SmartSolar, a Vietnam-based energy-tech startup, has obtained US$1.85 million in a seed funding round jointly led by Picus Capital and 2degrees.

Iterative also participated.

SmartSolar aims to increase the adoption of rooftop solar systems among small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Southeast Asia.

Also Read: An investor’s outlook on solar energy in emerging Asia

Despite the region’s abundant sunshine, only about 5 per cent of rooftops have solar panels, compared to countries like Germany, which have significantly higher adoption rates.

Within six months of its launch, SmartSolar claims to have installed almost 1MWp of capacity across numerous businesses in Vietnam and is rapidly expanding throughout the region.

Many business owners are concerned about rising electricity bills but lack the knowledge or confidence to invest in solar technology. Few banks in Southeast Asia are willing to provide loans for small-scale solar installations, and those that do often have lengthy approval processes and high interest rates.

SmartSolar addresses these challenges by offering solar systems with no upfront costs, fast approvals, and a customer-friendly approach. The company shares the savings from solar energy with its customers, ensuring mutual benefit.

Abhijay Thacker, Senior Vice President at Picus Capital, expressed enthusiasm for SmartSolar’s approach to providing clean and inexpensive power in Southeast Asia, believing it can generate significant value for customers and the environment.

Also Read: Swedish firm Trine backs Vietnamese solar energy startup Stride

Soren Wiberg Holm, Venture Lead at 2degrees, noted the surging local demand, favourable conditions, and strong policy support in Vietnam, considering the market for solar energy to be at a turning point. He also emphasised that SmartSolar is directly tackling a significant barrier to solar adoption among SMEs: access to upfront capital.

In June 2024, Stride, another Vietnamese solar energy company, secured US$3 million in a debt financing facility from the Swedish solar investment platform Trine to expand its capacity to fund customers’ clean-energy installations in partnership with local installers.

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(A slightly unhinged founder’s vision statement)

I’ve always believed that the future is worn, not just witnessed.

Maybe that belief started back when I was slinging yachts and convincing rich people to buy floating mansions out of the Acronis office. Maybe it solidified when I strapped a literal toaster to my head in the early VR days, running around looking like a Marge Simpson who let her hair loose one too many times.

Now?

Now I’m galloping into the next technological frontier, cowboy hat firmly planted, building AI wearables that make your so-called “smart glasses” look like a couple of cyborg lenses duct-taped together.

And why do I have to pay so darn much too?

But hold onto your cowboy hats, because we’re not just stopping at fancy glasses. We’re partnering with a secret Singaporean space company (yes, secret, because real innovation happens before the press releases) to meld satellite data with AI-powered POV (point-of-view) wearables.

Think: real-time geospatial intelligence, AI-enhanced mapping, and augmented satellite insights on-demand.

The wild (tech) west of AI wearables + satellite data

AI + satellite data = God mode for reality

Imagine wearing AI glasses that don’t just enhance what’s in front of you, they pull real-time insights from space.

• Walking through a city? Get instant structural integrity scans of buildings, see where traffic is forming before it happens.
• Working in agriculture? Get crop health insights from a combo of satellite imaging + AI-powered environmental scanning on your morning stroll.
• Disaster response? Our AI-powered wearables will integrate live satellite feeds, terrain analytics, and predictive models for first responders.
• Defense and security? POV glasses that sync satellite positioning with AI-driven geospatial overlays for real-time tactical intelligence.
• POV data-as-a-service? Training AI models for robotics, accessibility tech, and industry application.

Private AI networks that don’t spy on you (looking at you, big tech )

We’re building AI wearables with private, secure AI-driven analytics that don’t sell your data to the highest bidder.

Ugh, you know what is better?

• Enterprise dashboards: Custom, industry-specific intelligence feeds for logistics, security, and urban planning.
• Anonymised data processing: No big-brother surveillance nonsense. Just pure AI-enhanced insights processed on-device.
• Live risk assessments: Our AI models will analyse satellite and POV data in real time, detecting environmental risks, supply chain disruptions, and infrastructure weaknesses as they happen.

Also Read: Short runway, big dreams: Strategies for startups when growth outpaces funding

R&D: The cowboy code meets deep tech

We’re not just putting a new screen on your face. We’re not, really we are not. We’re looking at herding geospatial AI into uncharted territory. What we would like to do:

• Joint R&D with a Singaporean space lab to develop never-before-seen geospatial AI applications.
• Smart city integrations: Real-time mapping, terrain analysis, and energy efficiency tracking via AI glasses with our POV data.
• Pioneering new Earth observation models: Because why stop at seeing the world when you can remap it from orbit?

