Building Bridges: How Corporates and Startups Can Collaborate for Mutual Success

The Echelon Philippines 2024 panel discussion shed light on the vital collaboration between corporates and startups, focusing on innovative partnerships and joint ventures.

Moderated by Justin Chin, Head of Business Development at e27, the session featured insights from industry leaders, including Jerry Jimenez Bongco, Country General Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS); Woei Yuan Seng, Director, Technology Cluster
at MP International Pte Ltd; Bing Tan, CEO and Co-Founder at Packworks; Yasunori Kinebuchi, Director at NTT.

The discussion explored the collaboration between corporates and startups, and how these collaborations can leverage the unique strengths of both parties to create win-win scenarios.

Also Read: Echelon Philippines 2024: Empowering early-stage startups through accelerators, educators, and enablers

Bongco emphasised the potential in sectors like digital payments, BPO, and retail, highlighting the Philippines’ young population as a significant driver for innovation. Kinebuchi reinforced the importance of mutual benefit, advocating for a venture client model to enhance collaboration. Tan focused on supply chain solutions and financial services, while Seng highlighted the necessity of ecosystem support and clear objectives to ensure successful partnerships.

The panelists acknowledged common challenges such as cultural differences, operational speed, and goal alignment. They stressed the need for transparency and trust in building these relationships, drawing on successful case studies from the retail and BPO sectors to illustrate their points. The session provided a roadmap for overcoming obstacles in corporate-startup collaborations, highlighting that with the right strategies, both corporates and startups can thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

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

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Dear reader,

Malaysia’s digital transformation takes a significant leap forward with MDEC’s newly forged partnerships with Singapore’s Ascent and Indonesia’s Central Capital Ventura (CCV).

These MoUs bring a combined capital investment of US$45 million, targeting growth for Malaysian startups in key sectors such as fintech, AI, and sustainable agriculture.

Ascent’s focus on early-stage startups in essential digital sectors complements CCV’s role in offering access to Southeast Asia’s expansive ecosystem, providing an invaluable network for Malaysian businesses aiming to scale regionally.

This collaboration aligns closely with Malaysia’s KL20 digital strategy, reflecting a commitment to fostering innovation, financial inclusion, and sector-specific growth. By connecting Malaysian startups to resources and expertise across Southeast Asia, MDEC is building a pathway for local companies to integrate with the broader digital economy.

This strategy not only bolsters domestic talent and innovation but also creates a platform for startups to compete globally, enhancing Malaysia’s position as a digital-first nation.

The partnerships highlight a regional synergy that can drive long-term digital and economic progress, positioning Malaysia at the heart of Southeast Asia’s tech-driven growth.

Sainul,
Editor.

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NEWS & VIEWS

MDEC unveils US$45M investment initiative with Ascent, CCV to strengthen Malaysian startups
This combined funding by MDEC, Ascent, and CCV will foster the growth of startups, particularly in alignment with Malaysia’s KL20 initiatives.

Bukalapak adjusts strategy amid Q3 loss, plans job cuts
The company’s revenue rose by 2% y-o-y to US$218M for the first nine months; However, EBITDA was recorded at -US$4.36M. Layoffs are expected over the next two quarters.

NUS, NTU to launch US$37.8M startup incubator programme
The programme is designed to bridge the gap between scientific research and market application; It will support startup teams by helping them refine their initial ideas, validate market needs, and design robust business models.

Over 60% of Indonesian youth invest in crypto
The findings by Bappebti show that 26.9% of these investors are between 18 and 24; Meanwhile, 35.1% fall within the 25 to 30 age group; Despite recent declines, Indonesia’s crypto transaction volumes are robust.

Indonesia’s GoTo achieves positive Adjusted EBITDA
The group’s adjusted EBITDA reached a new high of US$8.73M v/s a loss of US$35.6M in the same period last year; This strong performance was underpinned by a 21% y-o-y increase in MTUs across the GoTo ecosystem.

Former FTX executive Nishad Singh gets supervised release
He was involved in the misappropriation of about US$8 billion in customer funds; Singh had pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud and conspiracy.

S&P: EV makers to bet US$20B on South and Southeast Asia
The rating agency said that building an electric car industry in SSEA will be expensive; It will involve execution risk typical for cross-border expenditure, where entities will try to anticipate shifting policies over long investment horizons.

Lazada Whitepaper reveals 88% of consumers make purchasing decisions using AI
Nearly 63% consumers in SEA believe AI is widely adopted in online shopping, with over half of the respondents identifying AI chatbots (63%), translations (53%), and visual product searches (52%) as key recognized AI features in e-commerce.

