The extended downturn in Southeast Asia’s tech investment market has played out unevenly across different deal stages, revealing a distorted picture of market health due to the increased reliance on private debt and convertible notes.

While investment volumes have plummeted, median valuations and deal sizes surprisingly held up across stages well into the second half of 2024.

Also Read: SEA funding wiped out: Back to 2016 levels after historic slump

Per a Cento Ventures report, this perceived stability, however, was less a sign of market strength and more a distortion of the underlying correction. The rising use of private debt and convertible notes, often not reflected in standard public datasets, kept the number of priced equity rounds unusually low. This financial cushioning mechanism has obscured the true pace of the correction, despite a noticeable spike in startup closures and founders scrambling to achieve profitability.

The mismatch is apparent: headlines often hint at an “over-correction,” yet the valuations on record still appear sticky. The market is not yet clearing because founders have been reluctant to reset their valuation expectations, while investors are equally hesitant to meet those expectations. Debt instruments have provided a temporary bridge across this gap.

The core stack collapses

The capital cycle demonstrated sharp differences in pace across the venture stack:

• Series C+ deals slowed sharply as early as the second half of 2022, primarily due to the contraction in the supply of mega-deal capital. This gradual slowdown in Series B and C continued throughout 2022–2024, influenced by SEA-centric funds slowing down their deployment.
• Seed and pre-Series A stages initially saw a surge, buoyed by later-stage funds moving downstream in search of value, but this activity slowed dramatically by the first half of 2024.
• Series A and B stages proved the most resilient, holding up the longest, and only beginning to show a steep decline towards the second half of 2024.

The most concerning development arrived in mid-2024, marking a full reset of core investment activity back to 2016 levels. The previously stable seed to early Series B part of the core stack collapsed abruptly to one-third of its volume recorded during the 2021-2022 boom.

The subsequent decline was sharpest in the seed and pre-Series A segment (deals ranging from US$0.5 million to US$3 million), which reached a new low for the region after peaking in the first half of 2023. Similarly, the Series A to early B segment (deals greater than US$3 million up to US$10 million) was down by 50 per cent year-on-year.

Valuation and deal size nuances

Despite the drastic reduction in volume, median valuations did not experience a uniform collapse, thanks largely to the low number of priced rounds.

For pre-Series A deals, the median pre-money valuation held steady at US$5 million in 2024, showing zero per cent change compared to 2023. However, the median deal size for pre-SeriesA doubled in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching US$1 million, even as deal volume dwindled. This suggests that only larger, highly selective pre-A rounds were being completed.

Series A median valuation reached US$20 million in 2024, an increase of 5 per cent over 2023. This slight uptick towards the end of H2 2024 was partially attributed to increased liquidity made available by the Malaysian government’s fund-of-funds initiatives. Median Series A deal size remained stable at US$4.0 million between 2023 and 2024.

Series B median valuation saw a significant adjustment in 2022, dropping from US$90 million to US$55 million. In 2024, however, Series B median valuation increased by 17 per cent year-on-year, reaching US$52.0 million. This rise was primarily driven by pricier deals in the health-tech and Digital Financial Services sectors during the second half of 2024.

In contrast to the valuation rise, the Series B median deal size continued its gradual slide, falling to US$8 million in 2024, reflecting how capital from later-stage funds no longer “spilled over” into earlier stages.

The relative stability in valuations indicates that the supply of and demand for early-stage venture deals have declined at similar rates following the major adjustment of 2022.

Shifting country valuations

A look at country-specific Series A median valuations shows a convergence towards the US$20 million to US$25 million range. By 2024, the valuation gap between the lowest median (Thailand) and the highest (the Philippines) was 2.9X. Indonesia’s Series A valuations remained relatively stable despite the overall market slowdown, aided by increased bridge financing and venture debt that helped companies avoid downrounds. Malaysia stood out as one of only two markets with rising Series A valuations in 2024.

Also Read: IPO surge, unicorn scarcity: The new face of SEA’s funding landscape

Series B valuations also showed significant growth in several key markets for 2024. The Philippines saw a massive 85 per cent increase in Series B median valuation, while Indonesia saw a 25 per cent rise, and Malaysia witnessed a huge 102 per cent increase in 2024 compared to 2023.

This suggests that only the strongest companies, or “market survivors”, secured priced Series B rounds in 2024, creating an upward shift in market averages across these regions. However, the continuous use of venture debt and bridge financing rounds caused a continuous drop in Series B deal volume, reducing the clarity of the valuation signal.

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When it comes to structuring smart, capital-efficient deals, it’s hard not to notice how Singapore Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) setups are gaining traction across Asia. Investors love the stability, clarity, and jurisdictional strength Singapore offers.

From startup founders to the sophisticated LPs, the buzz is real: Singapore is staking its claim as Asia’s SPV powerhouse. According to ACRA, there were 459,263 companies registered in Singapore as of August 2025, a net increase of more than 23,000 over the past 12 months. This steady rise underscores the growing adoption of Singapore Private Limited Companies (Pte Ltds), the go-to structure for SPVs.

Clearly, the numbers are pointing to Singapore’s steady momentum as a hub for efficient, investor-friendly structures. So why are syndicate leads, venture investors, and family offices choosing Singapore over traditional offshore centres? Let’s break it down.

Singapore SPV structures explained

An SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) is a separate legal entity created for a specific project or investment. Think of it as a clean container: it holds assets, pools capital, and isolates risk.

