🎯Today's Pulse
Updated 9m agoWhat's happening: FinTech funding in Asia‑Pacific hits decade low as investors pull back
FinTech investment in Asia‑Pacific fell to a decade low in 2025, totaling $9.3B across 763 transactions, down from $11.7B in 2024. Venture capital supplied $7.5B, M&A contributed $1.7B and private equity was under $0.1B.
Also developing:
By the numbers: OpenAI raises $110B in corporate funding
News•Mar 1, 2026
Hungary's Edortech Unveils Patented Tin-Anode Technology that Could Transform Global Battery Production
Hungarian startup Edortech announced its patented tin‑anode system, ONLi, ready for scale‑up after a decade of research. Independent audits show the anode can deliver up to 70 % higher energy density and 1.8 times the capacity of conventional graphite or Si‑C anodes while simplifying production. The company plans a 1,000‑ton annual plant within the next two to three years and is already courting major players such as CATL and Tesla. ONLi is compatible with existing battery lines, promising faster, greener manufacturing for EVs, electronics and grid storage.
By bne IntelliNews
News•Mar 2, 2026
UnionBank Profit Dropped to P10B in 2025
UnionBank of the Philippines reported a 17% drop in net income for 2025, posting P10 billion versus P12 billion the prior year. Despite the profit dip, net revenues climbed to P83.2 billion, driven by robust loan growth and higher transaction volumes. The bank’s...
By Philippine Daily Inquirer – Business
News•Mar 2, 2026
Forget Upgrading Your GPU — Your Existing Card Is Probably Overkill Already
GPU prices have surged 30‑50%, making high‑end cards like the RTX 5090 nearly double MSRP. Yet most gamers play titles that don’t require the latest hardware, and cards such as the RTX 3070 or RX 6800 XT already deliver smooth performance. A two‑generation‑old GPU...
By XDA Developers
Deals•Mar 1, 2026
Machina Labs Secures $124M Series C to Build Intelligent Factory
Machina Labs announced the closing of a $124 million Series C round to scale its intelligent manufacturing infrastructure for defense, aerospace and advanced mobility. The round was led by Woven Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Balerion Space Ventures and Strategic Development...
Robotics 24/7
Video•Mar 1, 2026
Is Moscow Planning to Help Their Longtime Ally Iran in This Crisis? | DW News
DW News examined Russia’s diplomatic response after US and Israeli air strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, with President Vladimir Putin issuing a statement condemning the attacks as a violation of international law and offering condolences. The discussion highlighted that...
By DW News (Deutsche Welle)
News•Mar 1, 2026
Big-Box Boom: The Clues That Signal Your Community Is About To Grow
Big‑box retailers such as Home Depot, Target, and BJ’s are increasingly opening stores in fast‑growing suburbs, a pattern that signals rising population and new residential construction. Recent data shows Home Depot will add 15 locations in 2026 after 12 in...
By Realtor.com News
News•Mar 1, 2026
Canva Denies Job Losses as Leonardo.AI Comes Into the Fold
Canva announced that it will integrate its recent AI acquisition, Leonardo.AI, into the main platform without any layoffs. The company refuted media reports suggesting redundancies, stating that the 150‑person Leonardo team will be reassigned to existing AI initiatives or new...
By Startup Daily (ANZ)
News•Mar 1, 2026
Asia-Pacific Fintech Funding Hits Decade-Low in 2025 as Investors Stay Cautious: KPMG
Fintech investment in Asia‑Pacific fell to a decade low in 2025, totaling $9.3 billion across 763 transactions, down from $11.7 billion in 2024. Venture capital supplied $7.5 billion of that amount, while mergers and acquisitions contributed $1.7 billion and private equity under $0.1 billion. Funding...
By Crowdfund Insider
News•Mar 1, 2026
Global Week Ahead: Operation Epic Fury Means New Risks for Markets
Operation Epic Fury – coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran – has ignited sharp market volatility. Middle‑East equity indices fell and several exchanges stayed closed, while global investors brace for heightened risk. Oil traders expect Brent crude to breach...
By CNBC – US Top News & Analysis
News•Mar 1, 2026
A Robot Arm with Puppy Dog Eyes Is Just One of Lenovo’s New Desktop AI Concepts
Lenovo used the Mobile World Congress stage to unveil two AI‑driven desktop concepts designed as always‑on work companions. The AI Workmate features a small robotic arm, camera and built‑in projector that can scan documents, generate summaries and display content on...
