A significant obstacle preventing successful corporate ventures from escaping the Valley of Death is a poorly conceived or “uninvestable” capital structure that actively deters external financing.

The white paper “The Corporate Venture Valley of Death,” co-authored by Wright Partners and MING Labs (WPML), warns that even a venture built on a solid idea will struggle to scale if the people and incentives behind it are misaligned.

The 100 per cent ownership trap

Venture capital (VC) funding is essential for traditional independent startups to scale beyond the initial seed phase. However, corporate ventures often face a unique structural impediment: the parent corporation frequently owns 100 per cent of the startup. While this might seem safer for the corporation, it is a significant red flag for VCs.

Also Read: Cash isn’t the problem: The hidden traps that kill 90 per cent of startups

The report explains that when a corporate venture is set up such that the corporation retains full ownership and the founder has no equity stake, external VCs often shy away from investing later. They sense that the founder may not be adequately incentivised to drive the venture through the gruelling startup journey, or they fear excessive interference from the corporate parent.

This lack of “skin in the game” for the internal team undermines the venture’s attractiveness in the broader investment ecosystem.

WPML, which assists in building ventures, stresses the importance of designing an “investable structure from day one”. This strategy involves structuring the capitalisation table to allow outside investors to participate and, crucially, provide the founding team with an equity stake or a clear path toward obtaining one. The authors highlight that they co-invest in the ventures they help create–a move intended to align everyone’s interests with the venture’s success and signal commitment.

The need for founder mentality and incentives

The choice of leader is paramount; “not just any smart manager can run a startup venture; it requires a founder’s mentality”. A founding team structure based purely on corporate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and salaried compensation, lacking equity, makes it unrealistic to expect “startup-like passion and hustle”.

The venture leader must be fully accountable, entrepreneurial, and resilient. The ideal venture team structure should mirror a startup, featuring a small group of multi-skilled individuals comfortable with ambiguity and rapid execution.

The report advises corporate executives to be willing to “break the mould” in terms of hiring and compensation, sometimes requiring the internal team to be augmented or led by an external entrepreneur to instil the necessary drive. The leader must be resilient enough to persevere through the inevitable setbacks–failed marketing channels, key departures, or missed partnerships–that characterise the startup journey.

Stage-gated funding and the path to independence

To enhance financial discipline and investor confidence, the white paper advocates for a stage-gated approach to internal funding. Rather than allocating a huge budget upfront, corporations should define concrete, unemotional “kill switches” and only release the next tranche of funding once specific milestones–such as a target number of paying customers, regulatory approval, or defined performance metrics–have been met.

This approach mirrors disciplined VC portfolio management, encouraging the team to stay lean, focused on tangible targets, and ensuring that initial spend does not exceed what ventures in the wild spend to reach similar milestones. This practice conserves corporate resources and increases the likelihood of long-term success.

Moreover, the authors advise corporate venture leaders to proactively plan for the potential withdrawal of corporate support. If the parent company’s strategy shifts, the venture needs “exit ramps”. Capitalisation and governance should be set up so that the venture can be divested or spun out, potentially by arranging co-investors or structuring a deal that allows the corporation to reduce its stake while the venture continues with outside capital. By having outside interest and a clear route to sustain the venture independently, the founders can present a “graceful exit” alternative rather than simply being shut down.

Also Read: 5 things startups should know about Corporate Venture Capital

Ultimately, structuring the venture for independence and external investment is a critical safeguard. The authors conclude that corporations must be willing to give up 100 per cent control and allow equity for founders and future investors, viewing this trade-off as essential for long-term venture success and resilience.

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Recent market movements reflect a cautious optimism that hinges on several interlocking variables, none more pivotal than the upcoming release of the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September. With core CPI projected to rise 0.3 per cent month-over-month, marking the third consecutive month at that pace, and annual core inflation holding steady at 3.1 per cent, investors are navigating a narrow corridor between hope for monetary easing and fear of persistent price pressures. This tension is evident across both traditional and digital markets, where risk appetite has improved but remains fragile.

Equity markets responded positively to signals of thawing US-China relations, as the White House confirmed that former President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his Asia tour. Though Trump is not currently in office, the symbolic weight of such a meeting, combined with broader expectations of de-escalation in trade tensions, lifted sentiment.

US equities posted gains across the board on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbing 0.31 per cent, the S&P 500 up 0.58 per cent, and the Nasdaq Composite leading the charge with a 0.89 per cent advance, driven largely by technology stocks. This tech-led rally underscores a persistent dynamic. Bitcoin and other risk assets continue to trade in close correlation with the Nasdaq-100, currently exhibiting a 0.61 correlation coefficient. As such, any volatility in the tech sector will likely spill over into crypto markets.

Simultaneously, Treasury yields moved higher in anticipation of Friday’s CPI release. The 10-year yield rose by 5.2 basis points to 4.001 per cent, while the 2-year yield climbed 4.4 basis points to 3.489 per cent. These moves reflect investors recalibrating their expectations for Federal Reserve policy. Markets now assign a 98.3 per cent probability to a rate cut at the upcoming Fed meeting, a dramatic shift fuelled partly by the delayed CPI report and partly by perceived regulatory leniency.

Reports circulated that Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance. While the veracity of that pardon claim warrants scrutiny given Trump’s current non-presidential status, the market interpreted it as a signal of reduced regulatory hostility toward major crypto players. This perception alone has been enough to ease anxiety and encourage capital deployment.

The US Dollar Index edged up marginally to 98.936, a modest gain of 0.04 per cent, while gold rose 0.68 per cent to US$4,126.28 per ounce, a notable level that reflects both safe-haven demand and inflation hedging ahead of the CPI print. Meanwhile, Brent crude surged 5.4 per cent to US$65.99 per barrel following the enforcement of US sanctions on leading Russian oil firms, adding another layer of macro uncertainty through potential energy price volatility.

