Starting a tech team from scratch as a CTO is both exhilarating and overwhelming. You’re tasked with building not just a product but a scalable, high-performing team and tech infrastructure. From choosing the right hires to managing rapid growth, it’s a journey that requires both strategic planning and flexibility. This playbook covers key considerations, metrics […]
Great leaders don’t just manage—they inspire. Transformative leadership is about unlocking your team’s full potential, fostering creativity, and driving lasting success. In today’s fast-paced world, organisations need leaders who can guide their teams through change, motivate them to think beyond limitations and create an environment where innovation thrives. The core principles of transformative leadership Lead […]
Semiconductor giant Qualcomm has announced the strategic acquisition of MovianAI, a generative AI division of VinAI, part of Vietnam’s Vingroup. With this move, Qualcomm seeks to expand its research and development (R&D) efforts in the rapidly evolving field of AI. The integration of MovianAI’s expertise promises to accelerate the development of next-generation AI solutions for […]
I’m diving deep into the current market wrap, with a particular focus on the looming “Liberation Day” tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, set to take effect today, April 2, 2025. This pivotal moment has cast a long shadow over global risk sentiment, and it’s no surprise that investors, analysts, and everyday folks alike […]
Southeast Asia-focused climate tech venture builder Wavemaker Impact launched AI-driven climate tech startup Nūl Global Technologies with a pre-seed investment of US$500,000. Nūl will use the funding to enhance ongoing pilot projects in the region, expand partnerships, and facilitate the global commercialisation of its solution. The global fashion industry significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, […]
Leading on-chain analytics platform Nansen recently appointed Robert Leshner—founder of Superstate and Compound and a prominent investor in the crypto space—to its Board of Directors. This development comes as Nansen doubles down on its mission to surface the signal for traders, investors, and builders. The firm continues to roll out new product offerings, rapidly grow […]
As AI continues to reshape industries, business leaders face new challenges in navigating this technological revolution. How can executives effectively integrate AI into their strategy? And what leadership qualities are essential in an AI-driven world? These are the types of questions explored in the Criticaleye Asia Podcast, a monthly series designed to inspire senior executives […]
The latest OpenAI’s version of ChatGPT, an AI-enabled chatbot allows users to generate images of themselves, their pets, films or memes in the distinct “Ghibli” style of Studio Ghibli, the acclaimed Japanese animation studio. Notably, not all users are on board with the “Ghiblification” of images by OpenAI’s new tool. This post looks at the […]
In the startup world, everyone loves a bull market. Money flows, valuations skyrocket, and founders feel invincible. The problem? Most don’t plan for what happens next. The reality is that the best companies aren’t just built to thrive in a bull run but designed to survive (and even profit) in a bear market. The difference […]
The Southeast Asia region is positioning itself as a go-to destination for blockchain startups. To date, there are more than 600 blockchain startups headquartered in the region, owing to the population’s relatively open-minded outlook towards Web3. Why Web3 is becoming a magnet for builders Blockchain technology, a core pillar of Web3, has been embraced by […]
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Dear reader, The Philippine startup ecosystem’s remarkable growth signals a maturing market increasingly attractive to global investors. The surge in deal flow, foreign direct investment, and digital innovation reflects a dynamic economy underpinned by strong fundamentals. With GDP growth surpassing regional peers and a burgeoning middle class driving consumer demand, the country presents a fertile […]
Having worked with small businesses for seven years, it’s clear something is different this year. AI is transforming how founders go digital. 91 per cent of those who integrated AI report experiencing growth. Founders are streamlining operations (82 per cent) and effectively controlling costs (69 per cent). While leaders in large corporations may emphasise similar […]
Running a tech startup is exciting, but you’ve got to be on your game every day, making smart decisions and leading your team through ups and downs. It’s a lot, and sometimes, you might wonder how you can keep up without burning out. What if the key to enhanced productivity isn’t working harder but understanding […]
In the dynamic world of startups and venture capital, understanding cap tables is crucial for both entrepreneurs and investors. A cap table, short for capitalisation table, serves as a comprehensive record of a company’s equity ownership structure. It details who owns shares in the company, the different types of shares issued, and the respective ownership […]
With the IMF recently forecasting the next decade to have the lowest global growth in 40 years, or major corporates cutting resources and stating the need for “a year of efficiency” (Facebook’s Zuckerberg for example) and venture capital drying up, its clearly a time when productivity and efficiency are at the top on the management […]
