Headline - Asia

📡 Venture Radar: APAC’s Top Emerging Startups 📡 Leveraging our SEA investor network and Japan’s IVS LAUNCHPAD—the region’s largest pitch contest—we’re highlighting four standout companies this week: ▪️ Pixcap: Browser-based 3D design platform. Team: CJ Looi & Cyril Nie ▪️ Transparently.AI: AI-driven fraud detection for accounting. Team: Mauro Sauco, Hamish Macalister, PhD, & Germaine Chia ▪️ CLIKA Inc.: AI model compression engine. Team: Nayul Lina Kim & Ben Asaf ▪️ pxCode - design to code with AI: Scalable visual development tools. Team: Chris Chang & James Hsieh Want to know more? Connect with Jeremy Kai Proctor, Jennifer Lin, Jackson Loo, and Kate L. to dive into APAC’s top emerging companies. 🌟 Stay ahead—subscribe to Beyond Borders and never miss a trend! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g-ijHiJt

🚀 Beyond Borders: Scaling into Japan and APAC with Headline Asia 🚀 In this edition, we’re thrilled to announce our lead in GMI Cloud’s $82M Series A round, fueling global cloud infrastructure and GPU accessibility! Congratulations Alex Yeh, Tim Chen, William Shen, and the whole team at GMI, looking forward to many more milestones. Additionally, here’s a preview of what’s inside this week: 📡 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐫  ᐧ Pixcap Team: CJ Looi & Cyril Nie. ᐧ Transparently.AI Team: Mauro Sauco, Hamish Macalister, PhD & Germaine ᐧ CLIKA Inc. Team : Nayul Lina Kim & Ben Asaf. ᐧ pxCode - design to code with AI. Team: Chris Chang & James Hsieh. 🇯🇵 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐞 📚 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 🥾 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝  Curious to dive deeper? Each section is crafted by our investors, so connect directly with Jennifer Lin, Kate L., Brian Yen, Jackson Loo, Kenneth Jeng & Jeremy Kai Proctor to explore the trends that matter most. Don’t miss out—subscribe to Beyond Borders for weekly insights on APAC’s tech landscape!  https://lnkd.in/gnQDubA7

🚀  Spotlight on APAC’s Biggest Market Moves! 🚀 Our latest Beyond Borders newsletter dives into the major developments shaking up Japan and APAC's tech landscape, brought to you by Kenneth and Jeremy. This week’s Market Pulse section covers some of the region's most impactful news: 1️⃣ Tokyo Metro’s Historic IPO – Japan’s biggest IPO since 2018, Tokyo Metro Co. raised $2.3B, signaling renewed investor confidence and possibly sparking a wave of public listings in Japan. https://lnkd.in/eqCceHVv 2️⃣ OpenAI Expands to Singapore – With its new Singapore office, OpenAI aims to solidify its influence in Asia. As global players move in, will a local leader emerge to challenge them in AI development? https://lnkd.in/grGVxNTr 3️⃣ Pony AI’s U.S. IPO – The Chinese autonomous driving pioneer has filed for an IPO on NASDAQ, representing a step toward mainstreaming autonomous vehicles and an exciting global milestone for AVs. https://lnkd.in/gPsufQuB 4️⃣ Wise Gains Direct Access to Japan’s Payment Network – Fintech startup Wise becomes the first foreign firm with access to Japan’s Zengin system, cutting remittance fees and processing times, and potentially transforming Japan’s payment landscape. https://lnkd.in/gziJDtxg Curious about the latest trends shaping APAC’s tech markets? Connect with Kenneth & Jeremy to dive deeper into these developments and explore how they might impact the region’s future.  Ready to stay in the loop? Subscribe now for weekly insights. https://lnkd.in/g-ijHiJt Brian Yen, Jennifer Lin, Kate L., Isamu Nishijima, Shimakawa Toshiaki, Jonathan Masayasu Hayashi