For investors, this structure unlocks:

• Risk mitigation: Assets and liabilities sit within the SPV, not the parent entity.
• Flexibility: SPVs can back one deal or manage a portfolio.
• Tax efficiency: Optimised through Singapore’s favourable regime and treaties.
• Global participation: Easier access for investors across borders.

Singapore SPVs are already widely used in venture capital (to pool capital into single deals), private equity (to hold international assets), and cross-border deals (to leverage tax treaties and legal infrastructure).

Also Read: Singapore Fashion Council backs Loom Carbon to tackle textile waste

Why investors choose Singapore

Singapore isn’t just another offshore option for investors; it’s a full-fledged global financial hub.

• Strategic location

Positioned at the heart of ASEAN, Singapore connects Asia to global markets. Its role as a regional hub makes it a strategic base for cross-border investment flows.

• Stable governance

Singapore’s political stability, efficient regulatory framework, and pro-business policies provide the predictability and security investors value in long-term commitments.

• Financial infrastructure

The country’s ecosystem includes top-tier banks, experienced legal and tax advisors, and respected regulators. Together, these elements create a reliable foundation for structuring complex transactions.

• Speed of setup

Establishing a Singapore SPV is fast and efficient. In most cases, investors can set up an entity and secure a functional bank account within 1–2 days, a significant advantage for time-sensitive deals.

• Global acceptance

Singapore SPVs are widely recognised and accepted globally. With the exception of jurisdictions sanctioned by MAS, investors from nearly any country can participate, and these vehicles can deploy capital across international markets with ease.

Tax and regulatory advantages of Singapore SPVs

One of the biggest draws of a Singapore SPV is its tax framework.

• Double Tax Treaties (DTAs): Singapore has signed treaties with 90+ countries, including India, China, the US, and the UK. This means lower withholding taxes and protection against double taxation.
• Corporate tax rates: A competitive flat rate of 17%, with partial exemptions for startups and SMEs.
• No capital gains tax: Profits from selling shares, property, or financial instruments are often exempt.
• Tax incentives: Programs like the Global Trader Programme encourage cross-border activity.

Compared with the Cayman Islands (increasingly criticised for opacity) and BVI (perceived as unstable under new regulatory pressures), Singapore stands out. Investors see it as both efficient and credible.

Also Read: Singapore tops global AI hiring charts: One in six jobs now reference AI

Singapore vs Cayman vs BVI

Feature	Singapore SPV	Cayman Islands	BVI
Tax transparency	Strong, OECD-compliant	Under scrutiny	Moderate, facing pressure
Reputation	High legitimacy	Tax haven label	Less stable
Regulatory complexity	Predictable, supportive	Rising compliance	Increasingly complex
Double tax treaties	90+ treaties	Few	Limited
Capital gains tax	None	None	None

Efficiency and cost benefits of setting up an SPV in Singapore

Setting up a Singapore SPV is also about making operations smoother.

Efficiency benefits:

• Centralised investor management: Pool multiple investors into one entity for easier communication and reporting.
• Streamlined transactions: Create a dedicated vehicle for M&A, asset transfers, or single-deal investments.
• Operational freedom: Lighter regulatory burden than a parent company, allowing flexibility.
• Evolution of digital banking: The rise of digital banks has further accelerated SPV efficiency. Licensed by MAS, providers like Finmo now open SPV accounts in a matter of hours, fully compliant with regulatory standards.

Cost benefits:

• Reduced taxes: DTAs cut withholding taxes, boosting net returns.
• Lower admin costs: By outsourcing SPV management to specialised providers, investors cut overhead.
• Optimised financing: SPVs can raise debt or issue securities at better terms than their parent entities.
• Risk containment: Liability is isolated within the SPV, protecting the wider portfolio.
• No capital gains tax: Singapore imposes no capital gains tax, allowing investors to retain a larger share of their returns.

Singapore wins for investors seeking both efficiency and legitimacy. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Finance, the country’s Exchange of Information on Request (EOIR) regime has been rated as “Compliant,” the highest possible designation under the OECD’s international tax transparency standards.

Final thoughts

For syndicate leads and investors, the message is clear: Singapore is the future-proof home for your SPVs. From favourable tax treaties to unmatched credibility, setting up your SPVs in Singapore combines efficiency with trust, qualities global investors now prioritise.

Compared with traditional offshore centres, Singapore provides the infrastructure, reputation, and legal strength to structure complex deals at scale. If you’re building syndicates, raising cross-border capital, or managing specialized projects, Singapore is where the smart money is setting up.

—

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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What if your startup had a team member who never sleeps, works 24/7, makes smart decisions, learns from experience, and needs zero breaks or benefits? Now imagine having not just one, but a fleet of these team members.

This isn’t science fiction. It’s now a real option for startups thanks to a new evolution in artificial intelligence: agentic AI.

Agentic AI systems go far beyond the traditional AI that passively waits for user input. These next-gen digital agents operate independently. They set objectives, make decisions, plan multi-step tasks, execute them fully, adapt to shifting inputs, learn from outcomes, and keep improving over time. They emulate the actions of skilled human team members, yet perform at speeds, precision, and consistency that human teams simply can’t, especially under conditions of resource scarcity.

For early-stage startups, this is game-changing.

Startups are often strapped for time, limited in team size, and operating without the budgets or bandwidth of mature firms. The challenge is constant: how do you cover more ground without overwhelming people, raising burn rates, or compromising quality? You need to move fast, execute flawlessly, and adapt continually — all while hiring slowly or not at all.

This is where agentic AI steps in — not just as a tool, but as a strategic multiplier.

