Transforming Urban Mobility: How Angkas is Navigating Regulatory Challenges and Redefining Transportation Solutions

As part of Echelon Philippines 2024, the fireside chat titled ‘Transforming Urban Mobility: How Angkas is Navigating Regulatory Challenges and Redefining Transportation Solutions in the Philippines’ explored the company’s innovative strategies for addressing transportation issues in urban areas. Moderated by Arthur Adrian Lopez, Co-Founder of Brainsparks and NextPay, the discussion featured insights from Angeline Tham, CEO and Co-Founder of Angkas.

The session highlighted Angkas’ efforts to overcome regulatory challenges and transform urban mobility. Angkas aims to provide a safer and more efficient commuting experience while fostering dignified livelihoods for motorcycle riders. Despite navigating cultural stigmas and legal obstacles, the company has achieved a safety rating of 99.997 per cent. Angkas also integrates financial literacy initiatives and enables access to government services such as Social Security System (SSS) and PhilHealth for its riders.

Also Read: Echelon Philippines 2024: Expanding Web3 applications for real-world challenges

Key innovations discussed included the integration of technology to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. Angkas’ future plans involve expanding services to additional cities, introducing Angkas Cars, and committing to sustainability by transitioning to electric vehicles. The chat underscored how Angkas is not just redefining mobility but also shaping market dynamics and consumer behaviour in the Philippine transportation sector.

Watch the session video above to learn more about these insights and the strategies shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

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The buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) market in Southeast Asia is expected to reach US$53.2 billion by 2027, according to analysts at UnaFinancial.

The region, with its young and tech-savvy population, has seen a rapid increase in buy-now-pay-later adoption, particularly among Gen Z consumers who are open to new financial technologies.

According to the UnaFinancial study, Indonesia is projected to lead the market with US$16.8 billion in buy-now-pay-later transactions by 2027, a 209 per cent increase from 2024. The Philippines is expected to witness the fastest growth at 235 per cent, reaching US$8.2 billion by 2027.

Also Read: Report: BNPL remains popular amongst Indonesian fintech services users

Malaysia is forecast to reach US$11.3 billion, growing at 215 per cent from 2024. Thailand and Vietnam will see more moderate growth, reaching US$8.2 billion and US$5.9 billion, respectively.

Singapore’s buy-now-pay-later market is projected to reach US$2.9 billion by 2027.

The key driving factors:

High Gen Z population: Southeast Asia has a high concentration of Gen Z consumers who are driving the demand for BNPL services.

Alternative to traditional banking: BNPL provides an alternative to traditional banking and credit systems, which are often inaccessible to younger generations.

Growing cashless payments ecosystem: The increasing adoption of cashless payments is further fueling the growth of the BNPL market.

Challenges:

Mature banking infrastructure: In countries like Malaysia, the mature banking infrastructure may moderate the expansion of BNPL services.

Also Read: How BNPL can provide lower-income households with new opportunities

Established financial systems: Singapore’s established financial system and access to traditional loans pose a challenge to BNPL adoption.

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Locad, a cloud supply chain-as-a-service company based in Singapore, has raised US$9 million in a pre-Series B funding round, co-led by Global Ventures and existing investor Reefknot Investments.

Other participants include Sumitomo Equity Ventures and returning backers Antler Elevate, Febe Ventures, and JG Summit.

Also Read: The digital revolution in supply chain management: Efficiency, visibility, and resilience

The firm will use the money to accelerate its international expansion, starting with the UAE and Saudi Arabia in Q4 2024, as part of its “grow global, go local” strategy. A portion of the money will be used to enhance Locad’s AI-driven smart logistics capabilities.

Locad is a smart digital logistics engine aiming to build the supply chain infrastructure of modern commerce, connecting brands to consumers in growth markets with a global cloud supply chain as a service. It enables e-commerce brands to grow their omnichannel business and automatically store, pack, ship, and track orders across their B2C and B2B distribution channels.

Locad’s tech platform syncs inventory across online channels and organises end-to-end order fulfilment through its network of warehouses and carriers across APAC, the US, and the Middle East.

Through this, brands and merchants get a geographically distributed warehousing infrastructure that allows them to stock goods closer to customers, enabling faster delivery at a lower cost.

The company said it works with over 300 consumer brands across Southeast Asia and Australia.

Also Read: Beyond 3PL: BBTruck’s 5PL solution for a smarter, greener global supply chain

Constantin Robertz, CEO and co-founder of Locad, said: “Over the last four years, we have built a cloud supply chain platform in APAC that allows brands to unify their omnichannel distribution and access localised fulfilment in SEA and AU growth markets. We are now excited to take Locad global, opening our presence in the US and entering the GCC to make it easier for brands to sell anywhere with a fully localised customer experience.

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AMD, a global semiconductor leader, designs and delivers high-performance and adaptive computing solutions. The 50-year-old behemoth works with companies in industries including technology, automotive, telecom, financial services, gaming, and entertainment to provide computing and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions across cloud, edge, and end devices.

The tech giant established an office in Singapore in 1984, which has been a cornerstone of the local semiconductor industry, evolving from a high-volume manufacturing plant to a hub of innovation and research. In the island nation, it works closely with system integrators and OEM manufacturers to provide its CPU and GPU technology for consumers. It recently collaborated with leading smart parking solutions provider Sun Singapore Systems to deploy a new AI-based smart parking solution.

e27 recently spoke with Peter Chambers, MD (APAC Sales) and Country Manager (Australia), who shared more about AMD’s work in Singapore.

