INFOGRAPHIC: Top Asian Startup Funding — Week 16, 2025
These are the funding deals we tracked in the Asian region this week — featuring Narwal, Yuantian Biotechnology, ViTai Robotics, Eloelo, Garuda Aerospace, viAct, Eratani, Jewelbox, Populix, and Moom Health.
Asia’s startup scene keeps charging ahead, with over $170 million in funding tracked this week flowing into robotics, defence drones, climate tech, wellness, and AI. From pre-IPO rounds to pre-Series A bets, investors are once again backing ambitious, future-forward companies across the region.
Topping the list is China’s Narwal, which secured a massive $100 million in new funding from Tencent and other state-backed investors. Known for its cleaning robots, the company plans to launch an AI-powered household product with robotic arms, eyeing global expansion and a future IPO.
Also in China, Yuantian Biotech bagged $14 million in a pre-Series A+ round to scale enzymatic plastic recycling. The capital will help build a kiloton-scale production line as the company targets industrial-scale sustainability solutions.
Over in Shanghai, robotics startup ViTai Robotics raised $13.8 million in seed funding from heavyweights like Xiaomi. It’s looking to bring its embodied intelligence systems to life through robots that learn from the physical world, with plans to launch its first commercial products this year.
On the entertainment side, India’s Eloelo raised $13.5 million in Series B funding to grow its live social gaming platform. The company plans to deepen its AI integration and scale internationally as gamified content gains steam in the creator economy.
Also in India, drone tech firm Garuda Aerospace locked in $11.7 million in Series B funding to ramp up its defence-grade drone systems, IP development, and R&D footprint.
Hong Kong-based viAct also saw a big win, securing $7.3 million in Series A funding to bring its AI-powered safety tech to markets like Saudi Arabia and Europe. Its real-time risk detection tools are already gaining traction in construction and manufacturing.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Eratani closed a $6.2 million Series A to expand its agri marketplace, boost productivity, and roll out new precision-farming tools.
Also in Indonesia, Populix raised $4.3 million in the first close of its Series B round to scale its AI-powered research tools. With its NeXa assistant and growing client base, the company is looking to dominate Southeast Asia’s insights space.
India’s lab-grown diamond brand Jewelbox also secured $3.2 million in pre-Series A funding to open 30 new stores across major cities. It’s a sign of rising demand for sustainable jewellery in India’s growing middle class.
And rounding out the week, Singapore’s Moom Health secured $2.7 million in pre-Series A funding to scale its women’s wellness supplements business and break into new markets across Asia.
From robotics and drones to wellness and agritech, this week’s deals show just how diverse and future-focused Asia’s startup ecosystem continues to be.
