Matsuri secures JPY 1.34 billion to accelerate StayX’s growth
Matsuri Technologies, a Tokyo-based provider of StayX, has completed its Series D funding round, raising JPY 1.34 billion (USD 8.5 million). The round saw participation from new investors, including Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India (VVSEAI), along with existing investors.
StayX is a solution targeting the conversion of single-use rooms into multiple-use spaces. To accelerate its growth, Matsuri intends to deploy the newly raised capital toward enhancement of its software offerings. It also plans to increase the number of facilities, invest in talent, and support its overseas expansion plans.
BayaniPay boosts Series A funding with USD 3 million fresh capital
BayaniPay, a payments automation company based in Los Angeles and the Philippines, has raised an additional USD 3 million, bringing its Series A funding to USD 9.6 million. The fresh capital comes from lead investors Wavemaker Partners, PTGB, and Talino Venture Studios. This investment will enable BayaniPay to enhance its global payments capability and drive its growth this year.
Specifically, the new funds will be used to expand BayaniPay’s bill payment service, enabling payments from the US and globally. The company is also planning to launch Bayani GlobalPay, comprising GlobalPay, a white-label custom payment platform, and GlobalPay Express, an all-in-one payment portal. Through these solutions, Bayani aims to help businesses and billing entities reach global customers efficiently.
Existing partners, including Philippine real estate companies SMDC, DMCI, and Landco, will be among the first clients to collaborate on Bayani GlobalPay, leveraging its lower service fees and automation technologies to streamline payment management and tracking.
Stanly raises USD 8 million in pre-Series A round
Stanly, a platform designed for fans to connect, engage, and celebrate their favorite fandoms, has raised USD 8 million in pre-Series A funding. The round was led by C Capital, with participation from AppWorks, Goodwater, and Palm Drive Capital.
Founded in 2023, Stanly offers fan-to-fan and artist-to-fan communication and commerce. Users can join or create fan-generated artist clubs, discover exclusive content, participate in gaming, chat, earn rewards, shop, and stay updated on the latest news and events. Since its beta launch in February, Stanly said it has attracted over 200,000 members and supports 50 popular fandoms.
Stanly will use the proceeds to expand its team, enhance its platform, and develop new features to provide interactive and engaging fan experiences.
AgriG8 secures investment to decarbonize rice production in Asia
AgriG8, a Singapore-based startup focused on decarbonizing rice production, has received an undisclosed investment from Better Bite Ventures and The Trendlines Group.
To help smallholder farmers in rice-growing Asian countries reduce their methane emissions, AgriG8 has developed a digital platform that provides access to finance and incentivizes methane-reducing farming practices. Its CropPal app helps farmers report these practices, while satellite imagery and machine learning validate water management practices associated with methane reduction.
The funding will support regional pilots of its inclusive financing solution, enhance its digital platform, and promote sustainable farming practices. —e27
Octayne Green Fuels secures USD 525,000 in pre-seed funding
Octayne Green Fuels, a Singapore-based waste-to-energy venture, has secured USD 525,000 in pre-seed funding from Wavemaker Impact.
Octayne aims to convert agricultural biowaste into a carbon-neutral fuel alternative. The startup plans to tap into Southeast Asia’s agricultural sector, which it said generates over 400 million tons of post-harvest crop residue, to create renewable and sustainable fuel. The company has designed a decentralized, low-cost operational model that can scale across rural geographies with inadequate logistical infrastructure.
Initially targeting Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, Octayne aims to achieve USD 100 million in revenue and mitigate 100 million tons of CO2 emissions over the next decade. It will use the newly raised funds to execute pilot projects, develop technical products and platforms, and recruit a specialized team. —TechNode Global
Recent deals completed in China:
- Zhenli New Materials, a new energy materials developer, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in an angel funding round. The investor details were not disclosed. The funding will be primarily used to invest in next-generation equipment, core equipment components, and related R&D and production deployments. —36Kr
- Aoda Biotechnology, a Chengdu-based biopharmaceutical company, has completed its Series A financing round. The investors include Renxi Technology Innovation Investment and Green Pine Capital Partners. —36Kr
- Naturality Digital, a tech-enabled digital marketing agency, has secured an eight-figure RMB sum in a pre-Series A+ round of financing. The round was led by FreesFund with continued investment from existing shareholder MiraclePlus. PhoenixTree Capital acted as the financial advisor. The funds will be used for supply chain investment, product development, and market promotion. Previously, the company received angel funding from iStart and pre-Series A financing from Seas Capital and MiraclePlus. —36Kr
- BEM-Power, a Wuxi-based provider of marine electrification systems, has secured nearly RMB 100 million (USD 13.8 million) in Series B financing. The investment was jointly made by Haichuang Venture, Qingdao Guoxin, Wuxi Capital Group, and Guolian Capital. The funds will be used for R&D, production line expansion, growth initiatives, and team building. —36Kr
- Huason Electronics Technology, a design and production company specializing in electronic circuits, has received an undisclosed amount of investment from Deyang Development Holding Group. —36Kr
- PZEDA, a Chengdu-based developer of printed circuit board (PCB) design software, has bagged over RMB 100 million in a pre-Series A+ funding round from Beite Fund. —36Kr
Smartworks, GoPizza, Ola Electric, and more led yesterday’s headlines:
- Smartworks, a Gurugram-based office space provider, raised USD 12 million in a funding round led by Ananta Capital, with participation from around 45 investors including Plutus Capital, Kili Ventures, and Dhawan Family Trust.
- GoPizza, a tech-enabled pizza chain, received a USD 10 million investment from Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), a Thai conglomerate that operates 7-Eleven and Lotus.
- Ola Electric, a Bengaluru-based manufacturer of electric two-wheelers, raised USD 12 million in debt funding from Alteria Capital.
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