Let’s take a closer look at how agentic AI is transforming the way startups scale across their most critical functions:

Customer support that grows with you

Customer questions, tickets, and issues don’t scale slowly — they pop up fast as you acquire users. Agentic AI helps you stay ahead. Intelligent agents can autonomously manage thousands of support tickets, resolve repetitive issues, and refine their responses as they learn from interactions.

They don’t just follow scripts — they adapt over time. By handling common questions with speed and accuracy, AI enables human agents to focus on complex or sensitive requests, providing a better customer experience while avoiding bottlenecks.

AI-driven sales and marketing funnels

Startups don’t just need leads — they need the right leads, engaged and nurtured without draining bandwidth. Agentic AI can screen inbound leads, score them, personalise outreach, track engagement, and launch follow-up campaigns — all without human supervision.

These agents essentially act as SDRs and marketing ops bundled into software. Their ability to craft tailored messaging based on user behavior means higher conversion rates with fewer human hours involved. For scrappy teams trying to punch above their weight in crowded markets, this unleashes big-league capabilities.

Also Read: The digital lag: How traditional consulting is failing to grasp the agentic AI revolution

Operational systems that don’t need babysitting

Startups operate in a constant state of flux. Meetings move. Team members wear multiple hats. Processes evolve week to week. Agentic AI helps make operations smoother – even when things get chaotic.

Whether it’s scheduling interviews, managing internal workflows, syncing calendars, or coordinating vendor logistics — the AI observes, learns, and adapts in real-time. It becomes a backend brain optimising task handling, reallocating resources, and eliminating bottlenecks before they hit your inbox.

Resilient supply chain and logistics, without extra ops hires

For product-based startups managing inventory, fulfilment, or delivery operations, supply chain hiccups can become deal-breakers. Agentic AI now enables real-time inventory forecasting, automated restocking approvals, and smart logistics routing that reacts on the fly.

Your digital agents don’t just trigger alerts — they resolve issues, suggest alternatives, and even negotiate with vendors when programmed to do so. The result? You can run more like a scaled ops team without needing to build one.

Why now? The tools are finally accessible

This shift is powered by advances in large language models (LLMs), prompt engineering, and easy-to-integrate no-code tools. You don’t need a PhD in machine learning or a large engineering team to get started. Tools like GPT-4, n8n, Make, or Zapier can now be wired together into performance-ready intelligent agents.

What used to take quarters, budgets, and full developer teams can now be achieved in weeks — sometimes days. We’re at a moment where skilful design and integration matter more than scale of headcount.

The strategic advantage: Scale without bloat

Hiring can’t always keep up with growth, and budgets don’t always stretch to hire every expert. Agentic AI gives founders a new scaling strategy — one where every process becomes smarter and faster, without multiplying team size. When implemented right, AI doesn’t just ‘save time’ — it allows early-stage startups to act like companies twice their size.

It means your five-person company can accomplish the output of 20. Your late-night backlog? Handled by agents overnight. Your onboarding process? Automatically personalised, delivered, and tracked. Your metrics dashboard? Refreshed daily — by the AI itself.

Also Read: From hype to harmony: Why agentic AI needs a platform-first mind-set to redefine CX

This isn’t about replacing people. It’s about up-levelling your entire team.

Each agent becomes a support system, enabling humans to spend more time on uniquely creative, strategic, and customer-focused work. Where once you needed a marketing specialist, analyst, and admin, now a small founding team can cover all these roles intelligently — with help from digital agents.

From vision to execution

The biggest challenge for founders isn’t knowing AI exists. It’s knowing where to apply it first. That’s where clarity is key: map your most repetitive tasks, high-friction workflows, or time drains. Then apply the Promptive Method (Discover, Build, Optimise) to develop agents custom-fit to your startup’s exact needs. Smart implementation multiplies value and sets your company on a different growth trajectory — without bogging you down in technical complexity.

Startups that embrace agentic AI in 2024 aren’t just trimming costs — they’re accelerating growth. They’re turning workflows into competitive advantages, transforming onboarding into seamless automation, and turning data into action without delay.

Agentic AI is the co-founder you didn’t know you could hire: always on, always learning, never asking for equity. And it’s here to help you scale smarter.

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The post From 5 to 50: How agentic AI lets startups operate like enterprises appeared first on e27.

Hiring marketing specialists is notoriously tough for early-stage startups, especially for founders without extensive business experience. How can they be sure the marketer they bring on board will deliver results? Will a performance marketer drain the budget on ineffective social channels? Could a content manager accidentally damage the company’s reputation? And do you really need to hire a big-name CMO from a large firm, or might external consultants be the smarter choice?

To mitigate these uncertainties, it’s crucial that founders first develop a clear marketing strategy. Only after understanding the company’s needs and deciding on the type of marketing team required should they begin the hiring process.

Finding the right specialist with industry-relevant experience and skills can be challenging and, for entrepreneurs who are new to this, prone to missteps. While there is no one-size-fits-all formula—since every startup’s marketing needs differ—here are four key pitfalls founders should avoid when recruiting marketers.

Don’t hire without defining clear marketing goals

It’s easy to feel compelled to quickly build a marketing team once you secure funding. I’ve seen startups hire multiple marketers at once, only to drastically cut back weeks later. For example, one direct-to-consumer startup hired 10 full-time marketing staff after their seed round, but just two months later, reduced the team to four—realizing that external partners could handle much of the workload efficiently.

My advice: take the time to evaluate exactly what marketing tasks need to be done and the skills required to accomplish them. Avoid rushing to hire a well-rounded marketer or several specialists without clarity. Instead, distinguish which projects could be outsourced, which roles require full-time hires versus freelancers, and match candidates’ experience to your business goals.

