Southeast Asia’s once-vibrant startup funding landscape took a heavy hit in August 2025, as total capital raised plummeted to US$84 million across 22 deals, according to Tracxn.

The slump underscores growing investor caution and macroeconomic headwinds, with this figure representing a 65.1 per cent decline from August 2024 and a staggering 76.4 per cent drop compared to July 2025.

This sharp contraction signals one of the toughest months in recent memory for the region’s founders, who are already grappling with tighter liquidity and slower deal cycles.

Bright spots amid the slowdown

Despite the downturn, some heavyweight venture firms continued to place selective bets:

Also Read: SEA startup funding plunges to US$68M in July 2025, down over 75% YoY

• Peak XV Partners led the month’s activity, backing TazaPay and Blitz Electric Mobility.
• Wavemaker Growth deployed capital into Graas and Kozystay, maintaining its steady investment momentum.
• Square Peg Ventures participated with an investment in ZUZU, while Integra Partners also made moves in the region.

A cautious but not silent market

The August slump highlights a market in recalibration—investors are still active but increasingly selective, gravitating toward startups with strong fundamentals, resilient business models, and proven traction.
For founders, the message is clear: capital is still available, but competition for it is fiercer than ever.

 

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Southeast Asia stands at a pivotal moment in educational development. As global edutech markets expand, the region faces a critical choice: replicate the West’s increasingly alienating, screen-centric model or pioneer a fundamentally better approach. The answer lies not in imitation but in leapfrogging—bypassing the “disembodied default” of passive digital consumption to embrace the science of embodied cognition.

Grounded in cognitive research demonstrating that movement, gesture, and sensory experience accelerate learning, this strategy transforms Southeast Asia’s infrastructure gaps into advantages. With digital divides persisting—particularly in rural areas where internet access lags urban centres by up to 30 per cent—the region can leverage its high mobile penetration to build resilient, human-centred systems from the outset.

Escaping the disembodied trap

The West’s edutech trajectory prioritises disembodied AI—an intelligence divorced from physical experience. This reduces learning to screen-bound information transfer, ignoring cognitive science, which confirms that knowledge is constructed through bodily interaction with the environment. Southeast Asia’s constrained infrastructure, however, creates a unique opportunity to reject this model.

By designing Embodied edutech—where technology activates physical and social learning—the region can turn limitations into innovation catalysts. Consider language education: instead of vocabulary apps, an AR tool on low-cost smartphones could have students physically act out verbs while receiving movement feedback, anchoring language acquisition in sensorimotor experience.

Also Read: Why Southeast Asia’s edutech must go beyond chatbots to truly transform learning

Similarly, STEM learning could shift from simulations to community projects where digital blueprints guide students in constructing water filters from local materials, transforming abstract concepts into tangible problem-solving.

Critical success factors

Three pillars will determine this leapfrog strategy’s viability. First, cultural specificity must transcend tokenism. Embodied learning artifacts should be co-created with communities, integrating traditions like batik patterning for geometry lessons or rice cultivation cycles for biology. This approach aligns with UNESCO’s framework for leveraging indigenous knowledge and boosts engagement by rooting education in local identity—a practice proven effective across ASEAN contexts.

Second, assessment must evolve beyond standardised tests. Authentic evaluation methods like performance rubrics, digital-physical portfolios, and “Explain Your Creation” demonstrations are essential to measure embodied learning’s outcomes. These tools capture collaborative problem-solving and practical application—skills inadequately assessed by traditional exams.

Third, scaling the “Bio-Integrator” educator model demands reimagined teacher development. Educators must transition from lecturers to facilitators who bridge digital tools and physical experiences. Micro-credentials in kinesthetic pedagogy, peer learning networks, and partnerships with local artisans can accelerate this shift. Critically, training must itself be embodied—teachers learn by doing activities they’ll facilitate.

The regional advantage

Embodied edutech uniquely addresses Southeast Asia’s challenges. It ensures digital inclusion by functioning offline with basic devices, directly supporting ASEAN’s equitable transformation goals. It builds resilience—projects continue during connectivity outages, vital in disaster-prone regions.

Most significantly, it nurtures holistic development, merging digital literacy with physical dexterity, environmental awareness, and community bonds. This counters the screen alienation observed in Western youth while positioning Southeast Asia as an educational innovator.

Also Read: Edutech in Southeast Asia: Are we just paving the digital road to nowhere?

Conclusion: Pioneering human-centred learning

Southeast Asia’s edutech future need not follow foreign blueprints. By championing embodied cognition—through culturally resonant design, authentic assessment, and empowered “Bio-Integrators”—the region can leapfrog to an education system that is technologically agile yet fundamentally human.

This approach cultivates generations who wield digital tools not as crutches but as extensions of their physical and social intelligence. As global work evolves, this model offers a template for resilient, equitable learning worldwide. The leapfrog begins not with more screens, but with reinventing how bodies and minds engage the world.

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The old way of thinking about investment is a dangerous assumption that has held back progress for too long. We’ve been conditioned to believe that profit and purpose exist on separate tracks—that you either chase a high return or accept a lower one to do some good.

