Filipino serial entrepreneur Jason Torres, backed by a consortium of industry tech and startup veterans, has launched BetterGov.ph, a volunteer-led civic technology initiative to confront the significant transparency and efficiency challenges within Philippine governance.

The platform, which went live on 19 September alongside collaborators Christian Blanquera, Christopher Star, and four other partners, is positioned not merely as a project builder but as a crucial consolidator for the rapidly growing Southeast Asian civic tech movement.

Also Read: AI is not slowing demand for software developers in the Philippines

The initiative’s primary goal is to leverage open-source methods and grassroots engagement to make government services more transparent, efficient, and accessible to citizens.

BetterGov seeks to support, promote, and empower other builders who have launched “wonderful and impressive tech ideas”.

The frustration driving civic tech

The conceptualisation of BetterGov emerged from deep professional frustration regarding the state of fundamental digital infrastructure. Torres– who has built multiple companies, including Mashup Garage, Slerp, and Producloud–disclosed that the initiative began as a “silly idea” around June 2025, sparked by exasperation when browsing core government websites, such as gov.ph, which he estimated may have been last updated a decade ago and remains “full of dead links”.

A major datapoint underpinning the urgency of the initiative is the issue of accessibility for the Filipino diaspora. Torres noted that based on his own experience, almost 75 per cent of Philippine government websites are not accessible overseas.

This perceived digital neglect has spurred the founder, who identifies as a professional capable of making “a better version of these websites,” to commit personally to investing time, resources, and money into the movement. The initial vision has quickly evolved into playing a “bigger role,” offering a powerful outlet for “creative projects with an impact”.

Operationalising support: Infrastructure and mentorship

BetterGov is committed to providing essential operational support typically difficult to secure for volunteer-led efforts to ensure that nascent civic tech projects can scale effectively.

The resources offered to support partner initiatives and builders include:

• Infrastructure, servers, AI credits, tools, and more.
• Data and API endpoints.
• Help identifying suitable resource persons and finding a dedicated tech team.
• Organising focused tech hackathons.
• Mentorship from industry veterans.
• Access to physical office space.

The team has expressed openness to integrating more ideas and seeking out collaborators who are “smarter than us”.

A relentless, open-source commitment

Torres has adopted a posture of relentless building, stating he will continue developing “without anyone’s permission.” His output is strictly focused on “Open source, public, high-quality sites.”

Also Read: Lenovo powers Southeast Asia’s digital growth at Echelon Philippines 2025

While acknowledging the deep-seated anger surrounding public service failures, the initiative is framed as a constructive path forward, asserting: “We can contribute in our own ways no matter how little it is. We can do amazing things together, grassroots style, open source.”

The overarching commitment driving BetterGov.ph is the belief that “We Filipinos deserve better”. Collaboration is actively encouraged, and a dedicated Discord channel has been established to facilitate joint efforts.

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As Singapore accelerates towards a low-carbon future, the electric vehicle (EV) industry is emerging as both an opportunity and a challenge. Dr Chiam Sing Yang, Deputy Executive Director and Technical Director at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), and a key figure in the Singapore Battery Consortium (SBC), believes the country is still in the early stages of adoption, but poised for transformation.

“Large-scale adoption of battery products, whether in energy storage systems (ESS) or EV, is still at its early stages,” says Dr Chiam in an email interview with e27.

While Singapore has ambitious goals, barriers remain. For consumers, practical concerns such as upfront cost, uncertain resale value, and limited charging infrastructure weigh heavily on purchasing decisions. Businesses, meanwhile, struggle with the return on investment for heavier vehicles, where EV economics have yet to reach a tipping point.

Beyond transport, energy storage presents its own difficulties. “For ESS in Singapore, revenue models beyond compliance will then support deployment, especially with electricity imports,” Dr Chiam explains.

He emphasises that cleaner and more cost-effective energy is not just about addressing climate change but is “a cornerstone for economic activities” and critical for Singapore’s growth. Safety, however, is another factor that could derail momentum.

“Incidents, when amplified, can slow progress,” he warns.

Also Read: BetterGov.ph: A bold civic tech push to fix Philippine governance

Seeking solutions across the value chain

When asked about solutions, Dr Chiam–who recently spoke at the 3rd ASEAN Battery Technology Conference in Thailand–points to improvements in both technology and governance. Product innovation must focus on safety, cost, and digital integration, while better inspection regimes for battery health and third-party validation can strengthen trust in the market.

