ur fifth annual Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list

The fifth annual Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list provides a window into the vibrant world of small companies and startups in the Asia-Pacific region. It’s a constantly evolving ecosystem, which is increasingly focusing on AI and deep tech to innovate and thrive.

The promising news is that VC funding in the region, which had fallen to a ten-year low at the end of 2024, has seen an uptick in some countries this year. According to a recent KPMG report, India, Japan and Singapore are drawing more risk capital this year, a trend this compendium also reflects. A total of 16 countries and territories are represented on our list and India leads the pack with 18 companies, followed by Singapore and Japan (14 each), China (9), Indonesia and South Korea (8 each) and Australia (7).

Investors also favor fast-rising sectors such as biotechnology, spacetech and green tech, and our list is well-populated by companies in those fields—from enterprises developing gene-editing therapies for cancer treatments to those producing new anode material for lithium-ion batteries or building novel propulsion systems for spacecraft. They are grouped under ten industry categories with the largest cohort (18) in biotechnology and healthcare followed by enterprise technology and robotics (16). Overall, the 100 companies on the list have drawn nearly $3 billion in funding to date, compared with $2 billion raised by last year’s group.

Companies to Watch

Aetech

Aetech has devised an automated alternative to the laborious task of manually sorting waste: an AI-powered robot, Atron, which the startup says can double recycling efficiency. So far, some 20 Atrons have been deployed at South Korean waste management facilities, logistics centers and industrial complexes. With more than $13 million raised, including from GS Ventures, the VC arm of South Korea’s GS Group, it’s eyeing expansion into Australia, Singapore and Vietnam. Aetech took a bronze in the category of manufacturing and logistics production process innovation at the 2025 Edison Awards.

Aeterlink

Aeterlink, which started out at Stanford University, has developed wireless power transfer technologies for a range of applications, including in factory automation and building management. Its wireless temperature sensors for air conditioning units, for example, ensure cooled air is directed to where it’s needed. The Tokyo-based company has raised ¥6.8 billion ($46 million) in equity, debt and grants from the likes of Jafco Group, Sparx’s Mirai Creation Fund and Mizuho Capital, including ¥3.9 billion in a series B round in February.

Aether Fuels

This e-fuels startup has developed technologies to convert waste carbon feedstock into sustainable fuels for the aviation and shipping industries. Aether Fuels says it can convert materials such as agricultural waste and industrial waste gases into green fuels by extracting and processing carbon content in an economically viable way. It has inked agreements with Singapore Airlines and JetBlue to supply sustainable aviation fuel once it begins producing it on a commercial scale. Aether Fuels has raised over $40 million, including a $34 million series A round in June 2024 from investors such as AP Ventures and Temasek’s Xora Innovation.

Aevice Health

Growing up with asthma led Adrian Ang to found medtech firm Aevice Health, which makes non-invasive, wearable devices that can help manage respiratory diseases remotely. The company’s AeviceMD is a smart wearable stethoscope that continuously monitors heart and respiratory rates. In May, AeviceMD received U. S. Food & Drug Administration clearance for its use on children above the age of three. Last year, the startup raised $7 million in a seed plus funding round led by Coronet Ventures, the Singapore-based venture unit of Cedars-Sinai Intellectual Property. Other investors include East Ventures, A&D Company and Seeds Capital.

AI Hay

AI Hay’s Vietnamese chatbot and app, based on a proprietary large language model, can identify linguistic patterns and cultural context as well as track user behavior to generate answers sourced from curated content. The mobile app is primarily used by students, and allows them to snap a photo of their assignments and receive step-by-step guidance for subjects such as math, literature and essay writing. It also offers social networking tools. In July, AI Hay raised $10 million in a series A round led by Argor Capital, bringing its total funding to over $18 million.

Aimed Bio

Unlike chemotherapy, which harms healthy cells, antibody-based treatments that target only cancer cells have caught on. Seoul-based Aimed Bio is developing one such potent targeted therapy called antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs. A spinoff from South Korea’s Samsung Medical Center, the biotech startup has also developed linker-payload technologies, which are crucial in ensuring the complex ADC treatments work. Aimed Bio has raised $82 million so far, including over $36 million in a June pre-IPO round from investors such as Intervest, DS Asset Management, Samsung Life Insurance Foundation, SMB Investment Partners and Mirae Asset Securities.