Below are the edited excerpts:

How does AMD’s mission align with current trends in AI, and what future trends do you foresee in these areas?

AI is the single most transformative technology of the past 50 years, and we are just beginning to see its true potential. The use cases are growing exponentially daily, and the seamless incorporation of AI capabilities across a wide range of applications is occurring at breakneck speed, enabling intelligent and automated decision-making. This inadvertently translates to an insatiable demand for computing that will further drive requirements for more powerful hardware.

At AMD, we are uniquely positioned to power the end-to-end infrastructure driving the AI era with the broadest portfolio of high-performance compute engines, an open, proven, and developer-friendly software platform, and deep collaboration and co-innovation with our partners, including the largest cloud, OEM, software, and AI companies in the world.

We aim to provide the computational power necessary to drive applications and bring use cases to life in gaming, data centres, and other industries.

Also Read: SEA’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain is poised to strengthen: GlobalFoundries’s Siah Soh Yun

We don’t believe a single company, product, or vision will realise the next five years of advancement in the AI space. The future of technology will be born from open ecosystems and deep industry partnerships that drive true innovation.

AMD has been an active player in Singapore’s semiconductor industry. What factors have driven its involvement in the country’s ecosystem? How important is it for AMD to work with local universities and institutions to build a skilled workforce capable of leading APAC’s semiconductor innovations?

Following its entry into the market, AMD Singapore expanded its horizons by establishing the IC Design Centre in the early 90s, signalling its entry into the microcontroller and Ethernet controller design. We have since transformed our local operations into a full-fledged R&D centre by 2012, spearheading CPU product development and expanding its portfolio to include client, graphics, server, and console gaming products. In fact, the Singapore labs contributed to the development of the recent AMD Instinct MI300 and MI325 series accelerators.

At the same time, we also work closely with system integrators and OEMs to ensure the wide availability of our leading CPU and GPU technology for consumers in Singapore.

We proactively seek avenues to collaborate with key local stakeholders—such as the Economic Development Board, Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), and NTU—and focus on initiatives where our power is amplified most: putting AMD technology in the hands of the next generation so the best and brightest minds can solve the world’s biggest problems for a better tomorrow.

We run several programmes to empower local students with the passion alongside necessary skills and tools for data science, AI, and chip design, fostering the next generation of tech leaders in the APAC region and supporting the development of advanced AI processors like the MI325X and future generations.

With the increasing demand for AI-driven solutions, how do you see Singapore contributing to accelerating AMD’s goals for the semiconductor and AI industries?

As mentioned, AMD Singapore houses an R&D centre that spearheads CPU product development and is expanding its portfolio to include client, graphics, server, and console gaming products.

Talent is a crucial piece of the puzzle. We strongly believe that people power AMD, so we strive to attract, acquire, develop, and advance the most engaged, diverse, and inclusive workforce in the semiconductor industry so that it can fully realise the benefits of the work we do in Singapore.

With Singapore’s well-illustrated track record of empowering companies especially in the adoption of emerging technologies, we remain committed to furthering the highly collaborative partnerships we have established throughout the years with the local government as well as OEM partners, industry associations such as SSIA, and the various local institutions and universities to nurture a stronger tech ecosystem.

The semiconductor industry in Asia Pacific is evolving rapidly. What trends or shifts do you anticipate over the next five years, particularly in producing speciality chips and sustainable manufacturing?

AI is defining the next era of computing, and we are just at the beginning of this super cycle. The use cases are growing exponentially every day, and the seamless incorporation of AI capabilities across a wide range of applications is occurring at breakneck speed, enabling intelligent and automated decision-making.

Also Read: Transforming asset inspections: How WaveScan’s smart sensors and AI are shaping predictive maintenance

In the coming years, enterprises need to ensure that they are well-equipped to take on this transition, including ensuring they have the IT infrastructure to power and handle the AI workloads. This inadvertently translates to an insatiable demand for computing further driving requirements for more powerful hardware.

How does AMD balance performance and environmental impact in chip production, and are there any key sustainability goals you’re pursuing in Singapore?

AMD takes a three-pronged approach to reducing environmental impacts and improving sustainability:

1. Addressing environmental impacts at AMD and in our supply chain. Within AMD operations, we aim to reduce operational GHG emissions in line with science-based targets while working closely with manufacturing suppliers to track and improve environmental metrics.

• In 2023, we achieved a 24.5 per cent reduction in our Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to a 2020 baseline. This is part of our ambition to achieve a 50 per cent absolute reduction in GHG emissions from operation emissions by 2030 from a 2020 base year.
• Our Singapore site is certified to the ISO 14001 standard, certifying our proactive measures to minimise environmental footprint, comply with relevant legal requirements, and achieve the necessary environmental objectives.
• An example of how AMD is helping our foundry wafer partners reduce impacts is through modular “chiplet” architecture. Instead of designing for one large monolithic chip, AMD engineers reconfigured the component IP building blocks using a flexible, scalable connectivity fabric. By breaking our designs up into smaller chiplets, we can get more chips per wafer, lowering the probability that a defect will land on any one chip. As a result, the number and yield percentage of “good” chips per wafer go up, and the wasted cost, raw materials, energy, emissions, and water go down.

2. Advancing environmental performance for IT users: Optimising system-level energy efficiency to help our customers and end users save energy and advance their sustainability goals.