Also Read: October’s perfect storm: Earnings, regulation, and the crypto sell-off

Within the crypto sphere, the past 24 hours saw a 1.96 per cent increase in total market capitalisation, extending a weekly gain of 1.44 per cent. Despite this momentum, the market remains 3.87 per cent below its 30-day high, suggesting that while sentiment has stabilised, full bullish conviction has yet to return. Three primary forces are driving this rebound. Binance’s reinforced market dominance, improving macro conditions, and renewed excitement around decentralised finance innovation, particularly around stablecoin design and real-world asset tokenisation, all contribute to the current uplift.

Binance’s role in this rally cannot be overstated. The exchange reported US$2.55 trillion in monthly futures trading volume, according to CoinMarketCap, and captured a staggering 87 per cent of Bitcoin futures taker volume. Its spot market share has climbed to 41.1 per cent, with institutional inflows concentrating in BTC/USDT pairs. This dominance signals a significant shift in market psychology.

After the collapse of FTX, users and institutions alike grew wary of centralised exchange counterparty risk. Binance’s ability to not only survive its own regulatory reckoning but also expand its liquidity depth has restored a measure of trust. Capital is flowing back, not just from retail, but from institutional players seeking reliable on and off ramps. The upcoming relaunch of WazirX on October 24, with zero-fee trading, could further catalyse retail participation, especially in emerging markets where cost sensitivity remains high.

On the macro front, the delayed CPI report has created a temporary window of ambiguity that markets are exploiting for risk-taking. With inflation expectations anchored around 3.1 per cent year-over-year for core CPI, traders are betting that the Fed will pivot toward easing as early as next week.

Historically, lower interest rates weaken the US dollar and boost non-yielding assets like Bitcoin and gold. The tight correlation between Bitcoin and the Nasdaq-100 complicates this narrative. If tech stocks stumble, perhaps on disappointing earnings or hawkish Fed commentary, crypto could quickly lose its footing, regardless of monetary policy shifts.

Also Read: 7-day crypto sell-off deepens – is this the start of a full capitulation?

Perhaps the most forward-looking driver of current market dynamics lies in DeFi innovation. Solana’s ecosystem has gained attention with the launch of USX, a yield-bearing stablecoin developed by SolsticeFi. Unlike traditional algorithmic or fiat-collateralised stablecoins, USX employs a proof-of-reserve model verified by Chainlink oracles, enhancing transparency and trust. Social mentions of USX surged 67 per cent, indicating strong community and developer interest. This innovation arrives at a critical time, as the stablecoin sector seeks alternatives to centralised models following repeated regulatory crackdowns.

Concurrently, Ethereum shows technical signs of recovery, with its 14-day Relative Strength Index at 48.38, below the neutral 50 mark but with room to run if it breaches the US$3,900 resistance level. Institutional-grade DeFi applications are also gaining traction, exemplified by T-RIZE’s US$300 million real estate tokenisation initiative, which bridges traditional finance with blockchain infrastructure.

Despite these positive developments, caution remains warranted. Bitcoin’s market dominance stands at 59.3 per cent, a level that typically signals investor preference for safety within the crypto space and hesitation toward altcoins. This suggests that while capital is returning, it is doing so selectively. Ethereum and Solana benefit from strong narratives, including scalability, institutional adoption, and novel financial primitives, but they must contend with Bitcoin’s gravitational pull.

The immediate future hinges on Friday’s CPI data. A print below 3.1 per cent year-over-year for core inflation would likely validate the market’s dovish expectations, potentially extending the current rally across equities, crypto, and commodities. A hotter-than-expected number could trigger a sharp reversal, as it would force a reassessment of Fed policy and reignite fears of prolonged high rates. In such a scenario, even Binance’s liquidity depth and DeFi’s innovation might not be enough to sustain momentum.

In conclusion, today’s market wrap reveals a complex interplay of short-term catalysts and long-term structural trends. The crypto market is no longer an isolated domain. It responds acutely to macroeconomic signals, regulatory whispers, and technological breakthroughs. Binance’s dominance provides a foundation of liquidity, easing macro fears offer temporary tailwinds, and DeFi’s evolution promises sustainable growth beyond speculative cycles.

The path forward remains contingent on external data, most immediately the CPI report, that will either confirm the market’s optimism or expose its fragility. Investors would do well to balance enthusiasm with vigilance, recognising that in this new era of interconnected finance, no asset class moves in isolation.

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Most people do not think about insurance until disaster strikes: when flights are cancelled, phones break, or medical bills pile up. That is when they realise they were either never covered or did not understand their coverage. Gideon Hurwitz, co-founder and CEO of Forgettable, knows this problem all too well.

“When things go wrong, life is stressful enough without deciphering your policy,” Hurwitz said. “Forgettable provides instant, clear answers without needing an agent, helping users resolve issues quickly and confidently.”

Forgettable is an app designed to decode existing insurance policies—including those tied to credit cards, jobs, or past purchases—and present them in plain language within seconds. Unlike platforms that push new products, Forgettable focuses on helping users maximise what they already own.

“We are solving the confusion, missed claims, and wasted money that happen when the stakes are high,” Hurwitz explained. “Forgettable helps people use the protection they already have, right when they need it most.”

That mission has resonated particularly with a younger, digital-first generation that views traditional insurance as slow, opaque and outdated. For Hurwitz, the disconnect between young consumers and the insurance industry was both an obstacle and an opportunity.

Also Read: Investors bet on algorithms and insurance to tame Asia’s climate-health crisis

“It is not that they do not care,” he said. “They just do not feel connected to it. That disconnect can quietly cost years of savings when they miss out on coverage or buy protection they didn’t need.”

Building for a digital generation

Forgettable’s development has been shaped by eight months of co-creation with early users through interviews, usability tests, and live pilots. Each feature, from easy onboarding to the ability to share policies with an emergency contact, was inspired by real-world feedback.

