The first week of 2026 has shown a notable shift in the Asian startup funding landscape, with a significant increase in investment towards hard tech, aerospace, and biological solutions. This week, a total of $179 million was raised, marking a 135.53% increase compared to the last week of the previous year.
Leading the charge, Syneron Bio, based in Beijing, secured nearly $100 million through its Series A and A+ rounds. This funding will enhance its Synova™ platform and advance its drug discovery projects towards clinical stages, with backing from major investors including AstraZeneca and Pfizer Biotech Development Investment Fund.
In India, CoreEL Technologies from Bengaluru raised $30 million in Series B funding. This investment, led by ValueQuest Scale Fund, will aid in manufacturing expansion and R&D for aerospace and defense programs.
EtherealX, also from Bengaluru, garnered $21 million in Series A funding to boost its medium-lift launch vehicle development. The round was co-led by TDK Ventures and BIG Capital.
Hong Kong’s ETHSGas closed a $12 million seed round to build infrastructure for Ethereum blockspace futures, with Polychain Capital leading the investment.
Gurugram-based CollegeDekho received a $10 million investment from CarDekho Group, aiming to expand its reach in smaller cities and enhance services.
Lastly, proptech firm Truva raised over $6.32 million from Stellaris Venture Partners and Orios Venture Partners to support its business expansion.
The year has started strong for Asian startups, but only time will reveal if this momentum continues.
