Deals in brief: Ropedia and PCG Global raise pre-Series A funding, HiDream.ai secures RMB 1.5 billion, four other China investments, and more
Singaporean startup Ropedia, which builds data infrastructure for physical artificial intelligence, has secured USD 22 million in a pre-Series A round, bringing its total funding to USD 30 million. The company, founded in 2025, collects real-world human interaction data using wearable devices to create datasets for AI model training, with plans to expand data collection in Southeast Asia and North America. Meanwhile, PCG Global, a clean energy platform also headquartered in Singapore, closed its first external fundraising round, a pre-Series A led by Temasek-owned GenZero, to develop renewable energy infrastructure across Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. Additionally, Tokyo-based Asuene raised JPY 13.5 billion in Series D financing for its AI-powered sustainability management software, with Decarbonization Partners leading the round.
This news highlights significant investment activity across diverse tech sectors in Asia, particularly in Singapore and Japan, underscoring the region's growing role as a hub for innovation. Ropedia's funding for physical AI data infrastructure points to the increasing maturity of the AI ecosystem, moving beyond software to address the complex data needs of embodied intelligence and robotics. This trend is crucial for the development of practical AI applications that interact with the physical world, positioning Singapore at the forefront of this specialized niche.
The substantial funding for clean energy platforms like PCG Global and sustainability software provider Asuene reflects a strong regional commitment to decarbonization and ESG initiatives. Temasek's involvement through GenZero and Decarbonization Partners signals a strategic push by major institutional investors to back solutions addressing climate change, indicating a robust market for green tech across Southeast Asia and Japan. The diverse range of investors, from venture firms to corporate VCs and state-backed funds, further illustrates the broad appeal and perceived long-term value of these sustainable ventures. Finally, the numerous deals in China, particularly in generative AI and robotics, showcase the country's continued dominance in advanced technology development, with significant capital flowing into areas like foundation models and commercial cooking robotics, indicating a strong domestic innovation pipeline.
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