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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.
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
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.

China’s private sector

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

Mainland China

Video | This Chinese bug zapper kills mosquitoes with lasers

China’s private sector

China’s unicorns rise to 381 as ByteDance ranks in top 3 globally: Hurun index

The tech firm is valued behind only OpenAI and Anthropic – while DeepSeek enters the global top 15.

Unicorns typically refer to privately held start-up companies that have achieved a valuation of over US$1 billion. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Artificial intelligence

China keeps an eye on AI smart glasses as privacy concerns come into focus

Voluntary code aims to address privacy fears surrounding AI smart glasses as shipments surge and hidden recordings spark public outrage.

Artificial intelligence

How a Chinese physical AI start-up’s new paradigm bypasses US road maps

Shanghai-based Fysics AI says Fysiverse is a ‘new-generation physics-based world model that adheres to real-world physical laws’.

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China’s private sector

iPhone supplier Luxshare passes key hearing for Hong Kong listing

The firm, a key supplier for AirPods and iPhones, is a step closer to joining other mainland Chinese tech heavyweights in HKEX listing.

Luxshare Precision Industry has passed a regulatory hurdle to list in Hong Kong. Photo: Getty Images
China manufacturing

Will China’s AI-powered agribots repeat its EV success story?

Chinese tech and mass production capabilities could transform the nation’s farming industry with AI-enabled workforce.

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Nuclear fusion

Chinese start-up tackles fusion energy software bottleneck with help of AI

FusionAlpha is a simulator designed to help developers test reactor designs on computers before committing to expensive physical experiments.

Banking & finance

Opinion | AI has been known to hallucinate. So have financial markets

Stock markets are booming on the assumption that US tech giants will deliver, but as liquidity becomes scarce, a reality check will ensue.

A sign displays outside Nasdaq on the day of SpaceX’s initial public offering in New York on June 12. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

Anthropic opens powerful Mythos AI model to public – with some safeguards

Access was previously limited to organisations like the US government due to the model’s ability to unearth cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

The new Claude Fable 5 is the most powerful model ‌Anthropic has ever made for wider use, the start-up ​says. Photo illustration: Reuters
Universities in Hong Kong

Hong Kong commits US$383 million to university spin-offs in tech hub push

Launched in October 2023, the scheme requires university teams to successfully commercialise their R&D outcomes within five years.

Banking & finance

Hong Kong’s venture fund eyes bigger bankroll after double-digit return

Financial secretary says investment arm will also take lead on new offshore yuan-denominated venture capital fund.

Robotics

World of humanoid robots set for new blueprint as Nvidia teams with Asian firms

The tech trio team up to create a state-of-the-art robot reference design allowing researchers to build, fine-tune and deploy skills faster.

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Unitree robots perform dance moves at Global Sources Hong Kong Shows at AsiaWorld-Expo in Chek Lap Kok. The exhibition showcases the newest technologies in mobile accessories and AI-powered consumer electronics. Photo: Eugene Lee
Robotics

‘Arms race’: why investors can’t let go of robotic hand developers in China

Funding blitzes spotlight the dexterous hand sector, which is focused on the toughest component in humanoid hardware.

Xynova has recently completed a series A round led by the venture arms of smartphone maker Xiaomi and electric vehicle giant Li Auto. Photo: Handout
Artificial intelligence

As China’s humanoid-robot hype cools, Unitree sees profit plunge

A filing shows adjusted profit fell 53 per cent, even as revenue continued to rise, highlighting tough competition in humanoid robot sector.

Robotics

China unveils first humanoid robot for household chores, ready as early as 2027

Companies are still improving data required for robots to perform complex household tasks, some of which require embodied AI.

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Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek adds former Jane Street engineer to harness team amid agentic AI push

Move underscores start-up’s efforts to build harnesses – software that turns an AI model into a functional and autonomous AI agent.

Job postings have suggested that the harness team would be a core unit within DeepSeek. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Chinese premier urges faster, broader adoption of AI in advanced manufacturing

Premier Li Qiang says boosting AI-powered manufacturing can help drive new growth for the economy.

Artificial intelligence

China’s Moonshot AI moves to unwind offshore structure in IPO pursuit: sources

Beijing-based unicorn tells shareholders it will dismantle VIE model as regulators tighten oversight, as shift may signal new era for foreign tech investment.

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Artificial intelligence

Ex-Meta Chinese star joins race for self-improving AI with US$4.6b start-up

The funding round was led by venture capital firms GV and Greycroft, with ‘major participation’ from Nvidia and AMD.

AI systems that can automate the AI research and development process have long been seen as the holy grail of AI research. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Artificial intelligence

Kimi developer Moonshot AI valued at US$20b as it navigates new IPO rules

Firm raised US$2 billion from investors including Meituan’s venture and China Mobile, taking total to US$3.9 billion in the last six months.

Moonshot AI, best known for its Kimi chatbot, saw its annual recurring revenue exceed US$200 million in April. Photo: Shutterstock
Art

Are NFTs the hero or villain in the contemporary art scene?

In March, Art Basel Hong Kong featured a dedicated space for digital practices, raising the question: what’s next for non-fungible tokens?

Robotics

Hype or real: China’s robot boom faces reality check as commercialisation lags

Capital floods into China’s robotic sector but profitability remains elusive as challenges emerge with the industry’s business model.

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Venture capital market

Hong Kong tech hub progress ‘significant’, Dalton Venture’s Steve Sun says

City’s measures to retain research talent and encourage the commercialisation of research results ‘gradually taking effect’, venture capitalist says.

Hong Kong’s skyline viewed from Victoria Peak. Photo: Eugene Lee
Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek mystery: who is speaking for start-up amid CEO Liang Wenfeng’s absence?

Researcher Chen Deli is emerging as DeepSeek’s new public face as speculation over the whereabouts of the company’s founder and CEO lingers.

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DeepSeek’s logo is reflected in the glasses of a student. The company recently released its V4 model. Photo: Getty Images
Millionaires, billionaires and trillionaires

Elon Musk’s trial against Sam Altman reveals power struggle for OpenAI

Musk, one of the original co-founders of OpenAI, is seeking US$150 billion in damages from the company and Microsoft, one of its largest investors.

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Artificial intelligence

DeepSeek takes step away from Nvidia amid export curbs on China

DeepSeek’s new artificial intelligence model puts up a price challenge to US rivals and is a further step towards a stand-alone Chinese AI ecosystem.

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