🚀 Leading GMI Cloud’s $82M Series A round: On a mission to provide seamless, high-performance cloud infrastructure and GPU accessibility on a global scale! 🌟 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐌𝐈 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝? Headquartered in Silicon Valley, GMI Cloud is a venture-backed company helping businesses of all sizes scale with confidence in a data-driven world. Leveraging its proprietary Cluster Engine, advanced AI-native cloud solutions, and strong integration with NVIDIA’s high-performance GPUs through the NVIDIA Partner Network, GMI delivers the robust infrastructure needed to support complex AI and machine learning demands. 🤔 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐌𝐈 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝? In the words of our founding partner, Akio T., ”GMI Cloud’s ability to rapidly deploy infrastructure to provide GPU accessibility in today’s demanding market perfectly embodies our ”𝘎𝘰 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭” approach....with his unique experience and relationships in the market, Alex Yeh truly understands how to scale AI infrastructure operations, making their potential for growth limitless.” With their proprietary Cluster Engine and deep NVIDIA integration, GMI Cloud stands out in an increasingly competitive field. From supporting startups to large enterprises, their infrastructure empowers companies to confidently scale their AI strategies, meeting the surging global demand for advanced GPUs and robust data solutions. 📈 With this funding, GMI Cloud will open a new data center in Colorado to better support the growing need for AI infrastructure in North America. This expansion solidifies GMI Cloud’s role as a leading cloud provider with a fully integrated approach, making it easier for businesses to scale and manage their machine-learning projects. By building this foundation, GMI Cloud aims to make advanced AI tools more accessible and practical for companies around the world. 🌟 We’re excited to support GMI Cloud as they drive AI’s future, helping businesses around the world scale the most demanding workloads with confidence and efficiency. You can read more here: 👉 TechCrunch: https://lnkd.in/gyZa77GU 👉 To get to know more about GMI Cloud, click here: https://www.gmicloud.ai/ ---- Tim Chen, William Shen, Emily Chung, Anton Belo, King Cui, Shane Zide, Yueqi Li, Yuching C., Jay Hsueh, Jonathan P., Joe Tarantino, Akihiko Okamoto, Joseph Huang, Brian Yen, Jennifer Lin, Kate L., Isamu Nishijima, Shimakawa Toshiaki, Ian Su, Kohei Suzuki, Tatsuya Kawamura, Kazuhiro Oyoshi, Jonathan Masayasu Hayashi

📡 Introducing Our 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐫 series: Companies we like and are tracking 📡 We’re spotlighting five exciting startups through our investor network and the IVS LAUNCHPAD, Japan's largest pitch competition. Here’s a look at who’s on our radar this week: 1️⃣ AirKamuy Inc. – Japanese defense tech innovator creating affordable, cardboard-based drones to support Japan’s expanding defense sector. 👤 Takumi 2️⃣ BANKEY, Inc – Revolutionizing Japan’s A2A payments with "Pay by BANK," a SaaS solution designed to simplify direct bank-to-bank payments. 👤 Yoshihiko Sakamoto 3️⃣ Protos Labs – Offering AI-driven cyber risk analytics to help insurers and enterprises improve risk governance across Asia. 👤 Joel Lee 4️⃣ Xweave.io – Providing just-in-time transaction settlements and optimized FX routing for flexible, real-time B2B cross-border payments. 👤 Milind Sanghavi 5️⃣ Cube Asia – Leading SEA’s online retail insights with proprietary data models, empowering brands to make smarter, data-driven decisions. 👤 Simon Torring 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘱𝘢𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩? Connect with Jeremy Kai Proctor, Jennifer Lin, Jackson Loo, & Kate L. to dive deeper into our tracking process and discover the top emerging companies in APAC. ➡️ Exclusive insights on APAC’s most promising startups and market trends—delivered weekly in our Beyond Borders newsletter! #VentureRadar #BeyondBorders #HeadlineAsia #APACTech #EmergingStartups #DefenseTech #Fintech #CyberSecurity #CrossBorderPayments #RetailAnalytics

