WeRide secures investment from Grab to scale autonomous mobility in Southeast Asia
WeRide, a Nasdaq-listed autonomous driving company, has announced an equity investment from Grab, Southeast Asia’s leading superapp. The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2026, will underpin a partnership to deploy and commercialize Level 4 robotaxis and autonomous shuttles across the region.
The collaboration will integrate WeRide’s technology into Grab’s ride-hailing platform to optimize fleet management, routing, and remote operations. Beyond deployment, both companies will work together to retrain and upskill Grab drivers for future roles.
Grab’s role is expected to mirror that of Uber in the Middle East, where Uber and WeRide are piloting robotaxi services in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. A full commercial launch in Saudi Arabia is expected by the end of this year.
Proceeds from the investment will fund WeRide’s plan to expand its commercial fleet in Southeast Asia and advance its AI-driven mobility stack. CEO Tony Han said the company intends to roll out thousands of robotaxis in line with regulatory readiness, leveraging Grab’s regional scale to accelerate adoption.
Foxconn invests in Hong Kong’s Robocore
Robocore Technology, a Hong Kong-based service robotics company, has secured up to USD 30 million in Series D financing from Foxconn through its subsidiary Q-Run Holdings. The initial USD 10 million tranche gives Foxconn a 6.6% equity stake in Robocore’s subsidiary RoboTemi Global.
Funds will be used to strengthen Robocore’s telemedicine operations in the US, Europe, and Japan, expand consumer products in mainland China, and accelerate global sales. Foxconn’s investment also paves the way for Robocore to pursue an IPO within five years.
Robocore said its robots are deployed at nearly 20,000 client sites worldwide, including hospitals, eldercare homes, retail chains, and universities. With Foxconn’s manufacturing capabilities, the company expects to triple revenue within three years and achieve fivefold growth by 2028.
Aalo Atomics raises Series B funding to build modular nuclear plant
Aalo Atomics, a Singapore- and US-based nuclear energy company, has raised USD 100 million in a Series B funding round led by Valor Equity Partners, with participation from Fine Structure Ventures, Hitachi Ventures, Crosscut, NRG Energy, Vamos Ventures, Tishman Speyer, Kindred Ventures, 50Y, Harpoon Ventures, Crescent Enterprises, Alumni Ventures, MCJ, Gaingels, Perpetual VC, Nucleation Capital, and Earth Venture Capital.
The funding will support construction of a modular nuclear plant at the Idaho National Laboratory, targeted to achieve first criticality in 2026. The facility will also power an experimental data center, demonstrating the potential of modular reactors to supply clean, reliable energy for artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
Aalo’s modular design allows factory-built reactors to be rapidly deployed to data centers and industrial clusters. Over time, the company aims to reduce electricity costs to USD 0.03 per kilowatt-hour, positioning nuclear power as cost-competitive with renewable energy and natural gas.
Bluente raises USD 1.5 million to expand AI-powered document translation
Bluente, a Singapore-based company, has closed a USD 1.5 million seed plus round led by Informed Ventures to accelerate adoption of its AI-driven document translation platform.
The company offers one-click translation across more than 120 languages while preserving document formatting for contracts, presentations, and reports. Bluente said its platform is used by enterprises worldwide, including law firms and financial institutions, and can reduce processing time by up to 90% compared with traditional methods.
Funds will be used to expand into the Middle East, the US, and broader Asia Pacific markets.
AND Global secures Series B funding to advance financial inclusion
AND Global, a Mongolia-founded fintech firm, has raised USD 21.4 million in a Series B funding round co-led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Aeon Financial Service. Other investors include Marubeni Corporation, SBI Holdings, and Premium Group.
Founded in 2017, the company provides AI-powered digital lending and fintech solutions to improve financial access for underserved communities across Asia. It now operates offices in Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Mongolia.
Proceeds will fund the expansion of its financial product suite for small businesses and unbanked consumers, as well as support financial institutions undergoing digital transformation.
Clearbridge Health raises SGD 1.98 million in placement to fund growth
Clearbridge Health, a Singapore-listed healthcare company, has raised SGD 1.98 million (USD 1.5 million) through a private placement of shares. Backers include Asdew Acquisitions, Azure Capital, and individual investor Ramesh Chandiramani.
The proceeds will support working capital and strategic initiatives, including Clearbridge’s planned USD 330 million acquisition of Elpis Biopharmaceuticals, which develops next-generation biological and cellular therapies for hard-to-treat cancers.
Clearbridge also plans to establish an adult immune cell banking business in Singapore and Hong Kong to provide upstream support for cell-based therapies. Following a recapitalization earlier this year, the company is now debt-free, which it said will allow it to pursue growth with greater agility.
Agridence acquires Farmer Connect to expand compliance and traceability solutions
Agridence, a Singapore-based agritech platform, has acquired Switzerland’s Farmer Connect, a compliance and traceability platform serving European buyers. The acquisition, backed by new funding, enables Agridence to offer a unified digital supply chain solution across commodities such as rubber, palm oil, cocoa, and coffee.
