BEIJING - ChiNext, China's NASDAQ-style exchange for high-growth startups, has raised 184 billion yuan ($28.8 billion) since its launch in October 2009, said Shang Fulin, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC).

Shang disclosed the figures on Friday at a launching ceremony for ChiNext's third issuance examination commission.

According to Shang, a total of 256 companies were listed on ChiNext as of Aug 19 this year.

These companies are mainly engaged in biomedicine, emission reduction, education, new energy and materials research, Shang said.

The companies have shown strong growth momentum after their IPOs were posted, said Shang, quoting recent statistics as saying that 181 of the companies listed on the exchange reported profit increases of more than 25.5 percent in the first half of this year.