JUST IN - Asia Indonesia's @indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and GoTo introduced Sahabat-AI, an open-source AI ecosystem supporting Bahasa Indonesia and local languages. Led by CEOs Vikram Sinha and Patrick Walujo, the initiative aims to strengthen Indonesia's digital sovereignty.

JUST IN - Asia Singapore-based battery storage startup Blue Whale Energy, founded by @sg_gabriel, has raised $4 million in Seed funding from Wavemaker Partners, SG Growth Capital, ADB Ventures, and existing investors to expand its battery network and increase grid capacity.

JUST IN - Asia South Korean dental AI company Dencom, led by CEO Lim Byung-jun, has signed an MoU with Seoul National University School of Dentistry and Dental Hospital to introduce AI-powered voice charting into clinical training and evaluate its accuracy and educational impact.

JUST IN - Oceania New Zealand AI startup SupaHuman, led by Dave Howden, has raised NZ$2.6 million ($1.4M) in Series A funding led by Movac. The company develops AI tools for vocational education and workplace training, with plans to expand in Australia.

JUST IN - Oceania Australian startup Fremantle Seaweed, founded by CEO Chris De Cuyper, has acquired onshore Asparagopsis cultivation technology and equipment from FutureFeed. The deal supports commercial production of methane-reducing cattle feed, with first sales targeted for 2027.

JUST IN - Asia Philippines-based fintech Salmon, led by Pavel Fedorov, has secured $140 million in financing, comprising $90 million in investor commitments and $50 million in bond proceeds. The funding will support lending expansion and new motorcycle and MSME credit products.

JUST IN - Asia Japan's NEXT DELIVERY, @Aeronext_jp, and Daiwa House Industry have been selected for a Tokyo drone logistics project targeting residential towers. Led by NEXT DELIVERY CEO Keisuke Tanaka, the initiative will test urban deliveries through March 2028.

JUST IN - North America US forestry robotics startup @kodamasystems, led by Merritt Jenkins, has raised $7 million in funding, co-led by Konvoy Ventures and Breakwater Ventures, bringing total funding to $14 million.

JUST IN - North America US wearable tech startup @Hap_ware, led by @jackwalters818 and Bryan Duarte, has raised $1.5 million in Pre-Seed funding led by Adaptation Ventures. Its ALEYE wristband was named one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2026 for accessibility.

JUST IN - North America US beauty startup @pov__beauty, founded by Mikayla Nogueira and Ani Hadjinian, has secured Series A funding led by Silas Capital, with RÉDO Capital and Imaginary Ventures participating. The capital will support retail expansion and product development.

JUST IN - Middle East Qatar-based @snoonu_qa has acquired New York food-discovery startup @TryBiteSight, backed by Y Combinator, in its first international acquisition. BiteSight co-founders Bernardo Porbuá Quiroga and Lucius McDaniel IV will join Snoonu to develop video-led dining discovery.

JUST IN - Middle East Kuwaiti consumer research startup The QA, founded by Ahmad Al-Ibrahim and Hussein Al-Nashaba, has raised $550,000 in Pre-Seed funding. The platform uses AI-powered surveys to help businesses gather consumer insights.

JUST IN - Europe UK fintech @PayZilch, led by Philip Belamant, has announced plans for a larger London headquarters backed by a £77 million commitment over 10 years. The new office will accommodate over 400 employees, with a move planned for spring 2027.

JUST IN - Africa @DigitalAfrica__ has made its first investment in Ethiopia, backing agritech startup ChipChip, led by @amir_redwan. The company uses AI and data to connect farmers with buyers, improve food distribution, and lower fresh produce costs.

JUST IN - Europe UK regtech startup @Co_Comply, founded by Michael Cleavely, has raised £1.9 million in funding led by Mercia Ventures and Haatch. Its AI-powered platform helps businesses identify and manage external workforce compliance risks.

JUST IN - Europe Spanish energytech startup @SomosLinkener, founded and led by CEO @jiruiz, has raised €7.5 million in funding led by Alantra's Klima fund. The company will develop AI-powered energy management tools and pursue acquisitions to accelerate growth.

JUST IN - Middle East Oman-founded carbon removal startup 44.01, led by CEO Talal Hasan, has secured $11.7 million in offtake agreements facilitated by Frontier. The deals cover the permanent removal of 20,932 tonnes of CO₂ through underground mineralization by 2031.

JUST IN - Middle East Qatar-based fintech @BarzahCapital, founded by Chairman Mana Ibrahim H. Al-Mana, has joined the @QFCAuthority's Digital Assets Lab to develop and test a regulated, Shariah-compliant real estate tokenization model.

JUST IN - Middle East UAE-based @NabtaHealth, founded by @SophieMLSmith, has secured a second close of its ongoing $3 million Pre-Series A round, led by @PVP_VC. The funding combines primary and secondary capital to support commercial expansion.

JUST IN - Africa Egyptian AI startup @Tactfulai, led by Mohamed Elmasry, has secured an undisclosed investment from former e& Group CEO @hdowidar as part of its Pre-Series A extension. The company develops agentic AI infrastructure for customer experience.