The Gen-Z traveller is rewriting the rules of online travel booking. Having grown up in a world of mobile-first convenience and economic uncertainty, this generation demands not only good prices but also freedom in choice, payment, and flexibility.

As their preferences dominate online flight sales, online travel agencies (OTAs) are experiencing a resurgence driven by innovation, adaptability, and trust.

For many Gen Zs, their earliest travel memories were disrupted by pandemic cancellations and refund nightmares. That period of uncertainty shaped their expectations: flexibility is now non-negotiable. Alex Yardley, CEO of FlyFairly, explains, “Some of Gen Z’s first travel experiences took place during COVID, and the lack of flexibility with some tickets was pretty shocking for them at the time. Offering flexible tickets has really resonated with that user base.”

Yardley points to research showing 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,” he adds. “Freedom to book and freedom to pay have both been critical to our early success.”

Not long ago, the OTA space seemed saturated. Dominated by global giants, it appeared nearly impossible for new entrants to gain ground. But changing consumer habits—particularly those of younger travellers—have opened the door for agile, tech-driven players such as FlyFairly.

Also Read: Opportunity, adaptation and the future of travel and hospitality

According to Yardley, Gen Z and millennials accounted for 62 per cent of all online flight sales last year. “They are not a minority; they are the overwhelming majority,” he says. “They have very different behavioural habits in how they discover, explore, and engage with brands. The traditional OTA ecosystem is rigid and inflexible, but a new generation of platforms is emerging to meet their expectations.”

That includes a focus on personalisation and discovery. Yardley highlights FlyFairly’s recent acquisition of social media company LFG, which bridges the gap between travel inspiration and booking.

“Gen Z does a lot of discovery online, through TikTok and other media platforms,” he notes. “By leveraging user-generated content, we build a bridge between discovery and booking.”

Flexibility beyond flights

FlyFairly’s success rests on four pillars of flexibility: booking, payment, choice, and rewards. With access to 650 airlines—about 50 per cent more than some major platforms—the company’s offering goes beyond price comparison.

“It’s not just about cheap flights,” Yardley says. “We give customers the choice to customise their travel, whether through flexible tickets or cancellation protection.”

Payment options are another differentiator. Gen Z’s comfort with digital finance is reshaping travel commerce, from buy now, pay later (BNPL) cryptocurrency schemes. “Gen Z has the highest attachment rate to BNPL of any generation,” says Yardley. “It’s a more responsible way to purchase — you split payments into clear, manageable parts.”

FlyFairly currently accepts over 70 cryptocurrencies and supports more than 100 payment methods. Yardley sees this diversity as essential to capturing younger consumers. “Seventy per cent of cryptocurrency wealth is held by millennials. Offering crypto payments is not a gimmick. It is giving people the freedom to transact in the way they prefer.”

Also Read: Business travel in the new normal: Strategies and tools for SME travel programme

Later this year, FlyFairly plans to launch a flexible rewards system that Yardley describes as “open-loop loyalty.” Unlike traditional airline miles that lock travellers into one brand, this model allows users to earn and redeem points across multiple airlines or transfer them back to a preferred carrier.

“Gen Z engages with twice as many brands as other generations, so they do not earn enough miles with one airline to make loyalty programmes worthwhile,” he explains. “We’re democratising rewards so you can earn and spend points wherever you choose.”

The resurgence of OTAs reflects a shift in traveller values as Yardley puts it, “When you are creating any company, your goal is to solve a problem. For us, it is about providing flexibility and freedom for the next generation of travellers.”

Rather than racing to the bottom on price, the new wave of OTAs focuses on user experience, flexibility, and trust, qualities that today’s Gen-Z traveller prizes above all.

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Image Credit: FlyFairly

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ChatCut, a conversational AI video editing platform founded by director and producer duo Kaiwen Li and Alima Strickland, has closed a US$1.35 million seed funding round led by ZhenFund with participation from Antler.

The Singaporean startup will use the money to accelerate product development, enhance existing capabilities and invest in infrastructure. ChatCut will also expand its engineering team, focusing on hiring both AI and full-stack engineers.

Also Read: Quanten wants to help filmmakers predict failure before it happens

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.

Li and Strickland’s journey into entrepreneurship was driven by a persistent industry pain point. The duo– the brains behind the VICE documentaries, Discovery Channel shows, and commercials for high-profile brands such as Airbnb, Gucci, and Chanel–experienced the difficulty of the editing bottleneck firsthand. For documentaries and commercials, editing routinely takes two to ten times longer than the actual filming process. They noted that even as AI sped up other elements of the post-production pipeline, editing remained a frame-by-frame manual effort.