AlphaLife Sciences

Developing a new drug involves reams of clinical paperwork and preparing those manually is a laborious, time-consuming process. AlphaLife Sciences says its cloud-based medical writing tool AuroraPrime can help pharmaceutical companies draft clinical study reports and regulatory documents at record speed. A graduate of startup accelerators including Nvidia Inception and the Microsoft for Startups Pegasus program, the company has raised tens of millions in funding from investors such as Hankang Capital and B Capital.

Asuene

Asuene offers a cloud-based CO₂ emissions management and carbon accounting platform, which helps companies measure and reduce their carbon footprint. With more than 10,000 customers, the Tokyo-based firm has raised a total of ¥10.6 billion ($71 million) from investors such as Salesforce Ventures, Sony Innovation Fund and Temasek-owned Pavilion Capital, including ¥5 billion garnered in a series C round last year.

Augmentus

Augmentus has developed AI-powered industrial robotic systems that don’t require extensive coding. The company’s vision system–combining 3D scanning cameras that act as the robot’s “eyes” with its AutoPath software, which serves as the “brain”–enables the robot to collect and analyze spatial information to generate optimal toolpaths. In July, the company raised $11 million in a series A+ round led by South Korean investment firm Woori VP, with participation from EDBI, Sierra Ventures and Cocoon Capital.

BANF

Worn-out tires are often the cause of serious car crashes, which Seoul-based BANF says can be prevented by real-time monitoring and predictive analytics. The company has developed tire-mounted sensors that track tire pressure, temperature, tread depth, wheel alignment and road conditions, which can alert drivers to any potential hazards. BANF, which has partnered with Hyundai and DHL, says its sensors can reduce tire-related accidents by 40%. The startup won an innovation award in the Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility category at CES 2024.

Base Therapeutics

This owner of over 30 global patents uses gene-editing technologies to develop treatments for advanced tumors. The Shanghai-based company’s flagship product is NK510, an injection of enhanced immune cells that can target and destroy cancer cells. Base Therapeutics has raised $34.5 million in funding from investors including Chinese search giant Baidu, Great Eagle VC and Gobi Partners. It plans to conduct clinical trials for the drug in Beijing later this year.

bitBiome

This biotech startup, which originated at Waseda University, leverages AI to sequence and catalog microbial genomes to develop new enzymes for a gamut of uses, from novel drugs to cosmetics. The company says that only 0.001% of all microbial species on Earth have been discovered, and its single-cell sequencing technology is more efficient than other DNA-sequencing methods.

That has enabled it to build a massive database of 2.4 billion genome sequences, which can be engineered for specific applications. With a slew of development projects in hand with major companies such as Ajinomoto Group and Kirin Holdings, bitBiome has secured a mix of grants and equity funding totaling ¥4.3 billion ($28.9 million), including from The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, Global Brain and Kirin Health Innovation Fund.

Blinq

Paper business cards are passé, according to Blinq, which has been pushing the digital alternative since its founding eight years ago. Users can tap into the company’s platform to create digital business cards with personal QR codes. That cool convenience has so far drawn 2.5 million users across 189 countries, according to the company, with some 80% of them in the U. S. In June, it raised $25 million in a series A funding round led by Touring Capital with participation from Blackbird Ventures, Square Peg Capital and HubSpot Ventures. Founder and CEO Webb is an alumnus of the 30 Under 30 Asia list.

BRIK

BRIK sources a variety of construction materials, from green cement to heat reduction paints, for its customers, who range from large Indonesian property players, such as Ciputra and Sinarmas Land, to small and midsized developers, who are often overlooked by bigger suppliers. Cutting out intermediaries, orders and deliveries are easily tracked online. BRIK raised $10 million in a series A round in May led by Jungle Ventures, following its $12 million pre-series A in 2023. The company operates in Jakarta and cities in West Java, and is expanding to Bali and Central Java.

BuilderX Robotics

Operators of heavy machinery, whether at construction sites, ports, quarries or factories, have to contend with lurking dangers. Making their workplace safer is the focus of Beijing-based BuilderX Robotics, which can retrofit machinery such as excavators and wheel loaders with sensors and cameras so that they can be operated remotely. BuilderX Robotics sells in both China and Japan to customers such as Baogang Group, China Huaneng Group and Sumitomo Corp.

