viAct raised US$7.3 million in Series A funding to scale its Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) safety solutions across construction, oil and gas, and manufacturing. Led by VentureWave Capital, the round also drew participation from Singtel Innov8, Korea Investment Partners, and the PolyU Entrepreneurship Investment Fund. viAct builds AIoT and edge AI technologies to improve safety and efficiency in high-risk sectors. The company plans to utilise the capital to scale globally, develop new AI features, and strengthen its team.
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Gobi Partners' Co-Founder and Chairperson, Thomas G. Tsao, outlined how structural digital demand and demographic trends in Southeast Asia continue to attract capital, despite global market uncertainties. He pointed to Fintech, HealthTech, TaqwaTech, and Circular Economy as resilient sectors offering long-term growth potential. Thomas also highlighted how US-China trade tensions and new tariffs are accelerating the diversification of supply chains, positioning Southeast Asia as a key beneficiary. Gobi Partners plans to navigate evolving exit routes, including Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As) and Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs), to build sustainable value across its portfolio.
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In an interview with China Economic Net, Thomas highlighted that Pakistan’s digital economy continues to attract interest from regional venture capital firms, with Gobi Partners among the early entrants. Citing strong fundamentals such as a young population, affordable mobile access, and rising digital adoption, Gobi launched the US$30 million Techxila Fund I and the US$50 million Techxila Fund II, investing in startups including Sastaticket.pk, DealCart, PriceOye, and Abhi. Despite a funding downturn in 2023–2024, sectors like FinTech and ClimateTech showed resilience, while structural reforms such as the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) are strengthening the investment climate.
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CARSOME formalised its strategic partnership with Japanese consumer finance company JACCS, a member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), through a signing ceremony at CARSOME PJ Automall. Under the agreement, JACCS acquired a 49% stake in CARSOME Capital, to expand accessible auto financing for underserved buyers and dealers in Malaysia. The collaboration follows CARSOME’s first full year of EBITDA profitability in 2024 and aims to improve credit access through streamlined loan processing, inventory financing, and enhanced credit models, while anchoring Malaysia as an innovation hub for future regional expansion.
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HealthMetrics entered Indonesia through the rebranding of Across Asia Assist Indonesia, strengthening its Southeast Asia expansion strategy. The launch introduced three digital solutions to streamline claims, cross-border care, and wellness services, linking over 15,000 providers regionally. With over 7,000 Malaysian healthcare providers already in its network, the expansion is set to drive inbound medical tourism and patient flows from Indonesia via the International Assistance Hub, which supports guarantee letters, claims processing, and post-care coordination.
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Sandbox VR has expanded to more than 46 locations worldwide, scaling its immersive, multiplayer VR experiences. Its proprietary motion capture and haptic technology reflect growing consumer demand for experiential entertainment and market confidence in its model. The company’s rapid global growth underscores its ambition to redefine social gaming across key international markets.
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HKIC and WeLab Ink Strategic Partnership
to Advance AI, FinTech in Asia
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WeLab partnered with the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) to advance AI adoption in financial services and strengthen the fintech ecosystem. The collaboration aims to expand digital banking, promote financial inclusion, and nurture talent across Asia. Beyond capital investment, the alliance will also support youth development through academic partnerships and accelerator programmes, preparing future leaders for the city’s digital economy.
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Underwriting the Future: VCs and Founders Rethink Deep Tech Amid Geopolitical Shifts
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The panel session brought together Asia’s key tech and investment leaders at GITEX Asia to examine the crossroads between deeptech growth and geopolitical headwinds. The panel featured Gobi Partners Managing Partner, Dan Chong, alongside International Finance Corporation (IFC) Head of Venture Capital and Disruptive Technology Investments, Geetali Kumar, National Development Company Chairman of the Investment of the Philippine Startup Venture Fund, Alewijn Aidan K Ong; SEAFUND Managing Partner, Manoj Kumar Agarwal; PT. Mandiri Capital Indonesia (MCI) Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Simorangkir; and she1K Chief Builder, Christina Teo, who also moderated the session.
Speakers discussed how venture capital and founders are recalibrating capital strategies amid global tensions, shifting focus to resilience technologies and regional ecosystems. Speakers flagged vulnerabilities among Asian startups to U.S. tariffs, the regulatory friction faced by deeptech founders, and Southeast Asia’s rising potential to attract international investment.
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