He also highlights the need for systems that monetise second-hand batteries, ensuring circularity and sustainability. Yet these solutions are not the responsibility of one actor alone.

“Resources vary, and the tricky aspect is that it may involve multiple value chain players,” he notes. Collaboration across industries, regulators, and researchers is essential if EVs in Singapore are to scale effectively.

Looking ahead, Dr Chiam is optimistic about the potential of emerging technologies. “From the materials side, we are excited about new tech in next-gen batteries, including dry processes, solid-state batteries, and non-lithium-ion batteries,” he says.

On the digital front, integrating predictive data analytics could transform how batteries are monitored and maintained. He also sees promise in a “battery passport” — a digital record enabling transparency and resource sustainability.

Government action has played a central role in shaping the EV ecosystem. Singapore’s 2030 ban on new internal combustion car sales and the ongoing rollout of EV charging infrastructure provide clear intent signals.

“In adoption, Singapore has approached from the policy angle,” Dr Chiam notes, noting that industry policies attracting high-tech players apply across sectors, including EV and energy storage. For ESS, incentives such as demand response and interruptible load schemes have also helped build momentum.

Also Read: Survive the chop, ride the wave: Why Q4 could deliver a surge in tech and digital assets

Safety and cost: twin threats

Despite this progress, Dr Chiam is cautious about what could threaten the EV industry’s trajectory. Safety improvements often require significant investment, which can make it cost-prohibitive. Worse, safety is too frequently approached only as a compliance issue, rather than as a core part of long-term innovation and consumer confidence. This gap could slow adoption unless addressed.

Looking to the near future, Dr Chiam predicts 2026 could be the year alternative chemistries begin to break through. “This is the year I think we will see sodium-ion batteries start to take some market share,” he forecasts.

If realised, this shift could make EVs in Singapore more affordable and accessible, easing reliance on lithium and addressing some of the cost barriers consumers face today.

The pathway to widespread EV adoption in Singapore is neither straightforward nor guaranteed. It requires alignment across technology, policy, business models, and public trust. However, with continued innovation and collaboration, the city-state may yet become a leader in the clean transport revolution.

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Image Credit: Dr Chiam Sing Yang

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Growing a business should be exciting. Yet for many founders, the day-to-day reality involves navigating admin, compliance, and back-office tasks that can slow down momentum.

The Founder Growth Playbook was created to address this challenge. Drawing on the experiences of more than 1,800 founders in Singapore and Hong Kong, it explores how entrepreneurs are turning these necessary tasks into opportunities for smarter growth. Download it here.

Insights from 1,800 founders

Based on the real experiences of founders in Singapore and Hong Kong, the playbook reveals patterns that separate those who feel constantly buried in admin from those who are able to focus on what matters most: growth.

It uncovers four key lessons founders wish they had known earlier. These are lessons that help turn everyday challenges into opportunities to scale smarter.

Also read: Osome bolsters leadership with new COO and VP of Marketing

A founder’s toolkit for clarity

The playbook doesn’t just share stories and insights. It also includes a practical toolkit designed to help you:

• Spot blind spots in your current setup.
• Ask the right questions when choosing partners.
• Map your tools and see where growth opportunities are hiding.

Inside, you’ll even find one simple question most founders forget to ask when evaluating a service provider and why that one question can save you months of wasted effort.

Built for founders, free to download

Whether you’re at incorporation stage or already scaling fast, the Founder Growth Playbook will give you fresh perspective on how to build smarter, not harder.

Get your copy today and discover the four lessons yourself.

The post Automate early, grow faster: Lessons from 1,800 founders appeared first on e27.

In a fireside chat at Echelon Singapore 2025, Nikhilesh Goel, co-founder of Validus, reflected on the fintech’s decade-long journey in Southeast Asia’s SME lending space. Since its inception, Validus has facilitated more than US$5 billion in SME loans, backed by US$60 million in equity and nearly US$500 million in debt funding. Goel attributed their survival and growth to prioritising common sense over market hype, emphasising persistence and a quiet, determined approach.

The company faced significant hurdles, particularly in the post-COVID environment when capital flows tightened, forcing them to rationalise manpower and restructure operations. A pivotal moment came when Validus sold its Singapore business to the Grab–SingTel digital bank joint venture in a cash deal, ensuring continuity without any job losses. This move highlighted their pragmatic approach to sustainability while safeguarding their team.

