Startups don’t need the services of public relations agencies – at least, that’s what most startup Founders or business leaders would like to believe. But let’s review that theory, shall we?

Imagine if an employee or an executive representing your company committed a blunder. Picture this: a mishap equivalent to a botched spell or a misplaced Portkey causing havoc. Now, what if a customer complaint, fueled by a touch of dark magic, went a bit too far and quickly became a viral sensation online, casting a dark cloud of negativity on your brand?

Imagine the repercussions of such a situation, as if there is a secret dark wizard employed in your company. And what if, despite investing significant time and resources in marketing your products and services, the public remains oblivious to your brand, almost as if they were all under the influence of the memory charm, Obliviate? Clearly, in that situation, all you need is a simple Beautification Charm.

But, since we don’t have that in the real world, how about trying the next best thing and getting yourself a reliable PR agency to act as your Patronus and keep all those Dementors, aka negative public perception, at bay?

The importance of public relations in crisis management

Ok – maybe that was too Harry Potter. Let’s study a real-life example. Startup Y is a Malaysian tech company that recently launched a groundbreaking e-commerce platform, aiming to revolutionise online shopping in the country.

The platform has gained popularity among users, receiving positive reviews and attracting significant media attention. However, as the user base expands rapidly, Startup Y encounters a PR crisis when a major data breach occurs, compromising the personal information of thousands of users.

Also Read: Barbie-fy your business with the power of PR

News of the data breach quickly spreads across social media platforms, causing panic and eroding trust among users. Negative comments, online articles, and viral videos criticising the startup’s security measures start circulating, damaging Startup Y’s reputation and impeding further user acquisition. The internal team at Startup Y, overwhelmed by the crisis, struggles to respond effectively, exacerbating the situation.

Recognising the urgency and severity of the issue, Startup Y realises the need for professional assistance and decides to engage a reliable PR agency with expertise in crisis management and come with amazing media relations, specifically in the Malaysian market. Fortunately, the PR agency quickly takes charge and develops a tailored communication plan to address the issue and rebuild trust with the affected users.

You see, being a Founder of my own company, I know for a fact that sometimes leaders tend to think that they know everything that is best for their business. Sometimes they feel like they can do everything themselves, so why would they need to involve outsiders in their operations? Why try to fix something that is not yet broken, right?

Why startups need to invest in PR agencies

Sirius-ly, you may need to think of it this way – you’re just preparing the umbrella before it rains, and this umbrella of yours is not a normal umbrella that just protects you from getting wet. It also actively does its best to make sure that you have sunscreen on and always look your best whenever you step outside. You may not think you need that umbrella because it’s not raining yet, but believe me, you’re going to wish you had that umbrella ready at arm’s reach.

Hiring a PR agency to take care of the image aspect of your business is especially crucial for startup companies.

While the founder Focuses on the business aspect of it, the little elves of the PR agency can work simultaneously to increase the visibility of your company, manage any crises that may arise, increase the rate of positive perception towards your brand and handle the creative aspects that will aid in maintaining a good reputation among the public, which to be honest, are your potential customers.

Also Read: The growth of business messaging: How it’s improving business performance in Southeast Asia

Proactive PR consultants will make sure that you are seen by the right people (like VCs) at the right time.

Needless to say, having a PR agency to handle the image and publicity side of your business is a convenience that not many leaders leverage. Everyone knows that the company’s image can make or break a business – so what’s the harm in ensuring that you’ve got yourself covered if anything goes wrong?

For companies that have been around for quite some time, having a PR agency to back them up can also mean increased credibility of the brand. The PR consultants will be able to advise you on certain aspects of the business that you should emphasise based on their knowledge within the media industry. This also applies to startup companies too. It can show potential investors that your company truly is worth the money.

Aside from that, the people at the PR agency can even help you get in touch with the right people at the right time. Looking for an award? Let the PR people know what kind so they can put out their feelers out there. Need help to get people to come to your company’s event? Let the PR people know so they can get in touch with their vast network of media contacts to make that happen!

Ultimately, a PR agency can help you with your business in so many ways that you may not even realise, especially for startup companies. It’s hard to list down all the benefits of hiring a PR agency as most of them have their own specialities and areas that they tend to focus on. But I have managed to pique your interest, pick up the phone and try giving a few PR agencies a call to discover which one is right for you.

“The wand chooses the wizard, Harry,” said Garrick Ollivander from the wizarding world. But in this case, you choose your wand and just watch the magic happen.

