Dear reader,

ByteDance’s decision to expand its data centre facilities in Malaysia with an additional MYR 1.5 billion (US$320 million) investment marks a significant milestone for the country’s digital economy.

By choosing Malaysia as its regional AI hub and proposing an investment of MYR 10 billion, ByteDance demonstrates confidence in the nation’s growing tech infrastructure. The announcement, made by Malaysia’s minister of investment, trade, and industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz, underscores the country’s strategic importance in the competitive data center market in Asia.

This expansion is poised to help Malaysia reach its ambitious goal of having the digital economy contribute 22.6 per cent of the GDP by 2025. Johor, already a hotspot for data centre investments, benefits further as ByteDance anchors the Bridge Data Centres’ MY06 facility.

This move aligns with Malaysia’s broader trend of attracting substantial investments from global tech firms, as evidenced by other major projects such as Princeton Digital Group’s and GDS’s developments.

The surge in data centre activities, supported by companies like ByteDance, positions Malaysia at the forefront of APAC’s fastest-growing data centre markets. With a robust development pipeline promising 600 per cent capacity growth over the next five years, Malaysia is solidifying its role as a key player in the regional and global digital economy.

Sainul,
Editor.

—-

NEWS

Singapore, Jakarta top startup ecosystem rankings despite funding slowdown
Singapore has improved its ranking from the 2023 report, moving up to the #7 Global Startup Ecosystem; From July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023, Singapore’s startup ecosystem generated US$144B in Ecosystem Value.

Korean firm raises US$18M to expand ‘AI super app’ in Middle East, SEA
Wrtn Technologies helps users with tasks such as editing and conducting research, and it can also act as a creative partner and developer; Its AI Search feature enables users to ask about the latest news, providing real-time information.

Seaplane Asia lands investment to expand in Southeast Asia
The investors are TK & Partners and A2D Ventures; Seaplane provides air charter and amphibious seaplane services to connect remote islands and coastal areas; Its services aim to enhance accessibility, reduce travel times, and minimise environmental impact.

BNB value jumps as Binance founder CZ begins jail term
BNB’s price jumped to US$717.99 as of June 7 from a US$620.49 low on June 3, taking its market value to US$109B; CZ went to a California prison on money laundering charges and agreed to a US$50M personal fine.

US firm invests over US$20M for APAC digitalisation hub in the Philippines
SID Global Solutions prepares companies for digitalisation by providing services such as customer experience analytics, supply chain management, HR platforms, and financial planning and analysis, among others.

ByteDance plans US$2.1B investment in Malaysia for AI, minister says
The TikTok parent will set up an AI hub in the country; ByteDance will also expand its data centre facilities in Malaysia’s Johor state through an additional US$318 million investment, Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said.

Thailand to bridge local startups to European market with Berlin alliance
Thailand’s National Innovation Agency (NIA) has partnered with ABF to propel the expansion of local startups to Europe; The two organisations signed an MoU to develop innovation networks and investment channels, especially for AI startups.

Julo plans neo-banking push, eyes full profitability by year-end
In a statement announcing its neobanking ambitions, the company also said that its loans issued grew 87.19% year on year in the first four months of 2024, reaching over US$189M; It expects to issue more than US$650M this year.

Uber loses challenge to California gig work law in US appeals court
A US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco upheld a lower court ruling that said Uber failed to show that the 2020 state law known as AB5 unfairly singled out app-based transportation companies while exempting other industries.

Musk warns that he will ban Apple devices if OpenAI is integrated at OS level
Apple had announced a partnership with OpenAI to bring the ChatGPT technology to its devices; Apple said it had built AI with privacy “at the core” and it would use a combination of on-device processing and cloud computing to power those features.

Dubai startup Stake nets US$14M to open Saudi real estate investments to global users
The investors include Middle East Venture Partners, Wa’ed Ventures, and Al Jomaih Holding; Stake is a digital platform that allows investors across the globe to tap into income-generating real estate deals in Dubai.

FEATURES

Securing bank financing for scaling our EV fleet is hard in Philippines: Mober CEO
Banks in the archipelago are still familiarising themselves with the EV logistics industry; By educating financial institutions about the benefits and viability of EV logistics, the firm aims to secure the necessary financing.

FROM OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Greener rides, faster service: How swappable battery e-bikes are revolutionising SEA
E-bikes are seen as the greener ride-hailing option, with swappable batteries offering faster charging and less environmental impact.