This outdated mindset, however, blinds investors to the most profound and resilient opportunities of our time. The truth is, a business built to improve lives is not just a good investment; it’s the only truly smart one.

A case from Southeast Asia

Go into any bustling city across Southeast Asia and you’ll see the same vibrant reality: an economy driven by small businesses, from crowded street stalls to family-run eateries. Behind this energy, though, lies a massive hidden inefficiency—millions of tons of food waste.

A team of founders saw not a problem to be ignored, but an opportunity to be harnessed. Instead of building the next viral consumer app, they created a simple platform that connects these businesses with a local network of collectors.

These collectors, working independently, pick up the waste and deliver it not to a dump, but to nearby urban farms for composting. The business owners pay a small fee for the service, and the compost is sold, completing a new, self-sustaining loop.

Building durable systems

This isn’t just a feel-good story; it’s a masterclass in building a business model that is immune to fleeting trends. Its success isn’t tied to a market whim, but to solving a deep-seated, persistent problem. The technology is merely the tool, but the true innovation is the new system it creates.

Building this kind of new system—whether it’s a digital platform or a physical network—is a form of infrastructure development. These are not quick-hit projects; they take time and patience, a long-term view that many traditional investments lack. By transforming waste from a liability into a valuable resource, the company isn’t just optimising a process—it’s building a new micro-economy.

Also Read: Built for all or built to fail? Why tech for social impact must start with inclusion

The service becomes indispensable because it improves the lives of everyone it touches, from the business owner who saves money and gains peace of mind to the collector who earns a new, reliable income. This kind of tangible impact is the very engine of a durable business.

Redefining returns

For investors, this model provides a powerful, dual-sided story that redefines what a return looks like. On one side, you have the traditional metrics: revenue from service fees, growth in the network of collectors, and the profitability from compost sales.

But on the other, you have a far more important measure of value: the total amount of waste diverted from landfills, the number of new jobs created, and the improved quality of soil for local agriculture.

These are not merely social metrics; they are leading indicators of market strength, proving that the business’s growth is a direct reflection of its positive influence. This isn’t charity; this is a form of value creation that builds on itself. When a company’s success is directly tied to the well-being of its community, that community becomes its most loyal partner.

Scaling purpose into impact

A narrow focus on profit alone often leads to short-term thinking and vulnerability to market shifts. A business built on purpose, however, creates a ripple effect of opportunity that strengthens its market position from the ground up. The foundation of this model is change, and it begins with small steps.

A single restaurant changing its behaviour is a minor win. But when that behaviour is adopted by hundreds, then thousands of businesses, it begins to transform an entire city and create a new normal.

Also Read: Why investors are betting big on Asia’s social impact startups

This kind of investment is in the very fabric of society, creating improved livelihoods, unlocking new opportunities, and empowering communities to advance together.

The smartest investment of all

The time for viewing “funding for good” as a side project is over. It is the smartest form of investing because it taps into a fundamental truth: human potential is the most valuable resource on earth.

Companies that solve real problems are the ones that will build the most durable, valuable, and future-proof businesses. Their success is a direct result of their ability to build systems that uplift people and improve their daily reality.

For those seeking more than just a return on capital, this new model offers the chance to impact future generations and leave a genuine legacy. The most valuable ventures aren’t the ones that merely profit today; they are the ones building a better future for everyone.

Profit isn’t the goal; it’s the powerful and inevitable outcome of a purpose-driven mission.

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The global financial landscape presents a complex tapestry of competing forces as we navigate the final quarter of 2025. While traditional markets grapple with evolving monetary policy expectations and geopolitical uncertainties, digital assets continue demonstrating their unique behavioural patterns amid institutional adoption and technical repositioning.

This analysis examines Bitcoin’s current trajectory through the lens of market structure, institutional behaviour, and technical indicators, revealing a maturing asset class undergoing significant transformation. The interplay between liquidation dynamics, corporate treasury allocations, and technical support levels creates a fascinating narrative about cryptocurrency’s evolving role in global finance.

Bitcoin’s recent price action around the US$111,924 mark reflects a critical juncture where multiple market forces converge. The cryptocurrency’s consolidation between US$110,000 and US$120,000 during September 2025 appears directly linked to strategic accumulation activities by institutional miners positioning themselves for long-term growth. This price range represents more than just a technical consolidation zone; it serves as a psychological threshold where market participants weigh the potential for short-term volatility against longer-term structural trends.

The significance of this range becomes clearer when considering that Bitcoin might experience a maximum eight per cent decline to US$100,000 during September, though such a move would represent an outlier scenario rather than the baseline expectation. This potential downside buffer provides crucial context for understanding current market psychology and risk management approaches.

The liquidation dynamics surrounding Bitcoin’s current price level reveal sophisticated market mechanics at work. A critical support level at US$107,440 has emerged as particularly significant, representing the average acquisition cost for short-term holders controlling 8.82 per cent of Bitcoin’s total supply. This technical detail matters because it creates a natural defence zone where panic selling typically subsides as holders reach breakeven points.