On the first day of Expand North Star event, part of the GITEX GLOBAL 2024 event in Dubai, SOSV Founder Sean O’Sullivan dubbed climate change as an “urgent existential crisis for humanity” and called for the tech investor community to “make it work” through investments in climate tech. He pointed out the increasing cases of […]
The Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) is an international non-profit organisation with a mission to enable high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). In case you are not familiar with it, VCM is a concept that allows carbon emitters to offset their emissions by purchasing carbon credits emitted by projects targeted at removing or reducing greenhouse […]
Dear reader, The latest State of the ASEAN Technology Ecosystem Report CY2024 underscores a paradox in the region’s startup landscape—while capital deployment is stabilising, early-stage founders continue to struggle with fundraising. This reflects a broader global trend where investors remain cautious, prioritising proven business models over speculative growth. The sharp 23% decline in deal volume […]
If you step back to consider just how big the internet is, it’s easier to understand why search engines lie at the heart of it. For decades, search engines have served as the primary gateway to the internet, enabling users to discover websites, articles, images, videos, products, and services and find the information they need. […]
A comprehensive report by January Capital, analysing the ASEAN technology ecosystem for the calendar year 2024, reveals a nuanced landscape characterised by stabilising capital deployment alongside a continued decline in overall deal volume. The State of the ASEAN Technology Ecosystem Report CY2024 draws extensively on data from Alternatives.pe, an affiliated platform providing private market data for […]
Echelon Startup Pitch The Echelon Philippines 2024 Startup Pitching Competition brought together 15 groundbreaking startups, each presenting innovative solutions to pressing challenges. This event not only highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit but also offered a platform for startups to gain feedback, connect with industry leaders, and explore investment opportunities. Among the standouts was BuildIt, which aims […]
Driving Innovation in Philippine Healthcare: Opportunities Beyond Telehealth At Echelon Philippines 2024, the panel ‘Driving Innovation in Philippine Healthcare: Opportunities Beyond Telehealth’ explored the evolving healthcare landscape, focusing on digital health platforms, medical devices, and personalised medicine. Moderated by Amanda Cua, Founder and CEO of BackScoop, the session featured insights from Hamilton Angluben, Founder and […]
Climate Tech: Seizing Opportunities in an Emerging Ecosystem At Echelon Philippines 2024, a panel discussion titled ‘Climate Tech: Seizing Opportunities in an Emerging Ecosystem’ brought together key voices in the climate tech space to explore innovations, funding opportunities, and strategies for navigating regulatory landscapes. Moderated by Katherine Khoo, Lead, Social Impact and Equity Action from […]
AI Leapfrog: Build an AI-first Tech Ecosystem for a Global Competitive Advantage At Echelon Philippines 2024, a panel discussion titled ‘AI Leapfrog: Build an AI-first Tech Ecosystem for a Global Competitive Advantage’ brought together experts from various industries to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. Moderated by Bianca Cruz, Co-Founder of 10xme Academy and […]
Is the Philippines the Most Underrated Market in Southeast Asia? Storehub’s Bold Bet on Its Future At Echelon Philippines 2024, Wai Hong Fong, Chieftain and Co-Founder of StoreHub, joined Judge Calimbahin III of Endeavor Philippines for a fireside chat titled ‘Is the Philippines the Most Underrated Market in Southeast Asia? StoreHub’s Bold Bet on Its […]
From Digital to Traditional: Salmon Group’s Integration Strategy with Rural Banking to Enhance Financial Services At Echelon Philippines 2024, Pavel Fedorov, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Salmon (Fintech Holdings Ltd), joined Maansi Vohra of Monk’s Hill Ventures for a fireside chat titled ‘From Digital to Traditional: Salmon Group’s Integration Strategy with Rural Banking to Enhance […]
At Echelon Philippines 2024, Sabrina Tan, Co-Founder of Lhoopa, joined Adriel Yong of Ascend Network for an insightful fireside chat titled ‘Beyond Walls and Roofs: Lhoopa’s Journey of Empowering Individuals and Transforming Lives’. The session highlighted Lhoopa’s efforts to revolutionise homeownership in emerging markets. Lhoopa’s mission is to make affordable housing accessible while creating […]
Funding the Future: Navigating Emerging Sectors and Investment Opportunities Echelon Philippines 2024 hosted a panel discussion titled ‘Funding the Future: Navigating Emerging Sectors and Investment Opportunities’, shedding light on the growth potential of emerging sectors and strategies for startups to secure funding. The session brought together key investment leaders to discuss opportunities and challenges in […]
From Start-Up to Scale-Up: Building and Scaling for the Philippine Market The Echelon Philippines 2024 fireside chat titled ‘From Start-Up to Scale-Up: Building and Scaling for the Philippine Market’ explored key strategies and challenges for growing businesses in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic markets. Moderated by Joan Yao, Vice President of Investments at Kickstart […]
