EP-136: Inside Singapore’s Bold Bet on a Robotics-Driven Economy
Singapore ranks second globally in robot density, boasting 770 robots per 10,000 employees.
The way Singapore has doubled down on its robotics industry, some might think the city-state is living in a different time.
From robots guiding visitors through museums and scrubbing shopping mall washrooms, to brewing kopi with the skill of a seasoned barista and assisting doctors in hospitals, robots in Singapore are becoming a normal part of daily life.
These jobs are not for novelty’s sake. They’ve slowly become essential tools that are integrated into multiple sectors with remarkable effectiveness.
In fact, over the past few decades, Singapore has turned itself into a living lab for robotics. It's a place where machines, driven by intelligent systems, are deployed across industries with precision and purpose.
The country now ranks second globally in robot density, boasting 770 robots per 10,000 employees. This places it just behind South Korea and highlights the country’s strong commitment to automation. This impressive figure reflects Singapore's commitment to integrating robotics across industries and setting the pace for urban innovation.
And this rapid transformation is no accident.
It results from nearly ten years of strategic planning, focused investment, and a deliberate push to create a thriving research and development environment for robotics. Backed by strong government support, a robust research ecosystem, and a population eager to adopt smart technologies, Singapore is in the midst of a robotics renaissance.
As artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT) continue to reshape the tech landscape globally, Singapore is positioning itself at the forefront. Analysts project the country’s robotics industry at US$60 billion by 2028, reflecting both its ambition and capability.
A key driver behind this momentum is the city-state’s National Robotics Programme (NRP), which received a US$60 million boost in 2024. This funding has fueled new initiatives, including RoboNexus, an accelerator launched to elevate Singapore's robotics profile on the global stage.
By connecting startups with mentors from both the public and private sectors, and offering business consultancy and client matchmaking services, RoboNexus is already showing promising results.
Since its pilot in September, RoboNexus has helped half a dozen robotics startups, such as LionsBot, KABAM Robotics, and dConstruct Robotics, take significant steps forward. With support from the NRP, these startups joined a US learning expedition to absorb best practices and refine their strategies for international expansion.
Take LionsBot International as a case in point. The Singapore-based maker of commercial cleaning robots recently raised US$20.6 million in a Series B funding round, backed by returning investors. Known for their vacuuming and scrubbing capabilities, LionsBot’s robots are designed to be expressive, conveying emotions through animated eyes and voices.
Singapore’s approach to robotics is more than just deploying machines. With the level of dedication and investments, it is clear that the country wants to design systems that blend seamlessly into urban life, improve productivity, and address social challenges. Whether it is eldercare, logistics, or hospitality, the country is building a robotics sector that delivers real impact.
With the right mix of policy, innovation, and vision, Singapore’s robotics sector is doing more than growing: it’s leading.
On that note, let’s dive into this week’s recap.
Buzzing Deals
➤ Vietnam-based beverage startup Every Half Coffee Roasters has raised US$3 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Openspace Ventures, with participation from DSG Consumer Partners. The latest funding will allow the company to enter global markets with its roasted coffee under its own brand, selling through e-commerce platforms. Founded in 2021, Every Half focuses on specialty coffee and operates 14 stores across Ho Chi Minh City.
➤ Singapore-based fintech firm Airwallex has raised a US$300 million series F round in one of the largest funding rounds in Southeast Asia this year. Its investors include Square Peg, DST Global, Lone Pine Capital, Blackbird, Airtree, Salesforce Ventures, and Visa Ventures, as well as several Australian pension funds. This round—which bumped up the startup's valuation to $6.2 billion—includes US$150 million in secondary share transfers. The company will use the fresh money to expand its global financial infrastructure in Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Latin America.
➤Chinese robotics startup JoyIn has bagged US$13 million to scale home-use AI robots. The angel+ funding round comes just three months after the initial angel round, and was led by Jinqiu Capital. Existing backers, including Matrix Partners China, Oasis Capital, Monolith, and Lighthouse Capital, joined in as follow-on investors. The Suzhou-based robotics startup will use the fresh capital to grow its team and advance mass production of its home-use robotic platforms. Founded in December 2024, JoyIn develops compact embodied AI robots for households that combine autonomous movement with interactive capabilities.