Throughout the discussion, Goel underscored the importance of people-centric practices, both in how Validus serves its SME customers and in how it treats its employees. He also urged startups to adopt smarter, more resilient business models, especially in volatile markets, to withstand shocks and secure long-term growth. His insights offered a candid perspective on endurance, adaptability, and leadership in fintech.

The post Echelon Singapore 2025 – Built through the storm: How Validus navigated headwinds and emerged stronger appeared first on e27.

At first glance, MoneyHero’s Q2 2025 numbers suggest a turnaround, but the headline “profitability” rests on shaky ground.

The Singapore-based financial aggregator posted a slim net income of US$0.2 million–driven almost entirely by deep cost cuts and a favourable foreign exchange swing, rather than genuine revenue growth. (The group employed a similar playbook in Q4 2024; more on that here.)

The topline paints a sobering picture: revenue slid 13 per cent YoY to US$18 million, with sharp contractions in the Philippines (–42 per cent) and Taiwan (–47 per cent). In Malaysia, revenue dried up completely. In fact, Q1 the group’s overall revenue had already fallen to US$14.3 million from the same period last year.

After cutting about 80 jobs in 2024 to “streamline operations”, the company is now heavily reliant on Hong Kong and Singapore, which together contribute over 86 per cent of revenue—exposing the cracks in its regional diversification strategy.

Customer activity is also waning. Applications fell 14 per cent, approvals dropped 18 per cent, and while membership grew 33 per cent to 8.6 million, engagement is clearly eroding.

To its credit, MoneyHero is pivoting to higher-margin verticals like insurance and wealth (now 27 per cent of revenue). Still, without reigniting real growth in Southeast Asia, its Q2 “profitability” risks being remembered as a fleeting accounting win rather than a durable turnaround.

REGIONAL

MoneyHero swings to profit, but only on cost cuts and FX gains
Total operating costs and expenses (excluding net foreign exchange differences) plummeted by 37 per cent YoY to US$20.6M | This dramatic reduction was broad-based, including strategic technology cost reductions, simplified operations, and a “comprehensive restructuring” of employee benefit expenses | Employee benefit expenses specifically dropped from US$6.712 million in Q2 2024 to US$3.700 million in Q2 2025.

Southeast Asia digital bank Yup raises US$32M
Investors are Moore Strategic Ventures and Spice Expeditions | The new funding brings Yup’s total equity raised to over US$100M since its founding in 2021 | The company will use the funds to expand its customer base and enhance its digital banking offerings for underbanked and underserved segments in the region.

Alodokter closes investment led by SEA-focused angel investors
AngelCentral is the lead investor | Alodokter offers telemedicine consultations, doctor appointment bookings, health content, and e-pharmacy | The company previously secured a US$5.2M in early 2024 and has over 20M monthly active users.

Grab, WeRide to launch first autonomous shuttle service in SG
Ai.R, Grab’s first autonomous vehicle service for consumers in Singapore, will operate the new AV shuttle service in Punggol, the only service chosen to run on two designated routes, starting with an initial fleet of 11 vehicles.

Nvsion secures fresh capital to drive AI-led semiconductor inspections
The investor is Cambrian Fund | Nvsion’s solutions enhance precision, improve quality, and increase efficiency in outsourced semiconductor assembly and test and electronics manufacturing services segments.

SG IoT provider iSense gets investment from Chinese company Dnake
The investment will see iSense shift its manufacturing to DNAKE’s facilities and collaborate on new IoT solutions in healthcare, access control, security, and urban monitoring | iSense provides smart city technology for projects in Singapore, Thailand, Japan, and Malaysia.

SeaX Ventures joins Brineworks in race to decarbonise aviation and shipping
The firm’s DAC technology promises to unlock ultra-low-cost carbon feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuels and e-methanol, powered entirely by renewable energy, while co-producing significant amounts of hydrogen | Carbon feedstocks are raw carbon-based inputs that serve as the building blocks for making fuels, chemicals, or materials.

Bliink launches business travel platform to empower Indonesia’s MSMEs
Bliink’s new offering is tailored to reduce inefficiencies in a segment that forms Indonesia’s economic backbone yet remains largely underserved by traditional corporate travel solutions | The company partnered strategically with the Ministry of Communication and Informatics to support MSME digitalisation.