ChatCut addresses this issue by tackling the actual editorial work–structure, pacing, and story flow–through conversation, rather than focusing solely on surface-level fixes like trimming background noise or adding captions.

Product and traction

The platform operates on a simple premise: Chat + Cut. Users upload their footage and input conversational requests, such as “Turn this 3-hour podcast into a highlight reel,” “Find all mentions of entrepreneurship,” or “Remove all pauses longer than 3 seconds”. Tasks that typically take a professional editor a full day to complete can be finished in as little as ten minutes using the platform.

ChatCut is positioned to capitalise on the increasing market demand for faster publishing cycles and consistent brand quality, as enterprises look to standardise on AI tools to reduce manual review rounds and localise content at scale.

The company views video editing as an entry point to developing a comprehensive video creation platform that will ultimately integrate cutting-edge AI capabilities for users working with recorded footage, AI-generated content, or hybrid approaches.

Co-founder Strickland stated that the company is “democratising editing capabilities and enabling world-class editing judgment into an intelligent agent anyone can access through conversation”. She added that for teams, this means faster outcomes, whilst for newcomers, editing is “no longer a barrier to publishing”.

Also Read: Thriving in the age of AI: What the media industry must do next

Antler Partner Winnie Khoo noted that the investment will enable further market penetration: “GenAI has crossed into everyday marketing and product work. ChatCut translates that capability into outcomes teams can publish today. The next step, and what this round enables, is pushing that experience into more formats, more integrations, and more markets”.

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Singapore’s AI ecosystem just got a significant boost, and it’s powered by collaboration.

Through Meta’s Llama Incubator Programme, created with support from IMDA, GovTech, EnterpriseSG, AI Singapore, SGInnovate, and key partners e27 and Deloitte, a new wave of startups is turning frontier AI into market-ready innovation.

This initiative–Meta’s first in Asia-Pacific–goes beyond training models. It’s about building an ecosystem where startups and SMEs can experiment, deploy, and scale AI responsibly, driving real-world impact across industries.

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

Meet the 24 startups and SMEs at the forefront of Singapore’s AI future: from early-stage disruptors to emerging scale-ups redefining what it means to innovate with intelligence.

Opsis Emotion AI

Opsis specialises in facial, voice, ocular, body language and rPPG vital signals with LLMs for real-time emotional insights. Its proprietary healthcare data delivers accurate and scalable mental health.

AidMi

AidMi builds an AI-powered clinical assistant that helps doctors deliver better care before, during, and between visits. It automates pre-consult assessments, tracks patient symptoms between appointments, and offers clinicians actionable insights through smart dashboards.

ConnectingDNA

ConnectingDNA provides DNA-wellness digital infrastructure for personalised health, lifestyle, and brand optimisation. Its mission is to empower individuals and wellness providers to make smarter, faster, and safer health decisions using the power of their DNA.

Introdex

Introdex is an AI-powered sales platform that uses the largest warm connections network to help B2B companies get warm introductions to their pipeline leads.

Morpheus Labs

Morpheus Labs is an AI-powered, low-code implementation and integration platform that simplifies the process of building and deploying blockchain projects. The platform helps businesses and developers build, test, and launch applications, Web3, and AI solutions with greater speed and efficiency.

SOMIN

SOMONITOR is a platform for digital marketers that analyses competitor content to reveal communication gaps, identifies blind spots and recommends top-performing marketing strategies and content.

Smobler

Smobler is a next-gen game and frontier tech builder at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and immersive storytelling. It is a portfolio company of Animoca Brands, The Sandbox, and Brinc and is backed by Enterprise Singapore and IMDA.

CREX

CREX helps hotels build a premium guest experience through sustainability actions that genuinely drive conversions. It transforms their sustainability data into structured, AI-ready trust signals that set hotels apart, support their affiliate booking pathways, and connect them seamlessly to sustainability solution providers for measurable impact.

Addlly AI

Addlly AI offers brand-trained AI marketing agents and GEO tools to help global teams create, scale, and optimise content for AI-first platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity. Its AI Agents create high-quality, multilingual content across blogs, social posts, product descriptions, newsletters, ads, and more, at scale, and always in your brand voice.

Smart-Wares

It delivers intelligent AI-powered applications and software consultancy services that help businesses streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and drive digital transformation. It specialises in developing intelligent, AI-powered applications designed to transform operations across diverse industries, complemented by comprehensive software consultancy services.