Set specific, measurable objectives for your marketing hires upfront. This clarity will help you identify the right candidates and objectively assess their performance over time.

Also Read: Balancing personalisation and privacy in business marketing

Don’t overlook team fit and company culture

Marketing professionals rarely work in isolation—they collaborate with developers, product managers, designers, and others. Especially in small startups, it’s vital to ensure new hires align with your company culture and can work well with existing team members.

Founders should be hands-on during the hiring process from the beginning, participating in interviews and assessing how a candidate might integrate with the team dynamics. Choosing someone who meshes well with your team can prevent costly misunderstandings and foster a more harmonious work environment.

Don’t rely solely on credentials and past titles

While formal qualifications and experience matter, they shouldn’t be the sole basis for your hiring decision. Early-stage startups thrive on shared values and growth mindset.

Sometimes, hiring a junior marketer with potential and cultural alignment is smarter than recruiting a seasoned executive whose perspective clashes with the team. You can always mitigate a less experienced hire’s risks by seeking advice from external experts.

This approach not only builds a cohesive team but also creates opportunities to mentor and develop talent internally.

Also Read: Mastering the craft: 5 essential tips for elevating your B2B marketing game

Don’t overcomplicate the hiring process

Many marketers say that hiring procedures have become unnecessarily drawn-out and stressful. Some startups implement numerous interview rounds and test assignments, which may deter strong candidates.

Ask yourself if all those steps are truly essential. Can you streamline the process—reducing interviews and making prompt hiring decisions when you find a good fit?

Delays in recruiting can mean missed opportunities; a capable marketer starting sooner can drive value and growth even as they continue to learn.

Early-stage startups usually need to move quickly to scale, so an overly complex recruitment process can work against this goal. Focus on efficiency by conducting only the necessary interviews, eliminating redundant steps, and aligning hiring with your startup’s priorities.

The fast pace and resource constraints of early-stage startups make marketing hires a crucial and challenging task. Founders must balance thoroughness with agility, aiming to build an effective marketing team that can accelerate growth without unnecessary risk or delay.

By setting clear goals, respecting team culture, valuing potential over credentials, and keeping the process straightforward, founders can significantly improve their chances of recruiting the right marketers to power their startup’s success.

The post 4 common hiring mistakes to avoid when building a marketing team for your early-stage startup appeared first on e27.

The narrative guiding Southeast Asia’s tech investment was profoundly revised during 2023-2024, according to a new Cento Ventures report. The narrative moved decisively away from broad, consumer-led growth models towards the dominant and resilient story of digital financial services (DFS).

Since Indonesia’s valuations peaked in early 2022, investors have cycled through various competing regional growth stories, most of which failed to materialise under closer scrutiny.

Also Read: SEA funding wiped out: Back to 2016 levels after historic slump

Two prominent narratives were tested and found wanting:

• Vietnam as the “next China”: This theory lost significant momentum as political shifts throughout 2023 and 2024 dampened investor confidence.
• The Philippines as the “next Indonesia”: This thesis came under scrutiny after closer analysis of Indonesian middle-class economics cast doubt on the long-term sustainability of consumer-led investment strategies, especially following failed Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) of large consumer companies.

These proposed growth stories relied heavily on assumptions of robust consumer spending, which ultimately proved less resilient than investors had initially anticipated.

The retreat from Indonesia and rise of the Philippines

The narrative shift has significantly impacted capital allocation across Southeast Asia’s key markets. Notably, Indonesia, long seen as the region’s scale driver, has received less than its “fair share” of investment in the regional digital economy since the second half of 2023. Funds previously explicitly raised for “consumer story” ventures in the archipelago are now shifting away from tech investments and moving towards mid-cap private equity-style investments, such as F&B chains.

In stark contrast, the Philippines has re-emerged as a key investment destination, propelled by the new dominant story of digital financial services. The country’s environment–characterised by a unique combination of light-touch regulation and significant financial disparities–has acted as a catalyst, accelerating its financial sector forward.

This shift has been evidenced by major capital injections into digital banking competitors, with companies such as Salmon, UNO Digital Bank, Mynt, and PayMaya all securing substantial funding in 2024.

While receding in overall VC investment share, Indonesia continues to provide critical scale for digital lenders that are experimenting with different operational models, both with and without established bank charters.

The super-app thesis abandoned

A major strategic pivot across leading digital platforms in 2024 confirmed the death of another growth narrative: the “super-app” model. Most digital platforms have officially abandoned the multi-vertical “super-app” thesis to concentrate on originating and distributing financial services.

The era of non-digital financial services super-apps was officially deemed over by 2022. This strategic refinement means that digital finance has become the key driver of profitability announcements across the region’s leading platforms throughout 2024. The concept of multi-vertical (or diversified services) accounted for US$866 million of capital invested in 2023–2024, representing 13 per cent of the top five sectors.

Business automation and exit resilience

Beyond the DFS dominance, another sector showing a burst of activity is business automation. While financial services captured 48 per cent of total capital invested in the top five sectors in 2023-2024 (US$3.3 billion), business automation accounted for US$507 million, or 7 per cent.

Also Read: When debt replaces equity: How SEA startups mask a funding winter

The spike in investment into business automation reflects a surge of experimentation with hybrid B2B marketplace plus SaaS business models across a variety of industries. However, the capital invested in business automation is back to its baseline after a brief B2B marketplace-driven spike.