BetterGov.ph: A bold civic tech push to fix Philippine governance
Launched by Filipino serial entrepreneur Jason Torres, backed by a consortium of industry tech and startup veterans, BetterGov.ph is a volunteer-led civic technology initiative to confront the significant transparency and efficiency challenges within Philippine governance.

REPORTS, INTERVIEWS & FEATURES

From labs to boardrooms: QAI Ventures bets on Singapore’s quantum future
Singapore has built one of the world’s most coordinated national quantum strategies, backed by long-term funding and public-private partnerships | As a financial and logistics hub, it provides immediate boardroom-level use cases in areas like fraud detection, risk modelling, and secure supply chains.

Facing EV hurdles, Indonesia looks to nickel and battery supply chains for answers
Indonesia’s new administration has placed industrial downstreaming at the centre of its energy and economic strategy | Under its “Asta Cita” or eight-vision framework, the fifth vision is dedicated to expanding value-added industries | Nickel, which Indonesia holds the world’s largest reserves of, is at the heart of this plan.

INTERNATIONAL

SoftBank, Meta, others to build Japan-Singapore submarine cable
The submarine cable system called Candle will connect Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore | The project, with NEC as the system supplier, will span about 8,000 km and is scheduled to start operations in 2028.

Trump says Lachlan and Rupert Murdoch might invest in TikTok deal
While Trump did not specify whether he was talking about personal or company investments, following his comments, Deadline reported that Fox Corp — owner of Fox News, run by CEO Lachlan Murdoch, and long led by chairman emeritus Rupert — is in fact in talks to join the investor group backing TikTok’s US spinoff from owner ByteDance.

UK bank NatWest to invest in Indian startups
The UK-based bank is targeting companies in payment solutions, agentic AI, and control frameworks, with planned investments ranging from US$250K to US$2M per deal | NatWest recently opened an expanded global capability centre in Bengaluru, adding to its existing locations in Gurugram and Chennai, where it employs about 17,000 people.

Indian VC firm 888 launches US$19.8M fund for AI, deeptech startups
The fund will target investments of US$240K to US$482K per startup over the next three years, with a focus on companies aiming for global markets | 888 VC also introduced GRO8, a platform for cross-border investment and mentorship, which will offer services such as capital access, mentorship, and market connections.

Cryptocurrencies drop as US$1.5B in bullish bets liquidated
Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, dropped up to 9 per cent to US$4,075 as nearly US$500M in leveraged bullish bets were wiped out, according to Coinglass data | Bitcoin also fell almost 3 per cent to US$111,998 during the same period |More than 407,000 traders had positions liquidated within 24 hours.

UAE targets 10K entrepreneurs with ‘Startup Capital’ initiative
The campaign is managed by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, with participation from over 50 public and private sector entities, including business incubators and academic institutions | Key initiatives include launching StartupEmirates.ae, training 10K Emiratis through the Entrepreneurship Programme, and licensing 500 Emiratis to manage residential construction projects.

European ride-hailing firm Bolt launches in Taiwan
Bolt is partnering with local Taiwanese fleets to provide its service in Taipei, joining a market that has had limited platform options for ride-hailing | The Tallinn-based company operates in over 600 cities across 50+ countries, offering ride-hailing, scooter, e-bike, and car rentals.

SEMICONDUCTOR

MediaTek launches new AI chip to rival Qualcomm
The Taiwanese semiconductor firm said the processor, Dimensity 9500, was built using a 3-nanometer process by TSMC | It will enable features like enhanced call and meeting summaries, improved AI model performance, and higher-quality 4K photos.

Samsung shares rise 5.3 per cent on Nvidia chip approval reports
The shares rose 5.3 per cent to their highest level since August 2024 after reports that the company’s 12-layer HBM3E memory chips passed Nvidia’s qualification tests | Samsung, based in South Korea, produces memory chips used in AI and other computing applications.

Taiwan sees GDP boost from TSMC, AI demand
Taiwan is expected to surpass South Korea in GDP per capita in 2025, driven by the growth of TSMC and rising demand for AI applications, according to Taiwan’s National Development Council | TSMC, a Taiwan-based contract chipmaker, increased its global foundry market share to 70.2 per cent in Q2 2025, according to TrendForce, while Samsung held 7.3 per cent.