Bitcomputing

Opencord.AI is an autonomous marketing assistant that helps SMEs scale without increasing headcount. It runs nonstop across multiple platforms and languages, engaging leads, optimising ROI, and delivering precision marketing campaigns. By automating repetitive tasks, Opencord.AI saves businesses significant costs while boosting reach and efficiency.

Sustainable Living Lab

Sustainable Living Lab (SL2) is a sustainability consultancy and innovation lab. We specialise in creating and implementing rapidly evolving, impactful solutions. Our expertise lies in leveraging technology, as a tool for sustainability, with a strong emphasis on a community-driven approach to implementation.

Glee Trees (Gleematic)

Gleematic AI is software for robotic process automation. It automates business operations by emulating mouse/keyboard strokes, text analytics, and machine learning.

Straits Interactive

Straits Interactive is an edutech company that specialises in Gen AI, data governance and data protection. It helps organisations convert their knowledge into AI Assets safely and securely.

IntentAI

IntentAI helps large, regulated enterprises take GenAI projects from proof of concept to full production. Its enterprise GenAI platform makes it easy to build, integrate, scale and maintain AI Agent workflows with strong governance, omnichannel support, and flexible deployment (cloud or on-premise).

i-Sprint Innovations

i-Sprint provides identity and access management (IAM) and mobile app protection and is used by enterprises to combat cyber threats with bank-grade security solutions.

SmsDome

SmsDome is a mobile and multi-channel marketing solutions company specialising in connecting B2B and B2C clients. The company positions itself as a mobile marketer and has served various industries, including government agencies, healthcare, education, retail, and F&B.

AgriG8

AgriG8 is an agri-fintech platform connecting financial institutions with Southeast Asian rice farmers. The platform aims to solve the problem of smallholder farmers’ reliance on high-interest informal loans (around 40 per cent per annum) and the financial challenges of adopting sustainable farming practices.

Explico

Explico is an assessment-based learning platform using AI and machine learning that identifies users’ academic strengths and weaknesses to structure their learning needs.

Good Bards

Good Bards is a marketing OS powered by agentic AI. The platform simplifies complex workflows, accelerates campaign deployment, and enables context-aware customer engagement.

Scarlett Panda

Scarlett Panda aims to reimagine how children read in the age of screens. Today’s kids spend more than six hours a day on digital devices but less than fifteen minutes reading for fun. It bridges that gap by combining storytelling, personalisation, and safe generative AI – transforming screens from passive entertainment into active imagination.

UIB Holdings

UIB has created a conversational AI platform with cognitive IoT capabilities. The platform, UnificationEngine, facilitates frictionless onboarding and seamless communications between humans, IT systems, and machines, such as connected appliances (smart homes), smart cities and smart factories (Industry 4.0).

MyRepublic

MyRepublic is a telecommunications provider aiming to redefine connectivity in the digital age. Through a continuous drive for innovation, the company delivers broadband and mobile solutions that exceed conventional expectations.

CraveFX

CraveFX is a Singapore-based creative technology studio that brings stories to life through animation, visual effects, motion graphics, and interactive experiences. CraveFX’s designers, animators, developers, and technologists collaborate to deliver visually compelling and emotionally resonant experiences that span commercial, educational, and cultural domains.

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Data courtesy: Tracxn.

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Singapore’s entertainment scene is seeing a new experiment with the launch of Superstreamer Asia, a reality TV competition where live-streamers take on challenges designed to test performance, selling skills, and audience connection. Produced by FLY Entertainment in collaboration with Synagie, Hoods Inc., IAmCasting and Shopee, the series blends entertainment with entrepreneurship.

Contestants will compete in live challenges that test not just their ability to perform, but to sell, connect, and convert in real time.

The show is the brainchild of Irene Ang, CEO of FLY Entertainment and a familiar figure in Singapore’s media landscape.

“They’re not just selling things; they’re entertaining, connecting, building communities. It’s the new stage, the new theatre,” says Ang. “Superstreamer Asia isn’t just entertainment; it’s a platform that could launch real, sustainable careers. Live-selling is not a frivolous pursuit — it’s the future of digital commerce.”

And the numbers back her up.

The business of going live

Globally, the live-streaming market is worth US$99 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit US$345 billion by 2030. In Southeast Asia alone, video commerce accounts for US$31.8 billion, or roughly 20 per cent of the region’s e-commerce GMV.

