Know What&#x27;s Happening in Entrepreneurship

Quipu Raises $300K Bridge Round Led by Impacta VC

Colombian fintech Quipu announced a $300,000 bridge round led by Impacta VC, with participation from Decelera, Vertical Partners, Corteza Capital, and Comfama. The startup, founded in 2021, uses AI‑driven alternative data to generate credit scores for micro‑businesses lacking formal credit histories. To date, Quipu has scored over 300,000 users and facilitated more than $7 million in loans, partnering with firms such as Nequi, Claro, Bancóldex, and ProMujer. The new capital will fund API integrations, technology upgrades, and geographic expansion across Latin America.

By LatamList

Social•Feb 9, 2026

Recruiting: From Task to Strategic Talent Mapping

Posting jobs and waiting fails. Demand beats supply in hiring. A headhunter mindset shifts recruiters from process to market mapping and relationships. You map talent, build ties, and engage before rivals. Do you treat recruiting as a task or a strategy?

By Ask Dr. Brown

BeConfident Raises $15.8M Series A

Brazilian edtech BeConfident secured $15.8 million in a Series A round led by Prosus Ventures. The startup’s AI‑driven conversational tutors, initially deployed on WhatsApp, now span its own app and voice platforms. With 3 million users, 160 000 paying students and over...

By LatamList

How a Romanian Startup Found Its Strongest Growth in Latin America

Pluria, a Romanian‑founded hybrid‑work platform, has seen its strongest growth in Latin America, especially Colombia, Mexico and Argentina, with 2025 revenue expanding 2.5 times versus the prior year. The company entered the region opportunistically, bypassing traditional market analysis, and quickly...

By The Recursive

Haply Robotics Raises $16 Million to Build the “Steering Wheels” For Physical AI

Haply Robotics announced a $11.75 million USD (CAD $16 million) seed‑plus financing round, led by Sound Media Ventures and backed by Amazon’s Industrial Innovation Fund, Hanwha, Two Small Fish Ventures, and BDC Capital. The Montreal‑based startup builds high‑precision haptic controllers—such as the Inverse3...

By BetaKit (Canada)

Africa’s Financial Growth Took Centre Stage at the Africa Business Convention 2026

The Africa Business Convention 2026 convened in Lagos to chart a faster, fairer, and more sustainable growth path for the continent. The two‑day event, now in its fifth edition, centered on six strategic pillars ranging from agriculture to fintech and...

Veteran Investor Appointed as BBB’s Managing Director of Direct Equity

The British Business Bank has named Charlotte Lawrence as managing director of direct equity, tasking her with overseeing the bank’s direct and co‑investment activities. Her appointment follows 2025 reforms that require the bank to increase both the number and size...

By UKTN (UK Tech News)

Payscribe Expands Global Financial Access: Empowering Fintechs and Fast-Growing Businesses with Global Accounts, Stablecoins, APIs, and Merchant Growth Support

Payscribe, a fast‑growing payment infrastructure firm, launched Global Accounts, Stablecoin Payments, and a Merchant Growth Support credit line to broaden financial access for fintechs and SMEs across Africa and emerging markets. The new multi‑currency accounts let businesses receive USD, GBP,...

Social•Feb 9, 2026

Underpricing Kills Growth; Raise Prices to Boost Sales

A house being sold at 90% of the value you think is appropriate, is a great deal. A house at 50%… you suspect a major flaw… probably it’s not worth dealing with it. First time founders often price like the second, ...

By Jason Cohen

Satlabs Space Systems Raises $1 Mn From Finvolve and IA

Indian deep‑tech startup Satlabs Space Systems announced a $1 million funding round led by Finvolve and India Accelerator. The capital will accelerate R&D, support the launch of its proof‑of‑concept data‑relay satellite, and fund a phased constellation to address ground‑station bottlenecks. Satlabs’s...

Ireland Surges Ahead in Digital Transformation: New Eir Research

eir’s Digital Ireland Report shows the country has become one of Europe’s most connected societies, with broadband traffic more than doubling since 2019 and household fibre usage rising 61%. Mobile data volumes have surged sevenfold, while regions such as Cavan,...

By Irish Tech News

Exclusive: Nandan Nilekani’s Fundamentum Leads Olyv’s $23 Mn Series C Round

Olyv, the Indian personal‑lending marketplace formerly known as SmartCoin, secured Rs 207 crore ($23 million) in a Series C round. The round was led by Nandan Nilekani’s Fundamentum Partnership Fund, which invested Rs 120 crore, with SMBC Asia contributing Rs 87.5 crore. Post‑fundraising, Olyv is valued at roughly Rs 1,045 crore...