Lazada co-founder enters AI arena with Salesforce-like product
Magnus Ekbom started SEAI with Ashwath Ramesh, who was executive vice president for Southeast Asia at Lazada; SEAI focuses on building machine learning models that are customised for enterprise clients.

DCAP nets strategic funding to advance financial inclusion with AI-driven lending solutions
DCAP’s go-to-market lending-as-a-service model allows traditional financiers to embrace digital transformation to streamline processes and enhance customer reach.

81RAVENS scores US$4.5M seed funding to launch Solana-based arena shooter PARAVOX
The investors are DIGITAL HEARTS HOLDINGS and GREE Ventures; PARAVOX is currently in Global Open Alpha and claims to have clocked over 100,000 downloads on the Epic Games Store.

Finfra secures US$2.5M to power Indonesia’s lending ecosystem in new partnership with Tyme Group
The investors include Cento Ventures, Accion Venture Lab, and Z Venture Capital; Finfra will use the funds to expand onboarding capabilities for customers, target profitability, and enhance its data analytics, scoring, and risk assessment products.

Coolmate gets Vertex backing to scale its eco-friendly D2C apparel brand beyond Vietnam
Coolmate innovates with eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, recycled fibres, and the latest eco-friendly production processes, such as clean dye technology.

BuzzAR lands US$1.16M in funding to boost Saudi tourism with AI-driven travel companion
HSBC New Economy Fund is the finance partner; Beyond offering storytelling and personalised content discovery for travellers, BAE has built-in booking and payment functionalities to handle transactions for travellers on the go seamlessly.

Vietnam’s PangoCDP secures US$1.5M seed funding
PangoCDP’s innovative platform is designed to empower businesses by providing a series of social communication tools and a suite of mini-apps, all underpinned by a robust customer data platform.

OpenAI launches its Google challenger, ChatGPT Search
Built into OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform, ChatGPT Search is designed to give “timely answers” to questions, OpenAI says, drawing from a range of online sources.

FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

Cutting carbon at the socket: measurable.energy’s smart solution to plug power waste
measurable.energy’s smart sockets are available through a pricing model that combines a one-time hardware fee with a software license.

What Accuron wants startups to know about fundraising for late-stage companies today
When asked about its upcoming plan for 2025, Edwin Chow of Accuron stresses the importance of taking curated, targeted approach.

Echelon Philippines 2024: Expert panel on building a strong foundation for startup success
The Echelon Philippines panel emphasised that achieving product-market fit and following lean startup principles are essential for new ventures.

Echelon Philippines 2024: Christina Cai of Lydia.ai on revolutionising insurance with AI
The Echelon Philippines fireside chat explored how Lydia.ai is leveraging AI to transform the insurance landscape in the country.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Trust me, PR is with you day and night!
PR should be seen as more than just a combination of traditional and social media; It needs to incorporate conversion and real-time engagement; PR is shifting from focusing solely on output to measuring outcomes.

From Seed to Series: Navigating different funding rounds with PR
In today’s competitive startup scene, the integration of PR into the funding journey is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

Demystifying ToFu churn: How strategic CPO-CMO collaboration makes the difference
Merging CPO-CMO views with causality frameworks is key to reducing early churn and sustaining customer relationships.

Rise of generative AI in search: Exploring opportunities for APAC brands
Generative AI’s conversational ability and real-time training could fundamentally transform how users engage with search.

How Gen Z’s view on work-life balance can transform your business
A thriving workplace is not merely about productivity but also about prioritising the well-being of employees.

Why inclusive hiring matters for a startup ecosystem
A truly inclusive workplace is one where Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (PWIDs) are able to learn, thrive and be respected.

Keeping up with advertising: How brands can make the most out of change
By combining new technology with industry expertise, brands can stay ahead of the curve, reaping the benefits of their advancements.

Skate to where the puck will be: How category design gives you a breakaway
True category leaders take a look at the current state of play and think beyond where the current players are positioned.

AI in influencer marketing: Transforming trends and shaping the future
As AI continues to evolve and influence the influencer landscape, the future looks bright for brands, talent agencies, and AI influencers alike.

Rising above the noise: Why startups shouldn’t chase every news cycle
In such a dynamic environment, how can startups avoid being swayed by every headline? Should founders participate in these discussions?

How I continued building my tech startup as a student in the startup winter
Join me in reflecting on my journey and exploring how I navigated the challenges of building my tech startup during the startup winter.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Creating a safe digital world: Protecting kids from cyber crimes and preventing cyberbullying
Protecting kids online is crucial, not only from cyberbullying but also from becoming bullies themselves, as both roles have lasting impacts on young lives.

Building brand visibility: Timeless content marketing principles for startups
Content marketing isn’t just about producing material—it’s about creating meaningful, valuable experiences that connect with people.