In Singapore, top live-sellers already make over SG$10,000 (US$7,720) a month, according to Superstreamer Asia’s own announcement post — a figure once reserved for senior corporate roles.

Yet, the spectrum is vast. Small streamers earn anywhere between US$50 and US$1,500 per month, while mid-tier creators average US$3k to US$5k per month. Globally, elite streamers can exceed US$1 million annually.

For some, it starts with a smartphone; for others, it evolves into a multi-camera production backed by analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence.

Also Read: Is AI the end of originality or a new dawn for creativity?

When stories sell

One example is Benjamin Wing, a storyteller, content creator, and keynote speaker. In 2025, he went live for CarTimes at The Car Expo, bringing car sales beyond the exhibition floor.

“Going live for CarTimes taught me that people don’t just buy cars — they buy confidence,” he reflects. “And when AI helps you understand what the audience feels in real time, that’s a superpower.”

Wing’s comment captures the heart of this new creator economy: Performance meets psychology, powered by technology.

The creator economy and AI

Superstreamer Asia reflects a wider cultural shift where creators are being recognised as entrepreneurs. Contestants, ranging from 18 to 80, will face challenges that test creativity, engagement, and conversion.

Among them is Belle Kwok, who sees live-streaming as a balance of authenticity and commerce. “With the right AI tools, creators like us can turn personality into greater profit,” she says.

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, exploring how automation can extend their reach and presence during livestreams.

Also Read: Elevating your e-commerce strategies with livestreaming and hero products

In China, Baidu’s AI version of influencer Luo Yonghao hosted a six-hour livestream reaching 13 million viewers and generating RMB 55 million (US$7.7 million) in sales. Other brands, like Brother China, have reported sales lifts after using AI avatars. Research published in 2025 also suggests that virtual hosts can increase trust, responsiveness, and impulse purchases.

The human edge

Even as AI plays a bigger role, creators emphasise that technology works best when combined with authenticity. Viewers return not only for efficiency but also for emotion, connection, and relatability — qualities that are difficult to replicate artificially.

That balance between human creativity and AI-driven optimisation is what Superstreamer Asia seeks to explore.

As Ang puts it: “FLY Entertainment has always transformed with the times. This is the next shift — and I’m excited to see where it leads.”

The next stage

The future of entertainment and entrepreneurship is converging – and Singapore is positioning itself as the epicentre of Asia’s creator-commerce revolution.

AI is not replacing influence; it is amplifying it, reshaping how creators connect with audiences and sustain their work. The next generation of live-streamers may not only perform but also design and manage engagement — potentially alongside AI tools that act as co-hosts or collaborators.

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Walk into any art studio and you’ll find midlife artists producing works of extraordinary beauty. But scroll through social media, and you’ll notice many of these same artists are almost invisible. The gap isn’t talent, it’s storytelling.

Social media thrives on stories. People don’t just want to see a painting; they want to know what inspired it, what the artist was feeling, and what message the work carries. Yet for many in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, writing about art feels intimidating. They excel in brushstrokes, not in typing reflections. This barrier holds back visibility, recognition, and even opportunities for sales or exhibitions.

Why storytelling matters

A painting can be beautiful on its own, but stories are what make people stop, connect, and remember. In today’s fast-moving digital world, social media isn’t a gallery wall; it’s a conversation.

When artists share the story behind their work, the spark of inspiration, the emotions they carried while creating, or the memory that shaped the colours, they invite the audience into their world. That connection builds trust, curiosity, and even loyalty.

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.

Why AI changes the game

Here’s the shift: AI has made storytelling accessible even for those who dislike writing.

Take a painting. Snap a photo. Ask ChatGPT: “Describe this painting in the style of an art curator, but make it warm and simple.” In seconds, you have a caption ready for Instagram or Facebook.

But here’s the important part. While AI descriptions are articulate, they can feel bland without the artist’s input. The magic still lies in personal stories, the spark of inspiration, the frustration of trial and error, or the quiet joy of completion. That’s what moves audiences. AI is the assistant, not the artist.

Also Read: Singapore outsmarts the world in AI–ranked No.1 global hub

When AI analyses your art

One of the most surprising things about AI is how confidently it analyses art. You upload a photo, and suddenly it’s describing textures, emotions, and hidden meanings as if it had spent years in art school. Sometimes it gets it wonderfully right, other times it sounds like a very enthusiastic tour guide who’s had too much coffee.