NaJasia Launches Community-Driven Platform Supporting Women and Neurodiverse Creatives in Denmark

NaJasia, a Denmark‑based community organisation, has launched a platform that combines a women‑focused club, a neurodiverse art studio, and a digital storytelling hub. The Mosaic Circle Ladies Club tackles social isolation among immigrant women, while James Fox Art Studio offers...

Kiwi Charge Takes EV-Charging Robot to Showroom Floor with $1.7-million Pilot Project

Toronto‑based Kiwi Charge is piloting its autonomous EV‑charging robot in a $1.7 million project with General Motors Canada and Pfaff Automotive. The robot, dubbed the “R2‑D2 for EV charging,” can self‑charge in 30 minutes and fully charge a vehicle in another 30 minutes,...

By BetaKit (Canada)

Google Is Expanding WAXAL Beyond 21 Languages — What It Means for African Researchers

Google has broadened its WAXAL speech dataset initiative, increasing coverage from 21 to 27 Sub‑Saharan African languages and outlining a pipeline for additional tongues. The expansion is driven by a partnership with the Masakhane African Languages Hub, shifting focus toward...

Meituan Beats JD.com to Acquire Dingdong Maicai’s China Business

Chinese on‑demand delivery giant Meituan has signed a definitive agreement to buy Dingdong Maicai’s China operations for roughly $717 million, excluding its overseas units. The acquisition gives Meituan a mature front‑end warehouse network and a profitable fresh‑grocery platform that recorded about...

Java Capital Launches Rs 400 Cr Fund to Back Seed-Stage Deeptech Startups

Java Capital announced a Rs 400 crore deep‑tech fund aimed at seed‑stage startups across semiconductors, aerospace, AI infrastructure, robotics, climate tech and more. The vehicle includes a Rs 150 crore greenshoe option and plans to invest in 15‑20 companies over the next three to...

SLEEK EV’s US$8.5M Series A Funding Signals a More Mature EV Playbook

SLEEK EV, a Singapore‑based electric scooter maker operating in Thailand, closed a US$8.5 million Series A round led by KYMCO Capital, with participation from over twenty supply‑chain players in Taiwan and China. The capital will fund a production scale‑up at Thailand’s Eastern...

The European Union Has Put €700 Million Into NanoIC

The European Union has launched NanoIC, a new semiconductor pilot line funded with €700 million under the European Chips Act. Located at imec in Leuven, the open facility gives companies, startups and research institutes access to beyond‑2‑nanometre system‑on‑chip technology and early‑stage...

By The Next Web (TNW)

Former City Minister Appointed to Open Banking Board

John Glen, former city minister and ex‑Treasury official, has been appointed as a non‑executive director to the board of Open Banking Limited (OBL). His appointment comes just before OBL publishes its Long‑Term Regulatory Framework and Payments Forward Plan, which will...

By UKTN (UK Tech News)

Poland’s VC Market Leans Heavily on Seed-Stage Funding

Poland’s venture‑capital market deployed €0.8 billion across 183 transactions in 2025, marking a 28% increase over 2024 when mega‑rounds are excluded. Seed‑stage deals dominated, with 134 rounds – a 20% year‑on‑year rise – and average ticket sizes steady at €1.5 million. Public...

By The Recursive

How to Win the War for Top Talent in Emerging Asia

A 2023 PwC study shows 44% of Asia‑Pacific employees anticipate major skill changes, yet only 48% feel prepared. In the next year, 40% plan to request raises or promotions and 30% may switch employers, marking a 7‑10% rise from the...

Kaster Technologies Raises $1.6 Million to Scale up Pharma Manufacturing

Canadian startup Kaster Technologies announced a CAD 1.6 million pre‑seed round led by Graphite Ventures, with participation from Hidden Layers Capital and angel investor Louis‑Martin Rousseau. The company offers an AI‑guided software platform that optimizes pharmaceutical production cycles, promising up to...

By BetaKit (Canada)

The Monzo Money Pulse: Research Reveals Irish Adults Are Sitting on a €1.5 Billion ‘Savings Gap’

Monzo’s first “Money Pulse” survey of 1,000 Irish adults uncovers a €1.5 billion savings gap, with two‑thirds eager to save more but a third of savers earning no interest. Respondents say instant‑access accounts would add €40.80 per month per person, unlocking...

