI-driven tools reshaping manufacturing and services.

More countries, more buyers, and more cross-border deals marked this year’s conference, with Chinese companies making tech exports a top priority.

China’s AI firms look outward as WAIC 2025 takes on global flavor

Vicky is a senior reporter based in Hangzhou, covering news about Chinese companies expanding their footprints abroad.

Vicky Chang

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

Hong Kong

Malaysia

Singapore

Southeast Asia

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

Deals in brief: Chocolate Finance raises Series A+ funding, Gobi Partners backs NanoSkunkWorkX, 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

<a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba's</a> Hema will close its final X membership store in Shanghai on August 31, ending its foray into the warehouse club model launched in 2020. The move reflects a companywide pivot toward core formats Hema Fresh and NB, which are set to add nearly 100 new stores in fiscal year 2025.

Taobao will launch a unified membership program that bundles services and perks from Ele.me, Fliggy, and Hema, expanding 88VIP into a comprehensive lifestyle offering. The move reflects <a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba’s</a> strategy to evolve from <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a> into a broader consumer platform.

<a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a> has co-led a USD 65.5 million funding round in Uzbekistan-based startup Uzum, pushing its valuation to USD 1.5 billion. The deal marks Tencent’s entry into Central Asia’s digital economy as Uzum scales its <a href="/industry/fintech">fintech</a> and <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a> services and prepares for a larger Series B round in 2026.

<a href="/company/geely">Geely</a> is reportedly in talks to merge autonomous driving teams from Zeekr, its R&amp;D arm, and Megvii’s Mach unit into a joint venture established in June. The move aligns with Geely’s strategy to centralize smart driving R&amp;D and deploy a unified system across its brands.

WeRide has begun night-time robotaxi testing in Beijing, operating from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. under a new city permit. The Nasdaq-listed firm aims to build a round-the-clock autonomous mobility network, using a full sensor suite and proprietary tech to ensure safety in low light and adverse weather.

China’s BrainCo is in talks to raise USD 100 million at a valuation above USD 1.3 billion ahead of a potential IPO in Hong Kong or mainland China. The Hangzhou-based startup develops brain-computer interface technology and is positioning itself as a rival to Neuralink.

Chinese fitness app Keep is expecting RMB 10 million in adjusted net profit for H1 2025, with founder Wang Ning calling it “sustained profitability” after cutting unproductive growth. He said Keep will fully pivot to AI, aiming to preempt disruption by building the next-gen fitness product itself.

PingPong will support Wero, Europe’s new unified payment app, starting October. Backed by 16 banks, Wero enables real-time cross-border payments using a phone number or email and targets 250 million users. PingPong clients will gain access to EU retail, point-of-sale, and subscription payments through a single system.

<a href="/company/tesla">Tesla’s</a> US customer loyalty reportedly plunged from 73% in June 2024 to 49.9% by March 2025, following Elon Musk’s endorsement of Donald Trump and rising political engagement. S&amp;P data shows Tesla has slipped from top in loyalty to industry average, as rivals gain ground and <a href="/industry/ev">EV</a> competition intensifies.

China’s plastic exports surged in H1 2025, with volumes doubling in some resins and prices falling by as much as 20%. Amid weak domestic demand, China ramped up shipments of PVC, polystyrene, and polypropylene, putting pressure on regional producers. Japan’s imports rose sharply as Chinese supply rippled through Asian markets.

Beijing’s E-Town is hosting a <a href="/industry/robotics">robot</a> shopping festival through August 17, offering subsidies of up to RMB 250,000 for buyers. Featuring 63 brands including Unitree and UBTech, among others, the event includes the launch of a new robot store and over 680 models available via JD.com. It follows a national surge in robot production in H1 2025.

These three Chinese robotics firms are tapping public markets to bankroll their next phase of international growth.

China’s industrial robot makers turn to IPOs to gear up for global expansion

I'm Xiaochun with 36Kr Global [kri’eɪʃə], a newborn digital media with a dedication to help Asia uncover its innovations and to create.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/35c4c94afb4465cf720e6c246ee3d6f1?s=96&d=blank&r=g

Xiaochun Zhao

What sets the bar for convenience? Examine on-demand platforms, subscription models, and personalization transforming consumer expectations.

Consumer Economy

What grounds digital progress in physical form? Analyze chipsets, sensors, and advanced components driving device performance.

Hardware

In a sleepy hardware category, one Zhuhai startup found traction by making printers personal and portable.

Thinking out of the box: How Quin broke open a stagnant printer market

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

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

JD.com, a Chinese e-commerce leader, ensures trusted transactions, efficient logistics, and a wide product selection for online shoppers.

JD.com

Tencent, a Chinese tech conglomerate, invests in gaming, social media, and cloud services, supporting entertainment and connectivity worldwide.

Through JoyInside and Tairos, both firms are angling to control the software layer of embodied intelligence.

Alibaba to shut all Hema X stores

Latest Pulses

Most Recent

China’s industrial robot makers turn to IPOs to gear up for global expansion

Thinking out of the box: How Quin broke open a stagnant printer market

JD and Tencent want to power robots, not build them, at least for now