I once showed an artist friend what ChatGPT “saw” in his painting. He laughed out loud and said, “That’s deeper than what I intended!” But here’s the point. Even when AI overshoots, it sparks reflection. You start to think about your own work in new ways. And that humour, that playful “Wait, is this really me?” moment, often becomes part of the story you share with your audience.

Talking instead of typing

Typing can feel like homework, especially for those of us who didn’t grow up with digital fluency. But today’s AI tools make it easy.

Instead of typing, imagine this. Open your phone’s voice-to-text function. Talk about your painting for two minutes, why you created it, what emotion it carries, or even how the colours remind you of a memory. Copy that raw text into ChatGPT and ask: “Turn this into a short, engaging post for an artist.”

Suddenly, your voice is clear and ready to share. Storytelling no longer feels like a chore. It becomes a conversation.

From struggle to step by step

There are simple ways midlife artists can begin. ChatGPT can be your friendly brainstorming partner. Talk to it the way you’d talk to a friend over coffee. Ramble, grumble, pour out your thoughts. Then ask it to help you find the main point and turn it into one short, emotional story. The more you “train” it with your stories and reflections, the more personalised it becomes, like building a creative partner who knows your voice.

You can then take your finished story and art images into CapCut, a free and simple video editor. Add captions or a voice-over, and you’ve got a polished video for social media. I often tell artists, you don’t need Hollywood production, just let your story and art shine.

Bell’s incidental art moment

My friend Bell, also 58, once noticed how rain and dust had created delicate patterns on his window. Most people would wipe it away. He stopped, looked, and saw art in that accidental design. He could explain it beautifully when speaking, how nature itself was the artist, but struggled to put it into words on paper.

That’s where AI came in. By recording his thoughts and feeding them into ChatGPT, what started as a fleeting, rambling reflection became a clear artist statement. Suddenly, his incidental encounter with nature was transformed into a story he could share with others.

Also Read: AI and the human touch: How leadership paves the way

A younger artist’s challenge

Another artist I know, in her mid-40s, faced a different challenge. She spoke only Mandarin and worried about reaching wider audiences. One day, I took a photo of her painting and showed her how ChatGPT could describe it in an artistic way. The result amazed her. It sounded polished and ready for social media.

But I reminded her of something important. AI alone cannot replace the human touch. Without her own thoughts and feelings, the description lacked soul. Once she began adding her personal story, her art posts gained emotional depth. What began as hesitation turned into excitement, because she saw that AI could support her voice, not replace it.

Both Bell and this younger artist discovered the same truth. AI isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about inclusivity. Whether you’re 58 or 45, fluent in English or not, AI levels the playing field so creativity and stories can be seen.

Why this matters beyond art

This lesson isn’t just for painters. Midlife professionals in any field, coaches, consultants, educators, face the same challenge. They carry decades of wisdom but struggle to package it for digital platforms.

AI offers a bridge. It doesn’t replace your voice, it amplifies it. By lowering the barrier to storytelling, AI helps midlifers step into visibility. Whether it’s promoting art, launching a side business, or building a professional profile, clarity is now within reach.

The mindset shift

To benefit, midlifers need to shift perspective. Stop fearing mistakes. AI is forgiving. You can refine, retry, and re-prompt until it feels right. Focus on authenticity. Don’t outsource your voice entirely, share personal sparks, and let AI polish. Experiment playfully. Start small. Try one ChatGPT post, one CapCut video. Build your comfort step by step.

Closing thought

For midlife artists and professionals, the challenge isn’t creativity, it’s clarity. Decades of experience, memories, and emotions often stay locked inside because typing feels like a wall or language feels like a barrier.

But AI has changed that. For Bell, it turned his incidental reflection on nature into a story worth sharing. For the younger artist in her 40s, it transformed a photo of her painting into a description that gave her confidence to add her own story.

This is the real gift of AI. It doesn’t just speed things up, it levels the playing field.

So here’s the takeaway. For midlifers, don’t hold back. Your story matters, and AI can help you tell it with clarity and confidence. For younger trainers and digital natives, remember that what feels easy to you is a real barrier for others. AI gives you a chance to guide, not judge, and to make creative spaces more inclusive.

Never fear. AI is here. Not to replace voices, but to translate them across age, across language, and across the invisible walls that hold creativity back.

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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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Image courtesy: Canva

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A study has revealed that air and water pollution constitute a significant share of premature deaths in major Asian economies, including India and Indonesia.