Cinch

The rising costs of personal gadgets, from smartphones to laptops and tablets, underpin the Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) business model of three-year-old Cinch. It offers such devices on a monthly subscription basis to both individuals and companies, with the option to upgrade or buy later. The company says its services, available in Singapore and Malaysia, include refurbishing, repairing and recycling devices to extend their life, offering an alternative to e-waste. In April, Cinch raised $28.8 million in a debt and equity funding round, with the equity portion led by Monk’s Hill Ventures and participation from Z Venture Capital and 1982 Ventures.

Cloudphysician

Cloudphysician’s AI-based software to monitor patients in the intensive care units of hospitals and nursing homes may just be the answer to overworked doctors and nurses. Its AI-powered digital agent, AINA, analyzes the video feed from the patient’s hospital bed to detect any movement, while comparing it with their medical history. It sends out alerts to hospital staff if it perceives any risks. Last year Cloudphysician raised $10.5 million in a series A round led by Peak XV Partners, after completing a $4 million pre-series A round in 2021. The company says it now monitors over 2,000 beds across more than 300 hospitals in countries including India, Bangladesh and Kenya.

Datumo

Datumo (formerly SelectStar) helps companies assess their AI models and provides training data. The Seoul-based startup’s flagship product, Datumo Eval, helps validate the reliability of large language models. The startup raised over $25 million in funding, including a $15.5 million series B in August from investors including Salesforce Ventures. Datumo’s other investors include Kakao Ventures and SBI Investment.

DexForce Technology

DexForce Technology develops AI-based 3D vision software to help robots “see.” It also makes its own hardware, including the W1 series of wheel-based humanoid robots. The startup says its products are used in the automotive, logistics and home-appliance manufacturing industries with clients such as Midea, Panasonic and TCL. DexForce Technology has raised several rounds of funding from investors including Lenovo Capital, Green Pine Capital and ZhenFund.

EcoJoule Energy

With its range of power management products, Queensland’s EcoJoule Energy aims to help manage the problem of electricity-grid instability as more households opt for solar power. Its battery storage device, EcoSTORE, stores excess solar energy while its EcoVAR regulator helps reduce voltage swings. In March, EcoJoule Energy raised A$15 million ($9.9 million), in what was its first round of external funding, from investors including Ellerston Capital and Fifth Estate Asset Management. The company’s customers include Ausgrid, AusNet Services and Endeavour Energy.

Eeki

Starting with a small rooftop farm, Eeki, a name derived from the Japanese word ikigai, denoting life’s true purpose, is focused on sustainable farming practices. Based in Kota, in India’s arid Rajasthan state, Eeki builds aeroponic and hydroponic growing chambers, where humidity and temperatures are carefully controlled to enable the year-round farming of vegetables, such as cucumbers and tomatoes. Eeki says its farms can even be set up on barren lands as they require less water. The firm raised $7 million in funding from Six Sense Ventures in June, following a $6.5 million series A round led by General Catalyst in 2022.

ElectraLith

ElectraLith’s patented technology, which originated from research at Monash University, can extract and refine lithium without using water or chemicals to produce lithium hydroxide, a key component for batteries used in everyday electronic devices and EVs. The startup’s Direct Lithium Extraction and Refining (DLE-R) proprietary process can be powered by renewable energy. In January, ElectraLith raised A$27.5 million ($17.8 million) in a series A funding round led by Australian investment firm Main Sequence.

Enecoat Technologies

Enecoat Technologies, which started at Kyoto University, is developing next-generation solar cells with a perovskite-structured compound that can generate electricity even on cloudy days or indoors. Enecoat says that in recent tests it has achieved one of the highest conversion rates—over 30%—for its solar cells. The company has raised ¥8.7 billion ($60.4 million) in equity from investors including Toyota Motor’s Woven Capital and Kyoto University Innovation Capital, including a ¥6.8 billion series C follow-on round and an additional ¥2.7 billion from grants.

Enstack

Small and midsized businesses wanting to build an online retail presence are Enstack’s target customers. Its AI-assisted app can be used to design web stores, including logos, and even writes product blurbs. Building on founder Macy Castillo’s experience at e-commerce giants Shopee and Zalora Philippines, the app also helps its clients manage invoices and payments, ship packages and track inventory. Enstack has been downloaded more than 100,000 times from Google Play and expanded this year into Thailand. It has raised $3 million in total funding from a range of backers including Xendit, Mangrove Capital Partners, BlackPine and Unifier Ventures.