By The Verge AI
News•Mar 1, 2026
AWS Middle East Disrupted After ‘Objects Struck Datacenter’ Amid Iran War
Amazon Web Services reported a power outage in its UAE ME‑CENTRAL‑1 availability zone after unknown objects struck the datacenter, sparking a fire that temporarily halted EC2 APIs. Meanwhile, Australian software firm WiseTech Global announced up to 2,000 job cuts as...
By The Register
News•Mar 1, 2026
The Aircraft Replacing The Airbus A380 On High-Capacity Routes
The Boeing 777X, particularly the 777‑9 variant, is positioned to succeed the Airbus A380 on ultra‑high‑capacity, long‑haul routes. With a passenger capacity exceeding 400, advanced GE9X engines and folding wingtips, the aircraft promises 10% better fuel efficiency and airport compatibility....
By Simple Flying
News•Mar 1, 2026
What Job Losses Blamed on AI Tell Us About the Next Decade
In early 2026, AI‑driven restructurings triggered massive layoffs at WiseTech Global, Block and Commonwealth Bank, while the market rewarded the moves with double‑digit stock gains. A viral Substack scenario about an AI‑induced crisis sent SaaS stocks tumbling, highlighting how reduced...
By Startup Daily (ANZ)
News•Mar 1, 2026
5 Things You Must Know if You’re Going to Be on a Startup Board
Founders often become “accidental directors” when a startup raises capital, expands its team, or attracts investors, prompting the creation of a formal board. The shift to a boardroom demands a new governance mindset, emphasizing independent judgment, duty of care, and...
By Startup Daily (ANZ)
News•Mar 1, 2026
Space Station Experiment Shows Microbes Can Mine Valuable Metals In Orbit
Researchers aboard the International Space Station grew the fungus Penicillium simplicissimum with powdered meteorite and recovered measurable palladium, marking the first successful orbital biomining of a precious metal. The fungal cultures outperformed a bacterial counterpart, extracting 18 of 44 measured...
By Orbital Today
News•Mar 1, 2026
Seaspan Introduces New Remote-Controlled Vehicle
Seaspan has launched Dockboy, a remote‑controlled ultra‑high‑pressure cleaning system designed for hull maintenance. The tool removes barnacles, anti‑fouling paint and coatings in a single pass, delivering a paint‑ready surface. Fully containerized, Dockboy can be moved between Vancouver Drydock and Victoria...
By MarineLink
News•Mar 1, 2026
Budget-Focused Electric Bike Maker Set to Go Public with IPO
Electric bike maker Tenways has filed for a main‑board listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, backed by investors such as Hillhouse Ventures, Tencent and Alibaba. The company’s revenue rose from €48 million in 2023 to €61 million in 2024, with gross...
By Electrek
News•Mar 1, 2026
QBE and Sydney Swans Mark 40‑year Partnership with Integrated Campaign via The Core Agency
QBE Insurance marks 40 years with the Sydney Swans, one of the longest-running sports sponsorships in Australia. To celebrate, The Core Agency rolled out an integrated campaign featuring out‑of‑home billboards, a digital video series and season‑long online activations. The partnership...
By Campaign Brief
Deals•Mar 1, 2026
China Resources Subsidiary Acquires Hong Kong Hotel for Student Housing
CR Longdation, a subsidiary of China Resources (Holdings), announced the acquisition of the four‑star Hotel Cozi Oasis in Kwai Chung for HK$953 million (US$122 million). The hotel will be converted into student housing with about 900 beds, reflecting rising demand after Hong...
South China Morning Post — M&A (topic)
Deals•Mar 1, 2026
Formula One Group Acquires MotoGP, Expanding Its Motorsport Portfolio
Formula One Group announced the acquisition of MotoGP, adding the premier motorcycle racing series to its portfolio of global motorsport properties. The deal, confirmed as completed, follows the group's extension of its Concorde Agreement and new media rights partnership with...
Yahoo Finance – Top Financial News
Deals•Mar 1, 2026
VOC Port Secures ₹15,000 Cr Funding for Outer Harbour Project
VO Chidambaranar Port (VOC Port) announced a ₹15,000 crore investment in its Outer Harbour project to boost cargo‑handling capacity. The port has signed a tripartite agreement with Indian Railway Finance Corporation and Sagarmala Finance Corporation to secure the required funding. The...