Regarding exits, the ecosystem is still reeling from exposed instances of fraud and financial mismanagement across various companies. While the overall recovery remains a work in progress, more minor mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are still occurring. The market generally does not clear for significant acquisitions until founders and late-stage investors reach a point of desperation due to misaligned expectations.

A notable exception in early 2024 was the Tokopedia-ByteDance sale, which occurred under significant regulatory pressure. Despite these challenges, median exit valuations saw a substantial increase in 2024 compared to 2022, suggesting that strong, albeit smaller, exits are still being achieved.

The post Why Southeast Asia’s consumer-led growth story has officially ended appeared first on e27.

Many midlife professionals and creators have decades of ideas and experiences worth sharing. But turning those insights into content that markets their skills often feels overwhelming.

Writing feels stressful. Video production feels too technical. The result? Great ideas stay private, while social media feeds remain empty.

A real case: An artist and a dusty window

I was speaking with an artist friend in his late fifties. He described a striking moment: rain and dust forming patterns on an old window, like nature painting its own artwork. His explanation was vivid, but he dreaded writing it into an artist statement.

So I opened ChatGPT, tapped the microphone, and asked it to simply talk. Within minutes, AI transformed his spoken words into a polished artist statement, even producing a Chinese version.

Then I told him: This is not just your statement. This is your Facebook post. This is your Instagram caption. This is how you promote your art and your story online.

From idea to content pipeline

We pushed further. I asked ChatGPT to generate a short script for a video presentation of his concept. With CapCut, I combined the script and visuals. By the end of the afternoon, his inspiration had turned into:

• A professional artist statement
• A ready-to-publish social media post
• A short video for showcasing his work

This is the power of AI when you use it as a content pipeline. One idea, expressed once, becomes multiple marketing assets.

Don’t get stuck in fear

His first reaction was one many midlifers share: “If AI can do this, won’t it replace copywriters, marketers, or even me?”

This fear is driven by headlines and rumours, focusing on replacement instead of opportunity. The truth is simple:

• AI cannot create meaning without human input.
• It needs your ideas, your perspective, your story.
• What it offers is speed, scale, and structure.

Also Read: AI adoption evolves: Knowledge, confidence, and code creation soar

Instead of fearing replacement, midlifers should focus on innovation and leverage.

Why this matters for midlife professionals

In today’s market, visibility matters. Whether you’re an artist, consultant, or small business owner, social media is your storefront. AI gives you the ability to:

• Publish consistently without the stress of blank pages.
• Repurpose content across text, video, and multiple languages.
• Promote your skills skillfully by amplifying your unique voice.

For midlifers exploring a second act, this means you don’t need to wait for a marketing team or expensive campaigns. You can start today, with tools that are already available.

Final thought

AI won’t replace human creativity. But it is already replacing the excuses that keep ideas hidden.

Midlife professionals who open up, experiment, and use these tools will find themselves ahead: more visible, more agile, and more skillful in promoting what they do best.

The real risk is not AI itself — it’s refusing to explore what’s already possible.

Clarity in the Age of AI is about shifting from fear to leverage. Your next idea could already be tomorrow’s marketing campaign, if you let AI help you shape it.

—

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.

Enjoyed this read? Don’t miss out on the next insight. Join our WhatsApp channel for real-time drops.

Image courtesy of the author.

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The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) has inaugurated the SIT x NVIDIA AI Centre (SNAIC) at its Punggol Campus, positioning the facility as a central hub for innovation and talent development focused on applied artificial intelligence (AI).

The centre aims to foster cross-sector and cross-border collaboration through symbolic partnerships with major industry and academic players.

The SNAIC joint venture aims to accelerate AI adoption across the broader ecosystem via applied research collaboration. It seeks to nurture a robust pipeline of AI talent to support Singapore’s national AI strategy and its strategic goal of tripling the national AI workforce.

Also Read: Talents remain an issue in AI proliferation, but here are 6 steps that businesses can do to tackle it

The facility already hosts 19 industry doctorate and industry master’s (ID/IM) students pursuing studies through industry-applied research projects. These students work alongside full-time research engineers and experts from NVIDIA and SIT.

Strengthening Singapore’s talent pipeline

A key initiative launched alongside the centre is the SNAIC AI Programme, developed in collaboration with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). This six-month programme, supported under the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) national initiative, aims to train over 200 AI practitioners, including fresh graduates and mid-career professionals, within the next three years.

The curriculum is split into two phases: two months of intensive AI training covering modules developed by SNAIC, including cutting-edge skills like Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmentation Generation, and Agentic AI. This is followed by four months of hands-on projects with industry partners, allowing participants to solve real-world business challenges using AI under expert supervision.

Kiren Kumar, Deputy Chief Executive of IMDA, said: “Through IMDA’s TeSA initiative, we are building Singapore’s AI talent pipeline by combining the best of industry expertise and academic excellence. With SIT-recognised certifications, and hands-on experience provided through leading company partnerships, our learners will graduate ready to tackle real-world AI challenges and contribute meaningfully to our digital economy.”

For those seeking to nurture advanced AI talent, SNAIC will also support the newly established Applied AI Doctoral Training Centre (AAIDTC). The AAIDTC aims to train 10 Industrial Doctorate students annually, focusing on complex, multi-year, industry-driven AI challenges that require developing novel methods beyond off-the-shelf tools. This system creates a tiered talent development pathway from practitioners to applied AI researchers and innovators.

Driving innovation across key sectors

SNAIC is leveraging strategic partnerships to build a robust pipeline of industry-relevant AI projects, positioning Singapore as a global centre for applied AI innovation.