Esensi Solusi Buana (ESB)

Esensi Solusi Buana, also known as ESB, has created point-of-sale, enterprise resource planning and online ordering systems for Indonesia’s food and beverage industry. The company says it has signed up over 30,000 merchants as customers, including major F&B brands, such as Starbucks and Genki Sushi. Cofounder and CEO Gunawan Woen, ran a financial consulting firm before starting ESB. The company has raised close to $40 million, including $29 million in a series B round in 2022 from investors such as Alpha JWC Ventures.

EverEx

Seoul-based EverEx offers remote rehabilitation services for patients with musculoskeletal disorders through its app, MORA Cure, shorthand for Mobile Orthopedic Rehabilitation Assistant. Through a smartphone camera, MORACure’s AI software can analyze posture and provide a personalized regimen of home exercises. EverEx says it partnered with Samsung, LG and Novartis to develop the app, which is being used by over 150 hospitals and clinics across South Korea, Singapore, the U. S. and Japan. With $20 million in funding, including a $10.7 million series B round in July, EverEx’s backers include the Sumisei Innovation Fund, co-managed by Japan’s Sumitomo Life and SBI Investment.

FaceHeart

Healthtech startup FaceHeart specializes in AI-powered, contactless measurement of a person’s vital signs. Its flagship product, FaceHeart Vitals, can remotely analyze a video scan of a patient’s face to extract physiological data such as heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. In April, the company received U. S. Food & Drug Administration clearance for its product. FaceHeart has raised $20 million from its investors, including Taiwania Capital and chip-design giant MediaTek.

Finmo

A B2B platform for global payments and treasury management, Finmo’s services include real-time payments, FX risk management, enhanced cash flow visibility and automated compliance. The fintech has secured regulatory approvals to operate in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the U. S. and the U.K. In February, it raised $18.5 million in a series A funding round led by Quona Capital and PayPal Ventures, with participation from Citi Ventures.

Finnable

An online provider of personal loans to India’s rising class of salaried professionals, Finnable started off nearly a decade ago lending money to its first customer for his sister’s wedding. The Bangalore-headquartered fintech says it uses proprietary algorithms to assess credit scores and taps deep analytics for fast, virtual loan approvals. It also provides flexible repayment options. Cofounded by former bankers, Finnable says it has served more than 250,000 customers across India and has raised over $33 million in funding to date. Its investors include Z47, TVS Capital, MEMG and Stride Ventures.

Fivot

Fintech startup Fivot offers two services: IDARE, a personal savings and investment app, and Flex Capital, which uses AI to offer loans to startups within three to ten business days—that is warp speed when compared with Japan’s commercial banks. The Tokyo-based company has raised ¥3 billion ($20.1 million) in funding from investors including SBI Investment, SuMi Trust Innovation Fund and SMBC Venture Capital.

Flex

Based in Seongnam, south of Seoul, Flex’s HR software helps managers keep track of employee attendance, automate employment contracts and provides HR-related insights, such as employee head-count growth. It also allows users to view employee profiles and the company’s organization chart. Flex is currently developing HR software with AI agents that can identify candidates for promotion and also devise salary structures. It has raised about $48 million so far from investors including Greenoaks, DST Global Partners, IMM Investment and Devsisters Ventures.

Foxtale

Skincare brand Foxtale’s range of affordable moisturizers, serums, cleansers, sunscreens and other body care items, which it says are suitable for Indian skin types, are sold on its website and by online giants Amazon India and Nykaa. In January, Foxtale raised $30 million in a series C funding round led by Japanese beauty giant Kosé, which also agreed to help Foxtale with product development. The company, which derives its name from the foxtail palm found on coffee plantations, says it has more than 1.5 million customers, with half of them repeat buyers.

Gaianixx

A spinout from Tokyo University, Gaianixx is developing semiconductor production technology to stack difficult to layer, dissimilar materials, which may lead to more powerful and cheaper chips. The company has raised ¥1.9 billion ($12.4 million) in equity funding from investors including SMBC Venture Capital, JX Advanced Metals, The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners and JSR Active Innovation Fund.