➤ Malaysia-based agritech startup LocalPasar has bagged US$110,000 from Antler. The fresh capital will help the company beef up its branding and marketing, fast-track the development of its products, and expand its footprint across the food value chain. LocalPasar works with farmers and restaurants to facilitate better trade opportunities with real-time pricing, demand forecasting, and supply-chain tracking.
➤ Malaysian AI-powered tax and financial management solutions platform Filepillar has received a US$110,000 check from Antler. With the new funds, the company plans to invest in hiring, product development, marketing, and salaries. Filepillar is building an automation platform designed for tax professionals and accounting firms, featuring AI-driven workflows that enhance precision and minimize administrative overhead. The company aims to expand its AI capabilities to transform how accounting firms operate in a digital-first era.
➤ Indian spacetech startup Orbitt Space has raised US$1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by pi Ventures, with participation from IIMA Ventures. Founded in early 2025 by former ISRO scientists Christopher Parmar and Anupam Kumar, Orbitt Space focuses on satellite operations in Ultra-Low Earth Orbit (ULEO), which is below 250 km in altitude. With the new capital, the startup will step up the development of an air-breathing electric propulsion system for ULEO satellites, expand its engineering team, and test prototypes. This orbit remains largely untapped due to challenges such as high atmospheric drag and fuel limitations.
What Stood Out This Week
➤ Japan-based VC firm Headline Asia has closed its fifth and largest fund at US$145 million. Its limited partners include the Japan Investment Corporation, Taiwan’s National Development Fund, Korea Venture Investment Corporation, and SME Support Japan. The new fund, Headline Asia Fund V, will focus on early-stage investments in sectors including ecommerce, logistics, fintech, intellectual property, and AI. This fund operates dedicated teams in Tokyo, Taipei, and Singapore. With 17 funding deals already signed, the company is actively targeting seed to series A rounds, writing checks ranging from US$1 million to US$5 million.
➤ Google and the Indonesian government have partnered to launch a new accelerator program for AI-focused startups with the aim to help 100 firms over the next five years. This program, part of Google’s Bangkit Bersama AI initiative, will offer selected startups up to US$350,000 in Google Cloud credits, along with access to AI technology, training workshops, and mentorship. The first cohort of 20 startups will participate in a three-month, equity-free program starting in September 2025.
➤ PwC is setting up a new AI Hub in Singapore with an investment of US$4 million over the next three years. This initiative, backed by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), has several goals: to develop standards for AI technology, enhance local AI capabilities, foster partnerships for market entry, and create an AI factory to scale AI solutions across sectors like financial services, government, and logistics. PwC also plans to collaborate with institutions like the National University of Singapore to provide professional training and internships in AI engineering.
➤ Singaporean private equity firm Quadria Capital has closed its fund III, securing nearly US$1.1 billion in commitments for investing in advanced healthcare solutions. This includes US$954 million in primary commitments and US$114 million in co-investment capital. Despite a challenging fundraising environment, the final close exceeded Quadria's initial target of US$800 million. Moreover, the PE firm anticipates an additional US$300 million in co-investment capacity during the investment phase, which could bring the total committed capital to US$1.3 billion. Founded in 2012, Quadria Capital manages over US$4 billion in assets across markets like India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
➤ Indonesian proptech firm MilikiRumah has completed a private equity fundraise of US$50 million for its MilikiRumah Rent-To-Own Fund 1. Backed by investors like Ruifeng Wealth Management, Tembusu Partners, and Trigger Asset Management, this fund had an initial close of US$10 million. The fund aims to develop residential properties for end-user occupancy in Greater Jakarta and targets a 20% internal rate of return for investors, which includes family offices and private equity firms from Singapore and other economic hubs.
And that’s the wrap for this edition of #ICYMI. Every week, we recap the latest developments in the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem, along with a commentary on what catches our eye.