AnyMind Group, a Tokyo Exchange-listed business process-as-a-service (BPaaS), e-commerce and digital transformation company, has agreed to acquire all shares of Malaysia-based e-commerce enabler Arche Digital, for an undisclosed amount.

Arche Digital’s operational expertise in e-commerce will be combined with AnyMind’s proprietary software for e-commerce and marketing to strengthen its BPaaS capabilities for domestic and international enterprises in Malaysia.

Also Read: AnyMind Group agrees to acquire Indonesian e-commerce enabler DDI

BPaaS is a business model that combines software and operational support functions across the business process.

Arche Digital is AnyMind Group’s ninth acquisition in seven years and its first in Malaysia. Earlier, the group acquired Indonesian e-commerce enabler DDI in September 2023.

Founded in 2015, Arche Digital provides a range of services, including e-commerce strategy development, e-commerce operations, warehouse and logistics management, online store operations, marketing and customer service. Since its launch, the company has served several enterprises, including global skincare brands and household brands, and claims to have amassed over 1 million orders.

Kosuke Sogo, CEO and co-founder of AnyMind Group, said: “Arche Digital has a management team with deep expertise in the e-commerce field in Malaysia and a track record of supporting various enterprises.

Founded in Singapore in April 2016 and now headquartered in Tokyo, AnyMind Group provides two broad offerings to brands and businesses, publishers and influencers: Brand Commerce and Partner Growth.

Brand Commerce provides businesses with platforms for manufacturing, e-commerce enablement, marketing and logistics. Partner Growth delivers web and mobile app publishers, influencers and content creators with platforms for monetisation and optimisation.

Also Read: How AnyMind Group achieved profitability through its approach to human resource and leadership

In December 2023, AnyMind Group announced its expansion into Saudi Arabia by opening an office in Riyadh and appointed Rubeena Singh as Country Manager (India and MENA).

AnyMind Group has over 1,500 staff across 22 offices in 15 markets, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan, India, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea.

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Whether you are at a pre-planned meeting or a networking event, donning the Business Development hat may be quite a daunting task. Do you go for the small talk first? Or do you go all the way in and start hard selling to hit your KPI?

Everyone has their own style but here are some pointers from the industry on how to rock your sales pitch.

Justin Mah, Business Development Manager, MoneyMatch

 

“During one of my first sales encounters, I had to pitch to the MD of an MNC. I knew little on how to build rapport and the pre-meeting trepidation was immense. I started off with my pitch without asking any questions and went on for a few minutes, after which he interrupted at intervals and asked plenty of questions which I couldn’t answer. I was left dumbfounded, was asked to brush up on my knowledge, and to leave within five minutes.

It was a dreadful experience and took me a couple of days to let the emotions settle, reflect on what went wrong and how I would never let it happen ever again.”

Top Tip: Avoid fancy jargons and practise

“Articulate concisely on the Why/How/What of your business that others should get the crux of it quickly to start asking questions to know more. Build rapport from the beginning, keep listening, and assert your points accordingly, get an engaging conversation going. How to get good at doing it before your actual sales pitch? Practice a lot with different types of people and personalities to get feedback, your friends/family/colleagues/boss, everyone responds differently and helps you to be versatile.

Besides the usual notions of knowing your industry inside out and your product’s value proposition, there is a fine line between ‘believing in what you sell’ vs ‘selling what you believe’ and I strongly stand for the latter.

‘People don’t buy what you sell, they buy what you believe,’ said the infamous Simon Sinek. There has to be a deep sense of conviction within yourself and the purpose of what the company strives for. With that, the selling comes natural.”

Also Read: 4 businesses share their best sales generation techniques

Nicholas Gerard, Business Development Manager, Peatix

“To me, every sales meeting is unique. But some of the most exciting and fun meetings have been when I have sold to clients without ever opening a pitch deck. I have noticed that on these occasions, the clients were primarily looking to see, through initial conversations in the meeting, if I was someone they could feel comfortable with and could trust. I realised that usually that even before the end of those meetings, they have already made a decision whether or not to work with me.”

