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Start-ups

Start-ups
Articles about early-stage companies; pre-IPO, including those still being funded by angel investors, private equity or venture capitalists.
A view of Guangzhou, in China’s southern Guangdong province. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Home province of DeepSeek, Moonshot founders seeks to retain future AI talent

After losing top founders in artificial intelligence to rivals, the southern province aims to better attract, retain talent.

Artificial intelligence

Back in the Harness: DeepSeek continues its pivot towards agentic AI

Hong Kong stock market

From chasing robots to chasing profits: the numbers moving markets

Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek’s flagship AI model update underwhelms – except in cybersecurity

Chinese AI start-up’s model impresses in niche areas like cybersecurity but leaves some developers disappointed in its overall capabilities.

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Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek quietly released an updated version of its latest flagship model, DeepSeek-V4-Pro-0813, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Honor

Robot in a pocket: Honor’s new phone camera nods back at users

The Chinese smartphone maker has integrated embodied AI to control camera movement, along with other features to boost interest amid a cooling market.

European Union

Europe hails AI gigafactory plan, but industry fears deeper US tech reliance

Brussels’ €30b tender for up to 7 AI hubs already benefits US chipmakers and could result in EU-funded computing capacity being sold to US tech giants.

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Hong Kong science and tech

In Focus | Hong Kong aims to be a global tech hub, but can it hold on to its young talent?

An increasingly risk-averse culture and a lack of early-stage support may push young start-up founders to look overseas, critics warn.

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Illustration: Quoc Huy Truong
Artificial intelligence

Tencent ramps up overseas AI push with wider roll-out of flagship Hy3 model

Hy3’s release is the first major update in Tencent’s AI strategy since former OpenAI researcher Yao Shunyu joined the Chinese tech giant.

US-China trade war

US lawmakers investigate DoorDash’s use of Moonshot AI’s Kimi K2.6 model

Food delivery giant latest targeted as rising adoption of China-built AI models pushes Washington to find strategies to combat trend.

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Robotics

Unitree to launch IPO next week as US-China robotics rivalry intensifies

The Hangzhou-based firm will launch its listing in Shanghai next week, as a string of Chinese robotics start-ups pursue plans to go public.

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A Unitree G1 humanoid robot is displayed during London Tech Week in London. Photo: Reuters
Ant Group

Ant Group spin-offs pursue independent growth with strategic capital moves

The Chinese fintech giant’s three spin-off units are accelerating their capital-raising efforts after gaining operational autonomy in 2024.

The Ant Group booth at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Robotics

China sweeps global humanoid robot start-up ranking as US imposes ban

The LexisNexis study identified a ‘clear shift towards China’ in the humanoid robot race, with the US falling behind.

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Alibaba

From CXMT to Zhipu AI, Alibaba’s strategic investments are paying off

The company’s strategic shift to AI and chip investments is not only yielding significant returns, but also boosting its tech portfolio.

China’s private sector

How Beijing became China’s biggest tech venture capitalist, from AI to chips

China’s tech sector thrives on state-backed investment, reshaping funding dynamics and sparking a debate about balancing risk and innovation.

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Illustration: Davies Christian
IPO

Chinese GPU start-up MetaX confidentially files for Hong Kong listing: sources

Firm’s year-end listing plan underscores China’s chip self-reliance and follows Biren, Iluvatar and Moore Threads in the fundraising rush.

MetaX is said to be targeting a listing by the end of 2026. Photo: Reuters
Banking & finance

Shanghai to launch ‘choke point’ tech funds, relax some pre-profit listing rules

The city will unveil dedicated funds and new offshore yuan channels while allowing pre-profit AI and nuclear fusion start-ups to list on the Star Market.

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Robotics

Chinese robot maker AgiBot targets a listing in Hong Kong’s booming market

Leading robot maker plans a Hong Kong IPO with Citic, CICC, and Morgan Stanley as sponsors.

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Artificial intelligence

China’s Moonshot AI accelerates fundraising push ahead of planned IPO: source

Per a source, the company closes fundraising round at US$30 billion valuation, as it signals it may go public in next six months.

A general view of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing on July 21. Photo: Jelly Tse
China property

Tech-driven surge: new wealth fuels luxury housing boom in China’s AI stronghold

Landmark deals push Hangzhou’s luxury homes to fresh highs, powered by the country’s newly rich from start-ups and finance.

Artificial intelligence

BrainCo claims mind-to-robot link at China’s World AI Conference

Hangzhou-based firm says users can control robots using only their thoughts via EEG headsets, marking a leap in embodied AI tech.

Artificial intelligence

On-device models steal the spotlight as China’s edge AI sector heats up

A growing number of tech firms are pivoting to lightweight models designed to run entirely on smartphones and laptops.

On-device models promise faster processing, enhanced data privacy and lower operating costs, according to proponents. Photo: Shutterstock
Malaysia

Malaysia’s US$47 million investment in Indonesian start-up revealed as fraud

The finance ministry said pension fund KWAP lost the money to eFishery despite rigorous due diligence.

eFishery deploys feeders to fish and shrimp farmers in Indonesia. Photo: eFishery
Banking & finance

HKIC reports double-digit investment return as ‘patient capital’ bears fruit

The government-owned investment firm generated nearly HK$6.5 billion in its second year, as Hong Kong’s economic vision begins to take shape.

Artificial intelligence

China’s DeepSeek eyes US$70b valuation in new talks weeks after first round

Company’s fresh fundraising talks come straight off its landmark Series A, as investors scramble to back national AI champion.

Artificial intelligence

Will a new focus help Chinese AI labs challenge Thinking Machines Lab?

AI labs Yoolee and InfiX.ai say they aim to rival US start-up with industry-specific AI solutions, reduced costs and enhanced privacy.

Two Chinese AI labs, Yoolee AI and InfiX.ai, aim to challenge the likes of Thinking Machines Lab and Palantir with a focus on AI solutions tailored for specific industries, reduced costs and enhanced privacy. Photo: Shutterstock
Singapore

Singapore’s Carousell eyes ‘bigger leap ahead’ after profitability milestone

Co-founder Marcus Tan says he is ‘excited about the growth ahead’ as years of investment in user experience begin to pay off.

Carousell co-founder Marcus Tan points to a Kodak carousel projector, gifted to them by a platform user, on display in the company’s Singapore office. Photo: Jean Iau
China’s private sector

China records most new unicorn start-ups in 5 years as AI and robotics boom

The pace is the fastest since 2021 though momentum for some start-ups remains uncertain, according to a new report.

Mainland China

Video | This Chinese bug zapper kills mosquitoes with lasers

Photon Matrix raised US$2.8 million through crowdfunding, but mass production has been delayed until August.

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