Why this partnership changes everything

By collaborating with Singapore’s most cutting-edge space innovators, we’re not just building another Metaverse company. (Did that word die yet?) We’re making Singapore the leader in AI-powered spatial intelligence. An industry-defining move that unlocks new revenue streams across geospatial analytics, wearables, robotics and defense-grade satellite monitoring.

We’re taking AI glasses from “Hey, that’s a cool party trick. Too bad that AI isn’t allowed in Singapore” to “Holy cow, this is a battlefield-grade intelligence engine that fits on my face.”

And yes, I’ll absolutely be demoing this while rocking my cowboy hat, reminiscing about my toaster-on-head days, and gearing up for the future of wearable tech that actually does something useful.

And we need space to do this here on earth.

It won’t happen overnight.

Building the future takes time, just like training a Paris 2020 Olympic Gymnast from age 12 in Singapore straight out of Toa Payoh.

But our slightly unhinged, ridiculously ambitious team is all geared up and ready to roll.

Let’s make history.

And look damn good doing it.

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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.

Image credit: Canva Pro

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Same thing. I’ve been closely following the whirlwind of events that unfolded on Wednesday, March 6, 2025.

The global risk sentiment has undeniably taken a turn for the better, and the epicentre of this shift is Europe—specifically Germany—where an audacious fiscal proposal has sent shockwaves through the markets. German bunds, typically seen as the bedrock of stability in European fixed-income markets, are on track for their worst sell-off since 1990.

This isn’t just a blip; it’s a seismic event driven by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s bold pledge to channel hundreds of billions of euros into defense and infrastructure, with a “whatever it takes” stance that echoes Mario Draghi’s famous 2012 vow to save the euro. The sheer scale of this proposal has caught market participants off guard, and the upside surprise has fueled a mix of optimism and unease.

Let’s unpack what’s happening in Europe first. The German bund sell-off reflects a dramatic repricing of risk. Yields on 10-year bunds spiked to 2.69 per cent, a level that signals investors are demanding higher returns to hold German debt amid this unprecedented fiscal expansion. The debt brake—Germany’s constitutional limit on borrowing—seems to have been tossed out the window, a move that’s both a departure from Berlin’s long-standing fiscal prudence and a gamble on future growth.

Posts on X suggest bond vigilantes, those hawkish investors who punish profligate governments with higher yields, are already circling, sensing fragility rather than strength in this shift. Yet, the equity markets are telling a different story. The MSCI Europe index climbed 0.8 per cent, buoyed by the prospect of massive government spending lifting economic activity.

The euro, too, has flexed its muscles, with EUR/USD soaring to a high of 1.0796 before settling at 1.0790—a robust 1.56 per cent gain. This currency surge reflects confidence in Europe’s economic prospects, at least for now, though the spectre of inflation and debt sustainability looms large.

Across the Atlantic, the US markets are enjoying a reprieve of their own, thanks to President Trump’s decision to delay automotive tariffs on Canada and Mexico by a month. This move, coupled with hints of exemptions for certain agricultural products, has dialed back fears of an all-out trade war that had been simmering since Trump’s re-election.

It’s a pragmatic step—autos and agriculture are deeply integrated across North America, and tariffs would’ve hit US consumers as much as they’d hurt exporters in Canada and Mexico. European carmakers, already reeling from earlier tariff threats, saw their shares stabilise, though the damage from Tuesday’s sell-off lingers. On the data front, the ISM Services Index came in stronger than expected, with a notable uptick in employment growth.

In my opinion, this is a reassuring signal that the US economy isn’t teetering on the edge of recession, though all eyes are now on Friday’s payrolls report for confirmation. The MSCI US index rose 1.1 per cent, with the Materials sector leading the charge at 2.8 per cent, likely reflecting optimism about infrastructure spending and industrial demand.

Also Read: Shifting sands: How trade fears and crypto hopes are redefining markets

Bond markets in the US are also stirring. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed 7 basis points to 4.28 per cent, while the 2-year yield ticked up nearly 5 basis points to 4.00 per cent. This steepening yield curve suggests investors are betting on stronger growth and, potentially, stickier inflation down the road.