Public transport innovation (SMRT): SMRT Corporation has deepened its collaboration with SIT through the SMRT-SIT Transport Living Lab. Together with SNAIC, SMRT is co-developing advanced AI solutions aimed at boosting operational effectiveness and enhancing the commuter experience.

Specific initiatives include:

• A GenAI-powered system for safety investigations designed to automate the incident reporting process, benefiting staff involved in reporting and investigations, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
• Project AiDiSA (AI-Driven Intelligent System) which enhances automated case creation and sentiment analysis to boost productivity.
• An AI-driven lifestyle recommendation engine developed for Wink+, a mobile app offering access to MRT maps, real-time bus arrivals, and food deals accessible by public transport.

Financial services transformation (Prudential): The Prudential AI Lab is incubating AI-powered solutions to deliver a better customer experience and significant business impact. This partnership focuses on co-developing innovative AI solutions, utilising Singapore’s talent pool to support Prudential’s goal of becoming a digital-first insurer.

Also Read: Singapore aims to lead in AI — but where’s the talent?

Regional academic gateway: To foster cross-border innovation, SNAIC has established partnerships with international universities, including Monash University (Australia), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), and Vietnam National University–University of Economics and Law (VNU-UEL). These collaborations will facilitate joint research projects addressing cross-border industry challenges and promote talent exchange through joint seminars and workshops, positioning SNAIC as a crucial gateway for regional applied AI collaboration in Southeast Asia.

The post Singapore Institute of Technology and NVIDIA launch AI centre to boost talent and innovation appeared first on e27.

The Philippine startup ecosystem took center stage at Echelon Philippines 2025, e27’s premier event organized by Brainsparks, which drew more than 3,000 attendees, 1,000+ companies, 80+ speakers, and 52 exhibiting startups to the SMX Convention Center in Manila.

Under the theme “Leading the Charge: Powering Asia’s Next Growth Frontier with the Philippine Startup Ecosystem”, the two-day conference brought together founders, investors, corporates, and policymakers to turn ideas into impact by scaling startups, activating new capital, and forging partnerships that will shape Southeast Asia’s digital economy.

With support from 42 ecosystem partners, 10 sponsors, and participants representing over 15 countries, the conference delivered more than 14 hours of discussions and fireside chats, including 10 hours of focused, practical sessions designed to equip founders with strategies to scale.

Finding opportunity in every cycle

Opening the event, Coach Artie Lopez, Startup Coach and Co-Founder of Brainsparks, reflected on the state of the ecosystem. “It’s unfortunate that things aren’t so great in the ecosystem right now, not just in the Philippines, but across the region. But I’ve been around long enough to see that these things come in cycles. At the moment, we may be in a dip, but what’s encouraging is that every cycle helps us separate the signal from the noise and identify the standout startups, real opportunities, and exceptional founders.”

He emphasized that these cycles create a window of opportunity not only for founders but also for the investors, incubators, and accelerators who support them, adding that Brainsparks sees strong momentum in the region and is committed to driving it forward.

Spotlight on opportunities and innovation

Meanwhile, Mohan Belani, Co-Founder & CEO of e27, highlighted the Philippines as a market brimming with untapped potential. “When I look at the Philippines, I see an exciting opportunity. Most sectors are still blue oceans. No dominant brands have yet emerged across many industries. That gives you, the founders in this room, the space to go back to basics — building companies rooted in profitability, sustainability, and true impact for your stakeholders.” With AI emerging as a powerful force multiplier, speakers across the program urged startups to use new tools to innovate faster and compete with larger, better-funded players.

Stories from founders and investors

Across fireside chats and panels, voices from the region shared strategies for survival and growth. Peng Ong of Monk’s Hill Ventures spoke on capital efficiency with AI, while Raffy Montemayor of Salmon recounted how the fintech reached 1M users and secured a banking license in just 18 months. 

Panels brought together investors from Vertex Ventures, Integra Partners, and Forge Ventures to unpack what it takes to raise capital in 2025, alongside local founders from Parlon and OneCFO who revealed practical playbooks for scaling with limited resources. 

A session on next generation founders introduced bold entrepreneurs from Villgro PH, BuddyBetes, Dormy PH, and Tambanokano Aqua Farm, showing the diversity and ambition of the Philippines’ emerging leaders.

Celebrating startup achievements

Two pitch competitions put the spotlight on innovation. Shell LiveWIRE Final Pitch, held at Echelon Philippines as part of Shell’s flagship enterprise development programme, showcased three high-potential tech startups working on solutions with meaningful impact. The winner, Greentech Ecobooster PH, impressed with its patented innovation that improves fuel efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from internal combustion engines — a technology designed to both cut costs and lower environmental impact.

Meanwhile, Startup Spotlight, Echelon PH’s official pitch competition, gave rising founders a stage to share their vision, connect with investors, and compete for visibility in the ecosystem. This year’s winner, LIKED Platform, is building the Philippines’ first influencer marketing marketplace, designed to connect digital brands with a vetted network of micro-influencers fueling the country’s fast-growing creator economy.

Looking ahead

Belani left founders with a charge to carry the momentum forward. “For founders, this is your moment. Don’t waste it. Build with integrity, build with purpose, and build with impact. The future of Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem is in your hands and I cannot wait to see what you create.”