“Our mission is to help the younger generation take control of their financial protection,” Hurwitz said. “Feeling protected also means making sure someone else knows too.”

Soon, the app will go beyond explanation. Users can explore and purchase additional protection directly through Forgettable, guided by gaps identified in their current coverage. “It is not about selling more insurance,” Hurwitz noted. “It’s about helping people make smarter, proactive decisions before something happens, not after.”

Forgettable’s acquisition strategy reflects its understanding of how Gen Z and young Millennials engage with financial products. The app does not chase attention; it earns it.

“Our users are digital natives who live their lives online, and we meet them where they actually look for answers,” Hurwitz said.

That means being present when people need you and building trust through value-driven content on LinkedIn and Reddit. Forgettable’s posts explain, for example, what travel insurance comes with your credit card or how to use hidden work benefits.

Also Read: Indonesia’s Bang Jamin secures US$4M pre-Series A to scale digital insurance

Users can instantly see visual summaries of their coverage in plain English inside the app before paying anything. Hurwitz said the experience’s simplicity becomes its strongest growth engine. “Forgettable doesn’t try to make insurance exciting; it makes it clear. When someone discovers they are already covered, they tell five friends. That’s how we grow.”

Hurwitz admits that trust is the most complex challenge for any insurtech startup. “Insurance is one of those topics where people immediately assume you’re trying to sell them something,” he said. Forgettable addresses this by practising what he calls “radical transparency.”

“We don’t earn from upselling new policies on day one,” he emphasised. “Forgettable starts by helping users understand what they already have.”

The company also relies on “human storytelling,” or real stories of missed claims and surprise coverage, to show users the tangible value of clarity. Because attention is fleeting, Forgettable is built to feel as natural as checking your bank balance: visual, quick, and mobile-first.

Forgettable’s business model is built around alignment, not exploitation. Its freemium tier lets anyone upload and decode their policies for free. A premium subscription adds extra features such as family accounts and automated claim tools. Finally, a transactional layer lets users fill gaps in their coverage, with transparent commissions shown in-app.

“We are building sustainability by aligning incentives with clarity,” Hurwitz said. “The more users trust Forgettable to help them understand their protection, the more naturally they will use it to manage or upgrade it.”

Also Read: Indonesia’s Bang Jamin secures US$4M pre-Series A to scale digital insurance

From Singapore to the world

Currently a Singapore-first startup, Forgettable plans to expand across Southeast Asia and other digitally mature markets. Its AI engine can extract and explain insurance details from policy documents, which means localising for new languages and insurers is relatively simple.

“Insurance confusion looks the same everywhere — fragmented, opaque, and full of missed opportunities,” Hurwitz said. “Forgettable’s goal is to become the universal layer that translates that chaos into clarity.”

Backed by global early-stage VC firm Antler, Forgettable is set firmly in 2026. The company aims to evolve into a complete insurance platform where users can simulate scenarios, analyse protection gaps, and act instantly to close them.

“By the end of 2026,” Hurwitz said, “Forgettable will move beyond explanation into action, helping this generation not just understand their insurance, but truly take control of it.”

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Image Credit: forgettable

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In corporate venture building, control often masquerades as prudence—but can easily become poison. The Wright Partners–MING Labs white paper,”The Corporate Venture Valley of Death”, exposes how the very structure of corporate ownership often seals a startup’s fate before it ever scales.

When corporations insist on 100 per cent ownership, they signal to outside investors that the venture is uninvestable. Without equity or meaningful upside, internal founders lack the drive to endure the grind that true startups face. Meanwhile, external investors see a red flag: no founder “skin in the game” and the looming shadow of corporate interference.

The fix, as WPML argues, lies in designing an investable structure from day one—one that grants founders equity, invites outside capital, and fosters accountability. A startup led by salaried managers chasing KPIs is not a venture; it’s an internal project with a shelf life.

Stage-gated funding, clear milestones, and eventual independence create the discipline and flexibility that real innovation demands. Corporations that learn to loosen their grip—sharing control and incentives—will give their ventures a fighting chance to cross the Valley of Death. Those that don’t will keep mistaking ownership for success, and control for longevity.

REGIONAL

Vietnam leads SEA in e-commerce optimism despite regulatory frictions: A new report by Singapore-based Blackbox Research, “The Next Leap for E-Commerce in Southeast Asia,” reveals that Vietnam ranks highest in logistics infrastructure (84%), platform competitiveness (77%), and buyer experience innovation (70%).

Endowus bags US$70M, eyes positive free cash flow in 2 years: UK-based Illuminate Financial is the lead investor. The investment will open the doors to closer partnerships with Illuminate’s base of limited partners, which mostly consists of large financial institutions.

Pave Bank secures over US$39M to redefine banking for the on-chain era: Investors include Accel, Tether Investments, Quona Capital, and Wintermute. Bank offers commercial banking services alongside digital asset custody, instant settlement, and OTC trading under a single regulatory and compliance framework.

XDC Ventures acquires Contour to bridge TradFi and Web3 in global trade: XDC is launching a dedicated stable coin lab to deepen institutional trade-finance integration. Contour will immediately integrate the XDC Network as its tokenisation and settlement backbone, ensuring lower costs and faster cross-border transactions.

Singapore-based stablecoin settlement company StraitsX secures US$10M: UQPAY is the lead investor. The funding, along with continued support from existing shareholder NTT Docomo of Japan, will support StraitsX’s expansion in Asia.

Filmmakers-turned-founders raise US$1.35M for ChatCut that makes video editing as easy as texting: The investors are ZhenFund and Antler. ChatCut aims to revolutionise post-production by translating natural-language prompts into polished, professional video edits. This enables creators and teams to accelerate the process from raw footage to published content in minutes.

Xendit plans to expand operations in Latin America: The Indonesian firm that offers digital payments infrastructure plans to launch in Mexico and Colombia by the end of 2025, with further expansion to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil set for 2026.