By Irish Tech News

Social•Feb 9, 2026

Demand First, MVPs Overrated, Code Comes Later

MVPs are overrated. You don’t need a smaller product. You need real demand. Code comes second. Agree or disagree? Comment below.

By Rado (This.is.rado)

Social•Feb 9, 2026

AI Adoption Requires Leadership, Not Just Employee Compliance

A corporate position that workers should "just use AI to do stuff" has never been enough. AI use in companies is a leadership problem that involves answering fundamental questions about what people should do with their time, how work is...

By Ethan Mollick

Biotech Startup Pandorum Technologies Raises $18 Mn in Series B Round

Pandorum Technologies, an Indian‑US biotech focused on exosome‑based regenerative therapies, closed an $18 million Series B round led by Protons Corporate. The round, completed in two tranches, values the company at roughly $91 million post‑money, bringing total capital raised to about $43 million. Proceeds...

Social•Feb 9, 2026

Bug‑Fix Speed Reveals a Founder’s True Mastery

If you use any software, you will hit bugs. Only a tiny 5% of your users will ever report bugs. The speed at which those bugs are fixed is the true measure of a founder in mastery of their craft.

By Garry Tan

Wellness Startup WellWith Raises Seed Round Led by BeyondSeed

WellWith, a Noida‑based wellness startup, secured Rs 1.25 crore in seed funding led by BeyondSeed with participation from Winner Ventures. The capital will be used to fund clinical research on its sea‑buckthorn formulations and to expand supply‑chain operations in Ladakh. Founded in...

Grants Are Not Just for Nonprofits: Why For-Profit Operators Miss Out on Early-Stage Capital

Southeast Asian founders often chase equity financing even at the validation stage, leading to unnecessary dilution. The article argues that non‑dilutive grants—such as those from the Gates Foundation, UNICEF Innovation Fund, and Enterprise Singapore’s SLINGSHOT—can fund proof‑of‑concept work while preserving...

Why Hyperbond Is Betting US$500K on Romance-Driven Language Learning

Singapore’s Hyperbond Studio has launched Call Me Sensei, an AI‑driven language‑learning app that frames practice as romantic‑style conversations with virtual “senseis.” The startup closed a US$500,000 seed round backed by NLS Ventures, Loyal VC, Attribute Global Ventures and several angels....

Dream11’s Domicile and Director Benefits Lead to Rs 479 Cr Loss in FY25

Dream Sports, the parent of fantasy‑gaming leader Dream11, posted a Rs 479 crore net loss for FY25, a sharp reversal from a Rs 1,295 crore profit a year earlier. The loss was driven by a one‑time Rs 575 crore tax charge linked to the US‑to‑India domicile...

Elevate Now Raises Rs 18 Cr in Seed Round Led by Physis Capital

Elevate Now, a doctor‑led clinical weight‑loss platform, secured Rs 18 crore in a seed round headed by Physis Capital, with Inflection Point Ventures and Titan Capital also participating. The Bengaluru startup previously raised $2 million in a pre‑seed round from W Health Ventures,...

Hydrogen, Wind Power, Nuclear: The UK’s Ambitions for the Energy of Tomorrow

The UK is accelerating its clean‑energy transition with a £200 billion Clean Power Action 2030 plan, targeting 43‑50 GW offshore wind, 27‑29 GW onshore wind, expanded nuclear, and hydrogen projects. Since July 2024, £52 billion of clean‑energy capital has been secured, backed by mechanisms like Contracts...

By Maddyness UK

Healthcare Startup Preventify Raises Rs 2 Cr in Pre-Seed Round Led by PedalStart

Preventify, a clinic‑led healthtech startup focused on preventive and chronic care, closed a Rs 2 crore pre‑seed round led by accelerator PedalStart. The funding will finance a first cluster of ten clinics in Kerala, expand chronic disease programs, and upgrade its tech...

Exclusive: D2C Brand Aramya Parent Raises Rs 80 Cr Led by Z47 and Accel

DSLR Technologies, the parent of D2C ethnic‑wear brand Aramya, secured Rs 80 crore ($9 million) in a Series A round led by existing investors Z47 and Accel India. The round issued 10,928 compulsorily convertible preference shares at Rs 73,207 each, valuing the company at roughly...

