e27 has been dedicated to nurturing a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs since its inception. Our Contributor Programme offers a platform for sharing unique insights.

As part of our newly introduced ‘Contributor Spotlight’, we shine a weekly spotlight on an outstanding contributor and dive into the vastness of their knowledge and expertise.

In this episode, we feature Sunil Nair, Co-Founder of Mela.live, a thematic commerce startup facilitating pop-up shoppathons without investments into technology and content production. A valued contributor, Nair, made his debut in Q2 and has been an engaged member of our community ever since.

Nair shares his personal and professional journey in this episode of Contributor Spotlight.

The driving force

Nair maintains an active community on LinkedIn, where he regularly shares opinion pieces and interesting stories, providing valuable content for his network. His motivation for becoming an e27 contributor is rooted in his belief in the value of sharing knowledge and insights.

“I came across e27 a couple of months ago and found the content and the community diverse and full of energy. This defined my decision to start contributing and selfishly to find a wider audience,” he said candidly.

Also Read: How brands are crafting communities through the art of visual storytelling

How it all began

After selling software and working for marketing and advertising agencies, Nair founded Nautanki.tv, the first Indian-distributed video content platform, in 2006. He has remained deeply involved in the video ecosystem, contributing to the development of OTT platforms such as ALT and launching the Silicon Valley-based startup Firework in India.

In his current role, Nair specialises in video commerce, leveraging short video and Live commerce to enhance e-commerce interactions and consumer connections. He anticipates that future advancements in generative AI and extended reality (XR) will transform brand interactions and content consumption.

“My professional goals have changed as I have gone older, and at this stage, it is my personal goals that have taken precedence. I work very closely with students and startups in Singapore and would love to see a few of them embark on their ventures soon,” he shared.

Advice for budding thought leaders

As part of his advice for budding or aspiring thought leaders, Nair emphasized the importance of allowing knowledge to come through organically. “Stop using ChatGPT or Bard, and stop oversharing. Let your native lived life come through your posts and opinion pieces,” he said.

Juggling too many things?

“Do what makes one happy! Early mornings for me are for myself; that is the time when I read and assimilate the world around me,” Nair stated.

In his daily routine, Nair incorporates regular walks around the neighbourhood to clear his mind between meetings. Occasionally, he also finds it beneficial to board the double-decker bus in Singapore, riding it to the end of the line and back, which aids in enhancing his focus.

Also Read: How to navigate the ethical landscape of Responsible AI

“Saturday morning coffee at a new cafe with my wife is a sacred ritual. That is the time when we discuss and connect about our daughter, about money and about the next few adventures we want to embark on,” he added.

He places a strong emphasis on personal interactions, frequently meeting with a diverse array of individuals. Nair is always open to sharing a cup of coffee and engaging in conversations, recognising the value of learning through active listening to people’s perspectives and experiences.

Nair subscribes to Benedict Evans’ blog for tech insights, Professor Galloway for a fresh perspective, The Morning Context for Indian startups, and relies on The Atlantic and The New York Times for general news.

“Life is beautiful, and most things seem impossible until they are not,” Nair concludes.

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Are you ready to be a part of a vibrant community of entrepreneurs and industry experts? Do you have insights, experiences, and knowledge to share?

Join the e27 Contributor Programme and become a valuable voice in our ecosystem. 

The post Spotlighting Sunil Nair: Charting a trail of scaling innovative video platforms appeared first on e27.

Singapore-based fintech firm BondbloX, specialising in digitising bond markets, has secured US$6 million in a Series B round.

Beacon Venture Capital, the corporate VC arm of Thailand’s Kasikornbank, joined the round along with existing investors Citigroup and MassMutual Ventures.

Potato Productions, led by entrepreneur Lee Han Shih, and Octava, a Singapore-based family office, also participated.

The new funding will enable BondbloX to expand BondbloX Bond Exchange (BBX), its digital platform for trading both fractional and full-size bonds, and support its international growth, including the recent launch in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in India.

Also Read: Authentick secures US$4M for wallet-free digital collectible purchases

Founded in 2016, BondbloX streamlines bond investing by enabling electronic tracking and trading for investors. Leveraging distributed ledger technology, BondbloX empowers investors to trade bonds in increments of US$1,000, a departure from the conventional US$200,000 denomination through a transparent public exchange.

