Eratani raises USD 6.2 million to digitalize Indonesia’s rice sector
Eratani, a Jakarta-based agriculture technology startup, has raised USD 6.2 million in a Series A funding round to expand its integrated platform for smallholder rice farmers. The round was led by Clay Capital, with participation from TNB Aura, SBI Ven Capital, AgFunder, Genting Ventures, and IIX.
Founded in 2021, Eratani operates a digital ecosystem that links farmers across Java and Sulawesi with access to financing, agricultural inputs, advisory services, and market connections. The goal: to boost yields and improve incomes while encouraging sustainable cultivation practices.
With fresh capital in hand, the company plans to scale adoption of precision agriculture tools, promote mechanization, and expand sustainable farming methods.
Groundup.ai raises USD 4.25 million to grow industrial maintenance platform
Groundup.ai, an industrial artificial intelligence company, has raised USD 4.25 million in a Series A funding round led by Tin Men Capital, with participation from Wavemaker Ventures and Seeds Capital. The new funds will support product development and global expansion.
Specializing in “cognitive maintenance,” Groundup.ai combines agentic AI and proprietary sensors to deliver root-cause diagnostics and actionable maintenance solutions. Its solutions are reportedly used in sectors including manufacturing, maritime, defense, and oil and gas.
The company claims to have helped clients save millions through early fault detection and actionable maintenance strategies. The latest funding will power its growth in Asia and the Middle East, with plans to enter Australia, Europe, and North Asia. Investment in R&D and infrastructure is also on the roadmap.
A Cabin Company lands pre-seed funding to roll out mobile wellness cabins in Japan
A Cabin Company, a startup based in Japan, has closed an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round backed by Seveno Capital—marking the investor’s first deal. The company aims to rethink how people access nature and wellness by offering boutique mobile accommodations.
Founded in late 2024, the company builds high-end cabins legally classified as vehicles, a workaround to Japan’s restrictive land use regulations. This classification enables faster setup—typically within 90 days—and avoids common real estate development hurdles.
The funding will support a nationwide rollout, expand the company’s network of host partners, and drive tech integration. A Cabin Company’s business model includes repurposing vacant homes and lots by letting landowners earn recurring income as cabin hosts.
Its first location will open in Chiba this May. The company targets 380 deployed cabins by 2029, with nightly rates starting at around USD 80 per person. A membership model and wellness-tracking technology are also in development.
Recent deals completed in China:
- Meiyin Intelligent Technology, a health tech startup spun out of Peking University’s tech park, has secured an eight-figure RMB sum in seed funding. The round was led by Z&Y Capital, with participation from XHVC. The funds will support development and commercialization of its AI-driven disease risk prediction platform, which uses a proprietary multimodal model. —36Kr
- Visu, an automotive technology company, has secured an undisclosed amount of Series A+ funding from the Dongfeng BOCOM Yuanjing Auto Industry Equity Investment Fund and Dongfeng Asset Management. Visu specializes in thermal management systems for electric and hybrid vehicles, including commercial and specialty segments. —36Kr
- Leinao, an enterprise solutions provider, has received a nine-figure RMB Series B investment from the Beijing China Mobile Digital New Economy Industry Fund. The funding will go toward product development, scaling production, and market expansion. —36Kr
- X-Origin-AI, a consumer robotics startup, has closed a nearly RMB 100 million (USD 14 million) pre-Series A funding round led by Oriental Fortune Capital, with support from Jinding Capital and Legend Star. The company builds AI-enabled companion robots for users across life stages. —36Kr
- Multiway Robotics, a smart logistics provider, has completed a Series B2 funding round, raising over RMB 100 million. The round was led by Puhua Capital, with Plum Ventures joining again. The proceeds will support technology upgrades, expanded manufacturing, and international market entry. —36Kr
- Anranfei, a biopharmaceutical startup focused on neurological disease treatments, completed a seven-figure RMB angel funding round led by FreesFund. Gewu Capital acted as the financial advisor. The company was established in 2023 and is registered in Kunshan. —36Kr
- ForVision Intelligent Technology, a developer of autonomous driving systems, has raised an eight-figure RMB in a Series A funding round co-led by Addor Capital and Zero2IPO Industry Investment. The proceeds will be used for R&D and ramping up production. —36Kr
Populix, viAct, Dutycast, and more made recent headlines:
- Populix, an Indonesia-based market research tech startup, netted USD 4.3 million in the first close of its Series B round. The raise was led by MSW V Asia Fund X, with returning backers Intudo Ventures, Altos Ventures, and Acrew Capital also participating.
- viAct, a Hong Kong-headquartered safety technology startup, raised USD 7.3 million in a Series A round led by VentureWave Capital, with participation from Singtel Innov8, Korea Investment Partners, and the PolyU Entrepreneurship Investment Fund.
- Dutycast, a Singapore-based trade compliance platform, raised an undisclosed sum from GTR Ventures and a group of logistics-focused angel investors.
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