Meanwhile, the price action near US$112,000 to US$115,000 has become a focal point for traders anticipating potential breakouts toward US$120,000. These technical levels aren’t arbitrary, they reflect real economic decisions made by market participants with substantial capital at stake. The market structure suggests that any sustained move above US$115,000 could trigger significant momentum as algorithmic trading systems and trend-following strategies activate.

Also Read: The great repricing: How fiscal anxiety is reshaping global markets from bonds to Bitcoin

Institutional involvement continues reshaping Bitcoin’s market dynamics in profound ways. September 2025 has witnessed notable whale movements indicating major accumulation activity across the cryptocurrency ecosystem. These large-scale transactions represent more than simple price manipulation attempts, they reflect fundamental shifts in how sophisticated investors view digital assets within their portfolio construction frameworks.

The accumulation patterns observed suggest that major players remain fundamentally optimistic about Bitcoin’s price trajectory despite short-term volatility. This institutional confidence manifests not just in direct Bitcoin purchases but also through strategic positioning in related ecosystem tokens and infrastructure plays. The maturation of this institutional participation represents a crucial evolution from the retail-driven markets of previous cycles.

Technical analysis reveals additional layers of market structure worth examining. Bitcoin’s current consolidation phase, as identified by prominent market research firms, presents what many consider a critical juncture for investors seeking optimal entry points. This period of relative price stability allows market participants to reassess positioning while providing clarity about emerging trends.

The holding patterns of long-term investors suggest a potential resumption of the broader uptrend beginning in late September 2025. Such patterns matter because they reflect the behavior of investors with significant skin in the game, those who have historically demonstrated better timing and conviction than short-term traders. The technical indicators collectively suggest that while immediate price action may remain range-bound, the underlying trend continues developing positively.

The broader market context surrounding Bitcoin’s movement deserves careful consideration. Traditional financial markets exhibit mixed risk sentiment following weaker-than-expected US labour market data, creating an environment where alternative assets gain relative appeal. The Federal Reserve’s evolving stance on interest rates, with voting members advocating for multiple cuts in coming months, establishes a macroeconomic backdrop increasingly favourable for risk assets including cryptocurrencies.

Also Read: Jackson Hole panic spreads as Bitcoin plummets below critical threshold investors flee

While Bitcoin maintains its unique market dynamics, these broader macroeconomic shifts create tailwinds that cannot be ignored. The cryptocurrency’s recent performance relative to traditional risk assets demonstrates its evolving role within the global financial ecosystem, not as a pure alternative but as a distinct asset class with its own fundamental drivers.

Market structure analysis reveals fascinating developments in Bitcoin’s maturation process. The forecasted average price of US$118,909.63 for September 2025 represents a potential 13.7 per cent return from current levels. This projection matters because it reflects institutional consensus rather than speculative fantasy.

More importantly, the technical setup suggests that Bitcoin’s current trading above US$111,000 creates a foundation for potential advancement toward US$120,000 if key resistance levels break decisively. These technical targets aren’t arbitrary, they emerge from the confluence of historical price action, order book dynamics, and institutional positioning. The market’s ability to defend these levels during periods of broader financial stress demonstrates growing resilience.

The liquidation landscape presents both risks and opportunities for sophisticated market participants. Analysts warn that certain price levels serve as critical support zones where significant bounce potential exists. These technical thresholds represent more than just chart patterns, they reflect actual concentrations of buy orders where institutional players have established strategic positions.

The market’s reaction to these levels provides valuable insight into underlying supply and demand dynamics. While short-term volatility may persist, the structural positioning suggests that any significant pullbacks could present strategic entry opportunities for long-term oriented investors.

I observe that Bitcoin’s current market behaviour reflects a fundamental shift in its evolutionary trajectory. No longer primarily driven by retail speculation, the asset increasingly demonstrates characteristics of institutional ownership patterns seen in more mature markets. The accumulation activity by corporate entities and sophisticated investors creates structural scarcity that differs fundamentally from previous market cycles.

While technical levels provide useful reference points, the underlying shift in market composition represents the most significant development. The convergence of technical support, institutional demand, and favourable macroeconomic conditions creates a compelling narrative about Bitcoin’s evolving role in global finance.

Also Read: Bitcoin’s big moment: Can crypto shine as stocks stumble before Jackson Hole?

Looking ahead, several key factors warrant close monitoring. The ability of Bitcoin to maintain positions above critical support levels will determine near-term trajectory, while institutional accumulation patterns may provide leading indicators of longer-term direction. The interplay between traditional market volatility and cryptocurrency performance will continue evolving as digital assets gain broader acceptance.

Most importantly, the market’s reaction to potential macroeconomic surprises will test Bitcoin’s status as both a risk asset and potential store of value. The coming weeks may prove decisive in determining whether current consolidation transitions into the next major upward move.

