Investments roundup: a16z and Lightspeed jointly lead Series A funding for k-ID; Pawprints Group extends seed round with additional financing; Earth VC backs Orbillion Bio, and further investment news
In the realm of innovation and technology, several startups have recently secured significant funding to drive their respective projects forward. Here's a roundup of some notable investments:
Pet Nutrition Focused Pawprints Group Secures Extension to Seed Funding
Pawprints Group, a Singapore-based company specializing in biologically ideal and allergy-friendly pet nutrition, has secured an extension to its seed funding round led by Asia Fund X. The exact amount of the investment was not disclosed.
Clean Tech Companies Raise Funds for Sustainable Energy Solutions
Stride, a Ho Chi Minh City-based clean tech company, has secured a USD 3 million debt financing facility from Trine, a Sweden-based solar investment platform. The funds will be used to boost clean energy adoption in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Tiger New Energy, a Bangladeshi clean energy startup, has raised an additional USD 1 million in funding, augmenting the USD 2.5 million seed round led by Wavemaker Partners in 2023.
Tech Startups Secure Funding for Various Projects
K-ID, a Singapore-based startup, has secured USD 45 million in a Series A funding round, led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Lightspeed Venture Partners. The funding will be used by k-ID to simplify online safety and privacy management for game developers, parents, kids, and teens.
Atome Financial, a digital financial technology platform under Advance Intelligence Group, has secured a three-year term debt facility from EvolutionX Debt Capital, with an accordion feature that could increase the total amount to up to USD 100 million.
AI and Video Technology Startups Secure Funding
VidAU, an AI-powered video creation platform, has secured angel funding from River Jin Technology to further develop its algorithms and AI models.
Opilot, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup focusing on data privacy and protection, has raised an undisclosed amount of pre-seed investment from Iterative Capital.
Other Notable Investments
In the world of equestrian businesses, Canterly, a startup developing a platform, has secured pre-seed funding from early-stage investor Antler.
Earth VC, a climate tech venture capital firm based in Vietnam, has invested in Orbillion Bio, a US-based cultivated meat startup that specializes in producing Wagyu beef cells and aims to be a leading B2B supplier of beef muscle and fat cells.
MUFG Bank has also announced its investment in LanzaJet, a US-based company specializing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.
Food Empire Holdings, a Singapore-based multinational food and beverage group, has bagged USD 40 million from private equity fund Ikhlas Capital.
Jheat Technology, a Shanghai-registered temperature control technology company, has secured an undisclosed amount in an angel funding round from Qingyuan Huaxin Investment.
Plaza Premium Group has announced a USD 300 million investment to drive innovation and growth over the next three years.
Zeron, a new energy vehicle company, has secured nearly RMB 100 million (USD 13.7 million) in a Series A1 funding round.
Lastly, Dachin Etech Global, a Singapore-headquartered D2C brand creator, has secured an undisclosed sum of seed funding from Northstar Ventures.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) has invested USD 195 million in Ascend Money, a leading Thai mobile payments operator.
AnDiConBio, a developer of drugs designed to counteract respiratory infections, has completed a RMB 200 million (USD 27.5 million) Series A funding round.
