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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
- Italy’s antitrust authority ordered Meta Platforms to suspend WhatsApp terms blocking rival AI chatbots while probing for abuse of dominance.
- Meatable is ceasing operations after failing to raise funding, triggering a $15.9 million write-down for Agronomics despite prior investments.
- Xlife Sciences is moving from the Sparks segment to the SIX Swiss Exchange main segment to boost visibility, liquidity, and investor access.
💸 Top Funding Rounds
- I-care reached unicorn status after raising $23.5 million from existing shareholders and employees, preparing for external investors and a 2026 IPO.
- Reface obtained $18 million in non-dilutive funding from PvX Partners to scale user acquisition across its AI apps.
- Mosa Meat secured $17.6 million from Invest-NL, LIOF, PHW Group, and Jitse Groen to advance approvals and revenue generation.
- Those Vegan Cowboys raised $7.3 million to develop cow-free casein for bioidentical cheese ahead of U.S. regulatory clearance.
- BIOWEG secured $1.7 million from Germany’s SPRIND to develop a low-energy, bio-based platform to recover rare earth elements.
💰️ IPO and M&A Watch
- Omnidocs acquired a majority stake in officeatwork, to deepen its DACH region presence and strengthen its global market position.
- Mare Group acquired 55% of Italy based Workgroup for about $3.4 million to scale digital platforms for SMEs combining engineering and software.
🏦 About Investors
- Kevin Costa's Belief Capital closed a $20 million fund to invest in early-stage AI, robotics, and infrastructure startups in Europe and the U.S., drawing support from general partners at top VC firms and notable founders.
- NATO Innovation Fund reduced salaries of its investment partners from $797,350 a year to fair market rate.
🚀Startup of the Week
Introducing our Startup of the Week 🏆
I-care
Founded in 2004 in Belgium, I-care has grown into a global leader in AI driven predictive maintenance, helping industrial players anticipate equipment failures and optimize operations. Led by CEO Fabrice Brion, the company develops advanced solutions such as its I see™ platform and Wi care™ sensors, combining software hardware and data analytics at scale. In 2025, I care reached unicorn status after completing a $23.5 million internal fundraising and refinancing round backed exclusively by existing shareholders and employees, valuing the company at $1 billion. With 1,000+ employees and operations across multiple continents, I care plays a key role in advancing Industry 4.0 by improving industrial reliability efficiency and sustainability.
💼 Investor of the Week
Introducing our Investor of the Week 🏆
Belief Capital
Founded in 2025, Belief Capital is a newly launched solo GP venture fund led by Kevin Costa, focused on backing pre seed and seed stage startups across Europe and the US. The firm recently closed its $20 million first fund, targeting young technical founders building in AI robotics and critical infrastructure, with concentrated checks of $500,000 to $3 million into just 10 to 15 companies. Backed by GPs from Hummingbird and Point Nine, as well as experienced founders, Belief Capital differentiates through deep conviction investing and long term alignment. Its mission is clear, to be a committed first partner to the next generation of AI native builders.
🤑 Opportunity Radar
Call for Applications: Hub71+ Life Sciences Health Innovation Program
Hub71+ Life Sciences in Abu Dhabi is now accepting applications for Cohort 19 with a deadline of February 1, 2026. Startups receive $70,000 cash via SAFE plus $70,000 in in-kind support, alongside mentorship, capital access, and corporate partnerships. Targeted at biotech, MedTech, and digital health founders, onboarding begins June 2026 with the program kicking off in September 2026. Apply now to scale with a global health innovation ecosystem behind you.
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