Supported by partners including Shell LiveWIRE, Lenovo, inDrive, CarDekho, 917Ventures, Paymongo, OneCFO, PLDT Enterprise, Thai Trade Center Manila, and Megaworld Hotels & Resorts with Common Ground Digital Park, Echelon Philippines 2025 showed that the country is ready to define the region’s next growth frontier. The conference returns in 2026 to continue its mission to collaborate, build, and scale the region’s most impactful startup stories.

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The post Echelon Philippines 2025 rallies 3K+ startup leaders to power Asia’s next growth frontier appeared first on e27.

The US stock market’s ascent on Thursday reflects a confluence of technological optimism, political uncertainty, and shifting macroeconomic signals that together paint a complex but compelling picture of current investor sentiment. All three major indices, the Nasdaq Composite, the S&P 500, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, closed at new record highs, with gains of 0.4 per cent, 0.1 per cent, and 0.2 per cent respectively.

This continued rally builds on the momentum from the previous session, when the S&P 500 crossed the 6,700 threshold for the first time in its history. The driving force behind this sustained upward movement remains the artificial intelligence trade, which has reinvigorated investor enthusiasm across the semiconductor and broader tech sectors. Nvidia, the undisputed leader in AI chips, reached another all-time high, while peers like AMD and South Korea’s SK Hynix also posted notable gains.

But the real spark this week came not from hardware manufacturers but from OpenAI, whose private valuation reportedly surged to US$500 billion following an internal employee share sale. This development effectively dethroned Elon Musk’s SpaceX as the world’s most valuable private company and injected fresh confidence into the AI narrative, even as sceptics warn of a potential bubble.

What makes this rally particularly striking is its resilience in the face of significant political turbulence. A partial US government shutdown is now underway, with no clear resolution in sight before the weekend. Former President Donald Trump, who remains a dominant figure in Republican politics, has escalated his rhetoric, threatening to fire thousands of federal workers and cancel billions in federal funding directed to states that lean Democratic.

He also announced a Thursday meeting with Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought to identify which so-called “Democrat Agencies” should face budget cuts. Despite this volatility in Washington, financial markets have shown remarkable indifference, a testament to how deeply investor focus has shifted toward technological disruption and away from short-term fiscal standoffs. That said, the shutdown is not without consequences.

The Bureau of Labour Statistics has almost certainly delayed the release of the September jobs report, originally scheduled for Friday. This data blackout deprives the Federal Reserve of a key input as it prepares for its October policy meeting, where labour market conditions will weigh heavily on the decision to hold or cut interest rates. In the absence of official economic indicators, traders are turning to alternative signals, including movements in Bitcoin and institutional flows into digital assets.

Also Read: How e-commerce merchants can capture growth in international markets

Speaking of Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency posted a 1.92 per cent gain over the past 24 hours, extending its seven-day advance of 10.14 per cent and 30-day climb of 8.56 per cent. This sustained bullish trend stems from three interlocking catalysts: growing speculation around sovereign Bitcoin reserves, strong inflows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs, and favourable technical indicators supported by shifting macro expectations.

The idea of nation-states holding Bitcoin as a reserve asset is no longer confined to outliers like El Salvador. On October 2, Swedish lawmakers formally proposed the creation of a national Bitcoin reserve, while in the US, Representative Nick Begich introduced legislation calling for a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.” Though these proposals remain in early stages, their mere existence signals a gradual normalisation of Bitcoin as a potential store of value at the sovereign level.

If even a fraction of these ideas materialise, say, a US acquisition of 1 million BTC, representing roughly 4.76 per cent of the total supply, the market impact would be profound. At current prices, such a purchase would cost approximately US$120 billion and significantly tighten available liquidity. Even smaller-scale adoption, such as the Czech Republic’s rumoured consideration of allocating five per cent of its foreign exchange reserves to Bitcoin, reinforces the “digital gold” thesis that underpins long-term institutional interest.

Parallel to these geopolitical developments, institutional demand through regulated financial products continues to accelerate. On October 1 alone, US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded US$430 million in net inflows, reversing a prior week of outflows. This surge coincided with heightened anxiety over the government shutdown, suggesting that some investors view Bitcoin as a hedge against political and fiscal instability. BlackRock’s IBIT ETF now holds US$77 billion worth of Bitcoin, underscoring the scale of institutional participation.

With total assets under management in spot Bitcoin ETFs approaching US$153 billion, the buying pressure from these vehicles has become a structural feature of the market. Unlike retail traders who may react emotionally to news cycles, ETF-driven demand tends to be more consistent and less price-sensitive, creating a floor beneath Bitcoin’s valuation. Corporate treasuries are also contributing to this trend.

Japanese firm Metaplanet recently added 5,268 BTC to its balance sheet in a US$615 million purchase, joining a growing list of companies treating Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. This dual wave of sovereign and corporate accumulation, though still nascent, is reshaping Bitcoin’s supply dynamics in ways that favour long-term price appreciation.

Also Read: Markets on edge: Fed ambiguity fuels risk-off mood as Aster surges amid crypto bloodbath

From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin’s price action supports this optimistic outlook. The asset reclaimed key support levels and broke above the 50 per cent Fibonacci retracement at US$112,591, stabilising around the US$113,877 pivot. The Relative Strength Index sits at 62.97, firmly in bullish territory but not yet overbought, suggesting room for further upside before encountering resistance near US$121,421, which corresponds to the 127.2 per cent Fibonacci extension.

Traders interpret consolidation above US$117,000 as a sign of underlying strength, particularly when paired with improving macro conditions. Indeed, weaker-than-expected US labour data released on October 2 has increased the probability of a Federal Reserve rate cut in the near term, with markets now pricing in a 78 per cent chance.