Singapore’s growth engine: Riding the waves of regionalisation and globalisation 4.0
To stay ahead of the curve, businesses in Singapore must act decisively, take calculated risks, and fully harness the potential of digital technologies.

Tech career switch: A woman’s guide to upskilling and advancement
Supporting initiatives that empower women to upskill and pursue tech careers will help achieve equal representation and recognition.

An investor’s outlook on solar energy in emerging Asia
In SEA, solar energy is in its early stages, with the key being to originate the right projects and ensure financing costs allow for a good internal rate of return.

Unbanked and underserved: SEA’s vast digital remittances opportunity
SEA’s digital growth now includes 460 million tech-savvy consumers and a market projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Starting with a clear culture in mind is vital for companies: Huy Nghiem of Finhay
‘Short-term financial stability is as important as long-term goals; If we cannot meet the former, we can’t meet the long-term goal either’, says the Finhay CEO.

Running on empty: What happens when AI models run out of data?
As AI continues to infiltrate every industry, it’s essential that technologists collaborate to find innovative solutions to tackle the challenges of data shortage.

Understanding the difference between Web3 and metaverse
While we find the difference between Web3 and metaverse, they offer users a unique way to communicate and engage with others online.

NFTs for fundraising: What you need to know before jumping on the bandwagon
When it comes to using NFTs for fundraising, there are success stories, but there are also lessons for the rest of us.

What Choco Up wants you to know about running a revenue-based financing platform in Asia
Choco Up combines the use of technology and human touch in supporting the startup ecosystem. Find out how they do it.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: ByteDance to invest US$2.1B in Malaysia for AI push | Singapore, Jakarta top startup rankings despite funding slowdown appeared first on e27.

Deemples, an online golf booking platform in Malaysia, has secured a US$2 million investment from Singapore-based corporate VC firm V Ventures.

The startup will use the money to drive growth, enrich the user experience, and expand in Southeast Asia.

“Our core mission is to create the premier golfing experience empowered by tech to allow our community to play anytime, anywhere, with anyone,” said David Wong, CEO and founder of Deemples. “With this new investment, we have set our eyes on further expanding our ecosystem to be truly regional with our services and to enrich the golfing community significantly.”

Also Read: Green logistics firm Mober secures US$6M to add new EVs to its fleet, develop new charging yard

Deemples is a free golf course booking app. It claims to have logged over 50,000 games on the platform to date.

At present, the app is available for golf courses in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Deemples is available on iOS, Android, and Huawei App Gallery.

In 2023, Malaysian golf saw 100 per cent growth, reflecting rising interest and skill levels. This surge is attributed to accessible golf courses and training facilities.

With its tech-first philosophy and designed-for-golfers approach, Deemples caters to the diverse needs of golfers. The company claims to have doubled its business annually in Malaysia over the past four years.

—

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: Deemples

The post Malaysian golf course booking platform Deemples nets US$2M from V Ventures appeared first on e27.

The recently concluded Echelon X, held from May 15-16 at the Singapore EXPO, marked a significant milestone in the innovation landscape of Southeast Asia. Gathering some of the most exciting innovators and ecosystem stakeholders from across the region, the two-day event drew an impressive attendance of 7,000 participants, all eager to delve into the future of technology and entrepreneurship.

This vibrant assembly was not just a showcase of groundbreaking ideas and startups but also a crucial platform for knowledge sharing. Through a series of engaging panel discussions, roundtables, and insightful fireside chats, attendees had the opportunity to gain valuable ecosystem insights, fostering a deeper understanding of the trends and challenges shaping the industry. Echelon X 2024 thus solidified its reputation as a cornerstone event for those committed to driving innovation and collaboration within Southeast Asia’s dynamic tech ecosystem.

Also read: Revolutionising the optical solutions space with Cloud Light, a Lumentum Company

One of the key participants at the event was the National Innovation Agency (NIA) of Thailand. Demonstrating their commitment to nurturing regional innovation, the NIA introduced seven promising startups through their Day 0 presentation at WeWork. This early showcase set the stage for these startups to gain visibility and attract interest from potential investors and partners.

Throughout the main event, the NIA continued to spotlight these innovative companies at their dedicated pavilion within the Echelon X exhibition. This platform provided the startups with invaluable exposure, allowing them to present their cutting-edge solutions and business models to a diverse and influential audience, thereby underscoring the vital role of the NIA in supporting the growth and international expansion of Thai startups.