Leveraging Silicon Valley Networks: Zed’s Path to Growth and the Long Term Impact to Philippine Ecosystem As part of Echelon Philippines 2024, the fireside chat titled “Leveraging Silicon Valley Networks: Zed’s Path to Growth and the Long Term Impact to Philippine Ecosystem” examined how Zed has successfully navigated two ecosystems to drive innovation and growth. […]
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Semiconductor giant Qualcomm has announced the strategic acquisition of MovianAI, a generative AI division of VinAI, part of Vietnam’s Vingroup. With this move, Qualcomm seeks to expand its research and development (R&D) efforts in the rapidly evolving field of AI. The integration of MovianAI’s expertise promises to accelerate the development of next-generation AI solutions for […]
Southeast Asia-focused climate tech venture builder Wavemaker Impact launched AI-driven climate tech startup Nūl Global Technologies with a pre-seed investment of US$500,000. Nūl will use the funding to enhance ongoing pilot projects in the region, expand partnerships, and facilitate the global commercialisation of its solution. The global fashion industry significantly contributes to global carbon emissions, […]
Granite Asia, a multi-asset tech investment platform based in Singpore, and Integral Corporation, Japan’s publicly listed private equity firm specialising in buyouts, have announced the formation of Granite-Integral. This joint venture (JV) aims to invest in high-growth companies with strong ties to Japan, supporting technology scale-ups looking to expand into the Japanese market and Japanese […]
Singapore-based business-process-as-a-service (BPaaS) company AnyMind Group has announced its tenth acquisition with the full takeover of AnyReach, a Japanese e-gifting company. AnyReach will continue to operate under its existing brand name. The integration of AnyReach is expected to yield significant synergies, accelerating AnyMind Group’s growth in the e-commerce and e-gifting space. By combining AnyGift with […]
Dear reader, The Philippine startup ecosystem’s remarkable growth signals a maturing market increasingly attractive to global investors. The surge in deal flow, foreign direct investment, and digital innovation reflects a dynamic economy underpinned by strong fundamentals. With GDP growth surpassing regional peers and a burgeoning middle class driving consumer demand, the country presents a fertile […]
Dear reader, The latest State of the ASEAN Technology Ecosystem Report CY2024 underscores a paradox in the region’s startup landscape—while capital deployment is stabilising, early-stage founders continue to struggle with fundraising. This reflects a broader global trend where investors remain cautious, prioritising proven business models over speculative growth. The sharp 23% decline in deal volume […]
Malaysia-based venture capital firm 1337 Ventures has announced a strategic investment in Betterteem Technologies, an AI-powered HRtech startup headquartered in the Philippines. “At Betterteem, our mission is to equip business leaders with data-driven insights to navigate the complexities of talent management and retention. Partnering with 1337 Ventures marks a pivotal moment for us, providing the […]
A comprehensive report by January Capital, analysing the ASEAN technology ecosystem for the calendar year 2024, reveals a nuanced landscape characterised by stabilising capital deployment alongside a continued decline in overall deal volume. The State of the ASEAN Technology Ecosystem Report CY2024 draws extensively on data from Alternatives.pe, an affiliated platform providing private market data for […]
Malaysian semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) design firm SkyeChip has received a significant investment from Gobi Partners. The undisclosed funding, channelled through the Khazanah Nasional-backed Gobi Dana Impak Fund and Gobi’s regional funds with support from prominent domestic and international institutions, aims to bolster SkyeChip’s talent acquisition, business expansion initiatives, and working capital. Also Read: US […]
Singapore-based Flagright, an AI-native anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and risk management platform, has announced a US$4.3 million seed funding round. The investment was led by Frontline Ventures, with significant participation from existing investors including Y Combinator, Pioneer Fund, and Moonfire Ventures. Rubin Ritter (ex-co-CEO of Zalando), André Silva (ex-Global Head of Expansion at Revolut), Phillip […]
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Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a present reality with direct and devastating consequences on global health. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation are accelerating the spread of infectious diseases, exacerbating respiratory conditions, and straining healthcare infrastructure. Vulnerable communities bear the brunt of these crises. They face limited access […]
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 16 January 2025 – Over 400 business owners, marketers, and advertisers gathered at Hotel Maya in Kuala Lumpur for TikTok’s highly anticipated Ramadan Ready for SMBs: Elevate Your Brand’s Story on TikTok event. This exclusive event provided small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with the latest strategies and tools to maximize brand […]
The customer engagement landscape is rapidly evolving. AI-driven innovations, shifting consumer expectations, and a dynamic business environment are fundamentally changing how brands connect with their audiences. Businesses that fail to adapt risk falling behind—just as Kodak, Blockbuster, and Yahoo did when they ignored industry shifts. To stay competitive, organizations must embrace new strategies and technologies […]