• AMD EPYC processors power some of the most energy-efficient x86 servers, delivering exceptional performance and reducing energy costs. In fact, the latest 5th Gen EPYC processors consume up to 68 per cent less power consumption than its competition, allowing IT leaders to achieve the same level of performance with up to 87 per cent fewer servers.
• AMD powers 157 systems on the Green500 list of the world’s most efficient supercomputers, as of the latest list in June 2024, including Frontier, the world’s fastest supercomputer.

3. Innovating collaborative solutions to address environmental challenges: AMD is working with enterprises and researchers on innovative solutions that optimise renewable energy generation, enhance smart solutions, and power cutting-edge climate and scientific research.

• Climavision uses 3rd-generation AMD EPYC processors to bring more data and smarter analysis to weather forecasting. This critical information helps industries like agriculture, transportation, insurance and risk, and renewable energy better prepare for extreme weather events by providing more accurate and timely data.
• The LUMI supercomputer powered by AMD is driving climate research and helping researchers understand the interrelated forces contributing to climate change and develop solutions to help mitigate the impacts.

How does AMD view the role of private companies in advancing Singapore’s semiconductor ecosystem, especially in fostering innovation and sustainable practices?

Innovation and sustainable practices do not happen in isolation. Lawmakers and industry must work together to develop regulations and establish effective guidelines that foster growth in those specific areas while ensuring that development is responsible and aligned with the national interest.

We believe that the future of technology will be born from open ecosystems and deep industry partnerships that drive true innovation. In fact, our business and AI strategies are built upon this very premise.

Also Read: Silicon Box’s Business Head on how chiplet architecture transforms semiconductor scalability

We are driving open-source innovation for AI ecosystems because we feel that is the best path forward for the industry and to enable the best from AI developers. Making our software and hardware open source allows developers to build and deploy AI applications more quickly and easily. Developers and partners can leverage AMD software tools to optimise AI applications on AMD hardware.

Today, the stack includes AMD ROCm for AMD Instinct accelerators and AMD Radeon graphics cards, AMD Vitis AI for adaptive accelerators, SoCs, and FPGAs, as well as AMD ZenDNN open-source libraries for AMD EPYC processors.

We have also joined key partnerships, like the AI Alliance which consists of companies, startups, universities, research and government organisations, and non-profit foundations that are working to innovate across all aspects of AI technology, applications and governance—in an open and transparent way.

Sustainable practices:

Similarly, collaboration is central to our approach to environmental sustainability, largely because AMD operates in a fabless business model with carefully selected external suppliers manufacturing our products. Our strategy considers where we have control and influence.

We also work with our manufacturing suppliers to advance environmental sustainability across a variety of metrics. Our engagement with our direct suppliers is informed by each supplier’s situation and looks toward assertive, forward-looking, and measurable progress.

For example, in 2023, we met individually with numerous suppliers to learn more about their current sustainability efforts and maturity levels to identify milestones for 2024-25.

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Today, we’ve seen firsthand how the marketing game has changed. Simply broadcasting our message isn’t enough to capture attention. Our customers start to expect more. They want content that speaks to them—as individuals. That’s why hyper-personalisation, powered by AI, has become the go-to strategy to connect to customers on a deeper level.

As someone leading a startup that partners with many companies across the globe to reach their customers, I understand that with the sheer volume of data available, how can businesses cut through the noise and create meaningful interactions? Here are five strategies every business needs to know to use hyper-personalisation in growth hacking:

Knowing the audience inside out with first-party data

Understanding the customers at an individual level is crucial in today’s marketing landscape. When we plan on exploring hyper-personalisation, the main goal should be beyond just using AI for efficiency or cost savings. It needs to be about making sure our customers feel seen and understood, and using first-party data is what makes it possible. 

With digital penetration on the rise and an expected 950 million internet users by the end of 2024, businesses have a massive opportunity to create deeply personalised campaigns. Using AI, businesses can analyse vast amounts of data—from browsing habits to purchase history—and tailor content to match each customer’s unique preferences.

Many brands have reported a significant uptick in engagement when shifting to hyper-personalised campaigns. Instead of sending out generic messages, brands can now deliver tailored product recommendations, exclusive offers, and content that resonates with each customer. This approach has not only increased conversion rates but also built long-term loyalty. 

Timing is everything for customer engagement

AI allows us to predict when our audience is most likely to engage, and this helps us avoid the dreaded “spam” territory. We often heard stories about those who launched a campaign that initially failed because it lacked the necessary real-time adjustments. It wasn’t until implementing real-time data from AI became normal that things turned around. Real-time hyper-personalisation is a critical factor for boosting engagement and increasing conversions.

What’s been fascinating is how AI helps us gather insights into consumer behaviour and how it changes with time. We’re no longer guessing; we know exactly when and how to deliver relevant content to our customers, thanks to AI.

Personalisation is a two-way street

While AI gives us the ability to hyper-personalise on a massive scale, it’s still a human-centric approach. Many have made mistakes in the past by letting the tech lead too much. But there is a sweet spot: using AI to gather and analyse data but letting the team craft messages that are still empathetic and human.

Also Read: How to drive business innovation with AI-powered data analytics

We’ve all experienced frustration when brands feel too robotic. Hyper-personalisation should enhance customer experiences, not alienate them. Once we achieved this balance, it was like a switch flipped. Engagement skyrocketed, and our relationships with customers deepened.

Combining AI with a broader creative marketing strategy

When creating AI-driven campaigns or content, try to always start with personalisation. It’s about making sure the content fits the specific marketing funnel or target channel. But personalisation alone isn’t enough; the content has to be engaging. It’s about combining creative strategy in what I like to call a “mix and bundling” approach. 