Cross-chain interoperability: The key to unlocking crypto’s true potential
Interoperability is the missing component that will unlock crypto’s true potential, well beyond the industry itself.

The double-edged sword of personal branding: A journey of discovery
Building a personal brand is not a decision to be taken lightly, nor is it a one-size-fits-all solution for career advancement.

As global funding slows, MENA continues to attract investment
With Q4 typically being the strongest quarter for VC activity in MENA, we’re optimistic about what’s to come.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: MDEC unveils US$45M investment initiative | NUS, NTU to launch US$37.8M incubation programme | Bukalapak plans job cuts appeared first on e27.

Braze is a leading comprehensive customer engagement platform that facilitates interactions between consumers and their favourite brands. Founded in New York City, the platform recently hosted an exclusive roundtable session in Singapore. It brought together top industry leaders from prominent tech companies. The discussions focused on the evolving landscape of customer engagement. Accordingly, it highlighted trends that are shaping the customer journey in an increasingly digital world.

The roundtable was a dynamic exchange of ideas among participants from a diverse array of companies, spanning e-commerce to game development. Attendees shared their experiences, challenges, and innovative strategies to connect with customers. From leveraging AI for efficient management of resources to navigating the best practices for creating data-driven strategies that deliver real, measurable results, the conversation covered a wide range of topics that are reshaping how tech companies approach marketing.

Find out more about Braze and the roundtable discussion in Singapore below!

Braze is Fostering Connections for a Meaningful Customer Journey

Braze specialises in delivering personalised marketing interactions for businesses. It is driven by a passion for fostering meaningful connections between consumers and their beloved brands. With Braze, global brands can ingest and process customer data in real-time. As a result, this enables them to orchestrate and optimise contextually relevant, cross-channel marketing campaigns while continuously evolving their customer engagement strategies.

The company’s success can be attributed to its commitment to innovation in the customer engagement space and its emphasis on real-time interaction capabilities. Braze allows brands to deliver messages based on user behaviour and preferences, helping to create a more personalised and impactful experience. The platform provides a unified dashboard that centralises customer data, enabling marketers to efficiently analyse and optimise their campaigns. It also integrates well with popular data and marketing tools, allowing brands to create seamless experiences without major technical overhauls.

Also read: Should customer journey be personalised in the age of automation?

Braze Partners with e27 for a Roundtable in Singapore

Braze has been expanding its presence in Southeast Asia. Specifically, it has been assisting brands in the region to enhance customer journeys through highly personalised, data-driven interactions. The company is dedicated to equipping businesses across various industries, including e-commerce, fintech, travel, and media, with the tools needed to create deeper, more dynamic customer journeys. During the roundtable in Singapore, held in partnership with e27, participants shared numerous real-world examples of successful customer engagement campaigns from different companies, sparking candid responses and experiences from everyone in attendance.

Distinguished attendees included:

1. Amy Bell, Founder and CMO – The Meat Club
2. Aparna K, Head of Client Success – Rewardz
3. Assaf Cohen, COO – Mighty Bear Games
4. Benjamin Jun Tai, former Head of PR and Comms – Syfe
5. Boon Kgim Khur, CTO – Hashmeta Group
6. Emily Yu Xian, Marketing Manager – discovermarket
7. Nicole Poon, COO – Shopmatic
8. Jonathan Teo, Head of Marketing – Aftershock PC
9. Violet Lim, Co-founder and CEO – Lunch Actually

Also read: The essentials of mapping a customer journey across digital assets

Delivering Impactful Experiences with Braze

The Braze roundtable event in Singapore underscored the increasing significance of customer engagement and the power of collaboration in marketing. Through thought-provoking discussions and shared insights, industry leaders acquired fresh perspectives on how to connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.

As Braze continues to innovate and expand its presence in Southeast Asia, it is clear that the company is not only empowering brands to adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape but also fostering an ecosystem where brands and consumers can thrive together. Braze is leading the way to equip businesses in the region to deliver personalised, impactful experiences that resonate with their customers and drive long-term loyalty.

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This article is produced by the e27 team.

We can share your story at e27, too. Engage the Southeast Asian tech ecosystem by bringing your story to the world. https://e27.co/advertise

The post Empowering Brands to Build a Personalised Customer Journey with Braze appeared first on e27.

The National Research Foundation has joined hands with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) to launch the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (National GRIP), a SGD50 million (US$38 million) investment initiative for startups.

Announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the NRF, Heng Swee Keat, National GRIP will support startup teams by guiding them in refining ideas, validating market needs, and developing business models.