The combined platform will provide polygon-level farm mapping, deforestation risk monitoring, and automated ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reporting aligned with the European Union’s deforestation regulation. Agridence said the integration enhances transparency for clients while expanding its reach in Europe.
Existing customers of both platforms will continue to receive uninterrupted services as the companies build out capabilities and market coverage.
Kozystay secures backing to scale short-term rental platform in Indonesia
Kozystay, an Indonesia-based short-term rental management company, has raised an undisclosed investment in a round backed by Integra Partners, Cercano Management, and Intudo Ventures, per e27. Cercano doubled down after first participating in the company’s seed round.
The funding will help Kozystay expand its managed portfolio to more than 1,000 properties, with profitability targeted by year’s end. The company plans to strengthen its presence in Jakarta, Bali, and Bandung while entering new cities such as Surabaya, Bogor, and Lombok.
Founded to combine the consistency of hotels with the authenticity of homestays, Kozystay partners with developers to convert underused apartments into aparthotels.
Waterhub attracts backing to expand sustainable water filtration network in Indonesia
Waterhub, an Indonesia-based water technology company, has raised an undisclosed amount to expand its filtration systems and dispenser network, according to TechNode Global. Investors include Archipelago VC and The Radical Fund.
Founded in 2024, the company develops large-volume filtration systems that convert municipal, rain, and seawater into potable water. Its pay-per-use and subscription models provide an alternative to bottled water, an industry estimated at USD 12.4 billion in Indonesia in 2025, according to Statista.
Waterhub said it has deployed 36 units to date and aims to reach 2,000 units by 2029. The new funding will support machine production, R&D, and partnerships with local bottlers. By replacing single-use bottles, the company expects to prevent more than 16,500 tons of plastic waste and 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2029.
Recent deals completed in China:
- Rino.ai, an autonomous driving tech company, has raised an undisclosed amount in a Series B+ funding round, bringing its cumulative Series B financing to nearly RMB 500 million (USD 70 million). The round was joined by existing backers SF Express and Linear Capital, alongside new investors Yijun Capital, a fund managed by Qihoo 360, and Huatai Zijin Investment. Proceeds will support vehicle-grade unmanned systems, AI development, and commercial applications. —36Kr
- JBD, a microdisplay manufacturer, has closed a Series B1 funding round worth several hundred million RMB. The round drew investment from Anhui Railway Development Fund, Fang Hua Fund, Vlight Capital, Chaos Investment, Ant Unicorn Fund, Shanghai Sci-tech Innovation Center Capital, Wuxi Capital Group, and China Merchants China Direct Investments (CMCDI). The company will use the funding for R&D, scaling production, hiring, and ecosystem partnerships to meet demand for AR- and AI-driven wearables. —36Kr
- Yufan Photonics, a laser communications firm founded in 2023, has secured tens of millions of RMB in a pre-Series A funding round. Sunrise Ansheng Capital Management led the round, with Cowin Asset Management and Atom Ventures also participating. I&R Capital acted as financial advisor. The funds will support factory expansion, team building, and new product development for satellite communications, defense, and marine exploration. —36Kr
- Redbear AI, an AI startup, has raised a pre-Series A funding round at a post-money valuation of RMB 500 million. The startup will use the funds to commercialize its products, build out its agentic AI platform, and expand to overseas markets. —36Kr
- Interstellor, a commercial spaceflight company founded in 2023, has raised an angel plus round with additional funding from TusStar VC, following an eight-figure RMB sum raised from BeFor Capital and Zhongtian Fortune, as reported in June. The company develops reusable crewed spacecraft and space tourism technology, positioning itself as a potential Chinese counterpart to SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. —36Kr
- MagicStore, a warehousing robotics firm, has secured an eight-figure RMB sum in new funding from Value Capital, Suzhou Industrial Park Technology Innovation Investment Fund, and existing investors. The company will use the funds for product upgrades, production capacity expansion, and international market entry. —36Kr
- Welight, a space launch startup founded this March, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum of angel funding from an undisclosed industrial institution in northern China, which will also serve as a long-term strategic partner. The company said funds will support team building and core technology development. Its flagship WG-1 rocket is reportedly the first in China to integrate full-flow staged combustion engines, carbon fiber composites, and liquid oxygen methane fuel. —36Kr
Naluri, Prefer, Nibertex, and more made recent headlines:
- Naluri, a Singapore-based digital employee health and wellbeing provider, raised USD 5 million as part of a broader Series B funding round. Telus Global Ventures’ Pollinator Fund for Good led the investment, while Sumitomo Corporation Equity Asia, M Venture Partners, and unnamed investors also participated.
- Prefer, a Singapore-based food tech startup, raised USD 4.2 million in an oversubscribed funding round co-led by At One Ventures and Chancery Hill Capital, with participation from Forge Ventures.
- Nibertex, a Singapore-headquartered manufacturer of textile membranes, raised USD 7 million in a Series A funding round led by TNB Aura. Other investors include Asian Development Bank, Faircrest Holding, and Foxmont Capital Partners.
If there are any news or updates you’d like us to feature, get in touch with us at: hello@kr-asia.com.