If we want to do an AI-based campaign, don’t just develop the AI component. Layer it with broader creative strategies to maximise the overall impact. This covers not only how AI plays a role but also how we present the content, what kind of interactions it sparks, and which pain points it can solve. Ultimately, it’s a balance of leveraging advanced AI technology with human creativity to deliver more precise and effective marketing results.

Hyper-personalisation as the future of growth

If there’s one takeaway I want to share from my journey in digital marketing, it’s that hyper-personalisation using AI is a game-changer. I’ve watched it as it transformed the way many brands approach marketing and growth. As we move into the year 2025, brands that embrace hyper-personalisation will stay ahead of the competition.

The future of marketing lies in truly understanding the individual and leveraging AI to scale those insights into meaningful, personalised experiences. The better we get at making each customer feel like we know and value them, the more growth we’ll see.

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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.

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Image credit: Canva Pro

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Secai Marche, a farm-to-table startup connecting farmers with restaurants and retailers in Southeast Asia, has secured an additional JPY 250 million (US$1.6 million) in its Series A funding round.

The round includes equity financing from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital (MSIVC) and debt financing from The Shizuoka Bank and The Hokkoku Bank.

This follows a US$3.5 million Series A round of investment from investors, including Beyond Next Ventures, Spiral Ventures Asia, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Future Food Fund, Tsuneishi Shoji, Fukuoka Sonoriku, and Foodison co-CEO Toru Yamamoto, in August this year.

Also Read: ‘Amazon for fresh farm produce in SEA’ Secai Marche raises US$3.5M to add AI feature, optimise last-mile deliveries

Secai Marche will use the newly raised funds to capitalise on the rapid growth of the e-commerce and food and beverage (F&B) industries in Southeast Asia. It plans to expand its fulfilment centres, use AI to enhance the accuracy of demand forecasts, automate and optimise last-mile deliveries, and carry out system development and marketing activities.

Established in 2019 by Ami Sugiyama and Shusaku Hayakawa, Secai Marche offers a platform for F&B businesses and retailers to purchase high-quality products directly from farmers and fishermen at competitive prices.

The firm enables vegetable producers to access demand forecast information and sell their products in small quantities. On the other hand, consumers can purchase high-quality, reasonably priced products from various producers in one place.

Secai Marche offers over 4,000 carefully selected ingredients from producers worldwide, including Japan and Malaysia. It focuses on fresh foods such as eggs, vegetables, fruits, and seafood.

The startup claims to have achieved 200 per cent year-on-year growth since its launch, which it attributes to its direct distribution network.

Yuko Shinohara, Manager of MSIVC, said: “With its optimised supply chain and fulfilment functions, Secai Marhce has realised freshness, low prices and convenience of buying fresh foods at the same time and rapidly increased its customers in Kuala Lumpur. We are confident that the business will grow further as a platform for exporting food products from Japan, as well as expected to have a social impact in reducing food loss and improving the income of local farmers in Southeast Asia.”

Also Read: How Secai Marche champions farm-fresh food in Southeast Asia

Early last year, the startup raised US$1.6 million from The Agribusiness Investment & Consultation, Spiral Ventures Asia Fund I, and Beyond Next Ventures.

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NEWS & VIEWS

Dear reader,

A groundbreaking report titled “Project Wira”, jointly released by BRI Ventures, Saison Capital, D3 Labs, and Tiger Research, predicts a remarkable surge in Indonesia’s tokenised asset market. The study forecasts that demand in this emerging sector could skyrocket to US$88 billion by 2030.

The projection has garnered support from Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK), which views the nation’s vast commodities market as a fertile ground for tokenization.

Currently, the gold sector dominates the archipelago’s tokenised commodities landscape.

However, the report emphasises that the country’s abundant natural resources hold untapped potential for tokenization. This innovative approach could transform capital-raising mechanisms while boosting Indonesia’s global competitiveness.

As tokenisation gains traction worldwide, Indonesia stands out as a key player ready to unlock the economic benefits of this technological shift.

Sainul,
Editor.

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Indonesia set for US$88B tokenisation boom by 2030: report
Over 18M Indonesians hold digital assets, surpassing the number of stock investors, indicating a keen interest in blockchain-based financial products.

TikTok parent ByteDance reportedly values itself at US$300B
That number might sound familiar, as the WSJ previously reported on a ByteDance buyback offer at a US$300 billion valuation back in September 2022; But a year later, the company’s valuation had reportedly fallen 26% to US$223B.

Oyo founder seeks new investment at US$3.8B valuation
The investment, through Redsprig Innovation Partners (which is backed by Oyo’s founder Ritesh Agarwal), would value the SoftBank-backed company at US$3.8B; Oyo has raised more than US$3.4 billion in equity and debt since its inception.

India orders Meta to curb WhatsApp data sharing, levies US$25M fine
The Competition Commission of India, which began the investigation in 2021, found that WhatsApp’s “take-it-or-leave-it” privacy update constituted an abuse of Meta’s dominant position by forcing users to accept expanded data collection without an opt-out option.

MakeMyTrip buys Happay from CRED
Happay is an expense management platform; The deal will see Happay’s expense management business and team transition to MakeMyTrip, while the payments division will remain at CRED, which had acquired Happay in a US$180M deal in late 2021.

Portcast secures US$6.5M in Series A to enhance AI-powered supply chain visibility
The investors are Susquehanna Asia, Hearst Ventures, Signal Ventures, Wavemaker Partners, TMV, and Innoport; By leveraging machine learning and advanced LLM, Portcast offers actionable insights through an easy-to-integrate API and portal.