Global HealthX Crosses $15 Mn in Healthcare Investments, Unveils Startup Cohort

Global HealthX, the venture studio of the Global University Foundation, announced it has surpassed $15 million in investments across Indian healthcare and life‑science startups over the past two years. The latest cohort features five companies—TapHealth, Wellytics, Monitra Health, Merry Health and...

Airtel Nigeria Bets on Akwa Ibom for Faster Internet

Airtel Nigeria announced a second internet breakout point in Akwa Ibom, leveraging the 2Africa submarine cable to diversify traffic away from Lagos, promising faster speeds and greater resilience. The carrier cites a 15% increase in fibre sites and expanding 4G/5G...

How Busy Ming Rose Behind a Low-Profile but Resolute Founder

Busy Ming, founded by former real‑estate agent Yan Zhou, grew from a single Changsha store in 2017 to over 21,000 outlets across China after merging with Zhao Yiming Snacks in 2023. The chain focused on price‑sensitive mass‑market consumers, using standardized...

Muyuan IPO Feeds Into Hong Kong’s Public Market Rebound

China’s leading hog breeder Muyuan Foods raised roughly HKD 10.7 billion (US$1.4 billion) in its Hong Kong H‑share offering, pricing at HKD 39 per share. The IPO was heavily subscribed, with domestic demand 5.88 times and the international tranche 8.62 times, and attracted...

In Southeast Asia, Cybersecurity Is Booming but Funding Is Not

Southeast Asia’s cybersecurity sector saw venture funding plunge to US$24 million in 2025, a 40 percent decline from 2024 and a stark contrast to the US$533.6 million peak in 2021. All three rounds were early‑stage, with no late‑stage deals recorded, reflecting a more...

Exclusive: Josh Foulger Steps Down as Zetwerk Electronics President

Josh Foulger, who led Zetwerk Electronics for two years, has left the company for personal reasons. Zetwerk is now scouting replacements from firms such as Siemens and Schneider Electric. The firm recently opened a 1,200‑person manufacturing hub in Bengaluru focused...

Chaayos Crosses Rs 300 Cr Revenue in FY25; EBITDA Jumps 6.5X

Chaayos reported FY25 revenue of Rs 310.6 crore, a 25% rise that pushed total revenue above the Rs 300 crore threshold. The tea‑café chain slashed its net loss by 53% to Rs 25.4 crore and saw EBITDA explode 6.5‑fold to Rs 37 crore. Cost of materials rose 26%...

Social•Feb 9, 2026

Voice AI Startups Secured $650M+ Funding in January

Voice AI startups raised more than $650 million in January. The figure goes up if you count startups like Synthesia and Decagon. I am keeping a track of voice AI funding in a post on my newsletter. https://t.co/j5BU7tpGJx

By Ivan Mehta

Myntra Appoints Former Instacart Executive Pramod Adiddam as CTO

Myntra, the Flipkart‑owned fashion e‑commerce platform, has hired former Instacart and Google executive Pramod Adiddam as chief technology officer. He will report to CEO Nandita Sinha and steer technology strategy, platform innovation, and scalability as the company expands into quick...

After Cyber Attacks, Silence Can Be the Biggest Brand Killer: Penta’s Dan La Russo

Cyber‑risk is now a stakeholder risk, according to Penta’s new whitepaper that examined 4.8 million media mentions from early 2024 to mid‑2025. The study finds that poor crisis communication erodes trust faster than the technical damage of a breach. Dan La...

How I Built Singapore’s 8th Fastest-Growing Company without Investors

In 2020 a 25‑year‑old ex‑agency manager founded KPI Media on a bold promise: refund half of any retainer if key performance indicators aren’t met. The agency operates solely with month‑to‑month contracts and a performance‑based guarantee, remaining fully bootstrapped. Five years...

When Rules Change Quarterly: Regulatory Resilience as Competitive Advantage

A Southeast Asian fintech founder reported navigating seventeen regulatory changes in three years, illustrating that Asian fintech rules now shift roughly every quarter. The article argues that treating regulatory environments as stable has led to billions in remediation costs and...

Are You Dead? How a Chinese App Put Loneliness in the Spotlight

A low‑cost Chinese app called “Are You Dead?” alerts a preset emergency contact if a user fails to check in for two days, targeting single women aged 25‑35 in major cities. The app briefly topped Apple China’s paid‑download chart in...