Singapore’s Agnes AI hits 2M users in three months: The AI assistant platform reported around 150,000 daily active users, with half of its user base in Southeast Asia. Agnes AI also ranked among the top 10 productivity tools on Google Play in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Danantara hires ex-GIC execs to lead private markets: sources: Daniel Lim and Weihan Wong will now be Directors of Investment at the Indonesian sovereign wealth fund. Lim will focus on private credit, including structured debt and hybrid instruments, while Wong will oversee private equity.

Indonesia’s finance minister plans AI system to curb customs fraud: The system will monitor violations and fraud in customs transactions within the next three months. The AI implementation is aimed at the country’s Customs Directorate and will be integrated with the existing system at the Tax Directorate General.

REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

The 100 per cent ownership trap: Why corporate ventures die before they scale: Corporate ventures often fail due to rigid ownership and misaligned incentives, making them uninvestable; success requires equity flexibility, founder mentality, and independence.

Cash isn’t the problem: The hidden traps that kill 90% of startups: Research indicates that the number one cause of startup failure is a lack of market need for the offering, accounting for 42 per cent of failures–a rate higher than running out of cash or internal team issues.

Asia’s first Llama incubator turns Singapore into a launchpad for frontier AI: Singapore’s AI ecosystem surges as Meta’s Llama Incubator empowers startups and SMEs to build, scale, and deploy frontier AI innovations responsibly.

In climate x health, innovation alone isn’t enough–inclusion is the multiplier: A portfolio approach that integrates finance with capacity, inclusion, and credible impact pathways is essential for investors seeking catalytic returns. The goal is to back ventures that build systems, not just products, generating both durable value and measurable impact across the climate x health frontier.

Why climate x health startups need government backing to survive the valley of death: Government-backed demand and public–private alignment are key to unlocking private investment in Asia’s emerging climate x health startup ecosystem.

Asia’s climate-health deals are rising, but the story still lacks a name: Creating a clear taxonomy is the most fundamental step to bring climate-and-health deals into the financial mainstream. A widely used label for climate x health projects would allow regulators to set incentives, help investors benchmark returns, and enable databases to accurately flag relevant deals.

How Gen-Z travellers are driving the comeback of online travel agencies: Research shows that Millennials and Gen Z engage with twice as many brands as older generations. They want the ability to fly with any airline and pay however they like. Freedom to book and freedom to pay have both been critical to our early success.

INTERNATIONAL

Apple co-founder joins 850 people urging AI superintelligence pause: They urge a halt to the development of superintelligence, AI that could surpass human intelligence, until there is strong public support and a scientific consensus that it can be built and controlled safely.

Apple loses US$2B UK lawsuit over App Store fees: The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruled that Apple overcharged developers on its App Store from October 2015 to the end of 2020, potentially making the company liable for hundreds of millions of pounds in damages.

Binance founder pardoned by Trump in crypto clemency move: Changpeng Zhao served four months in prison in 2024 for failing to implement anti-money laundering controls at the cryptocurrency exchange. Binance settled with the US government for US$4.3B in connection with Zhao’s guilty plea.

OpenAI acquires Mac automation app maker: Software Applications Incorporated is known for developing Sky, a natural language interface for Mac computers. OpenAI plans to bring Sky’s macOS integration to ChatGPT. Sky allows users to interact with their Mac through natural language and integrates with existing apps.

Microsoft rolls out 12 new AI features for Copilot: The update introduces Groups, which allows up to 32 users to collaborate in real time, and Imagine, a tool for sharing and remixing AI-generated ideas. A new character, Mico, offers a customisable visual presence for Copilot, making interactions more engaging.

OpenAI calls for ‘AI infrastructure revolution’ to reboot Japan’s growth: OpenAI’s new Japan Economic Blueprint outlines how AI could add US$665B to Japan’s economy through innovation, infrastructure, and education. The blueprint calls for sustained national investment in both digital and physical infrastructure.

SEMICONDUCTOR

Intel Q3 revenue rises 3% to US$13.7b, posts US$4.1B profit: This is a turnaround from the US$16.6B loss in Q3 2024. Intel’s Client Computing Group revenue rose 5% to US$8.5B, while Data Center and AI revenue slipped 1% to US$4.1B.

US chip equipment maker Applied Materials to cut 1,400 workers: The firm said the cuts will affect employees across all levels and regions. The company cited automation, digitalisation, and geographic changes as reasons for the restructuring. The layoffs come as the company faces a projected US$600M revenue hit in fiscal 2026 linked to new US export restrictions.

Nvidia, AMD back US AI company Uniphore in US$260M round: Uniphore develops business-focused AI software and platforms. The new funding will be used to advance its Business AI Cloud platform and expand its ecosystem.

AI

AI in Southeast Asian newsrooms: The trade-off between trust and speed: In Southeast Asia, surveys reveal that 79.3 per cent of newsrooms lack formal policies for AI. This shortfall raises serious concerns about integrity, creativity, transparency, and critical thinking in journalism.

GEO: The missing strategy in Asia’s marketing playbook: Search marketing’s click era is ending as AI assistants replace links with answers. Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) helps brands become cited, trusted responses—vital for visibility, credibility, and growth in Asia’s rapidly accelerating AI-driven discovery landscape.

Bridging AI and human connection: Feihong Chen’s approach to building adaptable skills: She supports mid-career professionals navigating change, helping them strengthen communication and stage presence, often drawing on improving techniques to build confidence and creativity.

Never fear, AI is here: Helping midlife artists build their social media voice: Storytelling turns passive viewers into engaged followers. It transforms art from something nice to look at into something meaningful to feel. And for midlife artists, who often carry decades of life experience, these stories are not just promotion, they are a way of passing on wisdom and perspective.