Secai Marche adds US$1.6M to Series A round to double down on Southeast Asia
The investors include Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance VC, The Shizuoka Bank, and The Hokkoku Bank; The startup plans to expand its fulfilment centres, use AI to enhance the accuracy of demand forecasts and automate and optimise last-mile deliveries.

Sahabat-AI initiative aims to leapfrog Indonesia’s digital sovereignty
Projects such as Sahabat-AI intend to highlight the country’s commitment to harnessing technology for socio-economic progress.

Crypto exchange OKX integrates SGD in partnership with DBS
The service, unveiled Monday, connects the exchange with the local financial system using payment services facilitated by DBS Group.

FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

SEA’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain is poised to strengthen: GlobalFoundries’s Siah Soh Yun
The semiconductor ecosystem in Southeast Asia continues to grow, particularly in backend services like assembly, packaging, and testing.

Startup ecosystem in Indonesia defies innovation potential expectation in new global report
The APEXE framework evaluates startup ecosystem through several lenses, including the Lab-to-Startup Conversion ranking.

Echelon Philippines 2024: Expanding Web3 applications for real-world challenges
The Echelon Philippines session explored Web3’s potential beyond gaming, focusing on blockchain and tokenisation to address real-world challenges.

Beyond the walled garden: How OwlySearch empowers business decision-making with AI
OwlySearch recently earned recognition as one of the top 10 startups in the L’Oréal Big Bang Beauty Tech Innovation Program.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

How a 10-day silent retreat made me a better investor
Vipassana taught me to focus on my breath, and little by little, I noticed myself redeveloping a sharp focus I hadn’t experienced in years.

Charting your equity course: Navigating funding rounds for startup success
A well-organized cap table attracts investors and ensures sound financial health for your startup throughout its funding journey.

Startups impacted by the rise of embedded finance in Southeast Asia
In the past decade, Southeast Asia’s digital economy was marketplace-driven; the next decade may revolve around digital finance.

Corporate venture funding models: Determining the sweet spot between risk and control
We have found four archetypes of corporate venture funding models that serve as a starting point to achieve those objectives.

From classroom to boardroom: How Singapore’s universities nurture future investment leaders
Singapore’s universities actively foster entrepreneurship and innovation skills among students, enabling them to thrive in dynamic business landscapes.

Interpreneurs: The key to successful global growth
Interpreneurs are an evolution of agile innovators who operate within a distributed workplace that is becoming increasingly global.

Cultivating an honest culture: Why leaders should be transparent
Transparent leadership is the key to creating a culture of trust; here’s how we’re seeing future-forward leaders put money where their mouth is.

How to scale talent in Southeast Asia during unprecedented times
Even with the challenges in the market, the predicted ICT market growth rate of 1.4x – 1.8x will increase the demand for digital talent.

Employee burnout is real and why it needs to be taken seriously
As we navigate the new normal, we are constantly faced with burnout and mental health roadblocks, but how do we navigate them?

Avoiding costly mistakes: How cognitive biases can affect entrepreneurs
How exactly do cognitive biases and noise affect entrepreneurs, and how can we reduce decision-making errors within the business landscape?

Why it’s time to hit ‘refresh’ when it comes to addressing the gender diversity gap in the IT sector
To help address gender balance, a concerted effort needs to be made to make tech professions more enticing to young women and girls.

Managing talent in an economic downturn
HR leaders need to balance the competing realities of the Great Resignation and an economic slowdown, which could necessitate furloughs and cost-saving measures, that would impact employees.

The future of job market: Dramatic changes and cultural shifts
Knowledge is power, and everyone has the chance to be knowledgeable; this is the number one power of the job market today.

How home-based care is changing the face of the health sector
Speedoc is a virtual clinic and healthcare solutions platform that allows users to seek medical care and services from home.

Where is Southeast Asia’s digital healthcare headed?
Unlike the global macro markets which are correcting amidst rising investor uncertainty, healthcare in Southeast Asia is showing strong growth.

How is AI transforming the future of cancer diagnosis
The synergy of human and AI-based insights in cancer pathology can open avenues for early cancer detection for better patient-specific assessment and treatment.

How I nurtured and scaled a mental health ecosystem during the pandemic
We are exploring how we can provide a Safe Space in both the physical and virtual world, such as the metaverse, with a seamless experience.

Shaping the future of healthcare with smart hospitals
The pandemic has accelerated the evolution of healthcare ecosystems, smarter and more connected hospitals are the future of healthcare.

How telemedicine can revolutionise the veterinary world?
Telemedicine has been commonly practised in healthcare for humans, but adopting such technology for pets is still relatively new.

How I nurtured and scaled a mental health ecosystem during the pandemic
We are exploring how we can provide a Safe Space in both the physical and virtual world, such as the metaverse, with a seamless experience.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

One-size-fits-none: Redefining corporate communication with personalisation
In today’s digital world, personalisation in communication has shifted from a luxury to a necessity for meaningful connections.

Building resilience: How disaster tech startups are making a difference
Uncover the role of disaster tech in building resilience, focusing on Bike Scouts’ journey and community-driven innovation.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: Indonesia set for US$88B tokenisation boom by 2030 | India levies US$25M fine on Facebook | Portcast secures US$6.5M appeared first on e27.

Since its inception in 2015, TRIREC has been at the forefront of venture capital investment with a commitment to decarbonisation. Focused on tackling climate change, the Singapore-based firm allocates 80 per cent of its investments to early-stage companies, spanning pre-Series A to Series A.

