INFOGRAPHIC: Top Asian Startup Funding — Week 23
These are the funding deals we tracked in the Asian region this week – including Space Pioneer, Lenskart, Astroscale, Fibe, Nium, Gogoro, Ather Energy and eFishery
- China's Space Pioneer Raises $207M for Reusable Rocket Development
- IPO-bound Lenskart Secures $200M at $5B Valuation
- Spacetech Startup Astroscale Raises $153M in Tokyo IPO
- Fibe Raises $90M in Series E Round to Expand Lending Portfolio
- Nium Raises $50M in Series E Round to Accelerate Growth
- Gogoro Secures $50M to Rev Up Global Expansion Plan
- Ather Energy Raises $34.5M in First Investment Round of the Year
- eFishery Secures $30M Loan from HSBC to Expand AI-Powered Feeding Tool
China's Space Pioneer Raises $207M for Reusable Rocket Development
- Beijing-based rocket developer Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology Co, has completed a 1.5 billion yuan ($207 million) fundraising round, amid China's race to become a major space power.
- Since its founding in 2019, the private-sector rocket developer has raised over 4 billion yuan through 15 financing rounds. In April 2023, the company made history by launching the Tianlong-2, China's first private liquid-propellant rocket to reach space. The upcoming Tianlong-3 aims to reduce mission costs with its reusable design, positioning it as a competitive alternative to SpaceX's Falcon 9.
- The funds will support the development and mass production of its reusable Tianlong-3 rocket, marking a significant step in China's ambition to become a major space power.
IPO-bound Lenskart Secures $200M at $5B Valuation
- India-based Lenskart, a direct-to-consumer eyewear retailer, has raised $200 million from Temasek and Fidelity, boosting its valuation to $5 billion. This latest funding round follows talks of a secondary share sale last month.
- Founded in 2010 by Peyush Bansal, Lenskart sells glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, and accessories both online and through over 2,500 stores in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The funds will support Lenskart's expansion efforts in Southeast Asia, including new markets in Thailand and the Philippines.
- This investment comes on the heels of a $500 million raise from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority last year and has attracted close to $1 billion in capital over the last 18 months. It is in talks for a potential IPO in the coming years.