Commodities, meanwhile, are a mixed bag. Gold eked out a 0.1 per cent gain, propped up by a softer dollar, but Brent crude slid 2.5 per cent for a third straight session. OPEC+’s plan to ramp up output in April is weighing on oil prices, despite the improving risk sentiment elsewhere. It’s a reminder that not every corner of the market is riding the same wave of optimism.

Turning to Asia, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) has set an ambitious 5 per cent growth target for 2025, a number that’s raised eyebrows and sparked hopes of more stimulus. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong surged 2.8 per cent on Wednesday and looks poised for further gains today, Thursday, March 6.

Asian equity indices are mostly in the green, reflecting a broader appetite for risk. China’s policymakers seem determined to turn the tide after years of economic headwinds, and markets are lapping it up—for now. Whether Beijing can deliver remains an open question, but the mood is unmistakably upbeat. US equity index futures, however, are pointing to a softer open, suggesting some profit-taking or caution after Wednesday’s rally.

Then there’s the crypto saga, which is grabbing headlines of its own. Bitcoin staged a remarkable 8 per cent surge, reclaiming the US$90,000 level after dipping below US$80,000 just five days ago. This rollercoaster ride is fuelled by speculation around Trump’s rumoured US crypto reserve plan—a bold idea that’s got the market buzzing. Technical indicators like the Directional Movement Index (DMI) and Ichimoku Cloud are flashing bullish signals, hinting that buyers are firmly in the driver’s seat.

The US$100,000 mark is tantalisingly close, but volatility is Bitcoin’s middle name, and the upcoming White House Crypto Summit could either propel it higher or spark a pullback. Speaking of the summit, Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson found himself snubbed from the invite list, though he’s brushing it off, claiming he’s still a behind-the-scenes player in shaping US crypto policy.

Michael Saylor, meanwhile, is doubling down on Bitcoin as the “only neutral asset” for a US reserve, dismissing XRP as a mere digital token. Ethereum, too, is on the mend, climbing from its US$2,000 support zone and eyeing a break above US$2,350. A rising channel on the hourly chart suggests momentum is building, but resistance at US$2,275 and $2,350 will test its mettle.

Also Read: Global markets steady as PCE data softens, Trump names Bitcoin in strategic reserve

So, what’s my take on all this? I’m struck by the sheer pace of these developments. Europe’s fiscal gambit is a game-changer—Germany’s shift from fiscal hawk to big spender could jolt the continent out of its economic doldrums, but it’s a high-stakes bet. The bund sell-off is a warning shot; if yields keep climbing, borrowing costs could choke off the very growth Merz is chasing.

Yet, the equity rally and euro’s strength suggest markets are willing to give it a chance. In the US, Trump’s tariff delay is a savvy move—it buys time and cools trade tensions, though it’s hardly a resolution. The economy looks resilient, but the payrolls report will be the real tell. Asia’s optimism hinges on China’s ability to follow through, and crypto’s wild ride is a microcosm of the broader risk-on mood.

If I had to pick a standout, it’s Germany’s bold pivot. It’s shaking up Europe in a way we haven’t seen in decades, and the ripple effects—higher yields, a stronger euro, buoyant stocks—could redefine the region’s role in the global economy. But risks abound: inflation, debt overload, and geopolitical uncertainty could derail this fragile recovery. For now, though, the world’s investors are riding the wave, and it’s one heck of a story to watch unfold.

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India’s fintech giant Razorpay has announced its expansion into Singapore, marking its second market in Southeast Asia. The company aims to enhance the country’s digital payments ecosystem by offering AI-powered, cost-efficient, and scalable payment solutions to businesses.

Singapore has emerged as a global payments hub, but small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face challenges such as high transaction fees and fragmented payment systems. Cross-border transactions currently incur charges of four to six per cent per transaction, limiting business scalability.

Razorpay’s entry into the market seeks to address these issues by reducing transaction fees by 30-40 per cent and improving access to real-time payments.

Razorpay’s platform in Singapore will include several innovations tailored to the needs of local businesses:

– Multi-currency transactions and Real-Time Payments (RTPs)
– Agentic-AI toolkit
– RAY – AI concierge for payments
– Magic Checkout
– Expanded payment options

As part of its launch strategy, Razorpay is collaborating with banks, financial institutions, and regulators to ensure compliance with Singapore’s financial framework. The company’s suite of services, including payment gateways, cross-border transaction solutions, and real-time financial analytics, is now available to businesses in Singapore.