Lower interest rates typically benefit risk assets by reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding investments like Bitcoin. Caution remains warranted, however. A Sharpe-like ratio of 0.18 indicates that while returns are positive, the risk-adjusted payoff is modest, pointing to a market that is optimistic but not euphoric.

In sum, the current market environment reflects a delicate balance between technological exuberance and political fragility. US equities continue to scale new heights, propelled by AI-driven narratives and record-setting valuations for private tech giants like OpenAI.

At the same time, Bitcoin is carving out a parallel rally, fuelled by institutional adoption, sovereign curiosity, and technical momentum. Both markets are operating in a data vacuum created by the government shutdown, forcing investors to rely on alternative signals and forward-looking indicators.

The Federal Reserve’s next move will be pivotal, and while the odds favour a dovish pivot, any surprise hawkish stance could disrupt the current equilibrium. For now, however, the prevailing mood is one of cautious confidence, a belief that innovation, whether in artificial intelligence or digital money, will ultimately outweigh the noise from Washington.

As we approach the Fed’s October 30 decision and monitor legislative developments in both the US Congress and Sweden’s Riksdag, the intersection of technology, policy, and finance will remain the central axis around which markets revolve.

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The Singapore Management University (SMU) Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) announced the winners of the 12th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC), with deeptech startups ChemT Biotechnology and Zhejiang Polar Code Technology taking the top honours.

ChemT Biotechnology, a biotech startup representing Singapore and the US, was awarded the Chancellor’s Cup for Beta Innovation. Zhejiang Polar Code Technology, an energy tech startup representing China and the US, clinched the Chancellor’s Cup for Infinity Impact.

Also Read: “Don’t build for Demo Day”: Zhang Fan on the enduring truths of entrepreneurship in the AI era

LKYGBPC, one of Asia’s largest university-led deeptech startup competitions, ran from 29 September to 2 October 2025, setting new records for global participation. According to Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF), it reinforces Singapore’s status as a global innovation and entrepreneurial hub and an international gateway to Asia’s ecosystems.

Historic win and significant funding

ChemT Biotechnology’s victory in the Beta category (for pre-revenue startups) marks the first time in the competition’s 23-year history that a Singapore-US startup has secured the top prize in either category. ChemT’s founders are the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Harvard University graduates.

The Beta winner received SGD237,500 worth of prize value, while Zhejiang Polar Code Technology, the Infinity winner (for revenue-generating early-stage startups up to Series A), secured SGD287,500 in prize value. Both figures include SGD100,000 in cash and the remainder in in-kind prizes. Both teams also earned exclusive access to mentorship from notable venture capitalists (VCs) and C-suite Executives.

Winners focus on scaling and global expansion

ChemT Biotechnology focuses on transforming bio-manufacturing with AI-designed small molecules that modulate cell behaviour, thereby boosting biologics production yields and optimising cell performance.
Sun Jie, co-founder of ChemT Biotechnology, stated that the company’s immediate focus is scaling the business, which includes upgrading their current product, launching new products for antibody production, and expanding their virtual cell AI platform to more customers.

Zhejiang Polar Code Technology, whose founders graduated from Tianjin University and Toledo University, delivers smart micro-grids powered by AI to optimise performance in renewable-rich power networks.
Co-founder Wang Zhu revealed immediate plans to deepen the startup’s connection with the region starting with moving its headquarters to Singapore.

Ecosystem support and new initiatives

The LKYGBPC attracted 1,500 applications from over 1,200 universities across 91 countries. Chief Judge and Chairperson of the 12th LKYGBPC Advisory Committee, Shirley Wong, described the competition as “a vibrant celebration of bold ideas and fearless founders shaping a better future,” noting that the exceptional innovation, spanning from climate tech to sustainable materials, reflects the grit and vision of entrepreneurs tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges.

SMU’s role as a “crucible of innovation” was commended by Mr. Heng Swee Keat, who highlighted the launch of the Urban SustaInnovator (USI) deeptech accelerator programme just days before the competition’s finals. Supported by private and public partners, the USI aims to nurture high-potential deep-tech startups with a ‘Singapore Inc. Advisory Board’. All participants of LKYGBPC will receive an exclusive opportunity to apply for the USI programme.

The competition also saw the introduction of the DueAI Challenge, a novel initiative developed by SMU IIE’s Sze Tiam Lin, which uses artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency and objectivity of startup screening. This AI-driven platform streamlines data collection and enables data-driven investment decisions, aligning with global trends in venture capital. PufferAI, based in Singapore, took first place in the DueAI Challenge.

Sustainability and AI awards

The competition also recognised several other ventures, particularly those focused on sustainability and AI.

MicroMelt (University of Oxford, UK) and SynMetabio (ShanghaiTech University, China) won the Indorama Ventures Future of Sustainable Materials Awards, which carries cash prizes of S$50,000 and S$75,000 respectively, rewarding breakthroughs in sustainable materials.

Also Read: 60 global startups to compete for US$2M prize at LKYGBPC grand finals

Qarbotech, which develops patented photosynthesis-enhancing solutions to boost crop yields sustainably, secured the Wavemaker Sustainability Investment Prize (US$100,000 investment) and the YIT Global Exploration Prize. Founder Amiru Merican noted that the investment represents “a step up in credibility” and provides “great potential for us to expand further beyond our markets that we are in now”.

The Zhang Fan Global AI Initiative Award saw PhotonCore (China) take first place (US$50,000), Dunia Innovations (Scotland) take second (US$40,000), and Luxtelligence (Switzerland) take third (US$35,000).

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