Week 44: Asia Startup Funding Hits $1.2B as FuriosaAI Leads

Asian startups raised about $1.2 billion in equity and debt across a busy week of funding activity. South Korea and China accounted for the largest deals, while India produced the most, with 16 of the 27 rounds.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and deep-tech companies attracted significant investor interest, led by a $620 million Series D round for South Korean AI chipmaker FuriosaAI. Chinese companies working on AI computing infrastructure and brain-computer interfaces also secured substantial investments.

The week also saw funding for fintech, healthcare, gaming, robotics, food technology and other sectors, alongside credit facilities for companies expanding their lending and payment businesses.

The Week’s Biggest Startup Funding Rounds

These are the week’s largest disclosed startup funding rounds across Asia.

/1. FuriosaAI, $620 Million, AI Chips, South Korea

South Korean AI chip startup FuriosaAI has closed a $620 million Series D funding round, raising its valuation to $2.9 billion. This is nearly four times its previous valuation of $735 million.

The round was led by US-based Infinitum Partners, with participation from Jericho Capital, Worldline Capital, Singapore-based QUDA Capital, and Abu Dhabi-based NeoFort Holding.