India ranks among the lowest globally on urban air quality, and severe ambient PM2.5 exposure is one of Indonesia’s leading health risks. This crisis is a top investment priority for adaptation, cited by 87 per cent of investors, says the ‘Unlocking Capital For Climate x Health: The Investment Landscape in Asia’ report prepared by AVPN and Prudence Foundation, in partnership with Catalyst Management Services (CMS).

Also Read: Unlocking climate x health capital: A data-driven blueprint for smarter impact investing

The economic impact of pollution-linked health issues is enormous. In the Philippines alone, air pollution caused 66,230 deaths per year, incurring a cost of US$44.8 billion. In India, 1.6 million deaths were attributed to air pollution in 2021.

Investment tailwinds from national programmes

Governmental commitment is driving investment opportunities through national programmes. India’s National Clean Air Programme commands approximately US$1.7 billion for implementation across 132 cities. Indonesia has also tightened its air-quality standards in 2023, signalling increased public demand and potential procurement pathways.

Investors are moving beyond traditional, capital-intensive mitigation technologies like smog towers, favouring scalable, subscription-based models.

Case study: Devic Earth’s subscription model

Devic Earth, based in India, exemplifies how a technology-driven, subscription model can succeed in this market.

• The technology: Devic Earth’s Pure Skies system utilises Radio Frequency (RF) waves to passively and efficiently clear particulate matter from the air, creating wide-area clean air zones without reliance on expensive filters or heavy infrastructure.
• The model: The company offers “clean air as a service” via subscription, with modular systems for industrial and city environments. This structure removes high upfront capital expenditure for clients and facilitates integration into ESG mandates.
• Impact: The solution has proven effective at scale. Deployment across over 40 sites by 2021 showed remarkable results, including a reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 levels by approximately 50 per cent at an ACC Cement facility in 30 days. Furthermore, during a 35,000-runner event, PM2.5 was reduced by 30 per cent, with no reported health incidents.
• Funding: Devic Earth has attracted commercial capital, raising US$2.5 million from investors including Axilor Ventures and Blue Ashva Capital.

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

This success highlights the importance of scalable delivery over standalone technology. Distribution-focused models and policy alignment (India’s National Clean Air Programme) are being prioritised as they offer quicker adoption and clearer pathways to commercial returns.

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Despite Singapore’s ambitious climate goals under the Green Plan 2030, a recent survey by renewable electricity retailer Flo Energy reveals that cost savings remain the dominant factor driving electricity choices among small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The findings highlight a persistent gap between the nation’s net-zero ambitions and SME adoption of green energy solutions. According to the “SME Renewable Energy Insights Survey” conducted by Flo Energy, nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of SMEs in Singapore consider price the most crucial factor when selecting an electricity provider, while only 15 per cent prioritise sustainability.

Among those who switched providers, just 13 per cent cited environmental reasons, with most motivated by short-term incentives such as promotions or contract flexibility.

This trend underscores the enduring challenge of aligning SME behaviour with long-term environmental objectives. While over half of respondents acknowledged that sustainability is “quite important” to their broader business decisions, it remains a secondary factor in energy procurement.

“Singapore has a clear roadmap to reach net zero by 2050, but our research shows that many SMEs are still putting cost ahead of sustainability,” said Matthijs Guichelaar, CEO of Flo Energy. “The good news is that sustainability is increasingly seen as an area for improvement, which shows growing awareness and demand.”

Also Read: Air and water pollution are killing millions, but also creating new investment frontiers

Despite nearly half (45 per cent) of SMEs considering renewable energy options, awareness of tools such as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) remains low. Over half of all SMEs surveyed were unfamiliar with RECs–a key mechanism for tracking and verifying the use of green power. Among those who had switched retailers, awareness was higher, indicating that education and exposure play a critical role in accelerating adoption.

High upfront costs and lack of information were cited as the most significant barriers to renewable adoption, aligning with global SME trends.

Interestingly, the survey found that once SMEs are onboarded, sustainability rises in importance. It ranked second to faster service and technical support regarding improvements SMEs wanted from their current provider, suggesting growing expectations for greener practices over time.

SMEs account for over 99 per cent of businesses in Singapore and are central to the nation’s economic and environmental future. However, as highlighted in an OECD report, smaller firms often struggle with limited resources, a lack of awareness, and difficulty navigating green incentives—all of which hamper decarbonisation efforts.

This reality presents a strategic crossroads: as Singapore pushes towards net zero by 2050, SMEs will need more support and incentives to make the green shift viable.