The maturation of Bitcoin’s market structure represents one of the most significant developments in modern financial history. What began as a niche technological experiment has evolved into a legitimate asset class with sophisticated market participants, established technical patterns, and meaningful institutional adoption. While challenges remain, the current market dynamics suggest that Bitcoin continues progressing along its path toward broader financial integration.

The September 2025 price action may ultimately be remembered as a critical consolidation phase preceding the next major growth phase in cryptocurrency’s evolution. As market participants navigate these complex dynamics, maintaining perspective about both technical realities and fundamental developments remains essential for understanding this rapidly evolving asset class.

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In rural Southeast Asia, a farmer may have surplus produce but no way to connect with urban buyers in time. A patient might miss a critical follow-up because the nearest clinic is hours away and outreach is inconsistent. A student could lose weeks of learning during floods because lessons can’t be delivered remotely.

These scenarios are symptoms of the last-mile challenge, the persistent gap between essential services and the people who need them most. In Southeast Asia (SEA), it’s not just about building more roads or towers; it’s about creating systems that can deliver the right support, at the right time, in the right way.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as one of the most promising technologies to do exactly that.

Measuring the gap: The last-mile reality in SEA

Behind Southeast Asia’s digital transformation lies a quieter truth – many are still out of reach.

In farming communities, over 100 million smallholder farmers play a crucial role in regional food systems, yet many lack access to real-time market prices or weather updates, relying instead on informal networks. In Asia and the Pacific, approximately 30 per cent of food is lost post-harvest, largely due to inefficient infrastructure and logistics.

In rural health settings, shortages of medical personnel widen access gaps. Indonesia, for example, has around 0.7 physicians per 1,000 people, falling well below the World Health Organisation’s recommended minimum of 1 per 1,000. 

When it comes to education, the pandemic exposed how fragile access can be. Around 140 million children across East Asia and the Pacific experienced school disruption, but in some rural areas, fewer than 15 per cent of households had devices for remote learning. 

Meanwhile, smartphone use is booming in urban Southeast Asia, with countries like Singapore and Malaysia seeing high mobile internet adoption. Connectivity, however, remains patchy in rural areas, data remains costly, and many platforms still lack local language support.

Also Read: Homegrown solutions for a hungry future: Why Southeast Asia must localise agritech by 2050

Why AI is a game-changer for last-mile delivery

In the past, “closing the gap” often meant waiting for physical infrastructure to catch up – new roads, more towers, bigger budgets. That kind of progress is slow and expensive.

AI offers a different path. The beauty of AI lies in its ability to process massive amounts of data, make predictions, and automate tasks at scale, even in resource-limited environments.

When designed for local contexts, AI can:

• Work with low-bandwidth data inputs (e.g., SMS, lightweight apps, IoT sensors).
• Bridge skill gaps by automating complex analysis.
• Enable highly localised, personalised services without requiring large on-the-ground teams.

By designing AI solutions that work within existing limitations, SEA can leapfrog infrastructure bottlenecks rather than wait years for them to be solved.

AI in agriculture: From field to market faster

AI is helping farmers in SEA overcome long-standing inefficiencies:

• Predictive analytics for weather and pest outbreaks, using satellite imagery and IoT sensors, allows farmers to act early.
• Market linkage platforms powered by AI can match smallholder supply with buyer demand in real time, cutting waste and boosting incomes.
• AI-driven advisory systems can provide personalised tips in local languages on planting schedules, fertiliser use, and crop rotation.

For example, pilot projects in Vietnam and Indonesia are using AI to analyse drone imagery for early detection of rice diseases, helping farmers intervene before yield loss becomes significant.

AI in healthcare: Extending the reach of limited resources

With SEA’s shortage of medical professionals, AI can act as a force multiplier:

• Triage AI chatbots can handle common patient questions, freeing up clinicians for urgent cases.
• AI diagnostic tools can assist health workers in detecting conditions such as tuberculosis or diabetic retinopathy using simple mobile phone cameras.
• Predictive models can forecast medicine demand in remote clinics, reducing shortages.

During COVID-19, AI-powered systems in the Philippines were used to track hospital bed availability and forecast outbreak hotspots, allowing faster resource allocation.

AI in education: Personalised learning at scale

In education, AI can help overcome teacher shortages and curriculum gaps:

• Adaptive learning platforms can assess a student’s level and adjust content in real time, keeping learners engaged.
• Automated translation can convert lessons into local languages or dialects, improving comprehension in multilingual regions.
• Learning analytics can help educators spot students at risk of falling behind and intervene early.

In Malaysia, AI-assisted platforms have been piloted to provide STEM learning modules that adapt to each student’s progress, even in mixed-ability classrooms.

Also Read: Edutech in Southeast Asia: Are we just paving the digital road to nowhere?

AI for communication: Keeping the human connection

The smartest AI model means little if its recommendations never reach the people who need them. Messaging tools, voice assistants, and multilingual chatbots can bridge this final communication gap by using channels people already trust, like WhatsApp or SMS.

Features such as automated reminders, instant updates, and two-way multilingual interaction can be repurposed from the business world to the social sector. This ensures AI insights don’t stay locked in databases but are delivered at the right moment, in the right way.

