Deals in brief: Accel invests in Vite+ maker VoidZero, Rolo Robotics and Videotto raise seed funding, Coolmate completes Series C round, and more

VoidZero raises USD 12.5 million in Series A round

VoidZero, a Singapore-based company developing next-generation open-source JavaScript tooling, has raised USD 12.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Accel, with participation from Peak XV Partners, Sunflower Capital, and angel investors including Koen Bok (Framer) and Eric Simons (StackBlitz).

Founded by Evan You, creator of Vite, VoidZero is building Vite+, a unified toolchain designed to simplify JavaScript’s fragmented ecosystem by combining build, testing, and deployment tools into a single interface. The company said its open-source projects already power products from OpenAI, Stripe, and Shopify.

The funding will support the commercial rollout of Vite+, team expansion, and deeper investment in its open-source ecosystem.

Rolo Robotics closes USD 3.45 million seed round to scale autonomous food kiosks

Rolo Robotics, a Singapore-founded robotics startup developing autonomous hot food kiosks, has raised USD 3.45 million in an oversubscribed seed round backed by A2D Ventures, Beenext, Seedstars, TIS Japan, Antler, Lotus One Investment, and Blueprint Ventures.

The company’s food robotics system prepares made-to-order meals without on-site staff. Each kiosk integrates multi-nozzle dispensers, heat sensors, and real-time quality control to deliver consistent, hygienic food service in compact spaces such as campuses, transit hubs, and offices.

According to the company, the new capital will accelerate production. CEO Ravi Nahappan said the raise will help Rolo expand deployments in Singapore and Australia while “strengthening the connective tissue between robotics, AI, and future humanoid collaboration.”

Videotto raises seed funding from East Ventures

Videotto, a Singapore-based startup developing video editing solutions, has secured an undisclosed amount of seed funding from East Ventures.

The company is building a platform that taps artificial intelligence to transform long-form video content into short, optimized clips for social media. The software automates editing, captioning, and transitions, learning each user’s style to generate shareable videos efficiently.

Videotto said the capital will support product development, team growth, and regional market entry. CEO Tay Yao Ming added that the company aims to “level the playing field for creators globally” by making professional-grade video editing accessible to all.

Coolmate completes Series C round led by Vertex Growth Fund

Coolmate, a Vietnamese direct-to-consumer fashion brand, has completed a Series C round led by Vertex Growth Fund, with participation from Cool Japan Fund, YoungOne CVC, and existing investors Vertex Ventures SEA & India and Kairous Capital.

Founded in 2019, Coolmate operates a vertically integrated, tech-enabled supply chain designed to deliver affordable, high-quality apparel directly to consumers.

The company will use the funding to drive its next growth phase, including launching women’s activewear and expanding internationally through e-commerce platforms such as Amazon. It also plans to open retail stores to strengthen brand presence.

Antler and others invest in IndustrialMind.ai

IndustrialMind.ai, a Singapore-based AI startup, has raised USD 1.2 million in a pre-seed round led by Antler, with participation from TSVC, Plug and Play, and angel investor Gang Song.

The company is developing a platform that automates manufacturing decision-making by analyzing engineering drawings, monitoring production in real time, and recommending process improvements to enhance yield and throughput.

Its system is reportedly being deployed by corporations including Siemens, Tesa, and Andritz.

Hullbot raises AUD 16 million to expand ocean robotics platform

Hullbot, an Australian ocean robotics company, has raised AUD 16 million (USD 10.4 million) in a Series A round led by Regeneration.VC, with participation from Katapult Ocean, Climate Tech Partners, Folklore Ventures, Trinity Ventures, Rypples, NewSouth Innovations, Artesian, and Impact Ventures.

Founded in Sydney, Hullbot designs and deploys autonomous underwater robots that clean and inspect ship hulls to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The system reportedly helps vessel operators achieve fuel savings of up to 26% while mitigating biofouling and ocean pollution.

The company plans to use the funding to expand manufacturing capacity, develop larger robotic systems, and scale international operations across the Asia Pacific region.

Uluu raises SGD 13.6 million to scale seaweed-based plastic alternative

Uluu, a Perth-based biomaterials startup, has raised SGD 13.6 million (USD 10.4 million) in a Series A round led by Burda Principal Investments, with participation from Main Sequence, Novel Investments, Startmate, Fairground, and Trinity Ventures.

The capital will support the construction of a demonstration plant in the west of Australia to scale up production of its seaweed-derived plastic alternative.

Uluu’s material is touted as reusable, recyclable, and marine biodegradable—breaking down naturally without releasing microplastics. The company said its process can sequester up to five kilograms of carbon dioxide for every kilogram of material produced, compared with three kilograms emitted by traditional plastics.

Mantayay receives USD 5 million investment from Kairous Capital

Mantayay, a Malaysia-based digital media company incorporated in Singapore, has secured USD 5 million in its first institutional funding round led by Kairous Capital, according to Digital News Asia.

Founded in 2023, Mantayay manages a network of more than 4,000 creators. Its flagship IP, Terpaling Menantu, is said to have become Malaysia’s most-watched short-form drama franchise, with over 300 million cumulative views.

The company plans to establish offices in China, Japan, and South Korea to connect regional brands with Southeast Asia’s creator economy. The capital will also support Mantayay in developing its content and commerce infrastructure across the region.

Ant invests in R2 to expand SME credit access in Latin America

Ant International, the international arm of Ant Group, has made an undisclosed investment in R2, a Mexico-based embedded lending platform, to expand credit access for small and medium enterprises across Latin America. The partnership combines Ant International’s AI-driven credit tools with R2’s API-based lending infrastructure.

R2 enables platforms such as Uber Eats, Rappi, and PayU to provide financing to their merchant networks. The company has reportedly facilitated funding for more than 100,000 SMEs across Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Brazil.

CloudMile raises USD 20 million to expand ops in Southeast Asia

CloudMile, an AI tech firm, has raised USD 20 million in a round led by Nexus CVC, with participation from TFB Capital, the venture arm of Taipei Fubon Bank. The investment will support the company’s expansion in Southeast Asia and accelerate adoption of its agentic AI solutions.

CloudMile’s technology helps enterprises optimize cloud operations. Its products are deployed across the finance, manufacturing, retail, and education sectors in markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

With this funding, CloudMile will continue investing in R&D and expanding its regional presence through new centers in Malaysia and Singapore to meet growing demand for AI-driven digital transformation.

Recent deals completed in China: Augmentus, Sedifly, Grab, and more made recent headlines:

If there are any news or updates you’d like us to feature, get in touch with us at: [email protected].

...