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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.
Industry insiders have welcomed the EU’s €30 billion AI gigafactory plan, but there is nothing to stop computing capacity from being sold to US tech giants. Photo: Reuters
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?

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Artificial intelligence

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

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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US President Donald Trump receives a McDonald’s delivery via DoorDash outside the White House in Washington on April 13. Photo: Reuters
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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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.

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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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Humanoid robots work on an imitation factory production line at a robot training centre in east China’s Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
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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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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A woman in Beijing walks by a display promoting the Star Market after its establishment in 2019. Photo: AP
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.

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.

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.

Buyers cleared all 66 units in Wangtianji’s first phase as soon as sales opened on July 16. Photo: Handout
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.

Brain-controlled robot demonstration by Chinese tech unicorn BrainCo. Photo: Handout
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.

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.

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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.

Clara Chan Ka-chai, CEO of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), speaks during the International Forum for Patient Capital in Hong Kong last May. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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.

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.

A man stands next to a poster of a humanoid robot during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing on June 25, 2026. Photo: AFP
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.

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.

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.

China has introduced a voluntary industry code of conduct for AI smart glasses following growing privacy concerns over covert recording. Photo: Xinhua
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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The logo of Shanghai-based Fysics AI. Photo: Handout
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.

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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