7 Thai startups showcase innovation through NIA

Without further ado, here are the seven startups from Thailand that showcased their innovations at Echelon X through the NIA pavilion:

• Guardian GPT – Guardian GPT’s solutions are designed to empower businesses with smarter, more efficient, and highly adaptive AI capabilities, setting new benchmarks for operational excellence and strategic foresight in the digital age. Their solutions are primarily focused on GenAI, RAG, Chatbot, and AI Agent solutions for enterprise automation.
• AIYA – Creates a seamless social customer journey platform with the help of its genius Chatbot for your business needs. At its core, AIYA, the customer care assistant, gives you more free time to help manage your online business sustainably. A winner of the Thailand ICT Awards 2019, their products include the ACRM ChatBot, ALIVE+, AiPage, and AiBeacon.
• BODA – They develop AI to check the health of factories and business buildings with their 24-hour service to manage production and energy management to reduce costs and work steps repetition, to prevent damages in building management, and to create confidence for sustainable business growth. With more than 6 years of experience developing the AIoT platform and jointly developing the AIoT platform with 10 leading organisations, serving over 60 organisations and over 200 buildings and factories, BODA has helped save more than 40 million baht in energy costs.
• Eidy – Eidy is an AI-powered medical chatbot designed to provide specialist-level healthcare. At its core, Eidy is an AI-based system that hospitals could use to automate screening and diagnosis.
• Dietz – A seamless telemedicine platform for hospitals. Revolutionising the way hospitals deliver care, Dietz offers seamless telemedicine integration that improves patient accessibility and outcomes, reduces the workload of healthcare professionals, and enhances patient safety. Dietz is designed for the care of chronic patients and features an effective, safe, and easy-to-use home monitoring system through chat and video calls.
• OneCharge – OneCharge is the ultimate platform driving the entire EV charging ecosystem. From individual drivers and businesses to industry partners, we provide comprehensive software solutions that cater to all EV charging requirements. Their vision is to be Asia’s largest charging network to make charging accessible to everyone and make it simpler for businesses to deploy EV chargers, for EV drivers to utilise them, and for utilities to manage EV charging throughout the entire grid.
• Agnos – A healthtech startup focused on digital transformations in healthcare using AI. They offer an AI screening tool for self-diagnosis, a smart registration system, and a patient management system, among other services. Agnos’s comprehensive, end-to-end solutions aim to improve patient experiences for their partners.

Thailand’s burgeoning tech startup ecosystem

Thailand’s burgeoning tech startup ecosystem has been rapidly gaining momentum, positioning itself as a vibrant and dynamic hub in Southeast Asia. Bolstered by strong government support, particularly through initiatives led by the NIA, the country has fostered an environment conducive to entrepreneurial growth and innovation.

Guardian GPT, for instance, is setting new standards in enterprise automation with its advanced AI solutions focused on GenAI, RAG, Chatbot, and AI Agent technologies, empowering businesses to achieve operational excellence and strategic foresight. AIYA, another standout, offers a seamless social customer journey platform through its award-winning Chatbot technology, enhancing customer care and online business management sustainably.

In the realm of industrial efficiency, BODA leverages AI to optimise factory and building health with its 24-hour service for production and energy management, significantly reducing costs and operational redundancies. Meanwhile, Eidy is revolutionising healthcare with its AI-powered medical chatbot, providing specialist-level care by automating screening and diagnosis processes in hospitals. Dietz complements this innovation with a seamless telemedicine platform designed for chronic patient care, enhancing patient accessibility and safety through advanced home monitoring systems.

Also read: XTransfer’s AI-driven Anti-Money Laundering technology empowers B2B international trade

OneCharge is driving forward the EV charging ecosystem with its comprehensive platform that simplifies the deployment and management of EV chargers across Asia, aiming to become the largest charging network in the region. Lastly, Agnos focuses on digital transformations in healthcare, offering AI-driven tools for self-diagnosis, smart registration, and patient management systems, ultimately improving patient experiences and operational efficiency for healthcare providers. These startups not only exemplify Thailand’s commitment to technological advancement but also underscore the country’s potential to be a key player in the global tech arena.

With a thriving community of tech-savvy entrepreneurs, supportive policies, and increasing access to venture capital, Thailand is attracting a growing number of startups specialising in diverse sectors. As Thailand continues to invest in digital infrastructure and innovation, its tech startup ecosystem is poised for even greater expansion, driving economic growth and solidifying its role as a key player in the regional and global tech landscapes.