With a diverse global portfolio across energy, mobility, food and agriculture, buildings, and hard-to-abate industries, TRIREC aims to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. As the firm approaches its 10th anniversary, it celebrates a milestone—the first close of its third fund—and gears up to honour its decade-long journey while charting its future trajectory for the next ten years.

Expanding its impact, TRIREC has also achieved the first close of a new fund targeting energy access for underserved rural communities in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia (SEA).

“We are quite unique in that we do not necessarily follow market trends. From an investment perspective, we focus on the problems and the solutions. And these solutions could be anywhere in the world,” says Melvyn Yeo, Founder and Managing Partner at TRIREC, in an interview with e27.

Before founding TRIREC, Yeo spent over a decade at Goldman Sachs (Asia) managing global multi-asset portfolios and co-founded Thirdrock Group, a leading multi-family office acquired by Schroders in 2019. At Schroders, he held senior roles, including Deputy Head of Wealth Management (Asia) and Co-Chair of the Private Assets Investment Committee.

Also Read: As the demand for energy soars, climate tech is here to save the day

Yeo serves on the board of the Singapore Land Authority and is a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, founded by Al Gore. The Corps advocates for climate action globally.

In this interview, he discusses upcoming trends in 2025 and the different factors that will lead to it. The following is an excerpt of our conversation with him.

What are the main challenges that the ecosystem will face in 2025 in terms of fundraising?

Fundraising challenges will still be pretty similar [to 2024] in that it will be all about distributions [of funds]. Many investors have invested in funds; because of where the capital markets have been from 2022 until now, there have not been that many exits.

Without exits, whether through IPO or trade sale, many funds have been unable to distribute back capital to their LPs. As a result, many LPs are not looking to deploy to new funds, at least not in a bigger amount.

We need to see some of the cash flows coming back before further deployments.

Now, if we want to discuss fundraising for startups, that part of the equation is slightly better because many funds still have their dry powder, especially those that raised capital in 2022. Plenty of them have not deployed the full amount yet.

Over the last couple of years, many VCs have been very conservative in investing in new deals. They want to see more traction and more revenues before they can deploy. The last couple of years have been all about trying to adjust to that new norm, and I think that startups are now recognising that they need to build a more fundamentally sound business to attract the right investors.

Also Read: Founders Factory launches in Singapore to bolster SEA deep tech, climate tech ecosystem

If we consider factors such as the geopolitical situation today, will 2025 be an even more challenging year?

It depends on the investment mandate and the geographical coverage of the funds.

The latest US election results … I think it will have a positive impact on SEA, in general, from an economic perspective. Because I am sure that the new president would have certain views on how to drive the domestic economy and make the country much stronger. But I think a lot of that will be directed at China, which will allow SEA to pick up the slack.

The other part of the equation is that, from a geopolitical perspective, there will be a much bigger bifurcation of investments. From a technology perspective, we have really started to see over the last few years that certain deep tech research and development is bifurcating into two directions, right? You have the Chinese semiconductor industry trying to build up its capabilities there, and it is adopting different standards compared to the Western world.

It is a consequence of the geopolitical volatility that we are experiencing today. From an investment perspective, we have to be mindful of [the fact] that certain sectors will be more affected.

Are there any particular verticals that will be more popular than the rest?

The last 12 months have been all about AI. I think AI as a theme will continue, but investors will be a lot more discerning when it comes to AI investments.

After the initial hike, investors will be more diligent in identifying what we mean by LLM, machine learning … before they start drilling down to the actual applications [of the technology].

We know some people just slapped the term AI and hope for a higher valuation, so investors will be more discerning. Is there really a business model here, a revenue model?

I also think that climate and decarbonisation will continue to attract interest and grow in this part of the world.

Also Read: Climate conferences won’t save us: How to start taking action all year round (Part 1)

What happened in Trump’s last term was that the private sector actually picked up the slack and drove the impetus in terms of driving the adoption of a green economy, as opposed to the federal side. I think that is not going to stop, you know? If you look at the likes of Amazon, Meta, and Google, they are very committed to this whole green affair.

When I was in Jakarta this year, many corporations were talking about how to build renewable energy projects, solar panel systems, and carbon credits. Even just in the last six months, going around Jakarta and Surabaya feels very different.

EVs and EV charging as a theme are quite mature already, so most of the investments [in the sector] are going through a consolidation phase. The focus is now moving towards the power-generating side of things and carbon capture, not just in Indonesia but also in Malaysia and Thailand.

The other theme that is receiving a lot of attention is the fintech side of things, with the growth and maturity of digital banks. This would actually add more flavour to the offering in the region as well.

Gone are the days when [its function] was restricted to helping you open an account faster. We are going to see a lot more products and applications that can be done on digital platforms.

How about the stages of investment? Are we going to see the return of early-stage funding?

Early-stage funding has dropped off quite a bit, but I think it will start to pick up again, partly because those who raised funds in 2021-22 will need to deploy them.

There will also be some later-stage investments. So, I think 2025 will see a pickup in investment across the board compared to 2023 and 2024.

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Image Credit: TRIREC

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Malaysia currently faces a significant digital skills gap limiting its technological and economic progress. A digital skill gap is present when there is a need for more technologically skilled employees who can utilise the latest technological advancement. This is highlighted by the alarming statistic that eight out of ten emerging jobs demand technological competencies.

