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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 🌏️ 

If you haven't subscribed yet, now's the perfect time. Don't miss the opportunity to supercharge your understanding and stay ahead in this dynamic world.

Let's delve into the core sections of our weekly newsletter:

• 📰 Important News

• 💸 Top Funding Rounds

• 💰️ Notable Exits

• 🏦 About Investors

• 📈 Deep Dive Bites

• 🤝 Diversity Spotlight

• 🚀 Startup Of the Week

• 💼 Investor of the Week

• 🤑 Opportunity Radar

📰 Important News

• Nvidia has formed multiple partnerships in India, including a major collaboration with Reliance to enhance AI infrastructure and develop AI applications.

• South Korea announced its plans to strengthen crypto regulations amid rising digital asset crimes.

• Malaysia unveiled its 2025 Budget emphasizing digitalization, AI growth, and support for SMEs, allocating $230.2 million for startup funding.

• Paytm has received regulatory approval from the NPCI to resume onboarding new UPI users after an eight-month restriction.

• FPT has signed an MoU with the National University of Singapore to establish an Artificial Intelligence research lab.

💸 Top Funding Rounds

• Didi's autonomous driving unit has completed a $289 million Series C round, to accelerate the launch of its first mass-produced robotaxi.

• upGrad has secured $60 million in funding from Temasek at a valuation of $2.25 billion with plans for an eventual public listing.

• Healthify has closed a $45 million funding round led by Khosla Ventures and LeapFrog Investments to expand into the US market.

• Neysa has raised $30 million in Series A funding to enhance its AI infrastructure in India and expand internationally.

• Variational has secured $10.3 million in seed funding led by Bain Capital Crypto to launch a peer-to-peer crypto derivatives trading platform.

💰️ Notable Exits

• Horizon Robotics shares rose 2.8% on their Hong Kong debut after raising $696 million in the year's largest IPO there.

• WeRide shares surged 19% on their Nasdaq debut after raising $440.5 million in an IPO and private placement, indicating renewed investor interest.

• Western Union has announced its acquisition of the Singapore mobile wallet Dash from Singtel boasting over 1.4 million users.

• BitFuFu Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in an 80-MW Bitcoin mining facility in Ethiopia, aiming to reduce production costs.

• CopilotIQ and Biofourmis have merged to launch the first AI-powered in-home care platform, delivering a unified healthcare solution.

🏦 About Investors

• Avaana Capital raised $135 million for its Climate and Sustainability Fund to back early-stage climate tech in India.

• The Indian government has approved a $119 million fund to support 40 space startups, aiming to increase its share of the commercial space market.

• Arta Finance has partnered with Co-Axis to secure $30 million for impact projects over two years, to drive philanthropic and investment opportunities.

• Sarmayacar has secured a $15 million anchor commitment from the Green Climate Fund for its Climaventures Fund.

• Peak XV Partners has launched its tenth Surge cohort, featuring 14 early-stage startups from eight countries.

📈 Deep Dive Bites

Discover the dynamic landscape of South Korea's venture capital ecosystem, where innovation and technology thrive. From fintech to biotechnology, e-commerce to AI, South Korea's VC firms are pivotal in nurturing startups and driving economic growth. Check out the key players fueling South Korea's startup scene and delve into the full article to uncover how these firms are advancing cutting-edge technologies and fostering groundbreaking innovations.

🚀 Startup Of the Week

Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆

upGrad

upGrad, a leading edtech company founded in 2015, has secured $60 million from Singapore-based Temasek at a flat valuation of $2.25 billion. Ronnie Screwvala, a co-founder, increased his stake to 45% by purchasing an additional 1% from Bharti Enterprises for $20 million. Despite a challenging investment landscape, upGrad remains committed to its growth trajectory. The Mumbai-based platform specializes in industry-relevant programs across fields like data science, machine learning, and digital marketing, partnering with top universities to offer certifications and degrees that enhance career prospects.

💼 Investor of the Week

Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆

Avaana Capital

Avaana Capital, a Mumbai-based early-stage investment firm specializing in climate and sustainability sectors, has closed its Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund at $135 million, surpassing its initial target of $100-125 million. This fund, the largest institutional venture capital fund focused on climate-related investments in India, aims to support 20-25 early-stage companies developing scalable solutions for climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. Key sectors targeted include Energy and Resource Management, Mobility and Supply Chains, and Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems. Notable investors include the Green Climate Fund, US International Development Finance Corporation, and the Azim Premji Trust. Established in 2018, Avaana Capital positions itself as a leader in advancing India's sustainability goals.

🤑 Opportunity Radar

Antler - India

Apply to the Antler Residency in India for the February 2025 cohort to accelerate your startup journey. Access a comprehensive support system, including mentorship, capital up to $500K, and a vibrant community of exceptional founders in Bangalore. Ideal for ambitious individuals looking to validate their ideas and scale their businesses, this residency offers hands-on sessions by domain experts, office hours, and opportunities to pitch to the Investment Committee. Begin your application process today and join one of the most active early-stage investors in India.