Top Tip: Understand the client and customise your pitch

“Keep in mind that people don’t like to be sold, but they love to buy. Most of the time, they are not just buying a product, they are buying you. Keep in mind that when people buy, they are usually feeling good about it. So you have to make them feel good about buying from you. So how do you make them feel good about you?

Once you have a firm understanding of the prospect based on your research and through asking them questions, tailor your pitch to show how you can add value or solve a problem related to their situation and only focus on those areas. Some make the mistake of running through every detail about how great their product or service is. This will put off your prospect and reduce the chance of them buying from you.”

Adrian Lim, CEO, VLT

“There was once a pitch that I went for in the past that was attended by all C-Levels of sorts. I started the presentation and everyone seemed tense and looked dead serious, and I would have thought, this is the end. ‘Let’s get out quickly,’ I thought, but I was only at my third slide. No one was engaging with me and no one even nodded or twitched.”
Top Tip: Relax and be relatable
“So, I decided to change my approach. I asked if I could tell a story and talked about my weekend food hunt. I started asking them questions, shared what I liked, how I found it, and how my friends enjoyed it as well (of course, all related to the presentation).

The entire team eventually started to relax and smile, being able to relate to my story. The atmosphere changed, the room lightened up and everyone smiled as they started sharing their stories and opinions among themselves. This time, I continued my presentation with a lot of engagement.

I finished my sales presentation but did not win the pitch. However, some of the people in the audience eventually became my clients in another organisation some time after. That’s when I realised that I must have made an impression with the story. Sometimes, it’s good to prove that we’re also human.”

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Image Credit: haywiremedia / 123RF Stock Photo

This article was first published on August 4, 2017

The post How to nail your BD sales pitch –without hard selling appeared first on e27.

Smart speakers powered by AI chatbots are sprouting up all over the digital landscape. Consumers are increasingly relying on these bots to perform tasks such as e-commerce shopping or checking share prices.

This slideshare created by Tomomi Imura, Developer Relations at Slack, breaks down all you need to know about smart chatbots and the best way to develop them.

 

 

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This article was first published on August 22, 2017

The post Why smart chatbots are the future of web surfing, and how to build them appeared first on e27.

Aatif Awan breaks down how LinkedIn grew into the go-to professional social network — and in doing so, tries to provide advice that startups can use in their companies.

 

 

 

 

 

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Image Credit: Gratisography

This article was first published on August 2, 2017

The post Learn from LinkedIn, how the company grew from 500K to 500M in 13 years appeared first on e27.

In the dynamic world of global innovation, Japan emerges as an alluring hub for startups, particularly within the energetic city of Tokyo. Japan’s economic strength and substantial government investment in the startup ecosystem positions it as a strategic destination for those seeking opportunities.

Why Japan now? Exploring market opportunities

Japan stands out as an enticing choice for startups, driven by several compelling factors. Economically, Japan is the world’s fourth-largest economy by GDP. This not only signifies a robust economy but also translates to a vast market, capable of catering to diverse consumer needs and preferences.

Also read: Empowering innovators: Prudence Foundation tackles disaster challenges

Underlining its commitment to innovation, the Japanese government has pledged substantial support, allocating a total of ¥1.5 trillion to startup initiatives. This financial commitment underscores the country’s dedicated effort to foster entrepreneurial growth.

The Japanese government’s strategic “Five-Year Startup Development Plan” aims to elevate annual startup investments to ¥10 trillion by FY2027, envisioning the creation of 100 unicorns and 100,000 startups. The plan focuses on crucial aspects such as building human resources, strengthening funding avenues, diversifying exit strategies, and promoting open innovation.

Startups: Why Tokyo?