Despite its potential as a regional leader in digital innovation, Malaysia has dropped to 79th in global rankings for digital skills. Compared to their neighbour Singapore which is ranked 12th in the global rankings, this explains the disparity between Singapore and Malaysia’s strength in economy and technological prowess. Singapore with its highly educated and skilled workforce are able to effectively utilise newer technology to achieve optimal outcomes with their businesses and infrastructure.

Therefore, this shortfall has caused Malaysia to lag compared to other countries, underscoring the urgent need for targeted educational initiatives and corporate training programs to equip the workforce with essential tech skills. Bridging this gap is crucial for enhancing employability and ensuring that Malaysia can compete effectively in an increasingly digital economy. Addressing these challenges will foster sustainable growth and economic resilience.

The question is: Why is there a digital skill gap in Malaysia?

Mismanagement of resources and insufficient training

In Malaysia, there is a shortage of higher education in terms of technological skill development. This is evident in the study done by PwC, where 78 per cent of Malaysians have a lack of access to technology to up-skill their technology prowess. There is also the battle of quality vs quantity, where Malaysian training centres have led to a focus on quantity rather than the quality of education. This can be seen in educational institutions across the country.

The prioritisation of quantity causes incomprehensive results as they lack the practical handiwork as compared to quality tutorage. Additionally, there is a lack of standardised assessment, often leading to employers questioning the credibility of certifications from less recognised institutions.

In a survey conducted by Talentbank, their study concluded that 91.91 per cent of employers would choose a good attitude over their academic certificates. This is also supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s finding that 20 per cent of fresh graduates are unable to find a job within six months of graduation due to them lacking the skills, knowledge and attitudes that employers look for.

While there are still shortcomings due to issues in training, this could have been indirectly attributed to the fact that there is a mismanagement of resources towards proper up-skilling.

Also Read: Launching a VC fund in Malaysia: A venture lawyer’s guide

Funding for digital skills training is often concentrated in urban areas where institutions are better equipped and more likely to attract investment. In contrast, rural regions may lack even basic infrastructure for digital education, creating a significant talent pool that remains untapped. This geographical disparity leads to uneven skill development and exacerbates existing inequalities in the job market.

Furthermore, many training initiatives face bureaucratic hurdles that hinder their effectiveness. For instance, lengthy approval processes for new programs can delay the launch of essential training opportunities, leaving potential learners waiting for access to necessary skills.

The concerning speed of technological advancement

The speed of technological advancement is one of the pivotal factors of why a digital skill gap exists in Malaysia. Unlike in the past when technology growth was significantly slower, we now experience incredibly rapid technological change. For recent generations, it was typical for technologies that seemed impossible in their youth to become commonplace later on.

Technology advancements are not exclusive towards specific industries but rather are spanning out, transforming various other sectors and industries that require a more tech-savvy workforce. Industries like manufacturing and finance have shifted towards digital technology, requiring AI, Internet of Things (IoT) and also blockchain technology.

The extremities of technological advancement, have caused several implications on society that cause them the inability to keep up with the growth. One of these implications is the necessity of evolution within current job roles. As industries adopt advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation, job roles evolve significantly.

For instance, positions in data analysis and software development have surged, while traditional roles in manual labour or basic administrative tasks may diminish. Workers are often left scrambling to acquire new skills that didn’t exist a few years ago, leading to a skills mismatch.

The rise of niche roles, such as cybersecurity specialists or cloud computing experts, underscores the need for specialised training. Many workers find themselves unprepared for these roles due to the lack of relevant training programs that focus on these emerging fields.

Malaysia, as a country, is considered multi-ethnic, with different cultures intertwined forming the Malaysian culture. However, as an Asian country, our mindset is very different as opposed to the open-minded West. Our unwillingness and reluctance to attempt new things pose a barrier to technology adoption. This is evident, especially in countries that put a great deal of emphasis on investing in technology and up-skilling to be efficient with the latest technologies.

In comparison to the competitors in the global landscape, Malaysia is still far behind in true technology adoption and the proper incorporation of its tools into the workforce. technology adoption. This is evident, especially in countries that put a great deal of emphasis on investing in technology and upskilling to be efficient with the latest technologies. In comparison to the competitors in the global landscape, Malaysia is still far behind in true technology adoption and the proper incorporation of its tools into the workforce.

Also Read: How these Malaysia Digital status cybersecurity companies are protecting your data

Adapting to rapid technological advancements often requires a significant shift in mindset. Individuals accustomed to traditional ways of working may resist adopting new technologies, fearing that they may not understand or be able to use them effectively. This reluctance can hinder the integration of new tools and practices in workplaces.

Addressing the concerns and issues

In the end, these factors all contribute to the major issue at hand. The lack of workforce readiness to adapt to technological advancements. Fret not, there are multiple solutions that businesses and government bodies can take to improve the current situation.

Firstly, government bodies should look to collaborate with industry leaders to design curricula that can reflect current and potential job market needs, ensuring that the training programs stay relevant and up-to-date. Adding on, these curricula should also include courses on emerging technologies including blockchain and data analytics in educational institutions to provide students with the skills needed for in-demand jobs.

Resources should also be targeted accurately. Direct funding toward regions and institutions that have been historically underserved in digital skills training, ensuring equitable access to resources. With these resources in place, a formulation of an advisory board between industry leaders would be able to guide training programs necessary to ensure that future employees can meet workforce needs.

However, there are several ways to address the rapidly changing skill requirements, as well as the generational gap. Businesses can collaborate with the government to develop and promote certification programs in high-demand fields such as data science, cybersecurity, and digital marketing to provide workers with recognised credentials.