GalaxEye

Spacetech startup GalaxEye, founded by a group of engineers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, is on a mission to launch its self-developed observation satellite this year. Appropriately named Drishti Mission—drishti means “vision” in Hindi—it’s equipped with multiple sensors and proprietary imaging technologies to capture all-weather images of Earth. The Bangalore-based company has raised $14.5 million in total funding, including a $10 million series A round last year from investors such as MountTech Growth Fund. GalaxEye says it is developing a second satellite, which it aims to get off the ground in 2027.

GenEditBio

GenEditBio aims to treat rare diseases through gene-editing technologies that directly target organs and tissues in the body. Clinical trials of its lead drug candidate, GEB-101, which treats the mutated gene responsible for stromal corneal dystrophy, a rare eye disorder that can cause vision impairment, began this year. GEB-101 is administered as an injection directly into the affected eye tissue, using a proprietary delivery system involving proteins. GenEditBio is backed by investors including Qiming Venture Partners, Fangyuan Capital, Center Ventures, and Lumosa Therapeutics.

Haball

Headquartered in Karachi, Haball is a B2B fintech company that offers Shariah-compliant supply chain financing and payment services to companies in Pakistan. Its services include digital invoicing, tax compliance and working capital financing. To date, the company says it has processed over $3 billion in payments. In April, Haball raised $52 million in a pre-series A funding round, comprising $5 million in equity financing led by Zayn VC and $47 million in strategic financing from Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s largest Islamic bank.

Health2Sync

Health2Sync offers a comprehensive health management platform for diabetes patients. It allows patients to track and maintain records of their blood glucose levels, blood pressure and weight to help them manage their health condition as well as share the data with their doctor. In March, the company raised a $20 million series C funding round led by Taiwania Capital, bringing its total funding to $30 million. Its app has over 1.5 million registered users, the company says.

Heidi Health

Heidi Health’s AI-powered medical scribe, called Heidi, helps doctors with clinical documentation. Formerly known as Oscer, the company’s software quickly generates clinical notes and case histories based on patient consultations. Operating in Australia and the U. K., Heidi Health’s partners include the National Health Service’s Modality Partnership, which works with more than 360 general practitioners. The Melbourne-based startup, which is run by a medical doctor, raised A$26.5 million ($17.2 million) in funding in March from investors, including U.S.-based Headline, U.K.’s Local Globe and Blackbird.

Hnry

Hnry’s accounting and tax automation platform is designed for the self-employed with a pay-as-you-go service that automatically handles invoicing, expense tracking, filings and other services. Headquartered in Wellington, the startup raised A$35 million ($22.7 million) in a series B funding round in 2023, led by Airtree Ventures with participation from Athletic Ventures, Left Lane Capital and Icehouse Ventures. In addition to operating in Australia and New Zealand, Hnry announced the launch of its services in the U. K. in February.

HPC-AI Tech

HPC-AI Tech develops high-performance computing technologies that accelerate deep learning training. Known for its open-source platforms Colossal-AI and Open-Sora, the company supports scalable software infrastructure and video generation. Last September, the company raised $50 million in a series A funding round backed by Singtel Innov8, Sinovation Ventures, Capstone Capital and other investors.

HPMicro Semiconductor

HPMicro Semiconductor’s chips for fast, efficient computing are used in a range of industries including automobiles, consumer devices, power grids and in humanoid robots. The Shanghai-based company has raised nearly 100 million yuan ($14 million) in a series B funding round completed last year. Its investors include China’s Yuanhong Investment, SinoKing Capital and the Shanghai-listed IoT company 3onedata.

Immunofoco

Suzhou-based Immunofoco is developing immunotherapy treatments for cancer tumors. The biotech company has conducted clinical trials in China for its injectable products, which use proprietary technology to target solid tumors while protecting healthy tissues. Immunofoco has raised about $70 million from investors including Delian Capital, Vivo Capital and ZhenFund. The company is now preparing for Phase 2 clinical trials for one of its products to treat tumors, including pancreatic cancer.

Kamereo

A B2B food supplier, Kamereo connects restaurants and retailers across Vietnam with producers and suppliers of fresh produce, meat, seafood and dry goods. The startup’s integrated logistics and warehousing platform streamlines procurement with features such as order tracking, inventory management and direct-from-farm sourcing. Last December, the startup raised $7.8 million in a series B funding round from Sumitomo Corp. and Inspire.

