AI and the art of breaking barriers

Welcome to Tech in Asia’s free Saturday VC newsletter! Get full access to our subscribers-only premium content and other insightful analysis on the big and messy topics of Asia’s tech and startup community by registering here.

Hello reader,

On my account on Letterboxd, a film diary and social network of sorts, the Korean film Parasite ranks among my favorites. More than the movie itself, however, what lingers with me is the discourse that came with its 2020 Best Picture Oscar win.

The film’s director, Bong Joon Ho, famously talked about “overcoming the 1-inch barrier of subtitles,” as some people were hung up on reading subtitles in non-English movies. For others, captions are about access.

Perhaps this is why Rylo, formerly known as Nagish, stood out to me this week. Headquartered in Israel, which is located in West Asia, the startup has raised US$85 million to develop AI-powered communication tools for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, including real-time captioning and sign language translation.

In a market crowded with AI solutions aimed at helping companies move faster, Rylo seems like a breath of fresh air.

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

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

— Lilian

---

The biggest deals by market

🇮🇳 Based in India, Hygenco is a green hydrogen company that deploys scaled-up commercially attractive green hydrogen solutions. It has raised US$105 million in series B money from Fullerton Fund Management and the International Finance Corporation.

🇮🇱 Rylo is an Israel-based startup that builds AI-powered communication tools, helping deaf and hard-of-hearing people connect and interact more easily. It has secured US$85 million in series A funding from Canaan Partners Israel, Cardumen Capital, General Catalyst, and K5 Global.

🇸🇬 Silicon Box specializes in advanced panel-level semiconductor packaging and chiplet integration for applications, including AI and high-performance computing. Hailing from Singapore, the firm has bagged US$77.53 million in debt financing from Abound Capital, Ares Management, InnoVen Capital SEA, and January Capital.

🇨🇳 Cascade Pharmaceuticals specializes in the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative drugs targeting nuclear and G protein-coupled receptors. Headquartered in China, the company has raised US$46.8 million in series D money from Lianbang Investment Management, Shanghai STVC Group, Taiping Medical and Health Fund, Yuekai Capital, and Zhaode Investment.

---

M&As

---

Startups that are raising funds

---

Behind the Glasswall

---

Position your brand at the center of AI growth

---

Exclusive listicles

---

Thoughtful reads