AI

LLM prompting, fine-tuning, RAG, or AI agents: Which AI is better for marketing?
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to AI in marketing | Small businesses might start with LLM prompting or dip into AI agents to get an edge, while larger enterprises can leverage RAG for its real-time insights and fine-tuning for brand consistency | Ultimately, AI isn’t here to replace human marketers; it’s here to amplify creativity and strategic decision-making.

Agentic AI in action: How Southeast Asia’s startups are turning constraints into strengths
Agentic AI is not about creating machines that replace humans | It is about giving small, ambitious teams the leverage to do what was previously impossible | And that is why Southeast Asia matters | Here, innovation is often born not from abundance but from constraint | The region’s complexity—its languages, its fragmented regulations, its entrepreneurial hunger—makes it one of the most important testbeds for this next frontier of AI.

The AI revolution’s dark side: Mass unemployment, rage, and the collapse of stability
AI threatens the core economic identity of white-collar workers, stripping away not just income but also their sense of purpose and social superiority | The sense of betrayal felt by these workers — falling down the economic and social ladder with no way back — will generate rage on a scale rarely seen.

What happens when AI transforms social networks into civic square?
The transition from network to community governance is not speculative; Already, decentralised platforms are experimenting with models that move beyond corporate stewardship | MeWe, a privacy focused alternative social media network, rejects surveillance driven capital in favour of community and user-centric control.

Why the future of AI on mobile may not be in the cloud
We are entering a phase where the intelligence is not just in the cloud, not just in the model, but in the choreography between device, data, and environment | AI that truly feels human won’t be achieved through brute compute or bigger models | It will come from systems designed to operate at the speed of thought.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Why I built an app to make blood donation less scary
Technology should serve as an enabler, not a gatekeeper | By designing tools that are intuitive, affordable and scalable, we can influence public attitudes towards blood donation and tackle one of the region’s most urgent yet solvable healthcare challenges.

Funding for good: A new era
The challenge—and opportunity—for investors is to make funding for good the norm rather than the exception | By backing startups that deliver measurable social impact, capital can flow toward ventures that strengthen communities, preserve the planet, and still generate strong financial returns.

Most CTOs obsess over tech, I obsess over trust — here’s why
In the world of AI and ML, trust is crucial | These technologies can be transformative, but they’re also often seen as a “black box” mysterious and sometimes even intimidating | To use AI/ML effectively, businesses must trust that the algorithms are working as expected, that the data is secure, and that the models are making decisions in an ethical way.

How this founder went from being a tutor to a modern day mompreneur
Female entrepreneurs need a solid community to help them get through the difficult times in their business journey | After all, shattering the glass ceiling is hardly a one (wo)man job | When it comes to stepping outside gender norms, the entrepreneurial world can be brutal.

Cybersecurity in the AI age: How startups can stay ahead
The emergence of new tactics such as Jailbreak-as-a-Service highlights the democratisation of cyber threats, underscoring the need for startups to stay ahead of the curve | Recent technological developments mean that hostilities can now come from anywhere, which makes threat detection increasingly complex, particularly as we look ahead to the future.

How this startup is bringing efficiency to the process of exchanging business cards
Shake is a contact data exchange and management app platform which truly digitises the business card and makes for seamless data distribution and collection | More importantly, the platform addresses a variety of needs and problems which businesses and business people likely didn’t even realise they have.

How is open-source collaboration empowering Asia’s fastest growing markets?
Open-source collaboration can be a gateway to innovation | It provides a platform where individuals and organisations collaborate to create, develop, and improve software freely shared among users | For example, consider popular platforms like Linux or WordPress; they’ve allowed endless customisation opportunities on a global scale.

Decoding startup financing: Why pre-money SAFEs are founders’ best bet
In a pre-money SAFE, the valuation cap is determined before the investor’s contribution | This approach anchors the investor’s ownership stake to the valuation of the company at the time of their investment | As a founder, this can work in your favour, as you are less susceptible to dilution caused by subsequent investments at higher valuations.

Why Japanese startups are interested in the Southeast Asian market
South East Asia has a growing middle class of consumers with increasingly high purchasing power driving up demand in multiple sectors | This provides a great opportunity for Japanese startups to establish a foothold in the region and tap into the potential of the markets by plugging their services into multiple industries.

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