South Korea is set to double its Mother Fund to 2 trillion won in 2026, marking the largest government-backed startup investment yet. This move underscores a strategic focus on AI, semiconductors, and biotech to enhance the country's global competitiveness.

Khalid Ashmawy's startup, Munify, aims to revolutionize remittances for Egyptians abroad with a new neobank offering faster, cheaper cross-border transactions. With $3 million in funding, the Y Combinator-backed venture seeks to address inefficiencies in traditional remittance systems, leveraging its own banking infrastructure for seamless money transfers.

Central Eurasia's startup ecosystem celebrated its largest pitch competition, 'Road to Battlefield,' attracting 485 applications from 27 countries. Four standout startups will represent the region at TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 2025 in San Francisco, highlighting innovations in AI, logistics, construction, and neurointerfaces.

Seed-stage startups see a funding spike, raising $8.1 million this week, highlighting a surge in early-stage investment. Indian fintech and ecommerce sectors are driving the momentum, with notable IPO plans from Groww and OYO.

LIZY is transforming Europe's leasing sector with a model focused on reselling and re-leasing used electric vehicles, offering affordable options for small businesses. Supported by €10 million in capital, the company has expanded into France and the Netherlands, doubling its workforce and achieving over 100% revenue growth by 2024.

Surf Lakes, led by Troy Warfield, is revolutionizing surfing with its 360-degree wave tech, producing 2,000 rides per hour, expanding accessibility beyond coastal areas. The company is building its first full-scale park and has sold nine tech licenses, positioning itself as a leader in the burgeoning surf park industry.

OpenAI has unveiled a new AI Agent within ChatGPT that autonomously handles complex business tasks, enhancing virtual work efficiency for entrepreneurs. This tool excels in trend prediction, competitor analysis, and boosting revenue from hidden sales, offering substantial support for scalable business growth.

WaveX, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies, has unveiled a Media Tech Startup Incubator to bolster AVGC-XR startups across India. This initiative offers extensive resources, from mentorship to investor connections, aiming to elevate India's global standing in creative tech.

Elev8 Venture Partners steps into late-stage funding with a $25 million investment in Porter, a logistics startup valued at over $1 billion. This marks a strategic shift for Elev8, traditionally a mid-stage investor, as they aim to bolster their portfolio with high-growth potential companies.

BioLattice, Vasowatch, and UfarmX triumphed in Philadelphia's regional Startup World Cup Pitch Competition, elevating the city's tech hub status. Backed by Temple University and city officials, the event showcased local entrepreneurial talent and innovation.

Deftpower, an AI-based EV charging platform, raises €12.5M led by Endeit Capital to boost European expansion. This funding supports their strategic growth and development in smart energy solutions.

NIC Karachi's Cohort 14 initiative aims to boost Pakistani innovation by offering up to Rs. 5 million in grants and substantial cloud credits to startups in key sectors. The program promises mentorship, global exposure, and access to advanced labs, building upon NIC's success in creating over 1 million jobs and generating Rs. 12 billion in investments.

FriendliAI, based in Redwood City, is revolutionizing AI model deployment with its high-performance inference engine, offering up to 90% GPU cost savings. The company's rapid growth and recent $20M investment highlight its leadership in efficient AI solutions.

Copenhagen's startup Moxso raises €4.7M in seed funding, led by Seed Capital, to expand its AI-driven risk intelligence platform across Europe. This follows rapid growth, with plans to enhance product development and staffing.

Origgin Ventures has launched a $30 million fund and established a hub in Fukuoka to boost deep-tech commercialization between Japan and Southeast Asia. The initiative focuses on fostering global startups, addressing Japan's funding gaps, and enhancing collaboration through partnerships with Japanese institutions.

South Korea's KVIC unveils H2 Global Fund 2025, injecting $560M to boost Korean startups via overseas-managed funds, requiring equal reinvestment in domestic firms. This initiative aims to attract $1.46B in venture capital focused on deep-tech and innovation, enhancing Korea's global VC standing.

Southeast startups have secured substantial funding, with Nest Health, Sola, and Heave leading the charge, demonstrating a vibrant investment climate. Events and programs, like Georgia Tech's 'Hacker House', are bolstering innovation, while key figures and companies continue to shape the region's entrepreneurial landscape.

Lakestar, a Zurich-based VC firm, has launched a $265 million continuation fund, with Lexington Partners leading the investment. This move reflects a growing trend as firms adapt to longer private company lifecycles, seeking to maximize returns amid subdued IPO markets.

Framer, the Amsterdam-based no-code platform, has secured $100 million in Series D funding, raising its valuation to $2 billion. The investment, led by Meritech and Atomico, aims to bolster Framer's enterprise client base and strengthen its position in the AI-driven web design market.