How AI is powering Asia’s next generation of superstreamers: AI is increasingly present behind the scenes: from optimising lighting and sound to analysing audience sentiment and suggesting products in real time. Beyond these support functions, some creators are also experimenting with AI avatars as virtual co-hosts.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

7-day crypto sell-off deepens–is this the start of a full capitulation?: Cryptocurrency markets face steep losses amid global uncertainty, with Bitcoin pressured by whale movements, collapsing sentiment, and bearish technicals, reflecting broader risk aversion from shifting central bank policy, weak earnings, and renewed US-China trade tensions.

From buzzword to application: Southeast Asia’s AI momentum: Startups and SMEs in the region are no longer just catching up to global AI trends; they’re using AI to solve real-world problems in ways that reflect the region’s unique contexts and challenges.

Why private credit is becoming the hottest alternative for smart investors: Private credit is overtaking venture capital as investors chase yield, flexibility, and transparency through SPVs, enabling smaller players to access customised, collateral-backed deals offering higher returns, diversification, and real-economy impact beyond traditional banking systems.

From risk to resilience: Why nature-based solutions must be on every CEO’s agenda: Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously benefiting people and nature.

Data privacy for startups: Simple steps to protect sensitive documents: For startups, data privacy is no longer optional, it’s a business imperative. Securing your sensitive documents protects your intellectual property, builds customer trust, and ensures compliance with laws that could otherwise cost you significantly.

What is digital PR, and how can you develop an effective strategy?: Digital PR increases visibility through media features, influencer campaigns, and shareable content. By being featured on top sites, your brand attracts targeted visitors and amplifies awareness.

What angel investors should know before using Y Combinator’s SAFE agreement: Until the SAFE converts, angels don’t have any ownership or voting rights in the company. But once the agreed event happens, the SAFE turns into equity based on the terms, letting angels receive shares in a startup at a lower price than future angels. This makes SAFEs a flexible.

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Singapore’s hospitality and tourism sectors are experiencing a significant surge in demand for workers, with job postings rising by a substantial 64.3 per cent over the past three months, according to new data published by Indeed, the global job matching and hiring platform.

This spike arrives as the overall Singapore job market shows signs of a fragile recovery, with job postings increasing in September after two consecutive months of decline.

The rapid growth in hospitality and tourism roles was mirrored by noticeable increases in human resources, which saw postings rise by 37.1 per cent, and logistic support roles, which grew by 16.7 per cent in the same three-month window.

Also Read: The invisible problem in hospitality that’s costing billions in lost revenue

In stark contrast, several highly specialised sectors recorded significant contraction in job availability. Dental roles experienced the largest decline at 27.1 per cent, followed by childcare, dropping 23.1 per cent, and insurance, which fell by 17.6 per cent.

Macro context: A moderate rebound

Overall, Singapore job postings grew by 1 per cent in September, halting the two-month downward slide. Despite this slight rebound, the current job figures remain 14.5 per cent lower than those recorded a year ago, signalling a sustained downward trend observed over the past three years.

Callam Pickering, Indeed’s APAC Senior Economist, provided a cautious assessment of the figures: “Singapore job postings rebounded slightly in September, but we expect job postings to continue to moderate going forward”. Pickering noted that despite the expected moderation in postings, the Singapore labour market remains tight, defined by a low unemployment rate of 2 per cent and skill shortages that are still common.

High retention in nursing and F&B

The data also highlighted sectors where career pathways appear longer and retention rates are notably high. Resume data collected by Indeed between 2022 and 2024 revealed that registered nurses were the least likely cohort to switch occupations when finding new employment; only 11.9 per cent of those changing jobs moved outside of the nursing profession.

Similar retention patterns were observed across the food preparation profession. Only 12.7 per cent of line cooks, 18.9 per cent of chefs, and 29.4 per cent of cooks left the food and beverage industry when seeking new roles between 2022 and 2024.

Accounting also demonstrated strong retention. Just 27.2 per cent of audit associates, 31.1 per cent of senior accountants, and 32.5 per cent of senior auditors opted to leave the accounting profession during the monitored period.

Also Read: The future of job market: Dramatic changes and cultural shifts

Pickering stated that Singaporeans are motivated to change jobs for various reasons, with “higher pay or career advancement being obvious motivations”. Other factors driving workers to switch roles include seeking to “reduce stress, improve job security, or enjoy greater work-life balance,” alongside external factors such as redundancy, health issues, relocation, or a bad experience in their existing job.

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Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are at the heart of most economies. They create jobs, support innovation, and adapt quickly to change. Yet many face a shared challenge: how to stay productive while keeping operations lean. For businesses that operate with small teams and limited resources, technology plays a defining role in enabling that balance.

As digital transformation continues, expectations around productivity have shifted. Teams are now spread across different locations and time zones. Work happens on multiple devices, both online and offline. The need for connected and efficient workflows has never been more pressing. Artificial intelligence is beginning to meet that need, making it possible for smaller businesses to achieve the kind of efficiency that was once limited to larger organisations.

To explore how AI Co-Pilot is transforming everyday workflows across devices and the cloud, join Lenovo’s webinar on 6 November. Register now for free to see how Lenovo Pro is helping SMEs work smarter and accelerate their digital evolution.

Lenovo Pro and the SME opportunity

For SMEs, managing technology often involves trade-offs. Hardware must be affordable, yet reliable. IT support must be responsive, yet not overwhelming to maintain. Lenovo Pro is designed to simplify this process by giving small and medium businesses a structured way to access business-ready technology, flexible purchasing options, and dedicated support.

This structure allows companies to focus less on the logistics of buying and maintaining equipment and more on how that equipment supports their work. It also gives them access to the newest generation of Copilot+ PCs, built with AMD Ryzen AI PRO 300 Series Processors and optimised for Windows 11 Pro. These devices bring emerging AI capabilities into daily business use, supporting a gradual transition toward more automated, data-aware workflows.