The post 7 Thai startups wow at Echelon X through NIA appeared first on e27.

When talking about the Indonesian digital industry, e-commerce and fintech might be the top sectors that come up in the general public’s mind.

However, despite its lack of popularity, several startups working in the healthtech sector have sprung up in the country.

There are startups such as PesanLab, which offers a booking service for laboratory testing, or Homecare24 which offers on-demand home care services.

Even ride-hailing giant Go-Jek has branched out into the sector with the launch of drug delivery service Go-Med and an acquisition of Indian home healthcare marketplace Pianta.

In September 2016, Go-Jek took part in a US$13 million Series A funding round for HaloDoc, a telemedicine platform that President Joko Widodo once dubbed as “one of the four local startups that will leverage Indonesia’s position as ‘Digital Energy of Asia.’”

Later, Go-Jek eventually integrated its Go-Med service into the HaloDoc platform.

Now is the best time for Indonesian digital industry players –which includes both entrepreneurs and investors– to start looking more deeply into the healthtech sector.

Speaking at a panel discussion hosted by Indonesian association for venture capital investment (Amvesindo), hospital chain Bunda Medik Healthcare System (BMHS), and coworking space H-Cube in Central Jakarta, Kejora Ventures Founding Partner Sebastian Togelang stressed the importance of timing in the tech industry.

He gave an example of a startup in Germany which was founded by a personal friend many years ago. The startup offered a pizza delivery service, a wildly popular service in many parts of the world but the business failed to take off –simply because it utilises fax machines as a means to connect customers to food services.

“Market … and technological readiness are the basic requirements,” he said.

“The healthtech industry itself is relatively new … It has only started to take off around 2009-2010, and by the time the investment was only around US$1 million. By 2017, within half a year, the number has grown to US$6-7 billion … and may reach US$10 billion within the next few years. [Of this number] around US$1.5 billion will be allocated in Asia,” he explained.

Though the number of healthtech investment in Indonesia may only take a small percentage of it, Togelang believes that this is not a reason to give up on developing a healthtech industry in the country.

Setting up a telemedicine platform to connect patients in Papua (Indonesia’s easternmost province) to doctors in Java might be a great idea in principle, but from investor’s perspective, it is better for startups to start by solving the bigger issues.

“It will take one to two years to grow exponentially. The key is to have patience and start with services that are needed by a great number of people,” he stresses.

The situation on the ground

When it comes to potential, there are plenty of exciting opportunities in the Indonesian healthcare sector.

According to Dr. Ivan R. Sini, a renowned gynaecologist and a commissioner at BMHS, the Indonesian market is a “dynamic” one with the existence of its demographic bonus, universal healthcare system, and increasing purchase power.

“We used to see the Indonesian healthcare market as segmented, with the market having limited capacity to purchase good quality healthcare products. But recently the buying capacity has increased rapidly. Healthcare has become a primary need,” he explains.

“Hospitals need to be creative in trying to cater to the big number of patients, but at the same time, we also see this as an opportunity … For hospitals, instead of investing in R&D, it is better for us to engage the startup community, in order to build something that we can share,” he continues.

So what exactly are the challenges faced by the Indonesian healthcare sector?

One can write a book of all existing challenges, but dr. Gregorius Bimantoro, the founder of healthtech startup Atoma Medical, mentioned three of the most crucial that his company is aiming to solve: Disparity between the number of doctors available to treat every citizen, lack of access to information, and availability of products and services.

Atoma Medical aims to answer these challenges through the two platforms that it runs. The first one is TanyaDok, a Q& A platform runs by doctors and medical professionals, while the second one is ProSehat, an online marketplace for medicine and healthcare products.

TanyaDok has managed to secure 700,000 monthly page views and one million total users from web and community, while the ProSehat mobile app has secured 54,000 installations; 45,000 monthly web visit; with a network of 5,000 doctors.

Dr. Bimantoro admitted that this is not a very big number and that the startup is working on introducing their platform to a wider audience.

The issues are faced not only by patients seeking greater access to healthcare but also by medical professional themselves.

Kristina (like many Indonesians, she goes only by her first name) has worked as a midwife for more than 10 years, and she had seen first hand how medical professionals are struggling to make ends meet.

“Based on data from the industrial organisation, every year there are almost 100,000 graduates from midwifery and nursing schools. But almost 30 to 40 per cent of them is unemployed. In rural areas, there are midwives who work for 24 hours … And they only make between IDR300,000 (US$22) to IDR500,000 (US$37) per month despite having been in service for years,” she explains.

