Startup Researcher Asia Pacific

goSTOPS secures INR 35 Cr ($4.2M) in Series A funding to expand its footprint and enhance tech-driven hospitality, led by Blume Ventures with support from ICrowd, Mumbai Angels, The Chennai Angels, IAN Group (formerly Indian Angel Network), Lead Angels, and Yuj Ventures. Founded in 2014 by Pallavi Agarwal and Pankaj Parwanda, goSTOPS is redefining India's backpacker hostel experience with a community-driven, tech-first approach. The fresh capital will fuel its expansion to 100 locations and scale its capacity from 2,500 to 10,000 beds, making travel more accessible for young Indians. More at: https://lnkd.in/e4-fQsi7 #Hospitality #Funding #TravelTech #India

CHITOSE Group secures $49 million funding to advance bioeconomy innovation and scale biotech production, backed by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation – SMBC Group, Mizuho, JAFCO Asia, and others. Founded in Singapore, CHITOSE is pioneering sustainable alternatives through microalgae-derived products and AI-driven fermentation technology. With plans for a NASDAQ IPO by 2027, the company is set to reshape the future of biomanufacturing. More at: https://lnkd.in/eZ4b9yvd #Biotech #Funding #Sustainability #Bioeconomy

Harmony Intelligence secures $3 million funding to advance AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, led by Airtree Ventures. The funding is supported by First Row Partners, Maxwell Capital, and industry leaders from Canva, Adept AI, and Plaid, with backing from Eric Ries. Founded by Soroush J. Pour and Alex Browne, Harmony Intelligence is redefining cybersecurity by using AI-powered penetration testing to preempt cyber threats before they strike. It collaborates with top AI labs, companies, and governments to strengthen security defenses. More at: https://lnkd.in/ecnEbCp4 #Cybersecurity #AI #Funding #Startups

EcoJoule Energy secures $15 million funding for global expansion and energy grid stability solutions, led by Ellerston Capital and backed by Fifth Estate Asset Management . Founded in 2018 by Mike Wishart, EcoJoule is driving innovation in renewable energy management, offering community energy storage and voltage regulation technology to support the global energy transition. More at: https://lnkd.in/eX8CnWKc #RenewableEnergy #Funding #EnergyTech #GridStability

MaxIQ secures $7.8 million seed funding to revolutionize AI-driven revenue intelligence, led by Dell Technologies Capital and backed by Intel Capital and angel investors. Founded in 2022 by Sonny Aulakh, MaxIQ is redefining how B2B enterprises optimize revenue operations. With new leadership—Matt Hickey as CEO and Robert Sexton as CRO—the company is set to scale globally, uniting sales, success, and RevOps on a single platform. More at: https://lnkd.in/enVWrVZQ #AI #Funding #RevenueIntelligence #B2B #SaaS

Phot.AI secures $2.7 million funding to revolutionize e-commerce visual content automation, led by Info Edge Ventures. The round saw participation from Together Fund, AC Ventures, and 50+ angel investors, including industry leaders from Shiprocket, Bella Vita, Bewakoof, and Fashinza. Founded in 2023 by Venus Dhuria, Akshit Raja, and Aneesh Rayancha, Phot.AI is transforming creative design and marketplace listings with AI-powered automation. Its platform helps brands cut design costs by 80% and improve conversions by 40%, making visual content creation seamless and scalable. More at: https://lnkd.in/e2fJZCYQ #AI #Funding #Ecommerce #Startup

Leap Finance secures $100 million debt facility from HSBC to expand education loans for Indian students studying abroad. The funding will help grow its university partnerships and strengthen its presence in the U.S. and India. Leap, founded in 2019 by Arnav Kumar, and Vaibhav Singh, CFA, has provided over $250M in education loans, offering collateral-free, USD-denominated financing. It also provides study-abroad counseling, visa assistance, and tailored financial products. More at: https://lnkd.in/eczi3emc #EdTech #Funding #StudyAbroad #Fintech

Darwinbox secures $140 million in funding to accelerate its global expansion and reshape the HR tech space. Co-led by KKR and Partners Group, the round includes support from top investors like Lightspeed, Sequoia, and Microsoft. Founded in 2015 by Chaitanya Peddi, Jayant Paleti, and Rohit Chennamaneni, Darwinbox offers an AI-powered, all-in-one HR platform for enterprises, providing tools for employee management, payroll, and recruitment. With growing global presence, the company is poised to lead the HR tech transformation. More at: https://lnkd.in/e9ekfv8i #HRTech #Funding #AI #GlobalExpansion #SaaS

InsuranceDekho secures $70 million funding to expand its tech-driven insurance platform, led by Beams Fintech Fund and MUFG, with support from BNP Paribas Cardif through Eurazeo. InsuranceDekho, founded in 2017 by Ankit Agrawal, and Ish Babbar, is a leading insurtech platform revolutionizing insurance distribution in India. It offers AI-driven solutions for seamless policy buying, selling, and claims management, serving over 10.2 million customers nationwide. More at: https://lnkd.in/e7Ctcjbi #Insurtech #Funding #Startups #IndiaTech

Mintoak acquires Digiledge in an all-cash deal to enhance its CBDC and bill payment solutions. The move strengthens Mintoak’s fintech platform, expanding its digital payment capabilities for SMEs. Founded in 2017 by Raman Khanduja, Rama Tadepalli, Kabeer Jain, Sanjay Nazareth, and Rohit Ramana, Mintoak partners with leading banks across South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, offering seamless payment and commerce solutions. Digiledge, also founded in 2017 by Mahesh Govind, and Chandni Mahesh, specializes in blockchain-driven financial services, working with top banks in southern India. More at: https://lnkd.in/eZv-pzFg #Fintech #Payments #CBDC #Acquisition