Copilot+ PCs in action

The role of the personal computer is changing. What was once a tool for typing, creating, and communicating is now becoming a partner in analysis and decision-making. Copilot+ PCs illustrate this evolution.

Compared to traditional Windows 11 Pro devices, which already provide business-grade reliability, Copilot+ PCs feature neural processing units capable of handling over 40 trillion operations per second. This capacity allows many AI tasks to run directly on the device rather than relying entirely on cloud processing. The result is faster performance and greater privacy, since more data stays within the user’s control.

AMD Ryzen AI PRO 300 Series Processors power these Copilot+ PCs by delivering instant, energy-efficient on-device AI with enterprise-grade controls. As a result, users get responsive, private, all-day AI assistance that IT teams can trust. Their efficient AI acceleration helps preserve battery life and prevent thermal throttling, allowing Copilot features to run smoothly throughout the day. At the same time, built-in security and manageability features keep data protected on-device and enable trusted, compliant Copilot deployments across business environments.

In practice, this means that someone writing a client proposal, preparing a presentation, or sorting through a busy inbox can use Microsoft Copilot to generate summaries, outlines, and suggestions almost instantly. These features are designed to remove repetitive steps, not to replace human judgment. They allow people to focus on the parts of their work that require creativity, empathy, and decision-making.

For teams that move frequently between online and offline environments, local processing also ensures continuity. Work can continue even without a constant internet connection. Copilot+ PCs are also designed to work smoothly with common business applications such as Microsoft 365, Teams, and Adobe Creative Cloud, providing a familiar environment for most users.

Making technology practical for smaller teams

Access to advanced tools only matters if they fit within the daily realities of running a small business. Many SMEs operate without a dedicated IT department. They need systems that can be deployed, managed, and secured with minimal friction. The devices and services available through Lenovo Pro aim to support that approach. They prioritise ease of setup, remote management, and compatibility with the software that SMEs already use.

The value for small businesses is not only in adopting new technology, but in adopting it with confidence. Reliable support and a clear upgrade path can help organisations plan their digital growth instead of reacting to it.

Exploring what AI can do for SMEs

To help businesses understand how these technologies come together in practice, Lenovo is hosting the webinar AI Co-Pilot in Action: How Copilot+ PCs Are Redefining SME Productivity. The discussion will explore examples of how AI tools can fit naturally into daily work, improving collaboration and simplifying routine tasks. It will also consider what these changes mean for the future of business operations, where data-driven insights and automation play an increasing role in decision-making.

Register here for the webinar.

AI-assisted work is still in its early stages, but its potential for smaller enterprises is already visible. It is making it possible to process information faster, make better decisions, and adapt more quickly to changing demands. The combination of Windows 11 Pro, Copilot+ PCs, and Lenovo Pro’s support framework gives SMEs a practical entry point into this new landscape.

For many, it represents an opportunity not to work harder, but to work more intelligently. As AI becomes part of the everyday toolkit, SMEs are well placed to shape how technology supports productivity in the years ahead.

Can’t make it to the session? Join Lenovo Pro for free and enjoy exclusive AI-powered benefits all year round.

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The e27 team produced this article sponsored by Lenovo Pro and AMD Ryzen

We can share your story at e27 too! Engage the Southeast Asian tech ecosystem by bringing your story to the world. You can reach out to us here to get started.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has long been discussed in broad, global terms—transforming industries and reshaping economies. But across Southeast Asia, something more grounded is happening. Founders and business leaders are turning AI from a distant ideal into a practical growth driver; one that addresses local market realities while building toward global scalability.

This spirit of applied innovation took center stage at the Meta Llama Incubator Program Demo Day in Singapore, where participating startups and SMEs showcased how they are transforming AI concepts into tangible products, business efficiencies, and customer impact.  

From experimentation to execution

A few years ago, AI in the region was mostly viewed as an emerging opportunity. Today, it’s becoming a core part of how businesses operate. At the recently concluded Incubator Program, founders shared how they’ve moved from testing models to deploying real solutions: streamlining workflows, improving productivity, and unlocking new value for customers.

Whether through intelligent automation tools, localized AI copilots, or data-driven platforms, these companies are showing that AI in Southeast Asia isn’t just about technological ambition. It’s about measurable progress and practical results.

Also read: Meta accelerates AI innovation in Singapore with Llama Incubator program demo day

Empowering SMEs to scale with AI

One of the most promising outcomes of the Meta Llama Incubator is the growing participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—businesses that traditionally face barriers to AI adoption due to limited resources or technical expertise.

Many SMEs have gained the capability to integrate AI into their operations through the program’s support and mentorship, turning insights into actionable outcomes. This shift signals a more inclusive wave of digital transformation, where AI is not reserved for large enterprises but accessible to all innovators across the region.

Collaboration as the catalyst

The Meta Llama Incubator Program demonstrates how innovation flourishes when startups, SMEs, mentors, and ecosystem partners come together with shared purpose. Throughout the program, participants received hands-on guidance from refining use cases and building prototypes to testing real applications of AI in their products.

This collaborative ecosystem approach enabled by Meta, program partners, and industry mentors has proven that AI innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when expertise, technology, and opportunity intersect.

Also read: The mentors behind the magic: Meet the experts guiding Singapore’s next AI breakthroughs

Building Southeast Asia’s AI future

What stood out most at Demo Day was not just the technology. It was the mindset. Founders across the cohort are designing AI solutions that are:

• Contextually relevant, built with local data and user behavior in mind;
• Scalable, with potential to expand across markets; and
• Impact-driven, focused on solving problems that matter to communities and industries.

Southeast Asia’s AI story is being written by innovators who understand that technology’s true power lies in its application.

From hype to impact

The Meta Llama Incubator Program Demo Day marked more than the end of a cohort, it signaled the start of a new chapter in Southeast Asia’s AI journey. One defined by collaboration, inclusivity, and measurable outcomes.

