Startups

Musk discusses AI safety and regulatory stance amid alliances and market moves.

Musk spoke about AI safety while navigating regulatory debates and alliances.

A high-investment plant in Hubei processes reed for high-end materials

According to 中国新闻网, a new high-performance paper-based materials park in Hubei's Shishou with a total investment of 10 billion yuan aims to produce 2.5 million tons of pulp and paper annually for high-end applications, creating over 4,000 jobs and counting on PLA and enzymatic lignin from reeds as key outputs. The project, developed by 湖北仙鹤新材料有限公司 and linked to 湖北首鼎实业有限公司, emphasizes automation and green bio-refining to replace petrochemical plastics and advance energy storage materials.

Civil lawsuit accuses Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google of coordinating to slow AI progress

OpenAI cash burn forecast to $278B by 2030, FT reports

Zhangxue Motorcycle announces five new motorcycles at the 2026 China Motor Expo.

Zhangxue Motorcycle announced five new motorcycle models on September 18, 2026.

China National Chemical Corporation’s CNNC Fertilizers unit collaborates with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to translate research into fertilizer products and planting plans

Sinochem Fertilizers announced collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to translate research into fertilizer products and planting plans for higher efficiency in nutrient use.

Nscale files to go public on NYSE under NSCL

Anthropic is expected to pursue an initial public offering ahead of competitor OpenAI

CATL to invest 1.4 billion yuan to expand lithium carbonate capacity in Ya'an

North Korean cyber group targets IT specialists via Contagious Interview

Angle Health reaches a $2.7B valuation

Angle Health hits $2.7B valuation

Jev: Start-up unveils AI model to talk with machines

Zipline’s valuation could nearly triple as drone delivery rules remain unsettled

Zipline’s valuation could nearly triple as drone delivery rules remain unsettled.

Jupiter Power closes a $1.4 billion financing package for US battery storage projects

Jupiter Power closed a $1.4 billion financing package for US battery storage projects.

Oklo outlines its strategic approach

Oklo shares its strategy as it advances its technology programs

Heart Machine faces potential closure as a publishing deal collapses and most staff are laid off

Heart Machine is at risk of shutting down after a publishing deal collapsed, with the majority of staff laid off.

Nex Playground announces Germany release later this year as part of its international rollout

Nex Playground announced Germany as the next stop in its international rollout, with the device releasing there later this year at €319. The company has sold over one million units and is approaching one million paying subscribers, supported by new investment and an expanded leadership team including EA founder Bing Gordon and former Niantic and Zynga CFO Jeff Shouger.

Samsung Innovation Campus 2026 launched in Karnataka to train 2,000 youth in AI

Samsung Innovation Campus 2026 was launched in Karnataka to train 2,000 youth in AI. The programme is in partnership with Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, and was inaugurated in the presence of higher education minister Basavaraj Rayareddy and senior academics from the university.

Sunwoda unveils a battery system claiming 10%-97% charging in 9 minutes

Sunwoda announced a battery system capable of charging from 10% to 97% in 9 minutes.

GTA 6 launches and PTO requests spike among US employees.

BambooHR released data showing US employees are taking PTO to play GTA 6, focusing on the third Thursday of November—the game's launch day. The data uses paid time off requests from active US employees and indicates that PTO requests for that day are runn

Oriental Spaceport has successfully completed 28 sea-based rocket launches.

Oriental Spaceport has completed 28 sea-based rocket launches, delivering 175 satellites into space. The project, led by Gao Zhongqian, developed an autonomous sea-based launch system that won the China Excellent Industrial Design Gold Award, and established a 6-km spaceport boulevard with a two-hour response for rocket assembly and launch.

eBay UK launches 200,000 pound grants for young entrepreneurs

Drone brand Antigravity completes a new funding round, reaching a valuation of $1 billion.

According to IT之家, drone brand Antigravity has completed a new funding round with financing exceeding 100 million yuan, led by Temasek and other USD funds, valuing the company at $1 billion. The round is described as Antigravity's second financing round, which began at the end of 2025; the brand released its A1 model in December 2025, featuring 360° panoramic imaging and immersive flight control in a single system.

The 2026 Jingpo Lake Online Literature Industry Cooperation Conference and AIGC content competition launch in Mudanjiang.

According to 中国新闻网 文化, the 2026 Jingpo Lake Online Literature Industry Cooperation Conference and the "Ear Root Universe" AIGC content creation competition opened in Mudanjiang on September 17, 2026. The event, themed "Wenzhì Jingpo Lake, AI Creates the Future," aims to advance the web literature, AI, and web video industries, with over 5,000 local online literature authors involved and the online premiere of the AI anime short film "Hong Luo Nu".

Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region hosts recruitment fair for postdoctoral and research talent

According to 中国新闻网, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei recruitment fair for postdoctoral and research talent was held on September 18 at the College Road Campus of China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing). About 130+ units offered 400+ postdoc and research positions, with around 800 attendees, 460 preliminary recruitment intents, and 9 initial project collaborations totaling 43 million yuan in funding.