And to answer the earlier question, yes, startups do need a reliable PR team to back them up!

—

Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page

Image credit: 123rf-gesrey

The post Startups don’t need PR agencies, sirius-ly? appeared first on e27.

The digital landscape is abuzz with a debate on the disruptive potentials and the pros and cons of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Numerous AI tools have already made their mark in the market, including Adobe Firefly.

Firefly, launched early this year, is a generative AI tool focusing on the creation of images and text effects. The platform eliminates the need for deep coding knowledge or complex prompt engineering. Firefly, as Sinnathamby explains, plans to introduce an array of utilities that it expects to revolutionise the design and editing process.

Also Read: Is generative AI the game-changer for productivity?

Firefly allows anyone to produce images, videos and documents and is available in 20 languages, including French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. Companies can integrate Firefly with their creative collateral to generate content featuring images, vectors, and brand language. The platform also offers a mechanism for businesses to secure IP indemnity for content generated through certain workflows.

Upon its commercial launch, Firefly is slated for integration into a range of Adobe’s product lines, including Adobe Experience Manager, Express, Photoshop, and Illustrator, eventually extending to all Adobe products.

Firefly’s reach, at present,  is confined to desktop environments, with accessibility on tablets or mobile devices yet to be introduced.

Moving forward, Firefly aims to add new utilities to allow users to declutter photographs, alter a video’s ambience, introduce new elements into illustrations, experiment with various design options, enhance 3D objects with texture, and architect unique digital experiences.

Breaking language barriers

Sinnathamby claimed that nearly a billion assets have already been generated on Firefly via the Adobe website and Photoshop.

The company is keen on expanding its capabilities by collaborating with the video and audio community to add video editing features in the near future. They include:

• Text-to-colour enhancements: to enable users to instantaneously modify the mood and setting of their works through simple prompts.
• Advanced audio generation capabilities: to seamlessly produce royalty-free custom sounds and music, enabling users to tailor auditory experiences that complement a specific scene or emotion.
• Quick generation of eye-catching fonts, text effects, graphics, and logos: to enable users to create subtitles, logos, and more within minutes, using just a few keywords.
• Powerful script and B-roll capabilities, where AI analysis of script to text will dramatically accelerate pre-production, production, and post-production workflows.
• AI-driven creative assistants and co-pilots that provide personalised, generative tutorials. These features are designed to help users master new skills quickly and streamline the process from initial vision to creation and editing.

“The vision for Adobe Firefly is to help people expand upon their natural creativity, regardless of their experience levels with design and technology. Generative AI will drive significant gains in productivity,” said Sinnathamby. 

Also Read: Why the future of work at Adobe is hybrid and how we are building it

Adobe, which is part of Singapore’s AI Verify Foundation to promote the responsible use of AI, wants to develop creator-centric generative AI tools responsibly. For instance, Content Credentials are automatically attached to content created with Firefly to indicate that generative AI was used. 

As Firefly transitions from its beta phase, Adobe is developing a compensation model for its Stock contributors. This is aimed at catering to a diverse community of creators, including professionals and hobbyists. 

As the AI landscape evolves with impending announcements and updates, the market response to Adobe’s adaptations will only enhance this dynamic ecosystem.

—

Fundraising or preparing your startup for fundraising? Build your investor network, search from 400+ SEA investors on e27, and get connected or get insights regarding fundraising. Try e27 Pro for free today.

Image credit: Adobe

The post Adobe Firefly aims to unlock AI’s potential for effortless design appeared first on e27.

Less than eight months after securing US$6 million in funding from some of the top VCs in Southeast Asia, Bangkok-headquartered HD attracted a new round of “significant investment” from Vietnamese VC firm FEBE Ventures.

HD, which runs HDmall (a healthcare and surgery marketplace) and HDcare (an elective surgery product) in Thailand and Indonesia, is looking to deepen its presence in the region and expand into new markets.

Also Read: ‘Airbnb for surgeries’ HDmall gets FEBE Ventures backing to deepen market presence in SEA

e27 caught up with HD Co-Founder and CEO Sheji Ho to discuss the company’s plans.

Below are the edited excerpts from the interview:

Can you disclose the deal size and other details?

We’re not in a position to disclose the funding amount, but it’s a considerable sum on top of our last US$6 million which will enable us to achieve our goals.