The way forward

Bridging the last mile in Southeast Asia is not just about connectivity or infrastructure. However, it’s about using intelligence to deliver impact where it’s needed most.

Artificial intelligence, when applied with local realities in mind, offers a way to leapfrog infrastructure constraints, extend the reach of scarce human resources, and personalise services at scale.

The technology is ready. The challenge is building the right partnerships and trust frameworks to deploy it inclusively.

In SEA, the next wave of social transformation may not come from entirely new inventions, but from rethinking how we apply existing AI tools, from market platforms to messaging systems, to reach the communities that are still too far away, not in distance, but in access.

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Meet Putri, a determined young woman studying in her final year as a vocational school graduate. She is eager to learn and work in the digital infrastructure space in Indonesia, yet her access to theoretical and practical knowledge is extremely limited. Even accessing courses in digital infrastructure is a challenge due to the lack of such courses, both digitally and physically, in the local language. Opportunities in the digital world seem increasingly out of reach for Putri and her peers.

This story is heard repeatedly.

Putri is not a single case but represents millions of young people in similar marginalised areas in Indonesia. They have great potential, but without proper educational support and adequate access, their dreams feel distant.

Why standard tech misses the mark and what startups can learn

When we initially used conventional digital learning platforms, we found a major problem: most online education solutions are not designed to consider the specific context and needs of communities like Putri’s. They require relatively expensive appliances, stable connectivity, and content that is not always relevant to local conditions.

Many ultimately gave up because they felt the technology was ‘not suitable’ or that they were ‘disconnected’ from the tech world, not due to lack of interest or capability. We realised that without addressing these basic needs and practical barriers, technology would never become a true bridge to meaningful change.

Building a digital community: The design that made a difference

When I founded Nusantara Academy, I decided to start by building a strong digital community as the foundational digital infrastructure of Indonesia. This strategic step is essential because having technological infrastructure is a prerequisite for digital education to spread evenly.

Also Read: Edutech is surging, but here are the 3 issues it is facing

The team then designed a program combining technical training in data centre technology with building an inclusive network community involving various social layers—including local industry practitioners and marginalised groups. The focus on mentoring, coaching, and practical guidance created a vibrant and supportive learning environment.

What made it work was the local and personal approach: we listened directly to community needs, tailored the material to their real conditions, and paid attention to social and cultural barriers often overlooked by standard tech tools.

At Nusantara Academy, inclusion is a core value — empowering women and underserved groups to lead, while expanding digital training to marginalised regions. By building capacity and providing locally adapted programs, the academy drives social impact, narrows gender gaps, and fosters resilient communities.

We believes true change comes from inclusive education that equips forgotten groups with the right tools and support. By using technology smartly and empathetically, education can drive equitable economic and social growth for all.

Reflection and a challenge for the future: Building technology for all

Building Nusantara Academy has taught me that technology and education must be designed not only for those who are ‘ready’ but also for those who are still struggling to ‘get ready’.

The focus must be on empowerment, not exclusion. I constantly ask myself: How can we ensure digital technology is not just for certain privileged groups? How do we realise real inclusion so that every young Indonesian has equal opportunity facing the future?

Also Read: The digital classroom: How edutech is sculpting the minds of tomorrow

As a founder, I urge startup communities to rethink their definition of product-market fit. Instead of optimising for the loudest segment, challenge yourself: Does your solution empower the “Putris” of the world? Are you brave enough to go beyond convenience and design for true accessibility, relevance, and impact?

Building tech for all goes deeper than metrics. It requires empathy, patience, and relentless iteration. But when we do, the change isn’t temporary. It’s transformative, rippling through families, communities, and the next generation of founders.

Nusantara Academy’s journey is proof: Lasting impact comes from building for those who need it most.

As you embark on your startup’s next chapter, ask yourself this question: Are you designing for real inclusion, or for the already served?

I have the utmost conviction that the future belongs to those bold enough to include everyone. That’s a journey worth taking.

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Singapore is firmly establishing itself as Southeast Asia’s strategic hub for global biotech innovation, says a new report titled “Empowering Biotech Innovation in Asia-Pacific” by Bain & Company.

It is a testament to decades of visionary planning and sustained investment. With its unwavering commitment to innovation, political neutrality, robust intellectual property (IP) protections, and world-class infrastructure, the city-state offers an unparalleled environment for biotech startups and multinational corporations alike.

A foundation built on vision and investment

Singapore’s journey in biomedical sciences began nearly three decades ago, underpinned by a holistic strategy encompassing infrastructure, talent, and private sector development.

Also Read: Asia Pacific redefines biotech: Global pharma’s strategic shift from West to East
Key milestones include the National Science Scholarship programme, the establishment of BioOne Capital by the EDB to invest in 50 local and overseas companies, and the creation of Biopolis, a purpose-built hub dedicated to biomedical sciences.