“The bond market is broken globally, and BondbloX is on a mission to allow individual investors the same access to the market that institutional firms enjoy,” said Dr. Rahul Banerjee, Co-Founder and CEO.

BBX claims to have seen strong interest from global clients since launching the platform to individual investors last month. The company also has future plans to list US Bonds (Treasuries as well as Corporate Bonds) on the platform.

“The use of distributed ledger technology coupled with traditional financial custodians excites us and has great potential to reshape the bond market for all,” said Thanapong Na Ranong, Managing Director of Beacon VC.

BondbloX last secured funding in July 2021, raising US$6 million in a series A round co-led by Citigroup and MassMutual Ventures.

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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: BondbloX

The post BondbloX secures US$6M Series B to expand bond exchange platform appeared first on e27.

In a new report, GoImpact, in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School and Ant Group, revealed the four main challenges faced by the green fintech industry.

In principle, despite the ongoing ‘funding winter’ faced by global startups, the trajectory of development for green fintech has shown strong momentum, according to the report. However, these four remaining challenges remain:

1. While global reporting frameworks such as the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) have made rapid progress in this area, there remains a lack of agreement on a unifying global standard.

2. Greenwashing as a follow-on consequence in the absence of universally aligned standards and metrics. The report stresses that greenwashing poses a serious threat to the credibility of the entire sector.

3. A lack of interoperability of protocols between different platforms. According to the report, such interoperability is essential for integrating ESG data in green finTech solutions and other ESG offerings.

4. A significant talent gap. A general lack of education and awareness for the sector has resulted in a large talent
shortage for skilled sustainability practitioners, particularly in Asia.

Also Read: What stands in the way of fintech growth in Asia?

“Given the complexity of navigating Net-Zero versus economic growth targets and varying levels of ESG adoption among jurisdictions, it is imperative to have more collaborations between the public and private sectors,” the report said.

“This approach aims to balance the current trend of short-term profit-driven economic growth with the long-term needs of sustainable development, emphasising the demand for talent and skill development at the intersectionof green, finance, and technology. Educational and skills-related institutions are crucial in developing learning programmes that will upgrade and develop the relevant talents in the five APEC economies.”

The report also explains in details about the different forms of green fintech that are available in the Asia Pacific market today, and they are grouped into five categories:

1. Climate solutions
2. Carbon management
3. ESG reporting & disclosure tools
4. ESG risk solutions
5. Green insurance

“The benefits of green fintech bear a direct correlation with the rapid traction of Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) in the APEC jurisdictions, aligning with the long-term vision of nations and corporations to combat climate change,” the report said.

“Alternative data sources utilising blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) can also boost the credibility of ESG reporting that is becoming more regulatory and compliance-driven in nature, as well as well-informed and transparent sustainable investment and financing strategies.”

Also Read: Fintech VC Flourish Ventures banks US$350M to double down on emerging markets

When it comes to its role in supporting the adoption of ESG and sustainability principles in the region, the report stresses that green fintech has “significant opportunity” to support SMEs in this journey.

“Less equipped to embrace sustainability initiatives compared to large corporations in terms of resource availability, SMEs can adopt green fintech solutions as an option to get started more efficiently. Likewise, green fintech companies have an opportunity to make SME operations more environmentally friendly, improving their creditworthiness,” it said.

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Image Credit: RunwayML

The post Unlocking green fintech prosperity in Asia: Navigating the top 4 challenges appeared first on e27.

In an email interview with e27, Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), acknowledges that the country may see slower growth during this period. However, he states that there is still some optimism in the market as Malaysia has continuously undertaken “aggressive efforts” to elevate the startup ecosystem in the country.

“Access to financing continues to be a challenge for startups. However, the government has devised a few developmental roadmaps … that emphasize the greater use of alternative forms of financing, such as VC and digital platform-based models, including peer-to-peer financing (P2P) and equity crowdfunding (ECF). These strategies are an integral part of the government’s strategies for maintaining growth as Malaysia achieves high-income nation status,” he writes.

