- Yangtze River Delta startups in rockets, semiconductor materials, integrated circuit materials and electric aviation secured fresh funding
- The capital will support R&D, production expansion, commercialization and the development of next-generation aerospace technologies
Liquid rocket startup RocketNova raises 200 million yuan across three rounds
Shanghai-based RocketNova (箭启科技) has completed an angel funding round, bringing its total funding to 200 million yuan ($29.8 million) since its establishment in January. The company has completed three rounds — seed, pre-angel and angel — in that period.
Shanghai Engine Fund led the latest round, with Hua Capital, Century Golden Resources Group and Bian’an Times among the investors.
RocketNova develops liquid-propellant launch vehicles. It will use the proceeds to advance key technologies, build testing facilities and expand its core team.
Semicon equipment startup Plsintec closes 100-million-yuan Series A
Suzhou-based Plsintec (普雷赛思) has closed a 100-million-yuan ($14.9 million) Series A round, with E-Town Fund, Xinke Capital, Cybernaut and Cuiwei Fund among the investors. The company is also advancing a Series A+ round.
Plsintec develops and manufactures semiconductor metrology and inspection equipment, along with precision optical instruments.
Its business spans wafer manufacturing, advanced packaging and optical communications, with further expansion into specialty processes for third- and fourth-generation semiconductors and next-generation displays.
The proceeds will support volume deliveries, market expansion and technical development.
IC material supplier Anhui Splendid bags over 100 million yuan in Series A
Anhui Splendid Technology (芯聚德) has raised more than 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in a Series A round.
Existing investor Guangde Tongrui Equity Investment participated again, while a fund under Anhui Provincial Investment Group joined as a new shareholder.
The company, based in Xuancheng, Anhui Province, develops and mass-produces IC substrates, essential materials for packaging AI computing chips. The market has long been dominated by suppliers in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
Its Phase 1.1 production line has reached stable mass production, with yields above 93%. Its products have entered the supply chains of leading domestic and international semiconductor packaging and testing companies, as well as IC designers.
They include FC-CSP and WB-BGA substrates, and the company is advancing development of FC-BGA products.
Anhui Nuclear Material Hi-Tech nets millions of yuan in angel+ round
Anhui Nuclear Material Hi-Tech (禾材高科), based in Hefei, has raised tens of millions of yuan in an Angel+ round led by Jiechuang Capital. Shenzhen Capital Group, Wanlian Securities and Doy Capital also invested.
The company develops neutron-functional ceramic materials for nuclear fission, nuclear medicine and controlled nuclear fusion. Its product portfolio includes fluoride moderator ceramics, rare-earth materials and boride-based neutron-absorbing materials.
Founder and CEO Dr. Mei Longwei (梅龙伟) has worked on major national projects, including thorium-based molten-salt reactors and the China Spallation Neutron Source.
The funding will support core product R&D, capacity building and team expansion as the company moves to engineer and commercialize its materials.
IDM developer GaNBright secures over 100 million yuan across two tranches
GaNBright (镓锐芯光), based in Suzhou New District, has completed a pre-Series A+ round. Combined with its earlier pre-Series A financing, the company has raised more than 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) this year.
Investors in the latest round include SND Group, Suzhou Capital Group and Wuhan Heguang Tongxin.
GaNBright develops gallium nitride-based semiconductor laser materials, chips and modules. It operates an integrated device manufacturer (IDM) model covering the production chain and runs a joint laboratory with the Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Its core team was among China’s early researchers in blue and green laser chips. The company’s self-developed high-power blue and green laser chips rank among the industry’s leaders on several key performance indicators.
The new funding will support capacity expansion, technology upgrades and construction of its second-phase production line.
WeFly receives 100 million yuan in strategic funding to scale eVTOL
WeFly (齐飞航空), an eVTOL aircraft manufacturer based in Suzhou’s Xiangcheng District, has raised nearly 100 million yuan ($14.9 million) in a strategic round led by Suzhou Capital Group.
Jiangsu Strategic Emerging Future Angel Fund and Suzhou Xiangcheng Holding Group also invested, while existing shareholders Ince Capital and Linear Capital increased their investments.
The company’s W280 passenger aircraft was accepted for type certification review by the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s East China Regional Administration on September 1.
WeFly said the process took about a year from final assembly and rollout to its maiden flight and acceptance of the certification application.
The funding will go toward product development, flight testing and airworthiness certification. Following the round, the company will have state-owned investors at the provincial, municipal and district levels.