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often lack access to the digital tools that larger companies use to transform their operations. With constrained budgets, they face challenges in acquiring, integrating, and managing new software, hardware, and technologies. Without the right tools, SMEs struggle to digitise workflows, collect and analyse customer data, and automate repetitive tasks. This […]
Raising capital is one of the biggest hurdles for startups. With fewer than one per cent of startups securing venture capital, most turn to angel investors. However, founders often struggle with finding relevant investors in their industry and geography, preparing professional investor-ready documents such as pitch decks and business plans, and effectively reaching out and […]
Omnichat, the leading all-in-one omnichannel customer experience platform in the Asia-Pacific region, announced its AI-powered conversational suite driven by Agentic AI for 2025. Notably, it is backed by prominent investors such as AppWorks, 91APP, Palm Drive Capital, Cornerstone Ventures and AVA Angels. Omnichat has achieved significant growth with an eightfold revenue increase over the past […]
SINGAPORE — e27 announced a new integration with Meta’s Llama Incubator Programme. This initiative is designed to accelerate AI adoption among startups and SMEs in Singapore. It features two specialized tracks: the Startup Track and the SME Track. Both tracks will equip participants with the necessary tools and expertise to integrate AI solutions effectively into […]
The wait is over! Applications for the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards 2025 are now officially open. This global platform is dedicated to recognizing and supporting innovative technologies that address the challenges posed by natural disasters. With a strong focus on solutions that save lives before, during, and after disasters, the Awards have become a cornerstone […]
Imagine pouring your heart and resources into building a brand and product you’re proud of, only to see a knock-off benefitting from your hard work and chipping away at your market share. For many businesses, this is an all too familiar reality. Copycats can take a real toll on your business. Counterfeit products might confuse […]
On 30 October, SWITCH of TAIWAN: Networking Night with Taiwanese Startups took place in collaboration with StartUP@Taipei, the Taipei Government’s program supporting Taiwanese entrepreneurs. This dynamic event gathered a diverse group of entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate representatives. As a result, the event created a vibrant platform for cross-border collaboration between Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan. Powered […]
BANGKOK, THAILAND – November 11, 2024 – SCB 10X, the disruptive technology investment and innovation arm of SCBX Group, in collaboration with SCB, Innovest X, Fireblocks, Elliptic, Circle and Base, announced the launch of Rubie Wallet. This digital wallet showcases how purpose-bound money (PBM) can facilitate a seamless closed-loop QR payments experience. These secure transactions […]
In today’s digital world, online gaming has become more than just a pastime—it’s a global community where players can access unique items, level up their skills, and enhance their gaming experiences. However, gamers face significant risks when trading or purchasing accounts and items online. In addition to challenges of time, expense, and fragmented access to […]
As Korean content continues to captivate global audiences, the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) is broadening its international footprint with the opening of a new office in Singapore. This expansion positions KOCCA at the centre of Southeast Asia’s financial and innovation hub. As a result, this will provide unparalleled opportunities for investors, startups and businesses […]
The Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), in partnership with SCB 10X, is pleased to announce its collaboration with Lightnet to enhance cross-border payments and remittances by using stablecoin for settlement on the public blockchain network. This groundbreaking project marks Thailand’s first use case of stablecoin for cross-border payments and remittances. As a result, this sets a […]
In the dynamic world of construction, BuildHub stands out as a modern and innovative online marketplace. Our mission is to streamline connections between hardware stores and construction suppliers across the Philippines, making it easier for them to thrive and focus on their core strength — delivering high-quality materials and solutions for successful building projects. Transforming […]
Manila, Philippines — Smile API, a provider of real-time, verified employment data across Asia, is aiming to redefine how HR and Fintech business operations work when accessing and utilising critical employment information. By empowering business operations through transparency and the use of user-consented data, Smile API plans to make waves by offering reliable solutions to […]
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) by the National Innovation Agency (Public Organisation) or NIA is hosting “STARTUP THAILAND x INNOVATION THAILAND EXPO 2024” or SITE 2024 under the concept of “Innovation for Growth and Sustainability” to accelerate the creation of sustainability for Thai businesses and start-ups in all dimensions. There […]
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