AI after the hype

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Hello reader,

At the time of writing, it’s been about two days since we wrapped up Tech in Asia Conference 2026 in Singapore. It was a genuinely electric experience, and it was heartening to see our tech community – alongside the wider business and enterprise folks that have entered the fold – come together to explore all things AI.

A recurring theme that emerged from the conversations I had at the event is how we’re moving past the hype around AI. The focus now is how to use it effectively and at scale. And it’s not just about slapping an AI layer onto things – a fundamental reworking of processes and mindsets needs to happen in order to make agentic AI and automation effective in reality.

Some of the companies on our list of the biggest deals this week are trying to do just that. They’re transforming industries like construction and manufacturing by bringing in AI. It’s tough work, but it’s also ripe with opportunity, and that’s what makes this so exciting.

You can find all other important investment deals that happened in the last few days in our weekly funding news wrap-up.

Let’s dive into the biggest deals and M&As that recently took place.

— Stefanie

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The biggest deals by market

🇨🇳 D-robotics provides a hardware and software development platform for robotics. Based in China, the company raised US$400 million in series C money from Beyond Moore Fund, Cathay Capital Private Equity, GF Xinde Investment Management, Meituan, Mirae Asset Capital, Nanshan SEI Investment, Prosperity7 Ventures, Unity Ventures, Vertex Growth Fund, and YF Capital.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia’s Barq offers digital payments and money transfer services. It banked US$329.5 million from M20 Fund, Noon Investments, and Sohar International Bank from a series A fundraise.

🇦🇪 Based in the United Arab Emirates, Tabby offers buy now, pay later (BNPL) loans and other financial services. It raised US$233 million in a series F round from Arbor Ventures, Blue Pool Capital, HongShan, and Wellington Management.

🇮🇱 Israel’s Buildots uses AI and computer vision to transform construction management. The West Asian startup bagged US$130 million in series D funds from OG Venture Partners.

🇯🇵 CADDi is a Japanese manufacturing AI data platform. The company’s series D round raised US$113.28 million from Atomico, Coreline Ventures, Globis Capital Partners, Japan Post Bank Asset Management, Moore Strategic Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, and Woven Capital.

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M&As

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Startups that are raising funds

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Behind the Glasswall

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Exclusive listicles

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Thoughtful reads