Today, Singapore’s ongoing Research, Innovation, and Enterprise (RIE) plan allocates substantial public funds, with S$28 billion (approximately US$20.72 billion) earmarked for science and technology development under RIE2025 (2020–25), and a similar commitment planned for RIE2030.

Strategic pillars: Talent, regulation, and infrastructure

Singapore’s appeal as a trusted hub for biotech expansion rests on several strategic pillars:

• Talent attraction: The government has launched individual talent visa programmes such as ONE Pass and Tech.Pass to attract top talent, including founders and technical experts, from around the world. Initiatives like SGInnovate’s Helix Immersion Programme further integrate research talent into commercial ventures.
  Innovation-friendly policy: Singapore offers a strong IP regime and biotech-friendly tax structures, alongside the ability to conduct first-in-world regulatory evaluations and work-sharing arrangements with international regulatory agencies like the FDA and EMA.
  World-class infrastructure: The Biopolis hub co-locates public research institutes, startups, and multinational corporations, facilitating seamless research translation. The city-state’s expanding capacity in advanced modalities like CGT is supported by facilities such as ACTRIS’s 2,000-square-metre CGT R&D and manufacturing site, alongside incubators like NSG BioLabs and dedicated land plots in Tuas Biomedical Park.

Success stories and global partnerships

Singapore’s ecosystem has nurtured and attracted global leaders, validating its position as a burgeoning biotech powerhouse:

Also Read: Asia-Pacific governments step in as private biotech investors pull back

• Hummingbird Bioscience, a Singapore-based clinical-stage biotech focused on precision biologics, has raised over US$150 million and recently spun out its ADC platform into Callio Therapeutics, which launched with US$187 million in Series A funding.
• Mirxes, an RNA technology company pioneering early disease detection, achieved unicorn status on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in May 2025 with US$180 million in venture funding, becoming the first Southeast Asian biotech to do so. Its flagship cancer screening product, GASTROClear, is set to ramp up operations across Asia-Pacific.
• Chugai Pharmabody Research (CPR), a subsidiary of Japan’s Chugai Pharmaceutical, invested over US$300 million in Singapore, leading to the creation of crovalimab, the first globally approved drug originating from Singapore. CPR’s collaboration with A*STAR and the National University of Singapore (NUS) on an anti-dengue antibody has further advanced with a new development partnership with GSK.
• Major global players are deepening their commitment, with WuXi Biologics investing US$1.4 billion into local R&D and manufacturing infrastructure, and AstraZeneca establishing its first-ever US$1.5 billion end-to-end ADC manufacturing facility in Singapore. Flagship Pioneering, the venture creation firm behind Moderna, also launched its regional hub in Singapore, committing up to S$100 million (approximately US$74 million*) with A*STAR to advance biotech and healthtech innovation.

Also Read: AI, advanced therapeutics, and the geopolitical balancing act in biotech

By consistently investing in foundational scientific capabilities, fostering a stable environment for startups, and attracting top-tier talent, Singapore is not just a regional R&D base but a gateway to broader international markets, solidifying its role as Southeast Asia’s anchoring hub for global biotech innovation.

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In Kedah, a rural state in Malaysia where most rice cultivation activities take place, Pak Amir walks through his rice fields, watching the sky and hoping the rains come on time. The soil has been tired for years, worn down by decades of chemical fertilisers. Leftover crop residues, once a resource, are often burned in open fields or left to rot in piles. Both methods have their costs. Smoke clouds the village in haze, and decomposition can leach nutrients into nearby streams. For farmers like Pak Amir, every season is a balancing act between keeping crops alive and protecting the environment.

In Selangor, the story is slightly different but just as pressing. Farmers who want to farm organically face the steep price of certified inputs, sometimes three times higher than conventional fertilisers. Producing enough to sustain their farms without breaking the bank is a constant struggle.

The promise and challenge of biochar

Biochar has been around for centuries. Amazonian tribes discovered long ago that turning biomass into charcoal and mixing it into the soil made it fertile again. Today, the knowledge exists, but scaling it for smallholders has been tricky. Making biochar at meaningful levels can be expensive and labour-intensive, and historically, there were limited financial incentives to adopt the practice.

At Reclimate, we addressed both the technical and financial barriers. Carbon finance creates a clear incentive. Each ton of biochar applied can lock away carbon, which farmers can translate into verified credits. Suddenly, the centuries-old practice becomes not just useful but financially viable.

Finance alone is not enough. Many farmers do not know how to make biochar efficiently, safely, or without smoke. We provide simple, low-cost techniques so they can turn residues into biochar directly on their fields. This avoids costly transport to central hubs and reduces emissions along the way. Producing biochar in place means farmers can control the process, reduce risks, and adopt the practice even in remote areas.

Also Read: Eco-investing: Driving change through climate technology and strategic finance

The benefits are immediate. In Kedah, Pak Amir sees healthier rice plants and soils that hold water longer during dry spells. Open burning is gone, and decomposition is managed, keeping nutrients in the field instead of in rivers. In Selangor, organic farmers are turning waste into their own soil amendments, cutting costs and staying within certification rules.

