Ropedia raises USD 22 million to expand physical AI data infrastructure
Ropedia, a Singapore-based startup building data infrastructure for physical artificial intelligence, has raised USD 22 million in a pre-Series A round, bringing its total funding to USD 30 million, the company said.
The investors were not disclosed. Ropedia said the round was led by venture firms with experience in AI, deep technology, and infrastructure in Southeast Asia.
Founded in 2025, Ropedia collects data on real-world human interactions for robotics and embodied intelligence developers. The company said its wearable devices capture first-person video, depth, motion, and audio, then synchronize and process the information into datasets prepared for AI model training.
Ropedia plans to use the capital to expand data collection in Southeast Asia and North America, grow its teams in Singapore and the US, and increase production of its wearable devices. It also plans to add annotation, quality analytics, and compliance tools to its platform, while expanding R&D on data foundation models and world models that simulate physical environments.
PCG Global closes GenZero-led pre-Series A round
PCG Global, a Singapore-headquartered clean energy platform, has completed a pre-Series A round led by GenZero, a Temasek-owned investment platform focused on decarbonization. The amount raised and the identities of any other investors were not disclosed. PCG Global said the deal was its first external fundraising.
The company was established by the team behind PCG Power, a Chinese distributed energy operator with experience investing in, building, and operating renewable energy assets. PCG Global develops and operates renewable energy infrastructure in international markets, including distributed and utility-scale solar projects, behind-the-meter energy storage, and smart energy management systems.
Its services cover project financing, development, operations, maintenance, and carbon asset management. PCG Global said it has about 1.8 gigawatts of projects at various stages of development.
The proceeds will support the identification, development, and execution of projects across Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. The company is targeting demand linked to energy security and corporate and government net-zero commitments.
Tikva raises USD 8 million to advance off-the-shelf cancer therapies
Tikva Allocell, a Singapore-headquartered biotechnology company developing engineered cell therapies for solid tumors, has raised USD 8 million in a Series A round led by Kantharos Capital. The identities of other participating investors were not disclosed.
The company, which is in late preclinical development, is developing an allogeneic T-cell platform that uses donor-derived cells rather than cells collected from individual patients. Tikva said the platform is designed to address immune rejection and limited cell persistence, two barriers to using donor-derived cell therapies against solid tumors.
Tikva’s lead candidate, TAVST01, targets B7-H3, a protein marker expressed in several solid tumors, including lung, breast, prostate, pancreatic, and pediatric cancers.
The company plans to use the funds to complete studies required to support an investigational new drug application and prepare regulatory filings for TAVST01. It is preparing the candidate for clinical development in Singapore and the US.
Asuene secures JPY 13.5 billion in Series D financing
Asuene, a Tokyo-based provider of AI-powered sustainability management software, has completed a JPY 13.5 billion Series D financing package, bringing its cumulative financing to JPY 25 billion. The transaction included JPY 6.8 billion in primary equity, JPY 3.7 billion in secondary share sales, and JPY 3 billion in debt from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
Decarbonization Partners, a joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek, led the round. Asuene said the deal marked the investor’s first backing of a Japanese startup.
Other participants included Twin Towers Ventures, Sparx Asset Management, Incubate Fund, Energy & Environment Investment, Daikin Industries, Ricoh Innovation Fund, GLIN Impact Capital, and former Boston Consulting Group Japan head Hiroaki Sugita.
Asuene develops software that helps companies measure, reduce, and report emissions; manage supply-chain and environmental, social, and governance data; obtain third-party assurance; access carbon credits; and optimize energy use.
The company plans to use the primary capital and debt for acquisitions in Europe, North America, and Asia, as well as international expansion, AI and product development, and new business launches. Asuene said it also aims to broaden the platform’s use in enterprise sustainability management and manufacturing supply chains globally.
Recent deals completed in China:
- HiDream.ai, a generative AI company, has raised RMB 1.5 billion (USD 221.4 million) in a Series C round. The round was co-led by the National Social Security Fund Sichuan Revitalization Sci-Tech Innovation Fund, ICBC Capital, Hongyi Asset Management, and Dunhong Capital. New investors include Xiamen ITG Capital, Shanghai Film New Vision Fund, Hubei Yangtze River Industry Investment Group, Huace Film & TV, Hangyuan Capital, Chuangyunhai Capital, Huafu Investment, Yuhang Financial Holding, Bank of Communications Capital, and Wakamatsu Fund. Existing backers Hefei Industrial Investment, Fortune Capital, Kingpo Investment, Jinhua Capital, Zhongzhe Capital, and Caixin Capital also participated. HiDream.ai develops foundation models and AI agents for content creation, marketing, and film and entertainment production. It will use the funds to advance native omnimodal world models and expand its product and commercial ecosystem.
- T-chef Tech, a commercial cooking robotics company, has secured nearly RMB 100 million (USD 14.8 million) in funding. China Merchants Venture led the round, with participation from Transition Capital. Existing investors Yunqi Partners and QF Capital increased their investments. T-chef combines cooking robots with an AI-powered digital model to standardize recipe development and food preparation. It will use the funds to advance its technology and accelerate the global deployment of Chinese and other Asian cuisines. —36Kr
- Morror Art, a Wuxi-based home audio brand, has raised a nine-figure RMB sum in a Series B+ round led by Dayone Capital, with follow-on participation from existing investor 01VC. The company develops audio products that combine sound systems, transparent displays, and visual music content for use in home environments. It will use the funds to expand its home electronics lineup, develop visual music content and software, grow its offline experience channels in China, and support the global expansion of overseas sub-brand MorningBlues. —36Kr
- Motion Brain, an embodied intelligence company, has raised close to RMB 100 million in an extension to its pre-Series A round. Investors include Jinyue Investment, Chuanghehui Capital, and existing backer Xuhui Capital, alongside several undisclosed parties. Founded in 2025, Motion Brain develops on-device foundation models that encode movements as tokens, enabling robots to plan and execute complex actions. —36Kr
- Design Order, an industrial AI design solutions provider, has raised over RMB 100 million in a Series B round, bringing its cumulative funding to more than RMB 300 million (USD 44.3 million). The investors include SEIC, Hedinggong Investment, and existing investor Yonghua Capital. Design Order operates an AI agent platform that generates 3D designs and 2D engineering drawings for hardware engineers. It will use the funds for market expansion, including overseas growth, and R&D. —36Kr
pQCee, Rize, Whale, and others made recent headlines:
- pQCee, a Singapore-based provider of quantum-safe cybersecurity technology, raised USD 3.9 million in a seed funding round. SGInnovate and Lotus One Investment co-led the round, with participation from In Group Holdings, Wavemaker Ventures, SUTD Venture Holdings, and Apsara Investments.
- Rize, a Singapore-based sustainable rice platform, closed a USD 31 million Series B round, comprising USD 20 million in equity and USD 11 million in debt. BNP Paribas Asset Management Alts led the equity portion, with participation from the Rockefeller Foundation and existing investors Temasek and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. BIDV, Temasek Foundation, and UOB provided the debt financing.
- Whale, an enterprise AI company, raised USD 40 million in a Series C3 extension round, bringing its total Series C funding to USD 100 million. CMB International and SMBC Asia Rising Fund co-led the investment, with participation from Krungsri Finnovate, Singtel Innov8, Hyundai Motor Group, and Charisma Partners.
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Note: JPY, RMB figures are converted to USD at rates of JPY 163.72 = USD 1 and RMB 6.77 = USD 1 based on estimates as of July 28, 2026, unless otherwise stated. USD conversions are presented for ease of reference and may not fully match prevailing exchange rates.