ACFIC holds industry-education integration promotion meeting and job fair in Guangzhou

According to 中国新闻网, on September 18 in Guangzhou, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce held an industry-education integration promotion meeting and the autumn recruitment event under the action 'Hundred Cities Thousand Schools Ten Thousand Enterprises Promote Employment' at Guangzhou Science and Technology Vocational University. Nine private enterprises and 12 universities signed cooperation agreements, and 518 enterprises provided more than 11,000 job positions, with about 2,000 graduates reaching preliminary employment intentions. </s>

AI startup Mantic raises $25 million in seed funding led by Radical Ventures.

Mantic raised $25 million in seed funding.

Proya invests in Bishengzhiyan and ALO opens multiple retail stores in China

Proya invested in Bishengzhiyan.

Philippine Stock Exchange approves Mynt's initial public offering of up to 92.32 billion pesos

The Philippine Stock Exchange approved Mynt's initial public offering worth up to 92.32 billion pesos.

CALB Technology (Fujian) increased its registered capital to 7.65 billion yuan

CALB Technology (Fujian) increased its registered capital to 7.65 billion RMB.

Bain Capital Ventures launches new 1.6 billion dollar fund focused on selling work rather than software

Bain Capital Ventures launched a new 1.6 billion dollar fund.

Coronado Kaiwu partners with Yuantu to establish an industrial embodied AI joint laboratory

Coronado Kaiwu partnered with Yuantu Future to establish an industrial embodied AI joint laboratory on September 16.

Anthropic Reports Claude Leads 26% of Its AI Research and Development

Grab Acquires Controlling Stake in Atome Financial for $1.49 Billion

Tomato Novel's IP 'Doomsday Midsummer' utilizes compliant digital persona and artist authorization for AIGC-based drama production.

Tomato Novel adapted the IP 'Doomsday Midsummer' using a compliant digital persona and artist authorization.

Researchers utilize biological breeding chips and green technologies to improve agricultural production efficiency in Hubei and other regions.

Researchers stated that biological breeding chips significantly reduced field trial steps and improved breeding efficiency.

JD Logistics executive discusses robot procurement and industry deployment

JD Logistics announced plans to procure 3 million robots within 5 years.

Shuidi Chou raises its platform service fee to 8 percent

Shuidi Chou raised platform service fee to 8%.

Doosan announces a 970 billion won investment plan to expand copper-clad laminate production over 3 years

Doosan announced a 970 billion won investment plan to expand copper-clad laminate production.

Space Epoch completes limit-load static test for SQX-3 rocket propellant tanks

Space Epoch successfully completed the limit-load static test for the SQX-3 carrier rocket propellant tanks.

Evommune announced the discontinuation of its EVO756 eczema treatment program.

Evommune discontinued the development of its eczema treatment EVO756.

Semicon India 2026 Conference Held in New Delhi

Circle agrees to acquire Tazapay.

Circle agrees to buy Tazapay.

Beijing Jiecheng Century Intelligent Computing Technology Co., Ltd. is established with 100 million yuan registered capital.

Beijing Jiecheng Century Intelligent Computing Technology Co., Ltd. is established with 100 million RMB registered capital.

Waymo to Launch Autonomous Taxi Service in Singapore by 2028

SK Hynix establishes venture capital firm SK Hynix Ventures in Silicon Valley

SK Hynix established venture capital firm SK Hynix Ventures in Silicon Valley.

Dongguan government and enterprises launch autumn recruitment event in Tianjin with over 54,000 jobs

Dongguan launched the autumn recruitment event in Tianjin on September 17, offering over 54,000 jobs from more than 1,700 employers.

Cainiao delivers its first self-developed climbing robot warehouse in Guangzhou, increasing warehouse space utilization efficiency.

Cainiao delivered Guangzhou's first climbing robot warehouse, increasing space utilization by 2 times.

Moonshot AI has drawn global investor interest from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East

Moonshot AI has attracted global investor interest spanning Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Z.ai raises its year-end annual recurring revenue outlook to $3 billion following a $5 billion cash injection

Chinese artificial intelligence developer Z.ai raised its year-end annual recurring revenue outlook to US$3 billion.

OpenAI investors approached the company regarding a potential new funding round and valuation.

OpenAI raised $122 billion at an $852 billion valuation in March. OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar stated the company will be a public company in 2027.

Venture capital flows into deep tech startups building robots and semiconductors

Venture capital is flowing into deep tech start-ups that build robots and semiconductors.

SpaceX stock regains $150 price level

SpaceX regains $150 IPO open price.

Valor distributes $8.5 billion of SpaceX stock to investors

Valor hands investors $8.5 billion of SpaceX stock.

Forge Nano chose Taiwan as a major production hub for next-generation manufacturing equipment.

Forge Nano chose Taiwan as a major production hub for its next-generation machinery.

Hainan develops a commercial spaceport and aerospace cluster to drive economic growth

Hainan opened a commercial spaceport in Wenchang.

Crusoe Raises $3.9 Billion in Series F Funding Round

Anthropic proposes new transparency metrics for AI development