Biochar also improves water retention. Its porous structure keeps moisture in the soil, meaning crops need less irrigation. At the same time, runoff is reduced, so fewer nutrients and chemicals reach rivers and streams. Some trial plots show a 15 to 25 percent increase in water retention compared with untreated soil. This boost can make the difference in a dry season.

Climate impact and regional lessons

The climate benefits are measurable. Agricultural burning in Malaysia alone releases more than 1.2 million tons of CO₂ equivalent each year. Biochar locks roughly 2.5 tons of CO₂ per ton applied, keeping it stable in the soil. That is a tangible way smallholders can fight climate change right from their fields.

Beyond Malaysia, similar challenges exist. In Sri Lanka, government bans on chemical fertilisers and financial pressure have reduced crop yields. Farmers using coconut-shell biochar have restored soil health and stabilised production, strengthening food security. The solution tackles both adaptation by making soils resilient to climate shocks and mitigation by capturing carbon before it reaches the atmosphere.

Scaling this practice has required careful thinking. Traditional centralised biochar hubs, where biomass is transported miles for processing, are costly and energy-intensive. By producing biochar directly on farms, we cut both costs and emissions. Farmers also gain practical skills for applying biochar effectively and tracking outcomes, which is crucial for carbon finance programs.

The results are real. Pak Amir reports stronger rice growth and fewer losses during dry periods. Organic farmers in Selangor have cut reliance on external inputs by up to 60 percent, saving money while protecting their soils. Across the region, agricultural residues are no longer waste; they are a resource that builds resilience, reduces environmental harm, and contributes to climate action.

Communities see the benefits too. Soils that hold water better mean more reliable food production. Eliminating open burning improves air quality. Reduced runoff protects waterways. Carbon finance offers additional income, creating incentives for long-term sustainability. When adopted at scale, these practices reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions and help communities adapt to climate change.

Scaling for Southeast Asia

Looking ahead, we are exploring expansion into the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, and beyond. Many of these countries are low- or middle-income and face severe climate impacts. Smallholders there need solutions that combine adaptation and mitigation. Biochar fits perfectly. It improves soils, stabilises yields, cuts waste burning, stores carbon, and saves water.

For farmers like Pak Amir, the future is about more than surviving each season. It is about thriving with practical tools that boost productivity, reduce costs, and strengthen resilience. For communities and governments, it is proof that smallholder agriculture can be part of the climate solution when combined with accessible technology, knowledge, and measurable incentives.

Also Read: Investing in impact: High-growth tech for climate and community

The challenge now is scaling these practices even further. How do we ensure every smallholder in Southeast Asia has access to the tools and know-how that make climate-smart agriculture possible? How can governments, NGOs, and private actors work together to provide incentives, training, and monitoring systems that turn a centuries-old practice into a modern, sustainable solution?

Low-cost, in-place biochar production combined with technical training and carbon finance offers a blueprint for resilient agriculture. It respects the realities of smallholder farming while addressing climate, water, and soil challenges. As Southeast Asia faces increasingly severe climate threats, solutions like this at the intersection of adaptation and mitigation may define the future of sustainable farming.

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When I started working on HeroX, my goal was simple: use technology to reach people who are often left behind. Not just to digitise an experience or make something “smarter,” but to ensure those at the margins, especially the elderly, the disabled, and those without consistent access to care, will have their needs seen, heard, and met. What I’ve learned early on is this: if your tech isn’t built for the most vulnerable, it isn’t built to last.

Building for those left behind

One of the first communities we tried to serve was a group of elderly residents in a public housing estate in Singapore. Many of them lived alone. Some had mobility issues, others were struggling with loneliness or health conditions. Their children often lived far away, and access to regular care was inconsistent. We thought, at the time, that a mobile-first approach could work like simple check-in tools, appointment reminders, wellness prompts. We imagined sleek user flows and smart backend systems.

What we didn’t account for was this. Most of them didn’t use smartphones. They had phones but had never opened an app store. Our idea, though well-intentioned, was built for convenience, not context. And that mistake taught us more than any user survey ever could.

The shift to a hybrid model

So we went back. We spent time on the ground. We walked the corridors. We listened. We learned that many of them trusted the people who delivered food or medicine more than they trusted tech. That human interaction, even brief, was a lifeline. That’s when the idea for a hybrid tech-human model began to take shape. HeroX evolved to focus on a last-mile service and wellness platform that used real community-based agents, powered by tech, not replaced by it.

Also Read: Inclusion starts at the top: Why listening beats moving fast in Southeast Asia

We used a decentralised logistics system where delivery partners second as wellness checkers. These weren’t just gig workers. They were neighbours, caregivers, and volunteers. The app they used had to be simple, localised, and intuitive, but the service they provided had to feel deeply personal. That’s what worked. And not because it was technically advanced, but because it was emotionally attuned.

Why inclusive design matters

This is why inclusive design matters not as a buzzword, but as a non-negotiable starting point. The real challenge in health, education, and agriculture isn’t just infrastructure. It’s accessibility. It’s cultural fit. It’s trust. If we build in a silo designing for what’s fast, scalable, or VC-friendly, we risk creating beautifully engineered systems that don’t land where they’re needed most.