HD plans to deepen your market presence in Southeast Asia. Does this mean you plan to expand into new markets or expand further in your existing markets?

As a marketplace business, our lifeline is liquidity. Therefore, our main priority is to continue to add more healthcare providers to our platform, whether it’s hospitals, clinics, operating rooms, or surgeons.

We entered into our recent strategic partnership with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to do this. Our collaboration with them has been pivotal in accelerating our supply-side acquisition efforts.

Regarding geographical expansion, we plan to cement our leadership position in Thailand, accelerate our Indonesia marketplace liquidity, and enter Vietnam next year.

What synergy does HD see with FEBE Ventures? Do you want to open an office in Vietnam as well?

We consider FEBE as a strategic partner for our Vietnam market entry. It understands what it takes to build and operate a business. With its experience and network, we’ll be able to work closely with the firm to launch our healthcare and surgery marketplace in Vietnam.

FEBE also sees a blue ocean opportunity for our business model, which currently does not exist in Vietnam; most startups there are telehealth, online pharmacy, or insurance-focused.

How has HDcare grown since its launch in January? Do you foresee a strong demand for elective surgery in SEA?

Our HDcare elective surgery business has grown 30x since its launch. This is driven by a rapid supply-side expansion in terms of the number of hospitals offering us operating rooms and the amounts of surgeons on our platform.

In addition, our strategic partnership with Johnson & Johnson Medtech only recently kicked in, and overall we’re already seeing patient inquiries up 50 per cent from July going into August.

And we’re only scratching the surface; the private healthcare opportunity in emerging SEA markets is massive. Thailand alone is estimated to have a US$7 billion private healthcare market size (self-pay and private insurance).

With healthcare spending in emerging SEA expected to outpace GDP growth by 3x, we’re looking at a combined US$100 billion+ private healthcare opportunity by 2033 for Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

Elective surgeries outside social security coverage alone take up half this opportunity at over US$50 billion.

Do you plan to add new products and venture into new verticals?

We’re currently 100 per cent focused on our ‘dual engine’ strategy of running HDmall (mostly outpatient) and HDcare (inpatient, elective surgeries).

Also Read: These former aCommerce execs are building an ‘Amazon’ for healthcare in Southeast Asia

That said, there’s been interest from insurers to work with us more closely. They see our elective surgery network as a lower-cost option to reduce their claim costs.

Also, there’s a huge opportunity to use our healthcare data set to train Large Medical Models (LMMs) in the future to automate and optimise different parts of the insurance value chain, for example, prior authorisations and utility management.

Can you share your m-o-m revenue growth over the past three months?

Fueled by our HDcare expansion, we’ve been able to continue to grow consistently at double-digit month-on-month percentages.

You plan to achieve profitability by the end of the year. Do you have any concrete plans to achieve this goal? Does it also mean you will go frugal by cutting costs, reducing staff, etc.?

Our profitability milestone will be mainly achieved by scaling our current business, particularly HDcare elective surgeries. We’ve been running our business quite efficiently, especially compared to other startups that previously raised large sums of money during the bull market.

What are HD’s short-term and long-term plans?

Our immediate goals are to accelerate marketplace liquidity for both HDmall and HDcare so we can offer more accessible and affordable healthcare and surgeries to patients in our markets.

Over the long term, we see an opportunity to work closely with insurers and employers to reach even more patients with affordable, high-quality care and surgeries.

—

(The second picture used in this article is AI-generated)

The post Vietnam offers a blue ocean opportunity for our healthtech biz: HD Co-Founder Sheji Ho appeared first on e27.

In an email interview, e27 asked TRIREC Partner Mike Lim about the state of climate tech investment in Southeast Asia (SEA) today. According to him, the diversity of the region presents “both challenges and opportunities”.

Because of that, he stresses that understanding the specific contexts and challenges of each country is crucial for successful climate tech investments.

“Many governments in SEA have recognised the importance of addressing climate change and are committed to sustainable development goals. There are policies and regulations put in place to encourage the adoption of climate technologies and incentivise climate-friendly efforts. This presents an opportunity for climate tech startups to align with government priorities and access support and funding,” Lim says.

“Moreover, as SEA is exposed to a wide range of climate-related challenges, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, deforestation, air pollution, and water scarcity, climate tech startups are well poised to address these specific challenges and create impactful solutions that resonate with local communities,” he continues.

