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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Asia Pacific, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌏️ 

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📰 Important News

• During an official visit, Prime Minister Modi and President Trump discussed AI, semiconductors, and emerging tech, launching the US-India TRUST initiative and INDUS Innovation to enhance bilateral collaboration.

• Rod Bristow, former Investible CEO, has been appointed as the new CEO of Breakthrough Victoria.

• DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng is reportedly set to meet with Xi Jinping and top Chinese politicians at a summit signaling support for private firms.

• Gushcloud International and Azure Capital have launched a fund to support digital creators in diversifying income, building IP, and expanding globally.

• Indonesia’s Meeting.ai, an AI-powered meeting assistant, has climbed to third place in the country's App Store Productivity category, surpassing ChatGPT.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Australian healthtech startup Harrison.ai closed a $112 million Series C round to expand its AI-powered medical diagnostics globally.

• Klook raised $100 million from Vitruvian Partners to expand in APAC while enhancing customer service and merchant support through AI collaboration.

• Atome Financial secured an $80 million credit facility with backing from BlackRock to enhance its product offerings and expand operations across SEA.

• ToneTag raised $78 million in a Series B2 round led by ValueQuest S.C.A.L.E. Fund to expand globally while scaling operations and R&D.

• Jieti Medical secured $48.25 million in a Series B round to advance clinical trials, develop technology, and build a medical-grade MEMS production facility.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Hotstar and JioCinema have merged into JioHotstar under Reliance's joint venture, integrating vast content from Disney, Warner Bros., HBO, and more.

• Coincheck Group announced a basic agreement to acquire Japan-based blockchain infrastructure firm Next Finance Tech.

• KiranaPro acquired Joper.app to enhance its AI-powered retail network, strengthening vendor acquisition, hyperlocal marketing, and grocery delivery.

• First Focus acquired Tie Networks to enhance its IT and Unified Communications expertise, expanding its services across Australia.

• Datalens acquired OneClick Technologies to integrate AI-driven knowledge management and customer engagement with its engineering solutions.

🏦 About Investors

• East Ventures and SV Investment have launched a joint fund backed by Korea Development Bank to invest in startups across SEA and South Korea.

• Senior partners Shailesh Lakhani and Abheek Anand are leaving Peak XV following its fund reduction, as the firm takes a cautious approach.

• Arise Ventures, a VC firm focused on women-led startups, is raising its $57.5 million third fund to support early-stage ventures in India.

• Indian early-stage VC firm Triton has launched its $28 million second fund, marking its first close a decade after its inaugural fund.

• Australian Development Investments has committed $8 million to AC Ventures’ Climate and Sustainability Fund through the KINETIK initiative.

📊 Investment Highlights

Despite a slowdown in venture funding, Pakistan's startup ecosystem has shown resilience in 2024, with key players securing major investments. From fintech disruptors like Abhi and PostEx to electric mobility pioneer Zyp Technologies, these startups are driving innovation across diverse sectors. With investors backing scalable, impact-driven solutions, the funding landscape continues to evolve. Want to know which startups raised the largest rounds? Delve into the full article to explore the top funding stories shaping Pakistan’s startup scene this year.

🚀 Startup of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

Harrison.ai

Harrison.ai, a Sydney-based healthtech company founded in 2018, specializes in AI-powered medical diagnostics and workflow solutions to enhance clinical efficiency and early disease detection. Its technology, used in over 1,000 healthcare facilities worldwide, supports radiology and pathology professionals in addressing the global shortage of skilled clinicians. The company secured a $112 million Series C funding round, co-led by Aware Super, ECP Asset Management, and Horizons Ventures, with additional backing from NRFC, Ord Minnett, Wollemi Capital, Blackbird Ventures, and Alpha JWC Ventures, bringing its total capital raised to over $240 million. The investment will drive Harrison.ai’s expansion into the U.S., strengthen its global market presence, and advance its AI-driven healthcare innovations, reinforcing its role in transforming medical diagnostics.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

East Ventures and SV Investment

This week, we spotlight two leading investors—East Ventures and SV Investment—who are joining forces to fuel the growth of tech startups in Southeast Asia and South Korea. Indonesia-based East Ventures, a pioneering sector-agnostic VC firm with over 300 investments since 2009, and Seoul-headquartered SV Investment, a venture capital and private equity firm with 48 IPOs to its name, have launched a $100 million joint fund. Anchored by Korea Development Bank (KDB) and a globally recognized neobank, the fund will invest $1 million–$3 million in Series A and B startups across biotech, healthcare, future mobility, green tech, and media. With a final close set for mid-2025, this collaboration aims to strengthen cross-border innovation and market expansion.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Call for Applications: Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award

Apply for the Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award 2025 by February 18, 2025, and take your impact-driven business to the next level. This award offers $25,000 in cash support, a fully sponsored trip to Istanbul, Türkiye, and a six-month accelerator program with expert mentorship and networking opportunities. Open to women entrepreneurs in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, the program supports startups addressing health and food security challenges with sustainable, scalable solutions. Don't miss this chance to gain global visibility and join a community of changemakers—start your application today!