Kauche

Kauche is a social commerce app that offers discounted products to shared buying groups of family and friends. AI recommendations help them search for and discover products on the app. The Tokyo-based company has raised ¥4.6 billion ($30.9 million) in equity and debt funding from investors including Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Capital and Asu Capital Partners.

KG Motors

Hiroshima-based KG Motors is developing Mibot, a one-seat EV with a price tag of ¥1.1 million ($7,600). The size of a golf cart, the Mibot can navigate Japan’s narrow streets and meets the growing need for short trips by Japan’s aging population. With a charging time of five hours, Mibot can run 100 kilometers on one charge. The company, which plans to start mass production in October, has raised ¥2 billion ($14 million) from investors including Iyogin Capital and Waypoint Venture Partners.

KPay

KPay offers offline and online payment collection services for small merchants. Based in Hong Kong and with operations in Singapore and Japan, KPay enables fund transfers in 18 currencies and serves close to 60,000 merchants, according to the company. It also offers an online platform with tools such as payroll and expense management. Last December, it raised $55 million in a series A funding round led by U. K.-based Apis Partners to partly fund expansion in Southeast Asia.

LexxPluss

LexxPluss is addressing Japan’s labor shortage with its autonomous mobile robots and management system. The Lexx500 is capable of transporting up to 500 kilograms and the LexxTug automates the towing of carts. The Kawasaki-based company has raised about ¥4.7 billion ($32.2 million) in equity, government grants and debt funding, including from Spiral Capital, Mitsubishi HC Capital, Nifco and Aozora Corporate Investment.

Linkerbot

Linkerbot makes metallic hands with five fingers that emulate the movement and function of human hands. Known in the industry as dexterous robot hands, they sell from 8,800 yuan ($1,226) to 149,999 yuan, depending on how freely they move and the tasks they can perform. The hands can be fitted on humanoid robots or industrial robotic arms to grasp objects or perform complex tasks. In the two years since its founding, Linkerbot has raised $40 million in funding from investors, including fintech giant Ant Group, Chinese investment bank CICC and HongShan (formerly Sequoia China).

Little Farms

Feeding the growing demand for healthy eating, Little Farms operates eight grocery stores and six eateries across Singapore, and sells its range online, with an emphasis on natural, organic and ethically sourced products. Key to its brand is its “no nasties” list of 200 banned ingredients, including artificial preservatives and chemical additives, with its produce sourced directly from farmers. Little Farms says it aims to venture overseas by the end of the year, and double its store count by 2030. The company has raised $19 million in total funding from investors including Temasek-owned Heliconia Capital.

Locad

Locad enables e-commerce brands to store, pack and ship orders globally through a distributed warehousing network and an AI-powered fulfillment engine. The company’s logistics and supply-chain cloud platform can also be integrated with vendor accounts registered with major sales channels like Shopify, Shopee and Amazon to track stock and order status. Last November, Locad raised $9 million in a pre-series B funding round co-led by Global Ventures and Reefknot Investments.

Loglass

Loglass is a cloud-based software firm that offers companies AI tools to collect and analyze sales, budgeting and personnel data to streamline business planning. It says customers include Nomura Real Estate Holdings and printing-to-communications provider Toppan Holdings in Japan, among others. To date, Tokyo-based Loglass has raised at least ¥10 billion ($68 million) in funding, including ¥7 billion in a series B round last year led by Sequoia Heritage and All Star SaaS Fund.

Lokal

Lokal, a spin on the word “local,” is a social media and content app that delivers hyper-localized news, job postings, and other community announcements in eight regional Indian languages plus English. The company targets residents in cities and towns in nine Indian states, and says it’s reached 50 million downloads to date. Lokal has raised over $30 million in total funding and its investors include Global Brain, Sony Innovation Fund, India Quotient and 3one4 Capital.

MedySapiens

MedySapiens’ AI-powered genomics technology provides a quick diagnosis of over 220 rare genetic diseases in newborns. The Seoul-based startup says its data analysis tool allows hospitals to screen for 265 gene variations at once, and results are available within hours compared with turnaround times of days or longer. The test is used by Seoul National University Hospital and hospitals in the Philippines, Taiwan and the U. S., according to the company.