“Another challenge for startups in Malaysia is a lack of connections to a worldwide network of people who can serve as mentors and advisors. Global connectivity is crucial for startups since it influences their access to markets and their ability to obtain knowledge and insight. A startup’s introduction into the market can be enabled and facilitated by getting to know the right people.”

Ever since the pandemic in 2020, three million new digital consumers have arisen in Malaysia, providing an exciting opportunity for startups and investors to seize. Apart from that, today is considered a crucial time for the digital economy in Malaysia as businesses are pushed to digitalise as soon as possible. There are also plenty of other opportunities in the market.

“In terms of the overall cross-border market, Malaysia is home to vast resources making us one of the main exporters of electrical and electronic products, chemicals, machinery, appliances, and manufactured metals to the world. This has helped us build our ties with countries like Singapore, China, the US, and Japan, making us and one of the world’s major trading nations. We have also continuously pursued our bilateral ties to ensure Malaysian companies can easily trade with competitive rates. This includes our involvement in ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as well as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership,” Aziz says.

Also Read: What we can learn from the first Malaysian founder on NYSE, Foong Chee Mun

To maximise these potentials and tackle the existing challenges, Malaysia has prepared plans to support startups. In this interview, Aziz speaks about the Malaysia Digital initiative and the various programmes that it is running to expand the country’s digital economy capabilities and capacities.

The following is an edited excerpt of the interview.

Now that we know the challenges that the Malaysian startup ecosystem are facing in the post-pandemic era, what kind of support will MDEC provide in this situation?

One of the key targets of the government is to achieve 25.5 per cent of digital economy contribution to Malaysia GDP and MYR70 billion worth of investment in digitalisation by 2025. MDEC is working closely with other ministries, agencies and partners to achieve these targets.

Malaysia is on track to achieve MYR1.65 billion worth of e-commerce revenue by 2025. This achievement is supported by the National E-Commerce Strategy Roadmap (NESR), which is a stepping stone for the nation toward digital trade.

Collaboration is key and we have maintained an open-door policy when cooperation with other government agencies and the private sector to enhance Malaysia’s digital economy sector.

In mobilising the nation towards the Digital Trade initiative, MDEC will intensify partnership and collaboration between the government and industry through the NESR to drive growth of businesses in Malaysia through e-commerce.

Last year, MDEC allocated MYR10.5 million worth of grants benefiting 50 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups. Through MDEC, the government has been actively offering grants to spur innovation, support creation of new intellectual property, and increase adoption of business automation to positively contribute towards growing Malaysia’s digital economy.

Can you tell us more about the Malaysia Digital initiative? What are your targets for this programme? What is your plan to build the ecosystem to be more globally competitive?

Malaysia Digital (MD) is an initiative driven by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM) through MDEC, to encourage and attract companies, talents, and investments to accelerate the nation’s digital economy. The initiative aims to enable Malaysian businesses and the Rakyat to play a leading role in the robust global digital economy through access to digital tools, knowledge, and income opportunities.

Also Read: Why Malaysia is the best choice for freelancers amidst the recession

With a new and enhanced framework, MD seeks to transform the nation’s digital capabilities and boost the digital economy via the introduction and execution of various MD Catalytic Programmes, also known as PEMANGKIN. These projects are set to evolve Malaysia’s digital economy capabilities and capacities, raise Malaysia’s value proposition for digital investments and nurture technology sectors with significant commercial and economic potential.

MD is built to address three strategic priorities, which consist of:

– Driving digital adoption among aspiring young entrepreneurs, companies and the rakyat;
– Supporting local tech companies to become ‘Malaysian Champions’ and successful international players; and
– Attracting high-value digital investments into the country

What is MDEC’s strategy to build the ecosystem to be more globally competitive?

As the lead digital economy agency, we recognised that the existing MSC programmes formed 26 years ago were due for a refresher to adapt and support the current digital economy landscape.

Under the new framework, the new MD Status offers greater agility for local and international digital companies by providing flexibility for the companies to choose from competitive fiscal and/or non-fiscal incentives.

MD Status companies also have more flexibilities and opportunities to operate, grow, expand, or invest anywhere in Malaysia.

With the enhanced framework, Malaysia can offer more options for investors or companies and provide non-fiscal facilitations to companies that do not require fiscal or tax exemption. In addition, the government, through MDEC, will be introducing two initial Malaysia Digital Catalytic Programmes (PEMANGKIN), which are DE Rantau and Digital Trade.