In Southeast Asia, where socio-economic divides are vast and digital literacy varies widely, tech must do more than perform. It must translate. This means design choices can’t be made in boardrooms alone. They have to be shaped by fieldwork, community dialogue, and, sometimes, failure.

Inclusive design isn’t a feature, it’s a philosophy. It asks, who’s being left out? What assumptions are we making? And are we building solutions for real needs or for ideal users who only exist on pitch decks?

Redefining inclusion as a process

For HeroX, inclusion meant slowing down. It meant building trust before features. It meant asking residents if they preferred reminders via phone call, text, or a knock on the door. It meant testing interfaces with caregivers who only had one hand free. It meant letting community delivery agents co-design their onboarding experience. And it meant being okay with the reality that not all tech has to look cutting-edge to be life-changing.

Also Read: Why diversity and inclusion are key for startups to succeed in the Philippines

Sometimes the most “transformative” thing isn’t what you build, it’s how you choose to build it, and with whom.

The true test of tech for good

I still don’t think we’ve gotten it perfectly right. But I know we’re closer to the mark because we’ve made inclusion not just a value, but a process. It shapes how we recruit, how we test, how we scale. It’s not always efficient. But it’s effective.

So here’s what I’m still holding onto as we continue to build in this space. Great tech doesn’t just serve users, it respects them. And respect looks like asking, listening, adapting, and co-creating.

If you’re building something, ask yourself this. Are you designing for the person with the newest iPhone and fastest Wi-Fi? Or are you designing for the mother of three with one prepaid phone and an unstable signal? One will give you early traction. The other will give you a lasting impact.

Because at the end of the day, the true test of tech for good isn’t just how advanced it is but how far it reaches, and who it brings along with 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.

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A new survey reveals that Singapore’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are grappling with significant operational inefficiencies, with a staggering three-quarters (75 per cent) identifying financial reconciliation as a major pain point.

This challenge is a direct result of a fragmented digital ecosystem, which is pushing most businesses to seek new software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions and driving demand for integrated platforms with robust reporting capabilities.

Also Read: From hesitation to action: How SMEs in Southeast Asia can start AI adoption

The report, commissioned by Adyen (an end-to-end payments, data, and financial management platform), shows that while digitalisation is now a business baseline, many SMEs struggle to manage it efficiently. Although 64 per cent of SMEs rely on SaaS platforms, many use a patchwork of different tools, leading to data silos and complex workflows.

Nearly half (49 per cent) of platform users rely on more than one SaaS platform for reconciliation alone, with 24 per cent using two platforms and 15 per cent using three.

Reconciliation woes cost time and efficiency

The burden of reconciling payments is not felt equally. The problem escalates significantly with business size, affecting 87.5 per cent of medium-sized businesses (20-199 employees) compared to 67 per cent of small businesses (1-19 employees). The issue is most acute in the retail sector, where 81 per cent of SMEs report it as a major challenge, followed by hospitality and tourism at 73 per cent.

This operational friction translates into lost time. Singaporean SMEs spend an average of six hours weekly on accounting and payment reconciliation. This time commitment increases with company size, as medium-sized businesses dedicate seven hours weekly to accounting, two hours more than the five hours spent by small businesses.

Dissatisfaction fuels search for new platforms

This widespread inefficiency is causing high levels of dissatisfaction. The survey found that only 23 per cent of SME decision-makers are happy with their current SaaS platform and are not considering a change. The primary motivation for the majority who are open to switching is a desire for better tools to manage financial complexity.

The top reason for switching platforms, cited by 36 per cent of SMEs, is the need for better consolidated reporting. This feature is particularly crucial for medium-sized businesses, with 67 per cent ranking it as a key reason to switch, compared to 50 per cent of small businesses. Other significant drivers for switching include:

• More payment method options (15 per cent), crucial for meeting customer preferences.
• Better business lending options (14 per cent), which help manage cash flow and fund growth.
• Improved risk management tools (12 per cent) to protect against fraud and ensure compliance.

Industry needs shape tech priorities

Different sectors prioritise different platform features based on their unique operational demands. While consolidated reporting is the most important feature for 60 per cent of health, beauty, and wellness businesses, the retail sector places a higher value on adding new payment methods (39 per cent).

Also Read: AI adoption is an area of maturity for SMEs, but they have advantage over big corporations: Aicadium’s Robert Young

Meanwhile, the hospitality and tourism industry, exposed to risks like ticket scalping, prioritises risk management more than other sectors, with 33 per cent citing it as most important.

Investment in integrated solutions on the rise

Looking ahead, a vast majority of SMEs recognise the value of investing in better technology. About 72 per cent of local SMEs plan to invest in more SaaS solutions over the next 12 months to optimise their performance. Again, medium-sized businesses are leading this trend, with 88 per cent planning to increase their investment compared to 61 per cent of small businesses.

 

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