🚀 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 🚀 Our latest 𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 newsletter is here, bringing you insights, trends, and stories from APAC's dynamic tech landscape! Here’s a look at what’s inside this week: 📡 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐫 – Early-stage companies we're tracking as they emerge as future leaders in APAC 🇯🇵 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐞 – Key news shaping Japan and APAC’s tech ecosystem 🥾 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 – Highlights from our recent events in Japan & Taiwan 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: · AirKamuy Inc. – Innovating Japanese defense tech with cost-effective drones · BANKEY, Inc – Leading the charge on Japan’s A2A payments with real-time solutions · Protos Labs – AI-powered analytics for cyber risk management in APAC · Xweave.io – Real-time, cross-border FX solutions for seamless B2B payments · Cube Asia – Delivering insights for SEA’s online retail market with proprietary data This edition is full of exclusive content crafted by our investors, so if you're eager to dive deeper, connect directly with them for tailored advice and insights. Whether you’re an investor, founder, or tech enthusiast, this is your backstage pass to what’s next in APAC! ➡️ Ready to stay ahead? Subscribe now and be part of the conversation https://lnkd.in/gnQDubA7 #BeyondBorders #HeadlineAsia #APACTech #Fintech #AI #Investors #Startups #JapanMarket #Networking

Honored to celebrate Akio T., our founding partner, for receiving the Best Ally Award at this year’s WOMEN IN TECH ® Global APAC Summit! A huge thank you to Ayumi Moore Aoki, Yuki Aizawa 愛澤友己, and the entire Women in Tech Global team for this recognition. What began as an invitation to speak at IVS Kyoto two years ago has evolved into a meaningful global partnership, dedicated to empowering women and diverse talent in the startup and VC ecosystems. Some key milestones from our journey so far: • Engaging in Women in Tech Global and APAC summits • Supporting the launch of the Women in Tech Japan Chapter • Partnering with WIT for the 4th cohort of our Headline Asia School • Creating the EmpowHer stage at this year’s IVS in Kyoto We’re committed to addressing gender and inclusivity challenges head-on, ensuring everyone has a seat at the table. Excited for the many milestones ahead as we continue this mission! --- Erno KISS Miki Aizawa Nyla Beth Gawel Marion Hegarty Zineb B. Angela Naser Jessica Freundt Tamuna Kvintradze Mayra Silva Diana Ţarfulea Anne BAER Wafeeqa Wahid Juliette Cettier Enkhsaikhan Vicky Kathryn Rose ⭐ Layal El Radi Melissa Slaymaker Hwalani Mabaso Nino Lortkipanidze

This week's 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 is brought to you by one of our Venture Partner, Jonathan Masayasu Hayashi. Bringing you the most insightful news of the week, here are the highlights: 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲! 1️⃣ 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 has increased their investment in startups by 42% compared to last year. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gQApHNDd 2️⃣ The three largest banks in Japan and the Development Bank of Japan invests 𝐔𝐒𝐃200𝐌 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐬. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gkvpXWZB 3️⃣ 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤 is to provide a core banking system to 20 rural banks. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gsyjdiTf Read below for the extended version of these news. You can also click on the 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞 (Desktop) for the article links. --- Have you subscribed to our newsletter yet? --> https://lnkd.in/gnQDubA7 #headlineasia #vc #venturecapital #saas #investing #invest #investmentopportunities #vcfunding #technologynews #tech #companies #japan #japanbusiness #japanese #startups #business cc : CHEN-HSI (Claire) LIAU, Brian Yen, Jennifer Lin, Tzu Ning ( Kate ) L., Isamu Nishijima, Shimakawa Toshiaki, Ian Su, Kohei Suzuki, Tatsuya Kawamura

Nancy Xiao, Headline Growth's newest partner, sat down with anchors Edward Ludlow and Caroline Hyde yesterday on Bloomberg Technology to discuss the launch of Global Growth IV, why the firm sees so much opportunity globally — and why the team is so confident about its ability to find winners in a challenging market. "Headline has got three really unique aspects," Nancy said. "I'd call it the people, the global multi-local presence, and the proprietary tech and process." Check out the rest of her segment below! https://lnkd.in/gVTSpijf

Congratulations to Felipe Chávez Cortés and the Kiwibot team on their acquisition of Nickelytics, setting the stage for the future of robotics and OOH advertising! With this partnership, every Kiwibot delivery will soon transform into an engaging brand experience, incorporating real-time advertising. Read more on TechCrunch: https://lnkd.in/gMJkrtHy