DE Rantau is a programme to boost digital adoption and promote professional mobility as well as drive tourism across the country, intending to establish Malaysia as the preferred Digital Nomad Hub.

Digital Trade aims to drive interoperability and greater harmonisation of standards and regulatory approaches and facilitate trade within and across borders.

MD will assist Malaysia in better preparing for today’s ever-changing landscape and set the groundwork for a digital nation, benefiting the rakyat, businesses, and foreign investors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided plenty of opportunities for digital transformation. How does the Malaysian digital ecosystem fare? How do you plan to sustain any progress made during this period?

The pandemic has catalyzed entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes to incorporate digitalisation into their business operations and work processes. Malaysia has seen an accelerated increase in online sales, with e-commerce GDP contribution growing almost twice since 2015 to reach MYR163.3 billion in 2020.

Also Read: Why Malaysia is the best choice for freelancers amidst the recession

As digital technology develops further, the dynamic interaction between demand, supply, and enablers serves as a metaphor for a thriving digital economy ecosystem.

Malaysia Digital’s inclusive approach aims to synchronise these elements to ensure a thriving and sustainable digital economy ecosystem, starting with the growing demand for digital solutions, steady supply of goods and services, and support from enablers like talents, infrastructure, and regulations.

Malaysia Digital is designed to be the engine that accelerates the growth of our ecosystem within the nine focus areas and drives digital adoption and opportunities in the digital economy via the Malaysia Digital Catalytic Programmes (PEMANGKIN) and other competitive offerings.

MDEC will continue to focus on the areas we have been focusing on in the past, such as digital education, the sharing economy and big data analytics, among others.

In meeting the demand to upskill the existing workforce, MDEC’s #MyDigitalWorkforce Movement aims to re-skill and up-skill Malaysians for digital economy jobs. In 2021, the programme trained over 1,569 workforces. Over 283 job placements have been made through the MyDigitalWorkForce Work In Tech (MYWiT) initiative, training and hiring incentive programme aimed at boosting the digital business services sector and developing quality tech talents in Malaysia.

Those from the informal workforce are also included in our outreach campaigns such as the Global Online Workforce (GLOW) programme, eRezeki and eUsahawan. Over MYR1.49 billion worth of income was generated from the three programmes mentioned and has benefitted over 330,877 informal workers.

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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: MDEC

This article was first published in September 8, 2022.

The post MDEC CEO: Under Malaysia Digital, digital businesses will have more flexibility in fiscal, non-fiscal incentives appeared first on e27.

Flux Series: Marketing Leaders is happening at the St. Regis in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 15 November 2023. Are you working in the field of marketing? Don’t miss out on this focused and curated event designed especially for marketing professionals!

Visit Flux Series: Marketing Leaders for more information! Read on to get discounted tickets.

Embracing AI technologies not only enhances operational efficiency but also positions organisations to thrive in an increasingly competitive and data-driven business landscape. By leveraging the power of AI, businesses can unlock new levels of productivity, creativity, and customer satisfaction, ultimately driving sustainable growth and success. The integration of AI technologies has become a pivotal factor for sustained growth and competitive advantage. However, implementing AI within existing operating teams presents both opportunities and challenges for organisations.

Also read: Explore how AI is changing the way we market at Flux

For starters, AI technologies encompass a wide array of applications, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and more. These capabilities have the potential to revolutionise business operations by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing decision-making processes, and providing valuable insights from data.

However, implementing AI within your organisation also comes with its own set of challenges. Because AI technology is relatively new, many companies do not yet have access to the necessary knowledge and skills needed to fully utilise AI. Employees still grapple not only with new software and tools but also with the mindset needed to fully harness AI’s potential.

Challenges when it comes to implementing AI

The field of AI is dynamic and constantly evolving. New algorithms, frameworks, and best practices emerge frequently. Keeping up with the latest advancements and ensuring that employees are equipped with current knowledge and skills can be a significant challenge for organisations, particularly those in fast-paced industries.

Access to high-quality training and educational resources in AI may be limited, particularly for smaller organisations or those in regions with less developed tech ecosystems. Quality training programs often come at a cost, and ensuring that employees have access to the most up-to-date and relevant information can be a logistical challenge.