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Image Credit: Khanh Do on Unsplash

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Asia’s pollution crisis has evolved beyond an environmental concern; it’s now a defining economic and health emergency.

According to the ‘Unlocking Capital for Climate x Health’ report by AVPN and Prudence Foundation, air and water pollution are responsible for a staggering share of premature deaths in major Asian economies. India and Indonesia, in particular, face some of the world’s worst urban air quality, where exposure to PM2.5 particles is now one of the leading premature deaths.

The economic losses are equally sobering. Air pollution costs the Philippines over US$44 billion annually, while India saw 1.6 million deaths linked to pollution in 2021. Yet amid this grim reality, investors are beginning to investment opportunities. With 87 per cent citing pollution control as a top investment priority, capital is flowing into adaptive technologies aligned with government efforts like India’s US$1.7 billion National Clean Air Programme.

Startups such as Devic Earth are showing how scalable innovation can align profit with impact. Its subscription-based “clean air as a service” model– already proven to reduce PM2.5 by up to 50 per cent in industrial settings–exemplifies how the future of climate tech in Asia will hinge less on grand infrastructure and more on accessible, replicable solutions.

REGIONAL

Singapore outsmarts the world in AI–ranked No.1 global hub: Singapore leads with 1,100 AI job openings on LinkedIn, hosts 666 AI companies listed on Crunchbase and offers ~US$123k annual salary for AI specialists. Singapore is home to three major AI institutions, including the Centre for Frontier AI Research and the NUS AI Lab.

GCash delays planned IPO to late 2026, say sources: The company had previously considered going public as early as this year, but the IPO is now expected later than anticipated as the Philippine stock market sags. GCash aims to raise between US$1B and US$1.5B, which could set a new record for the country’s largest IPO.

Superbank posts US$4.9M Q3 profit: Its net interest income rose 176% year-on-year to US$66.3M as of September 2025, while total loan disbursement climbed 84% to US$542.5M and total assets rose 70% to US$994.5M. The bank’s customer base reached 5 million since launching its digital banking app in June 2024.

Thailand-based GetLinks acquires HK edutech firm Xccelerate: The deal combines GetLinks’s AI-driven job matching tools with Xccelerate’s workforce development programmes in AI, big data, cybersecurity, and UX/UI design. This move aims to address the region’s demand for digital skills and AI-ready workers.

Sea founder Forrest Li sees US$1T valuation as possible through AI: Sea has started using AI in areas such as customer service and gaming, after making the technology a bigger priority over the past year. Li cautioned employees about potential share price volatility, referencing a previous stock drop in late 2021.

Antler backs Malaysian AI startups M3TRIQ, NCSpeech driving innovation in biotech and fintech: M3TRIQ is a biotech innovator applying AI to protein design whereas NCSpeech is a voice AI platform transforming debt recovery. Both companies exemplify how AI is reshaping traditional industries in SEA, from cellular agriculture to financial services.

Secai Marche cultivates US$6M to build a fresher, smarter food ecosystem in SEA: Investors include Kuroneko Innovation Fund II and NX Global Innovation Investment. The funds will be used to develop a real-time temperature-controlled delivery and monitoring network to minimise waste and maintain product freshness.

REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

Air and water pollution are killing millions, but also creating new investment frontiers: Indian startup Devic Earth exemplifies how a tech-driven, subscription model can succeed in this market. Its Pure Skies system clears PM from the air, creating wide-area clean air zones without reliance on expensive filters or heavy infra.

Inside Taiwan Innotech Expo 2025: Where AI innovation meets real-world inclusion: Taiwan Innotech Expo 2025 showcased AI innovation across accessibility, safety, and eldercare, featuring technologies from Ubestream and ITRI.

How BluMaiden uses AI to transform small-molecule drug discovery: The company has developed what it refers to as a transformative approach to small molecule drug discovery: the limited diversity of chemical compounds in traditional chemical libraries, which restricts the scope of potential drug candidates and hinders innovation in drug discovery.

INTERNATIONAL

Kakao founder acquitted of SM stock manipulation charges: Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison sentence and a US$350,000 fine, alleging Brian Kim and associates manipulated SM’s share price during a 2023 acquisition battle with Hybe.

Japan tops in-depth AI awareness globally: survey: 53% of respondents in Japan said they have heard or read a substantial amount about the technology, according to a Pew Research Center survey. France and Germany followed closely at 52% and 51%, while the global median was 34%.