Tokyo, as a startup destination, offers distinct advantages for entrepreneurs:

• Hub for Advanced Technology: Tokyo ranks as the world’s third-leading city in research and development, making it a hub for cutting-edge technologies and innovation.
• Corporate Powerhouse: Hosting a concentration of major corporations, Tokyo provides startups with ample collaboration and partnership opportunities.
• An upswing of VC Investments: Tokyo is witnessing a positive trend in venture capital investments, showing a thriving startup ecosystem.
• Urban Sustainability Opportunities: Tokyo Bay ESG, a project aiming to create “the world’s first ESG city” by 2050, presents huge opportunities for climate tech startups. In the future, Tokyo plans to meet all energy needs through renewable sources and achieve zero emissions in buildings and transport systems.
• Government Support: The Tokyo Metropolitan Government extensively supports market entry, offering assistance with procedures, funds, and subsidies.
• Quality of Life: Beyond business, Tokyo provides an excellent quality of life and a diverse culinary culture, making it a prime destination for entrepreneurs.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government support

Tokyo aims to become the world’s most startup-friendly city, with plans to grow the number of unicorns and new businesses launched in the capital by 10 times over the next five years. This vision, known as the ’10×10×10 Innovation Vision’ aims for a tenfold increase in the number of unicorns, startups, and collaborative projects within the specified timeframe. Governor Yuriko Koike highlighted four key elements:

• Global: Creating global startups
• Growth: Supporting the growth of young people willing to take on challenges
• Collaboration: Creating collaboration between startups and established institutions
• Connect: Establishing a platform to connect everyone in the startup ecosystem

Aligned with this vision, the “Tokyo Innovation Base” (TIB) was established, aiming to create a hub for global innovation, where startups and supporters can connect and collaborate.

Also read: Application to PepsiCo’s Greenhouse Accelerator 2024 is extended!

Tokyo Innovation Base: A hub for startups

Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) is a new startup campus and business networking hub in the heart of Tokyo, accelerating the local startup scene and positioning Tokyo as a global hub for innovation. TIB offers:

• Concierge Services: Personalised support tailored for startups, encompassing guidance on various aspects of business development. TIB’s concierge services extend access to over 50 experts across diverse industries for one-on-one consultations. These services cater to early-stage startups, later-stage startups seeking a foothold in Japan, and aspiring founders exploring business opportunities in the country.
• Mentorship: Mentorship at TIB extends beyond industry-focused advice; it also includes general assistance such as pitch training sessions, business ideation, and the facilitation of partnerships with Japanese corporations.
• Events and Training Programs: More than just a physical space, TIB stands as a beacon for aspiring entrepreneurs, visionaries, and innovators worldwide. The hub organises a variety of events designed to foster networking opportunities among startups, creating a dynamic environment for collaboration and idea exchange.
• Corporate-Startup Collaboration: TIB actively facilitates partnerships and collaboration between startups and established companies. With over 140 corporate partners having established ties with TIB, the hub aims to foster ecosystem collaboration. This involves connecting startup ecosystem builders and investors with key stakeholders in Tokyo and Japan, creating a robust network for mutual growth.

SusHi Tech Tokyo

SusHi Tech, short for Sustainable High City Tech, stands as one of Asia’s leading startup conferences, dedicated to addressing global urban challenges through technology happening on May 15th and 16th, 2024, at Tokyo Big Sight!

Take the first step towards global opportunities! For more details, visit Sushi Tech Tokyo 2024

Also read: 9Unicorns to facilitate $110M funding for 20 startups at DDAY 5 with 1500+ investors

Learn more about TIB

Explore Tokyo’s vibrant startup ecosystem, driving innovation and entrepreneurship! For more details about Tokyo Innovation Base, visit their website or follow them on the accounts below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tokyoinnovationbase/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TIBTokyo 

Come by anytime if you’re around Tokyo – TIB is looking forward to collaborating and growing together!

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This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by Tokyo Innovation Base

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