AI in this region is no longer theoretical. It is practical, purposeful, and here to stay.

Interested in creating impact with us? Contact Innovate here.

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Marketers across Southeast Asia face a familiar but fast-evolving challenge: turning endless streams of customer data into meaningful, human connections. Consumers expect brands to know them, remember them, and anticipate their needs. Yet for many organisations, fragmented systems and siloed teams still stand in the way of truly personalised experiences.

Taking off from a Braze roundtable hosted by e27, we learned that the real barrier to transformation is not the lack of technology but the lack of integration between data, empathy, and creativity. AI is helping marketers move closer to real-time personalisation, but success depends on how well teams align around a single goal: making every customer interaction feel intentional and human.

The next phase of customer engagement

In Southeast Asia’s fast-growing digital markets, the shift from traditional campaign planning to real-time personalisation is accelerating. Companies that once relied on demographic segmentation are now experimenting with AI-driven audience modelling and contextual engagement, where every message, touchpoint, and offer adapts to user intent in the moment.

At the roundtable, leaders across fintech, e-commerce, and lifestyle sectors discussed how intelligent orchestration is reshaping the marketing function. The conversation revealed a shared understanding: AI is not about replacing marketers. It’s about amplifying their ability to listen, interpret, and respond faster than ever before.

Also read: How e27 helps brands build personalised customer experiences with Braze

Where human creativity meets machine intelligence

While technology can unify data and predict patterns, people still drive meaning. Across every discussion, a recurring theme emerged: the brands that succeed are those that combine machine efficiency with human empathy.

AI can personalise at scale, but it cannot craft emotional narratives. Data can reveal behaviour, but it cannot understand why people care. As one attendee shared, “AI can tell us what’s working, but humans decide why it matters.”

This balance between automation and authenticity is becoming the defining skill for modern marketers. It’s also an area ripe for ongoing dialogue and experimentation, something e27 continues to facilitate through events, roundtables, and cross-industry conversations.

Rethinking how marketing innovation happens

Roundtables like these show that real progress in marketing often starts with conversation. When corporates, startups, and solution providers sit together, the dialogue moves past technology and into what actually drives impact. This means strategy, culture, and creativity working in sync.

These discussions reveal how leaders across Southeast Asia are experimenting with new ideas. They share what works, what does not, and where the next opportunities might emerge. The exchange is candid, practical, and deeply regional.

What stands out is how ready Southeast Asia’s marketing ecosystem is to evolve. From AI-enabled personalisation to data ethics and creative automation, marketers are looking for ways to connect innovation with strategy and measurable outcomes.

Also read: Empowering brands to build a personalised customer journey with Braze

Where the conversation leads next

The conversations emerging across Southeast Asia point to a marketing landscape that is becoming more connected, curious, and human. The challenge now is to turn these insights into practice, to merge intelligence with empathy and technology with creativity.

As AI continues to reshape how brands understand and engage audiences, the most valuable outcomes will come from collaboration and shared learning. Marketing innovation in the region will advance through open dialogue, experimentation, and the willingness to see data not just as numbers but as stories about people.

The bottom line: AI is not replacing empathy; it is helping scale it. The next stage of customer engagement will belong to those who use technology to listen better, respond faster, and connect more meaningfully.

If your organisation wants to spark conversations like these or bring marketing leaders together around the next wave of innovation, let’s make it happen. You can reach the Innovate team here.

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Digital PR is the practice of using online channels such as websites, blogs, social media, and online news outlets to manage a brand’s reputation, boost visibility, and build authority. Unlike traditional PR, which relies heavily on offline media like newspapers and TV, digital PR blends classic public relations principles with digital marketing strategies.

This approach involves creating and distributing valuable content, connecting with influencers and journalists, managing online reputation, and earning high-quality backlinks that improve a website’s search engine rankings.

Digital PR vs traditional PR

Digital PR: Focuses on building a brand’s presence online through content marketing, SEO-driven outreach, influencer collaborations, and placements on blogs and digital publications.

Traditional PR: Relies on offline coverage—such as newspapers, magazines, radio, and television—to build awareness and shape reputation.

While traditional PR is still valuable, digital PR is essential in today’s online-first environment.

Why digital PR is important

• Boosts online presence: Digital PR increases visibility through media features, influencer campaigns, and shareable content. By being featured on top sites, your brand attracts targeted visitors and amplifies awareness.
• Builds trust and credibility: Positive coverage in respected outlets establishes credibility. This trust translates into stronger brand authority and customer confidence.
• Drives modern marketing: Digital PR complements SEO and social media strategies by generating backlinks, managing reputation, and engaging with audiences where they spend time—online.

Also Read: The real story behind AI project implementation: Why it’s not (just) about technology

What do digital PR specialists do?

• Media Relations: Building relationships with journalists and bloggers and securing coverage through valuable, newsworthy content.
• Newsjacking: Leveraging trending news and events to insert a brand’s message into the conversation. Newsjacking examples show how this tactic can drive visibility.
• Content marketing: Creating not just press releases but also videos, social posts, and articles that spark conversation and provide value.
• SEO and link building: Securing editorial backlinks from authoritative publications to improve rankings and domain authority.

Steps to becoming a digital PR specialist

• Understand digital PR: Learn how it differs from traditional PR and its role in boosting visibility online.
• Build core skills: Writing, SEO knowledge, and digital communication are must-haves.
• Get educated: Consider formal PR/marketing degrees or online certification.
• Choose your PR specialty: Focus on industries such as tech, politics, fashion, or business depending on your goals.
• Build your network: Connect with journalists and bloggers on LinkedIn, join platforms like HARO, and follow industry outlets like PRWeek and Spin Sucks.