The Hindu BusinessLine – Economy
Deals•Feb 28, 2026
Verdane to Acquire Augmentum Fintech in £185.7M Take Private Deal
London‑based Augmentum Fintech has agreed to be acquired by Norwegian private‑equity group Verdane in a cash deal valued at approximately £185.7 million. The offer, made through Frontier BidCo, proposes 111 pence per share, a 27% premium to the pre‑announcement price, and will...
Crowdfund Insider
Deals•Feb 28, 2026
Zura Bio Raises $144M in Public Offering to Advance Autoimmune Drug Pipeline
Zura Bio, a clinical‑stage biotechnology firm, completed a $144 million public offering of Class A ordinary shares and pre‑funded warrants, with underwriters fully exercising their option for additional shares. The proceeds will fund Phase 2 trials for its lead candidate tibulizumab and support...
Ventureburn
Deals•Feb 28, 2026
OpenAI Raises $110B in Corporate Funding From Nvidia, SoftBank, and Amazon
OpenAI announced a $110 billion corporate funding round led by Nvidia, SoftBank, and Amazon. The capital will be used to expand OpenAI’s global reach and deepen its AI infrastructure, including dedicated inference capacity and training resources. The announcement coincided with...
Computerworld – IT Leadership
Deals•Feb 28, 2026
Zafran Security Secures $60M Series C Funding with Amex Ventures and Existing Backers
Zafran Security, an AI-native threat exposure management startup, announced the closing of a $60 million Series C round. Amex Ventures joined the round alongside existing investors Menlo Ventures, Sequoia Capital and Cyberstarts. The capital will fuel Zafran’s AI-driven security platform expansion...
Crowdfund Insider
Deals•Feb 28, 2026
Miso Robotics Acquires Zignyl to Power New AI‑Driven Zippy Dashboard
Miso Robotics, a U.S. restaurant automation firm, announced the acquisition of Zignyl, an operations platform. The deal enables Miso to integrate Zignyl’s technology into a new AI‑powered dashboard called Zippy, allowing restaurant operators to interact with data via a chatbot.
Shopifreaks
Deals•Feb 28, 2026
Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Global Rights to 'Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass'
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the David Wain‑directed comedy 'Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass' from WME Independent on behalf of the filmmakers. The acquisition marks SPC's fourth Sundance feature acquisition this year, adding...
Deadline
Deals•Feb 28, 2026
Bruce Gordon's Birketu Raises Stake in Nine Entertainment to 23%
Bruce Gordon, through his private investment vehicle Birketu, increased its holding in Nine Entertainment from 19.98% to 22.98%, making him the largest shareholder. The stake increase was disclosed in a recent filing, cementing Gordon's influence over the media company.
TV Tonight (Australia)
Deals•Feb 27, 2026
Rlwrld Secures $26M Seed 2 Funding to Advance Robotics Foundation Models
South Korean AI robotics startup Rlwrld raised $26 million in a Seed‑2 round, bringing its total funding to $26 million. The round was backed by investors including Headline Asia, Z Venture Capital, CJ Logistics, Kakao Investment, Lotte Ventures, Hanwha Asset Management, Mirae...
FinSMEs
Deals•Feb 27, 2026
Japanese Government Acquires 40% Stake in Chipmaker Rapidus
The Japanese government announced it has become the largest shareholder in Rapidus Corp., purchasing a 40% stake for 100 billion yen ($640 million). The investment gives the government 11.5% voting rights and aims to secure a stable domestic semiconductor supply.
Kyodo News – English (All)
Deals•Feb 27, 2026
Jest Secures $7M Seed Funding Led by Innovation Endeavors
San Francisco‑based Jest, a marketplace for messaging games, announced it has closed a $7 million seed round. The round was led by Innovation Endeavors and will be used to scale the platform and onboard the first wave of studios.
FinSMEs
Deals•Feb 27, 2026
QC Capital Group Invests in My Pediatric Doctor
QC Capital Group announced an investment in My Pediatric Doctor, a US‑based urgent‑care pediatric telemedicine provider. The deal was reported on February 27, 2026, and the investment amount was not disclosed.
PE Hub Europe