This concern led her to found Medis Online Indonesia, a platform that aims to connect patients to midwives and nurses for home care services. Through the platform, Kristina hopes that the nurses and midwives would be able to improve their living by getting extra income from home care services.

“We gather them in a training centre to improve their core competencies, their attitude,” she adds.

What startups need to do

There is a lot of homework left for tech startups when it comes to developing the healthtech sector in Indonesia.

One of the most important is handling trust issues, for example, patients’ reluctance to purchase medicines online for fear of counterfeiting.

“I think this is a learning process for all of us, especially with the fact that healthtech sector is in its early stage in Indonesia,” Dr. Bimantoro says.

In looking at the kind of solutions that might be beneficial for the Indonesian healthcare sector, naturally one would look at solutions that have been successfully applied abroad.

But Dr. Bimantoro warns that this is something that has to be done with caution, considering the importance of adapting the solutions to the situation on the ground.

“An interesting case study is about when Practo entered the Indonesian market … [They offer] a model that happens to work so well in India, but not so much when taken into the Indonesian market,” he says.

“Our team has also been trying, so many times, to validate such idea for the market. How can we make the process of making a doctor’s appointment easier in Indonesia? We are still struggling to do that. So it all comes down to the validation process,” he closes.

—

This article was first published on e27 on September 1, 2017.

Image Credit: dodohawe / 123RF Stock Photo

The post Beyond the hospital: Challenges and opportunities in Indonesian healthtech scene appeared first on e27.

In today’s digital age, social media has woven itself into the fabric of our daily lives. We scroll through our feeds first thing in the morning, share snippets of our lives, and connect with friends and family worldwide. But as we post, like, and share, how often do we stop to consider the privacy implications of our online activities?

Let’s dive into how social media platforms collect and use our personal data and some tips on how to protect your privacy while staying connected.

The data collection frenzy

When you sign up for a social media account, you’re often required to provide some personal information—your name, email address, date of birth, and sometimes even your phone number. But the data collection doesn’t stop there. Social media platforms have become incredibly sophisticated in the way they gather information.

Here are a few ways they do it:

• Profile information: This includes everything you voluntarily provide—your bio, photos, interests, and more.
• Activity tracking: Every post you like, every comment you make, and every video you watch contributes to your digital footprint.
• Location data: Many apps track your location, often in real-time, to provide location-based services or ads.
• Device information: Details about the device you’re using, such as the operating system, hardware model, and even battery level, can be collected.
• Third-party integrations: When you log in to other apps or websites using your social media account, additional data can be harvested.

How is your data used?

So, what happens with all this data? Primarily, it’s used for advertising. Social media platforms are free to use because they make money from ads. By creating detailed profiles of users, they can serve targeted ads that are more likely to be relevant (and therefore clicked on).

Also Read: From grid to code: Why good cybersecurity will help deliver net zero

However, this data can also be used in other ways:

• Content personalisation: To keep you engaged, platforms use your data to curate the content you see.
• Selling data: In some cases, your data can be shared with or sold to third parties, sometimes without your explicit consent.
• Influencing behaviour: Social media platforms can use data to influence user behaviour, from suggesting friends to recommending products.

Tips for protecting your privacy

While it might seem like privacy is a lost cause in the age of social media, there are steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Review privacy settings: Regularly check and update your privacy settings. Limit who can see your posts and personal information.
• Be cautious with personal information: Avoid sharing sensitive information like your address, phone number, or financial details.
• Think before you share: Consider the long-term implications of your posts. Once something is online, it can be hard to remove.
• Use strong, unique passwords: Protect your accounts with strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
• Limit app permissions: Review and limit the permissions you grant to social media apps, especially concerning location and contact access.
• Be wary of third-party apps: When using third-party apps that connect to your social media accounts, ensure they are reputable and necessary.
• Regularly audit your digital footprint: Periodically review the information you have shared and remove anything that is no longer necessary.

In a world where social media is ubiquitous, understanding how your data is collected and used is crucial. By taking proactive steps to manage your privacy, you can enjoy the benefits of staying connected without compromising your personal information.

Remember, it’s your data, and you have the right to control it. Stay informed, stay cautious, and continue to enjoy the digital world responsibly.

—

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

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

Image credit: Canva Pro

The post The hidden price of connection: Privacy in the age of social media appeared first on e27.