How to develop an effective digital PR strategy

• Create a media list and pitch: Develop a tailored list of journalists and influencers. Craft engaging pitches that stand out see this guide on how to pitch journalists.
• Identify your audience: Use tools like BuzzSumo or SEMrush to analyse audience behaviour, interests, and preferred platforms.
• Leverage social media: Platforms like Twitter (X), LinkedIn, Instagram, and Reddit are crucial for amplification and engagement.
• Use newsjacking strategically: Tap into trending topics to make your brand part of larger conversations. 
• Measure Results Track backlinks, referral traffic, social engagement, and rankings to evaluate campaign success.

Conclusion

Digital PR is the art of building and managing a brand’s reputation online through media outreach, influencer collaborations, content marketing, and SEO-driven strategies.

By understanding your audience, setting clear goals, crafting compelling content, and leveraging the right channels, you can build brand visibility, credibility, and long-term growth.

In today’s digital-first world, a well-executed digital PR strategy is no longer optional it’s a necessity for sustainable success.

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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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Startups move quickly. They’re focused on building products, gaining users, and staying ahead. But in that rush, it’s easy to skip over things like protecting sensitive data. Whether you’re building a software tool, running an online store, or handling payments, you’re likely storing information that needs to stay secure — customer data, business records, financial info, even internal documents.

If that data gets leaked or stolen, the damage can be serious. It can hurt your reputation, break customer trust, and lead to legal or financial trouble. In some cases, it can shut the company down before it even gets going. The good news is, keeping your documents safe doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. With a few simple tools and habits, like encryption and better access control, you can protect what matters and set your startup up for long-term success.

Common risks: The biggest threats to sensitive documents

Startups face a unique combination of digital threats. But understanding where vulnerabilities lie is the first step toward mitigating them.

• Phishing and social engineering: Employees are often tricked into revealing passwords or access credentials through seemingly legitimate emails or messages. Startups, where formal cybersecurity training is lacking, are particularly at risk.
• Unsecured file sharing: Using free file-sharing tools or unprotected email attachments to exchange sensitive documents opens the door to unauthorised access.
• Poor access management: Allowing all employees to access all documents increases the risk of both accidental data leaks and malicious insider threats.
• Lost or stolen devices: With remote working on the rise, the risk of losing laptops or phones containing confidential files has also grown.
• Lack of encryption: If documents aren’t encrypted, they’re vulnerable in transit and at rest.
• Inadequate backups: Without regular backups, startups risk losing valuable documents permanently due to ransomware or system failures.

Startups need to be proactive. The earlier you address these issues, the less expensive and disruptive they will be to fix.

Also Read: Laws, capitalism, creators and AI

Best practices: Simple steps to secure digital files

Fortunately, you don’t need a large IT team to protect your documents. There are some basic yet highly effective steps any startup can implement, including:

• Use encryption by default:
  • At rest: Store all sensitive files in encrypted drives or cloud services that offer end-to-end encryption.
  • In transit: Use encrypted communication methods (like HTTPS or secure email services) when sharing files.
• Set up access controls:
  • Only grant access to documents on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.
  • Use role-based permissions to manage access within your team.
  • Revoke access immediately when someone leaves the company or changes roles.
• Adopt secure document-sharing tools:
  • Avoid using unsecured methods like standard email attachments.
  • Use services that offer password protection of documents, expiration dates, and tracking for shared files
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA):
  • Require MFA for any service that stores or accesses sensitive data as it is one of the easiest ways to prevent unauthorised access.
• Create a data classification policy:
  • Identify which types of documents are considered sensitive.
  • Train employees to handle each category appropriately, using secure methods for storage and sharing.
• Regular security training:
  • Educate employees on how to spot phishing attempts and practice good password hygiene.
  • Make cybersecurity awareness part of your onboarding and ongoing employee development.
• Backup important documents:
  • Use automatic, encrypted cloud backups.
  • Regularly test recovery procedures to ensure you can quickly restore files in case of an emergency.

Also Read: Decisions made in the dark: Why founders can’t afford flawed financial data

Compliance made simple: How to stay on the right side of data protection laws

Startups that handle personal or financial information are often subject to regulations like GDPR (in the EU), CCPA (in California), or HIPAA (for health data in the US). Non-compliance can lead to heavy penalties but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Here’s how to stay compliant without getting bogged down in bureaucracy:

• Know what regulations apply:
  • Identify where your customers are based and what types of data you collect.
  • Use compliance checklists tailored to the relevant laws.
• Maintain transparent data practices:
  • Have a clear, accessible privacy policy.
  • Explain what data you collect, how it’s used, and who it’s shared with.
• Obtain and log consent:
  • For data subject to regulation, you must get explicit consent before collecting or processing it.
  • Maintain records of when and how consent was given.
• Appoint a data protection lead (even informally):
  • This doesn’t have to be a full-time role, but there should be someone responsible for overseeing compliance.
• Enable data portability and deletion:
  • Make it easy for users to request access to their data or ask for it to be deleted.
  • Set up simple internal processes to fulfil such requests quickly.
• Use compliant vendors:
  • Choose cloud services and data processors that are transparent about their compliance measures.
  • Ensure you have proper agreements in place with third parties.

By embedding compliance into your operations early, you avoid costly retrofitting later on and show your users that you take their privacy seriously, helping to build trust from the outset.

Also Read: Anthropic data shows businesses use AI to automate, not collaborate

Conclusion: Why investing in document security is a smart move for long-term growth

For startups, data privacy is no longer optional, it’s a business imperative. Securing your sensitive documents protects your intellectual property, builds customer trust, and ensures compliance with laws that could otherwise cost you significantly.

The good news is that taking these steps doesn’t require a massive budget or advanced technical skills. Encryption, secure sharing, access controls, and basic training can go a long way. In fact, a strong data privacy foundation can become a competitive advantage as you grow, especially in industries where trust and security are key.

By making data privacy a priority, you are safeguarding what you have already built. But more than that, you’re creating the conditions for growth, resilience, and credibility in a digital world where trust is paramount.

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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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