One of the targets that the business should incorporate in their practices is to up-skill their employees by organising intensive boot camp-style training sessions focused on specific skills or technologies, allowing workers to quickly acquire relevant competencies.

To change, the business must first change its inner workplace culture. By fostering a workplace culture that embraces experimentation and learning from failures. This helps encourage employees to view challenges as opportunities for growth. Naturally, this opens up potential peer-to-peer learning sessions where younger, tech-savvy employees can share knowledge and skills with older colleagues, bridging the generational divide.

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In my journey as a B2B branding expert, I’ve observed that marketers, especially those in startups, can often get swept up in a whirlwind of tactics and lose sight of the deeper motivations driving buyer decisions. As tech and innovation drive the Asian startup ecosystem, understanding buyer intent has transformed significantly—encompassing a range of digital signals, from online search behaviour to content engagement across multiple platforms.

For startups and tech companies in 2024, interpreting these signals accurately and responding with agility can unlock growth opportunities and improve resource efficiency. Yet, many marketers focus solely on the first question—why buyers seek a solution—missing out on insights that can strengthen messaging and positioning.

By exploring what buyers need specifically and how they navigate their purchasing decisions, startups can shape more targeted and impactful approaches to engage their audience. Recognising buyer signals—subtle cues that reveal a potential buyer’s readiness to engage—can further refine these strategies.

Let’s explore why answering all three questions is critical and how incorporating buyer signals can help you connect meaningfully with B2B buyers across Asia’s dynamic digital landscape.

The pitfalls of stopping at “why”

Understanding why a buyer seeks a solution is foundational, but stopping here risks producing generic messaging. While recognising pain points or aspirations is critical, relying solely on these insights can lead to phrases like “Boost your revenue!” or “10x your growth!”—attention-grabbing but lacking the depth required for genuine connection.

My experience has shown that going beyond why to explore what and how creates insights that enhance messaging and refine positioning, leading to more meaningful interactions with potential buyers.

• Unpacking the initial motivation: Going beyond “why”

Grasping the motivation behind a purchase is an essential first step that initiates the buying process. Buyers typically seek solutions for urgent challenges or aspire to achieve future benefits, such as increased efficiency. This insight allows us to connect with their needs.

However, focusing solely on motivation can be likened to navigating a city with only a street map; without a comprehensive understanding of the broader landscape, we may easily get lost. To truly comprehend a buyer’s journey, we must also clarify what they are specifically looking for and the strategies they employ to make their purchases.

• Getting specific with “what they buy”

Once we understand a buyer’s motivation, it’s time to examine what they specifically need. Precision is key here; understanding the exact capabilities, features, or benefits that buyers prioritise allows us to align our offerings with their criteria.

For example, consider a B2B buyer from a manufacturing firm focused on minimising downtime. If we miss their specific requirement—like proactive maintenance capabilities—we risk losing their engagement. Rather than presenting our solution as merely “efficiency-enhancing software,” we should highlight how our product directly addresses their unique challenges.

Also Read: From automation to hyper-personalisation: Leveraging AI for smarter marketing

By exploring what buyers truly seek, we can match our product features and benefits to their immediate priorities, positioning ourselves as the ideal solution.

• The most overlooked step: “How they buy”

The how of buying is often the most overlooked yet critical part of the buyer’s journey. Today’s purchasing process can be complex, involving multiple stakeholders and specific approval channels. Each decision-making stage influences the final choice, and missing this landscape risks missed opportunities.

Analysing the buyer’s journey helps us identify key moments to support decision-making. This may involve providing targeted case studies during the evaluation phase or offering personalised demos that resonate with buyers’ needs. Understanding how buyers navigate their decisions allows us to craft messages that connect on a deeper level.

Recognising buyer signals: Timing your approach

In addition to understanding why, what, and how, we must also pay attention to buyer signals—behavioural, emotional, or contextual cues that reveal a prospect’s readiness to engage. Are they downloading resources? Attending webinars? Interacting with your content on social media? Recognising these cues enables well-timed outreach.

Incorporating buyer signals into our strategy allows for a proactive approach. For instance, if we notice a lead engaging with content around a specific feature, we can tailor our communications to address their current needs. This kind of targeted engagement not only enhances the buyer’s experience but also builds trust, positioning us as a resource rather than just another vendor.

Knowing your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) is crucial

This three-question framework works best with a well-defined Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Attempting to answer why, what, and how for a broad audience results in vague insights and ineffective strategies.

Also Read: Tried-and-tested marketing strategies for startups across all stages in Singapore

By focusing on a specific ICP, we can fine-tune our messaging and create campaigns that resonate with an audience most likely to convert. Instead of broad statements like “10x your revenue with our product,” we can present targeted messages such as, “Reduce your manufacturing downtime by 20 per cent with our predictive maintenance solution.” This precision draws in buyers who value relevance and impact.

Conclusion

To fully understand and serve our buyers, we must go beyond simply identifying their motivations. It is essential to explore what they truly need, how they navigate their purchasing journey, and the signals indicating their readiness to engage.

Whether you’re a marketer, sales professional, or business leader, take proactive steps to refine your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and implement strategies that capture buyer signals. Tailor your messaging to resonate with your audience, and build genuine relationships by engaging prospects through personalised communications and relevant content.

By prioritising this comprehensive approach, you’ll stand out in a competitive market, cultivating lasting loyalty and trust—key drivers of sustainable growth.

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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 us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn to stay connected.

The post Decoding B2B buyer intent: The 3 questions every tech startup marketer needs to address appeared first on e27.