Also Read: How fintech is disrupting the Southeast Asian payments market

Shashank Kumar, Managing Director and Co-founder of Razorpay highlighted the strategic significance of this expansion. “As one of the most advanced digital economies, Singapore is an ideal market for our next phase of growth. Our AI-driven payments suite, including Agentic-AI and RAY, will redefine financial operations, offering seamless transactions and intelligent automation to enhance business efficiency,” he said.

Angad Dhindsa, Razorpay’s Southeast Asia Head, emphasised the importance of cross-border payments for Singaporean businesses. “With 30-50 per cent of online payments being cross-border, SMEs need cost-effective solutions that empower them to transact globally. Leveraging our expertise from India and Malaysia, we aim to provide seamless financial operations and real-time settlements for businesses in Singapore.”

At the launch event, Dhindsa outlined the company’s user acquisition strategy, which includes partnerships, word-of-mouth referrals, technological innovation, and collaborations with Indian businesses expanding into Singapore.

Razorpay has a global workforce of 3,000 employees, 60 of whom are based in Malaysia and 10 in Singapore. The company is actively expanding its team in Singapore as part of its commitment to strengthening the local digital payments ecosystem.

With Singapore’s continued push towards a cashless economy, Razorpay’s expansion signals increased competition and innovation in the digital payments sector. As businesses seek more efficient cross-border transaction solutions, the company’s AI-driven approach positions it as a key player in Singapore’s evolving financial landscape.

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Image Credit: Razorpay

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

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

In this episode, we feature Kevin Shepherdson, CEO and Founder of Straits Interactive, a data privacy solutions provider in ASEAN. Recently recognised as one of Singapore’s top 10 generative AI startup leaders for 2025, Shepherdson is also the author of 99 Privacy Breaches to Beware of and a Fellow in Information Privacy (FIP). With extensive experience consulting for over 50 multinational companies, he is an authorised regional trainer for privacy certification and corporate governance courses at IAPP, Singapore Management University (SMU), and Open Compliance Ethics Group (OCEG).

Thoughts, goals, and journey

After a successful career in senior management at Creative, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle, Shepherdson sought a mid-career shift to pursue more meaningful and impactful work. During a one-year break, he was approached by Savills’ Managing Director to help address Singapore’s 2013 Do-Not-Call (DNC) registry compliance challenge.

This led to the creation of SpiderGate, a Do-Not-Call management solution that quickly gained traction among real estate and insurance firms, surpassing revenue expectations and generating over a million dollars in its first year. This success introduced him to privacy and data protection, laying the foundation for Straits Interactive. The company pioneered a blended model of training, consulting, and software solutions, achieving double-digit growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it pivoted from compliance to broader AI and data governance solutions.

Shepherdson said, “By 2023, the launch of ChatGPT revealed the transformative power of Generative AI. We partnered with Microsoft and Rackspace Technologies to introduce the industry’s first AI-powered Data Protection Officer Assistant. Our digital transformation efforts leveraging Gen AI earned us the Most Promising and Outstanding Startup Award in Singapore’s first National Startup award (ACE) .

Today, Straits Interactive has expanded further, offering Generative AI Capability-as-a-Service (CaaS), enabling non-technical professionals to build and deploy AI chatbots, tools, and tutors securely and effectively. The Generative AI landscape is largely driven by developers and data scientists, yet the majority of professionals (trainers, consultants, and entrepreneurs) lack technical expertise to leverage it effectively.” 

Shepherdson aims to bridge the gap in Generative AI, making it accessible, practical, and secure for businesses, educators, and professionals worldwide. His goal is to empower them to harness AI’s full potential effectively.

With expertise in data protection and data governance, he authored 99 Privacy Breaches to Beware of and has designed over 20 courses covering these areas, as well as Generative AI—focusing on its value, risks, and constraints. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration, specialising in Generative AI.

Also Read: A recap of e27 Contributor Programme’s noteworthy offerings in 2024

Speaking about the growing adoption of Generative AI, Shepherdson said, “With the rise of Generative AI, we are seeing a significant uptick in interest from business professionals, including those from public agencies. A growing number of non-technical professionals with domain expertise are eager to leverage Generative AI to enhance productivity and learning, signalling a major shift in AI adoption beyond traditional developers and data scientists.