Also Read: AI gold rush: How OpenAI’s Singapore expansion could reshape the startup ecosystem

The initiative brings together NUS’s Graduate Research Innovation Programme 2.0 (NUS GRIP 2.0) and NTU’s Lean Launchpad (LLP2.0) — which have collectively incubated over 400 startup teams and nearly 160 spin-offs.

National GRIP aims to train up to 300 startup teams by 2028 and nurture over 150 spin-offs by 2030, advancing innovative solutions from lab research to the global market and strengthening Singapore’s leadership in technological entrepreneurship.

This 12-month programme will welcome participants from Singapore’s autonomous universities and A*STAR research institutes. It will provide mentorship from industry leaders and access to a network of experts, enabling them to build founding teams, raise seed financing, and create valuable industry partnerships.

It will also provide access to intellectual property across the institutions, allowing teams to leverage strengths in research, design, and engineering for deeptech venture creation.

National GRIP will work with strategic venture partners, including Legend Capital, SOSV Investments, and Vertex Holdings, to strengthen teams’ investment readiness. These partners will assist in scaling startups, expanding into global markets, and connecting with experienced founders.

Also Read: One-third of Singaporeans never used AI tools in their workplaces: Survey finds

Assoc. Prof. Benjamin Tee, Vice President (Ecosystem Building) at NUS Enterprise, said: “National GRIP will accelerate the growth of globally competitive deep tech startups by providing end-to-end support, aligning closely with our nation’s RIE strategic plans.”

Prof. Louis Phee, Vice President (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) at NTU, added: “This collaboration allows us to combine our strengths in venture building to create high-potential teams that will contribute to Singapore’s economic growth.”

The post Singapore’s National GRIP to cultivate over 300 deeptech startups by 2030 appeared first on e27.

On Tuesday, SEEDS Capital, the investment arm of Enterprise Singapore, hosted the Deal Fridays X SEEDS Capital pitching and networking session at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology 2024 (SWITCH 2024). The event complemented the SEEDS Deep Tech Showcase at the main exhibition hall.

Hosted at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, this edition of Deal Fridays brings together startups from the Healthcare and Biomedical, Urban Solutions and Sustainability, and Quantum Technology sectors, as well as SEEDS Capital’s network of corporates, partners, global investors and innovators across Singapore’s deep tech startup ecosystem.

Each participating startup will pitch its solutions and innovations to potential partners.

At the event, e27 witnessed presentations from the 15 companies with some of these companies also showcasing their solutions at the SEEDS Deep Tech Showcase as well.

Some of the most eye-catching innovations we saw included Insectta, an ento-powered biotech company. Its patented extraction technology produces high-value biomaterials for the pharmaceutical, organic electronics, and personal wellness industries, among the few.

Also Read: How to incorporate sustainability into corporate strategies

It aims to create sustainably-produced chitosan and melanin with better functionality and yield by working with black flies. It aims to improve accessibility to these high-quality ingredients for manufacturers looking to optimise both performance and circularity.

Also in the area of sustainability was N&E Innovations which has engineered a natural and non-toxic antimicrobial called Vikang99 technology. The material eliminates virulent particles with a long-term effect to prevent transmission and mitigate resistance for a more sustainable future.

The solutions works as a replacement to the traditional plastic-made cling wraps, enabling businesses and customers to cut down on the need for plastic packaging for food products.

From the logistics sector, Speedcargo Technologies leverages computer vision, advanced algorithms, and AI to revolutionise air cargo operations for airlines and ground handlers.

The solutions work in a way best described as “Tetris-like”: First, it scans the boxes and containers that users intend to ship to get clear and precise measurements. Then, based on the information gained through the process, they “design” a better allocation for these boxes and containers, ensuring efficient delivery.

Also Read: Pierrick Bouffaron: Navigating the frontier of deep tech and entrepreneurship

From the health tech sector, QuantumTX develops fitness and medical devices that enhance fitness and health through magnetic muscle energetic training, promoting exercise as medicine.

Central to its innovation is a unique Magnetic-Mitohormesis Technology created in collaboration with ETH Zurich and the National University of Singapore (NUS). This technology uses proprietary magnetic signals to stimulate muscle mitochondria, delivering the benefits of exercise without physical stress or strain.

With this solution, the company aims to create an effect on users’ bodies similar to exercising without the need for exercise itself.

“SEEDS Capital has been hosting Deal Fridays that is an avenue for our portfolio companies to share more about innovation and connect with a wider community of investors and corporates. Our past Deal Fridays has brought success stories for our portfolio companies, translating into a successful investment to continue supporting the companies on their fundraising journey,” said Tan Kaixin, General Manager at SEEDS Capital, on her opening speech.

The post Meet the 4 innovations that catch our eyes at the Deal Fridays X SEEDS Capital event appeared first on e27.