MetAI

MetAI develops software that can convert 2D floor plans for warehouses into an interactive 3D environment within minutes, allowing logistics companies to quickly visualize and test plans for the sites. In January, the startup raised $4 million in a seed funding round, whose backers include billionaire Jensen Huang’s Nvidia, Taiwanese electronic manufacturer Kenmec Mechanical Engineering and Taipei-based industrial automation software provider Solomon Technology. MetAI says it aims to expand its operations to the U. S.

Monit

Jakarta-based Monit helps companies manage their finances and cash flow with corporate debit cards that offer real-time visibility into employee spending as well as automate reporting. The expense-management platform also processes employee reimbursements, subscriptions and invoices. Monit lists real estate group Ciputra and quick-commerce company Astro in Indonesia among its clients. In July, the startup raised $2.5 million in series A funding led by Cento Ventures.

Neara

Neara helps electric utilities develop virtual models of their distribution networks to identify potential problems and prevent disruptions caused by severe weather and other outage risks. Originally launched as Power Lines Pro, Neara’s clients include Essential Energy, one of Australia’s largest state-owned power grids. Last October, the Sydney-based company raised A$45 million ($29 million) in a series C funding round led by private equity giant EQT to accelerate global expansion.

NetBank

NetBank offers digital financial services including loan management, payments and disbursements, via a rural bank it acquired in 2019, for the Philippines’ fast-growing fintech community and other businesses. It counts Smart Money, TikTok and Lazada as clients and backers include Beenext and Kaya Founders. In the first half of this year, NetBank swung to a net profit of 22.2 million pesos ($390,000) from a loss of 34.9 million pesos, thanks to strong loan growth and a rise in deposits, according to the company.

Neysa

Neysa operates a cloud-based platform that helps companies train, test and deploy AI models. The startup also provides subscription-based services such as data encryption and network monitoring, as it aims to be a one-stop solution for Indian companies seeking to launch generative AI services. Neysa raised $30 million in series A funding in October 2024, following a $20 million seed round in April. Its investors include Z47 and Nexus Venture Partners.

Noetix Robotics

Noetix Robotics made headlines when its N2 humanoid robot finished second in the world’s first half-marathon for robots in Beijing in April. The company says it plans to sell 2,000 of its two-legged N2s this year, which can run, jump and even do backflips. The company has raised an undisclosed amount in funding from investors including BeFor Capital and Hua Qiang Capital.

Notta

Notta’s AI-based software can transcribe speech into text in 58 languages, the company says. The app generates instant summaries of meetings and other recordings that can be shared, and has a ChatGPT-like function allowing users to easily generate insights and search notes. Notta, which started in Japan before expanding to the U. S. last year, says nearly 70% of companies in the benchmark Nikkei 225 index are using its service. In May, it raised ¥990 million ($6.8 million) in a series A+ funding round from investors including GSR Ventures and Mizuho Leaguer Investment.

Nuevocor

Nuevocor is developing medicines to treat genetic cardiomyopathies—chronic diseases that affect the heart muscle. In May, Nuevocor raised a $45 million series B funding round co-led by European VC firms Kurma Partners and Angelini Ventures, with participation from existing investors EDBI, ClavystBio, Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, HighLight Capital and Seeds Capital. A month later, the company received U. S. Food & Drug Administration clearance to start Phase 1/2 clinical trials for its NVC-001 treatment targeting LMNA DCM, a genetic heart condition.

Oceanic Constellations

Oceanic Constellations aims to provide real-time oceanographic data for marine surveillance, weather forecasting, shipping and disaster prevention through a network of maritime drones (physical and virtual) controlled through its proprietary software, XR Constellation. The Kamakura-based firm, which expects to deploy its first large-scale drone swarms by the end of March 2027, has raised ¥2.1 billion ($14.1 million) in funding from investors including Globis Capital Partners, Coral Capital and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance.

Onside

Through Onside’s app, agribusinesses can manage biosecurity risks by tracking staff and visitor movements on site to prevent the spread of harmful pests, weeds and diseases as well as ensure compliance with health and safety protocols. Onside says its network logged over 3 million check-ins across more than 21,000 rural properties in New Zealand and Australia. Backed by the New Zealand government, Onside’s investors also include Icehouse Ventures, NZ Growth Capital Partners and K1W1.

Orange Health Labs

Orange Health Labs offers a range of at-home diagnostic testing