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Welcome to another edition of 🔍 Startup Researcher - Asia, your essential digest delivering the latest news and premium insights on startups and venture capital across the region 🌏️
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📰 Important News
- Klarna rolled out instant P2P payments in 13 European countries, pushing deeper into everyday banking vs. traditional banks.
- MaiaSpace won a multi-year Eutelsat deal for LEO satellite launches starting in 2027, securing early demand and validating its reusable launcher.
- ElevenLabs reported $330 million annual revenue from AI voice tech, signaling leadership while tightening safeguards for responsible scaling.
- YuLife named Tal Gilbert CEO as founder Sammy Rubin moves to Executive Chair, aiming to boost AI and expand globally.
- FRANK launched savory high-protein snack bars in UK Whole Foods and online, targeting shoppers tired of sugary protein bars.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- AI firm Parloa secured $350 million in Series D funding, catapulting its valuation to $3 billion, with General Catalyst leading the round.
- Harmattan AI raised a Dassault-led $200 million Series B to scale ISR drones, EW systems, and interceptor UAVs.
- Germany-based osapiens achieved Unicorn status with a $100 million Series C to boost global growth and AI-driven sustainability software.
- Nuclera landed $87 million in Series C funding to advance its eProtein Discovery system, integrating antibody engineering.
- Aikido secured $60 million in Series B funding, achieving a $1 billion valuation and becoming Europe's fastest cybersecurity unicorn.
💰️ IPO and M&A Watch
- Cloudflare acquired Human Native, an AI data marketplace, to enhance its support for AI developers with high-quality, licensed data.
- Diligent, an AI-driven GRC leader, acquired 3rdRisk, an AI-native third-party risk management platform, to bolster vendor risk oversight.
- Goparity acquired Bolsa Social, Spain's first impact crowdfunding platform, expanding its investment portfolio to include equity crowdfunding.
- Haydale bought SaveMoneyCutCarbon for $32.2 million, giving IW Capital an exit, and combined both platforms to scale energy efficiency.
- Helsing acquired Spanish robotics startup Keybotic to strengthen Europe's indigenous defense technology and reduce reliance on external suppliers.
🏦 About Investors
- DTCP launched Project Liberty, a $581.1 million fund backing dual-use defense and security tech across Europe and NATO-aligned states.
- e2vc closed its $116.7 million Fund III to back early-stage tech founders in Emerging Europe.
- Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg has successfully closed his $100 million Fund III, expanding Rosberg Ventures' assets to over $200 million.
- Invest-NL has committed $11.6 million to PureTerra Ventures Fund II to scale climate adaptation, sustainability, and water management.
- COFRA Holding AG announced Jens Brenninkmeyer's appointment as CEO of Bregal Investments effective February 1, 2026.
🚀 Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
Parloa
Founded in Berlin in 2018, Parloa is a customer service AI startup building agentic AI platforms that help enterprises automate complex conversations across phone, chat, and voice assistants. Co-founded by CEO Malte Kosub, the company serves major customers including Allianz and Booking.com. In January 2026, Parloa raised a $350 million Series D led by General Catalyst, with backing from EQT Ventures, Altimeter Capital, Durable Capital Partners, and Mosaic Ventures, pushing its valuation to $3 billion. The fresh capital is fueling rapid expansion across the US and Europe, alongside investments in multi-modal AI agents and responsible innovation. Parloa is positioning itself as a defining player in the future of AI-driven customer experience.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
DTCP
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Europe, DTCP is a global venture capital and growth equity platform managing around $3.5 billion in assets across technology and infrastructure strategies. Backed by a long track record in digital transformation, DTCP invests at the intersection of software, cybersecurity, AI, infrastructure, and dual-use technologies. In January 2026, the firm launched Project Liberty, a $581.1 million defense, security, and resilience fund, the largest of its kind in Europe, targeting Series A to C companies aligned with European and NATO priorities. Led by CEO Vicente Vento and Managing Partner Thomas Preuß, DTCP differentiates through deep operational expertise and strong public and industrial networks. Its mission is to scale technologies critical to Europe’s long-term security and competitiveness.
🤑 Opportunities Expiring Soon
Catalyse NEB Open Call 2026
- 📢 Organizer: The EIT Community New European Bauhaus (NEB)
- 🗂️ Category: Funding
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed, Pre-Series A, Series A
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Agriculture & Food, Energy & Environment, Manufacturing & Materials, Mobility & Logistics, Health & Life Sciences, Fitness & Sports, Infrastructure & Smart Cities, Media & Entertainment
- 📅 Application Deadline: January 19, 2026
E3 Accelerator – Riyadh Cycle
- 📢 Organizer: E3.Ventures
- 🗂️ Category: Funding, Accelerator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Pre-Seed, Seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: AI & Data, Finance & Insurance
- 📅 Application Deadline: January 20, 2026
Spring 2026 Cooperative Business Incubator
- 📢 Organizer: Start.coop
- 🗂️ Category: Incubator
- 🪜 Target Stages: Ideation, Pre-Seed
- 🏭 Focus Sectors: Sector Agnostic
- 📅 Application Deadline: January 21, 2026
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