Deals in brief: Grab invests USD 60 million in Vay, Transcelestial secures new funding, Bioactivx closes seed round, and more

Grab invests USD 60 million in remote driving technology firm Vay

Grab has signed definitive agreements to invest USD 60 million in Germany-based Vay Technology, a developer of remote driving systems. The transaction, expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025 following regulatory approvals, will give Grab a minority equity stake in the company.

Founded in Berlin, Vay enables users to request electric vehicles via its app, which are remotely driven to their location. After a trip, a remote driver takes control again, eliminating the need for parking. The model is designed to reduce service costs and serve as a bridge between traditional mobility and autonomous driving.

The investment will support Vay’s US expansion and contribute to Grab’s broader autonomous mobility strategy. Grab may invest an additional USD 350 million if performance milestones are met, potentially gaining a majority stake within three years.

The deal follows Grab’s recent investments in autonomous vehicle firms WeRide and May Mobility.

Transcelestial secures additional USD 9.7 million to scale connectivity in Japan

Transcelestial, a Singapore-based space and communications technology startup, has raised an additional USD 9.7 million, bringing its total funding to USD 34.7 million. The latest round includes new backing from MPower Partners and expanded participation from Seeds Capital and Kickstart Ventures, alongside Japan-based investors NTT Finance, Golden Egg Ventures, and Paspalis Capital.

The funds will accelerate the deployment of Transcelestial’s laser communication technology, which delivers fiber-grade connectivity in disaster-prone regions of Japan. The company said its systems are built to restore network access within hours after earthquakes or typhoons, support secure defense communications, and enable optical links for satellites and orbital data centers.

CEO Rohit Jha added the company is already running pilot projects with Japanese telecommunications firms and defense partners. The new capital is also expected to deepen its collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and strengthen its role in Japan’s national communications and space resilience initiatives.

Bioactivx raises seed funding from Cocoon Capital for synthetic regenerative implants

Bioactivx, a Singapore-based biomaterials company developing regenerative implants, has raised USD 1.425 million in seed funding, closing the round. The investment was led by Cocoon Capital, with participation from undisclosed global investors.

The funds will support clinical and regulatory milestones for its flagship product, Bioactiv Matrix, which is a fully synthetic, bio-inspired skin substitute designed to accelerate wound healing while minimizing scarring and infection. The material replaces animal-derived collagen, removing cold chain storage requirements and addressing ethical and cultural constraints, making it suitable for hospitals, defense use, and remote settings.

Bioactivx will also use the capital to advance regulatory approvals, develop new products, and expand its production capacity in Singapore.

H3 Zoom raises USD 1.8 million in Series A funding

H3 Zoom, a Singapore-based artificial intelligence company specializing in infrastructure inspection, has raised USD 1.8 million in the first close of its Series A round led by JRE Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of JR East, with participation from SGInnovate and M7 Holdings.

Founded in 2016, H3 Zoom develops proprietary vision-language models and robotics tools to automate building and asset inspections. Its platform is deployed across major commercial properties in Singapore, helping clients reduce inspection time, minimize operational risk, and maintain safety compliance.

The funding will support the firm’s expansion in Japan and Hong Kong and further R&D for its copilot platform and robotics-assisted inspection technologies.

Pride Health raises USD 300,000 to expand platform

Pride Health, a Bangkok-based telehealth platform, has raised USD 300,000 in a pre-seed round backed by A2D Ventures, Enterprise Singapore, First Move, and a startup fund under Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency.

The investment will support its regional expansion and platform development. Pride Health offers inclusive telehealth services that combine virtual consultations with licensed clinicians, AI-based personalization, and digital prescriptions.

CEO Bruce Li said the company aims to build a stigma-free health ecosystem. The new funds will help it expand into Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and explore additional service verticals.

Recent deals completed in China: VoidZero, Rolo Robotics, Uluu, and more made recent headlines:

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