Also read: This tech solutions provider is humanising AI through its unique approach

Bridging this knowledge gap requires a concerted effort to provide comprehensive training and educational resources. This entails not only technical training in using AI tools but also a broader understanding of how AI fits into the larger organisational framework. Additionally, organisations must invest in talent acquisition or upskilling programs to ensure that their teams have the expertise needed to effectively collaborate with AI technologies.

Furthermore, managing organisational innovation and change in the context of AI implementation demands a nuanced approach to addressing the knowledge gap. It’s essential to create a culture of continuous learning and adaptability, where employees feel encouraged and supported in their journey towards AI proficiency. This might involve setting up knowledge-sharing platforms, providing access to online courses, and establishing mentorship programs between employees with varying levels of expertise. Recognising and celebrating early successes in AI integration can also serve to boost morale and motivation, helping to overcome initial resistance or uncertainty related to the knowledge gap.

Bridging the knowledge gap through Flux

The successful implementation of AI technologies within current operating teams requires a strategic and holistic approach. By setting clear objectives, fostering a culture of innovation, establishing cross-functional teams, ensuring data quality, choosing the right AI solutions, providing training and support, monitoring performance, and addressing ethical considerations, organisations can navigate the path towards innovation and change effectively.

Get discounted tickets today!

Embracing AI technologies not only enhances operational efficiency but also positions organisations to thrive in an increasingly competitive and data-driven business landscape. By leveraging the power of AI, businesses can unlock new levels of productivity, creativity, and customer satisfaction, ultimately driving sustainable growth and success.

With this in mind, Flux Series: Marketing Leaders aims to address challenges when it comes to the AI knowledge gap by providing today’s top marketing professionals with a platform to co-create, ideate, and strategise ways to implement AI within their respective organisations. The conference will take place on Nov 15, 2023, at the St. Regis Jakarta, Indonesia.

Learn from the best

Flux Series is a curated, intimate, and focused gathering of top industry leaders to engage in active learning sessions, enabling access to in-depth knowledge and actionable insights that can propel sustainable growth and profitability for businesses everywhere. One of the key highlights of the Flux Series is a workshop session on “Case Study: Implementation of AI Technologies within Current Operating Teams, Managing Organisational Innovation, and Change.”

This panel seeks to provide participants with the practical knowledge to come up with solutions to challenges in the implementation of AI technology live and on the spot.

Facilitating the workshop is Adhitya Bhaswara, Vice President of AI and Machine Learning at PT. Bank Central Asia Tbk. With a remarkable career journey that transitioned from the world of physics to the cutting-edge realm of artificial intelligence, Adhitya brings a unique blend of scientific acumen and strategic vision to the banking industry through the work that he does at BCA.

Established in 1957, as the largest private bank in Indonesia, BCA is committed to always understanding various needs and providing the right financial solutions to achieve optimal customer satisfaction. BCA has achieved various achievements from year to year, such as Forbes’ List of The World’s Best Banks 2020 – 2021 and many others. The company has always strived to provide the best solution for every customer need, both individual, commercial and corporate. This is inseparable from their efforts to continue to carry out the commitment of “Always by Your Side”.

Also read: Leveraging AI for Growth: Learn about hyper-personalisation from the experts

BCA continues to grow with tens of thousands of employees spread across BCA offices throughout Indonesia. Various awards in the field of human resource management were also won by BCA, such as Gallup Great Workplace 2019, Indonesia Human Capital Award (IHCA) 2021, HR Asia Award 2021, Stellar Workplace Award 2021, and others. This is a clear proof that BCA always strives to create a pleasant work environment and always provide space for employees to continue to grow and develop.

Join Flux Series: Marketing Leaders

Join Adhitya Bhaswara and other industry leaders at the Flux Series and be a driving force in the AI-powered marketing revolution. To learn more about the event, you may visit the official Flux Series: Marketing Leaders page.

Get ready to embark on a journey that will not only deepen your understanding of AI-driven marketing but also equip you with the actionable insights needed to thrive in the dynamic world of modern marketing.

The post Learn how to implement AI technologies on the spot at Flux appeared first on e27.