“Lastly, SEA’s startup ecosystem has been flourishing in recent years, with a growing number of entrepreneurs and investors focusing on technology-driven solutions. This ecosystem provides a good grounding for climate tech startups to thrive, collaborate, and attract funding.”

Also Read: What is left behind in our conversation on climate change

In terms of challenges, like many other verticals, Lim points out that climate tech investment has also been affected the ongoing funding winter with its market fluctuations and changing economic conditions.

“However, we have also observed that interest in climate tech investments remains buoyant, with investment continuing in the space, albeit at more reasonable valuations compared to about two years ago,” Lim says.

This is why Singapore-based TRIREC remains optimistic about the prospect of climate tech investments in SEA.

“The urgency and importance of addressing climate issues have not diminished, and there is a persistent global commitment to decarbonisation and sustainability. As such, we believe that the enduring interest in climate tech and the growing awareness of environmental issues will continue to provide a strong foundation for continued investment in this sector,” Lim stresses.

How TRIREC supports climate tech startups

When it comes to supporting startups as an investor, Lim explains that TRIREC recognises the barriers faced by climate tech startups and are actively working to support them in overcoming these challenges.

“Drawing from our own entrepreneurial experiences and diverse backgrounds, we also provide valuable insights and strategic direction to help these startups navigate the complexities of the market,” says Lim.

Also Read: Demystifying the financial impacts of climate change with Intensel

“Moreover, we have an extensive network and connections within the climate tech ecosystem that we can tap into to facilitate collaboration between startups and industry partners. Our strategic partnership with Pacific Channel is one example. We believe that such collaborations can lead to greater market access for startups aiming to make a broader impact.”

As a venture capital (VC) firm, TRIREC focuses on decarbonisation investments with a focus on five verticals: Food and agriculture, mobility, buildings, industries and energy.

According to the firm in a statement, through its expertise in analysing decarbonisation technologies, TRIREC maximises climate impact and business gains by focusing on investing in exceptional entrepreneurs whose innovations accelerate the reduction, prevention or sequestration of greenhouse gas emissions.

It has 20 portfolio companies from two funds, with three of them becoming unicorns.

“This year marks an exciting and transformative period for us as we embark on two significant fundraising initiatives. The first is TRIREC Venture II, a continuation of our early-stage decarbonisation strategy with a global mandate. We hope to raise between US$150 million to US$200 million to build on our previous successes,” Lim explains the firm’s upcoming plans.

“The second will be Energy Ignition Venture, which is a groundbreaking collaboration with INNOPOWER, a Thai-based energy innovations company which is formed through a joint venture between three of Thailand’s leading energy companies. This is a US$100-million growth stage fund that will invest in startups with existing revenue traction and help them accelerate their growth trajectory,” he closes.

—

Image Credit: TRIREC

The post TRIREC Partner Mike Lim: Interest in climate tech investments remains buoyant despite challenges appeared first on e27.

Terminal 3, a Hong Kong-based Web3 startup, has raised undisclosed pre-seed funding. 

The investors include 500 Global, CMCC Global, Consensys Mesh, Bixin Ventures, BlackPine, DWeb3, Hard Yaka, Bored Room Ventures, and Mozaik Capital.

Terminal 3 was founded by Gary Liu alongside his partners Malcolm Ong (CPO) and Joey Liu (COO).

Terminal 3 aims to replace centralised data storage that deprives users of privacy and saddles enterprises with compliance and security issues and associated costs. It leverages decentralised storage and zero-knowledge proofs to empower an equitable Web3, where user data is freely composable while remaining fully private and secure.

Also Read: Don’t just build a Web3 community, start a movement

“The continued growth in blockchain allows us to reimagine digital data ownership and security,” said Gary Liu, CEO of Terminal 3. “We believe that data should flow freely between applications to drive innovation and improve user experience, but not at the expense of personal privacy and control.”

The three co-founders previously worked together at the South China Morning Post, where they led the newspaper’s digital transformation. Gary was the Post’s CEO, while Malcolm and Joey were SVP of Product and Head of Strategy, respectively.

Ong was also the co-founder and CTO of Skillshare, an online learning community for creativity, while Gary and Joey co-founded Artifact Labs, a Web3 startup backed by Blue Pool Capital and Animoca Brands. Gary is also the Founding Chair of Web3 Harbour, an association in Hong Kong serving Web3 builders, investors, users, and leaders.

—

The post Former SCMP CEO’s Web3 startup Terminal 3 raises pre-seed funding appeared first on e27.