Additionally, organisations are increasingly looking to integrate Generative AI with their internal data while addressing concerns about security, privacy, and compliance. A common trend we’re observing is that many organisations are using off-the-shelf AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) in a generic manner. Now, they are exploring the development of custom AI solutions tailored to their specific needs.

The emergence of DeepSeek and other open-source LLMs is further disrupting the AI landscape, making AI adoption more cost-effective and accessible. As a result, demand for expertise in prompt engineering has surged—our prompt engineering classes are consistently fully booked, and we leverage our Capabara platform to empower professionals in this area. This trend underscores the broader shift towards AI democratisation, where organisations and professionals across industries are moving from passive AI consumption to actively building and customising AI tools.” 

The driving force

Shepherdson is a valuable and active member of our contributor community, sharing his vast insights with the broader ecosystem. He said, “I’m passionate about bridging the gap between technology and business professionals, and being an e27 contributor allows me to share practical insights, demystify AI for businesses, and engage with fellow entrepreneurs. Through this, I hope to drive responsible, sustainable AI transformation and empower startups and enterprises to adopt and scale AI effectively.”

“e27 plays a crucial role in Singapore’s startup ecosystem, serving as a vital platform for entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators to connect, learn, and grow. As a founder working in AI governance and Generative AI adoption, I see e27 as an essential bridge between emerging technology and real-world business applications. Many startups struggle with responsible AI implementation, commercialisation, and ecosystem partnerships, and e27’s community-driven approach fosters the collaboration and thought leadership needed to tackle these challenges,” he added. 

Advice for budding thought leaders

Based on his experience in senior leadership positions and writing for various technology publications, Shepherdson advises aspiring thought leaders to focus on three key areas. He said:

• Engage regularly with stakeholders and the media

To establish yourself as a trusted industry voice, make it a habit to engage with your stakeholders—whether they are clients, partners, or industry peers. If opportunities arise, interact with the media (yes, I know it can be nerve-racking), but remember that thought leadership is more than just promoting your products and services. Instead, educate and provide value by sharing industry insights, trends, and expert opinions.

By doing this, you position yourself as a go-to expert, and when the media or organisations need an industry voice, they will think of you first.

• Participate in industry events and panel discussions

One of the most effective ways to build credibility is by actively participating in industry events, conferences, and panel discussions (I know it is time consuming). These platforms allow you to: share your expertise in a public forum, engage in meaningful conversations with industry leaders, and gain visibility and recognition for your insights.

Additionally, be generous with your knowledge (I know a few of my competitors — especially consultants and legal firms will charge for giving professional advice). Offer guidance and advice to those who seek it without expecting immediate returns. Thought leaders give before they receive, and by providing genuine value, you build long-term credibility and influence.

• Leverage Generative AI for communication—but thoughtfully

Generative AI can be a powerful tool to help structure your key points, refine messaging, and enhance your communication. However, never rely passively on AI-generated responses. Instead, use it as an idea-generation tool to: organise and articulate your thoughts more effectively, validate your insights with additional perspectives, and fine-tune the clarity and impact of your message.

According to Shepherdson, authenticity is key; thought leaders should share their own expertise and insights, not just AI-generated content, to build credibility and impact.

Also Read: Celebrating community-driven growth: Top 27 contributors of 2024

Juggling too many things?

According to Shepherdson, staying updated in the industry requires continuous learning and active engagement with emerging trends. He ensures this by designing new courses that cover the latest developments, pushing himself to stay deeply connected with industry shifts. His dedication to lifelong learning was recognised with Singapore’s SkillsFuture Fellowship, awarded by the President, honouring individuals who consistently upskill, mentor, and contribute to knowledge sharing.

As the leader of a Generative AI capability platform, Shepherdson is immersed in AI daily, collaborating with developers, consultants, and industry experts. Through extensive research, experiments, and real-world applications, he explores how Generative AI can drive innovation across sectors. National-level prompt design competitions have further exposed him to how learning institutions and SMEs are integrating AI to enhance productivity and education.

He also highlights the value of social media and podcasts in staying informed. Engaging with relevant videos or discussions helps professionals leverage AI-driven content recommendations, ensuring they remain up to date with industry advancements.

Take a look at his articles here for more information and perspectives on his expertise.

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

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

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