Startups

The Shanghai-based photonic computing company's blockbuster debut in H1 underscores investor appetite for AI infrastructure while testing both HKEX's Chapter 18C regime and Hong Kong's IPO revival. Ryan Cheng spoke to senior market participants about the deal.

As venture capital rebounds and AI reshapes global investment priorities, Asia's innovation ecosystem is evolving along a distinctly different path, one where governments, capital markets, family offices and banks are increasingly working together to build the next generation of companies.

China is strengthening oversight of outbound investment through new regulations from July 1 that are designed to safeguard national interests, following an earlier ban on Meta’s acquisition of AI firm Manus.

Hong Kong payment platform Wonder has raised $12m in venture debt from HSBC Innovation Banking to accelerate its regional expansion.

Ruminant Biotech, a New Zealand-based tech business looking to reduce methane emissions from pasture-based livestock, has raised around $9.5m in a Series A fundraising.

From financial knowledge to government support, players in Thailand and Taiwan are finding new ways to channel capital into LGBTQ+-focussed businesses across Asia.

Singapore's MAS hopes to bring Silicon Valley to 'Nairobi, Jakarta, and São Paulo' with its latest ambitious global network initiative.

In a challenging fundraising environment, a combination of overseas and local investment is positioning itself to spur some of the most innovative climate tech start-ups in Australia and New Zealand.

At Hong Kong FinTech Week, panelists shared their views on the capacity for fintech developments to improve regulatory and ethical standards, including ESG, across Asia’s financial markets.