China’s generative AI user base doubles to 515M in H1 2025: This adoption rate stands at 36.5% of the country’s internet users. Most users prefer domestic AI models, with those under 40 years old making up 74.6% of the user base, and 37.5% holding a higher education degree.

S Korea’s Gmarket to invest US$492M, expand globally with Alibaba: The e-commerce platform owned by Shinsegae Group said US$350.4M will support existing sellers, while US$14M will go to new sellers and small- and medium-sized enterprises, a 50% rise from the previous year.

Startup deals hit record in Japan before listing curbs: Startup buyouts in Japan reached a record high in 2024 as anticipation of new Tokyo Stock Exchange rules and regulatory pressure prompted founders to sell instead of pursuing public listings.

SEMICONDUCTOR

OpenAI’s massive chip bet highlight aggressive strategy: OpenAI has committed to acquiring 26 gigawatts of advanced data processors from Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom in less than a month. The ChatGPT parent, which does not expect to be profitable until 2029, is forecasting billions in losses this year despite generating about US$13B in revenue.

Nvidia launches first US-made Blackwell chip with TSMC: The Blackwell wafer will be processed at TSMC Arizona, which will manufacture advanced chips for AI, telecommunications, and high-performance computing using 2-, 3-, and 4-nanometer processes as well as A16 chips.

TSMC seeks approval to build new chip plant in Taiwan: The new semiconductor plant, the A14 fab, will focus on manufacturing high-speed wafers using the company’s 1.4-nanometer process, which promises faster computing and improved power efficiency compared to its 2nm process set for production this year.

US chip distributor Arrow to be removed from trade blacklist: The Colorado-based chip distributor faced sanctions earlier this month after the Bureau of Industry and Security linked several companies to Arrow for allegedly aiding Iranian proxies in acquiring US technology.

AI

Why your AI strategy should be less ‘iron man’ and more ‘ironing board’: For SMEs in Southeast Asia, AI’s greatest value lies not in chatbots but in back-office automation that protects human trust. It’s the boring, repetitive, and often-overlooked stuff that we can easily double-check.

Why agentic AI isn’t what the hype suggests: What we have today isn’t autonomy at all: it’s orchestration. And while orchestration can be powerful, it comes with brittleness, cost overheads, and control issues that leaders need to confront before betting their business on it.

AI revolution: Balancing human empathy and robotic efficiency in customer service: In the customer service business, every minute counts. Being able to save time to summarise a call with a customer means that an agent could take an extra call with another, ensuring they stay happy with your company’s services.

Navigating the AI revolution: An APAC perspective on workforce transformation: The APAC region’s unique characteristics position it perfectly to lead the global AI transformation. IDC projects AI spending in Asia Pacific to reach US$110B by 2028, with a 24% CAGR, underscoring the region’s commitment to future-ready workforce strategies.

Beyond the inbox: How SEA startups can drive growth with AI-powered communication: According to Stephen Hamill of 8×8, growth fuelled by AI-powered engagement will become a critical to startup communication strategies.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Re-skilling Malaysia: Why the nation’s workforce transformation needs precision, not just policy: The country’s workforce faces automation risks, making data-driven, precision re-skilling through intelligent LMS platforms key to future readiness.

QR payments: Southeast Asia’s digital lifeline or just a stepping stone?: QR payments transformed financial inclusion in Southeast Asia, but security risks and perception limits may keep them a bridge technology. Trust issues, fraud risks, and its image as a “small transaction tool” may prevent QR payments from becoming the ultimate solution

Fintech growth in Asia: Why businesses should prioritise expansion in the region: The potential for fintech companies to establish themselves in Asia is significant. They can provide local businesses with accessible and affordable financial services that improve their efficiency and competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Building smarter, customer-centric businesses with integrated technology in Asia-Pacific: APAC SMEs must embrace integrated digital transformation to meet rising customer expectations and stay competitive in a fast-evolving market.

The most common supply chain threats and how to mitigate them: Suppliers, especially smaller businesses, often lack the resources and expertise to implement strong cybersecurity measures, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to infiltrate larger, well-protected organisations.

AI as a question of national security and independence: Guardrails that govern AI reasoning and transparency matter, but without control over infrastructure and assets, those guardrails could be changed or removed by foreign entities.

US$25 billion lost: Crypto’s deepfake defence is failing: The rise of deepfakes has exposed vulnerabilities in traditional security systems, particularly those reliant on outdated KYC and anti-fraud measures. As these defences struggle to keep pace, tokenised identity emerges as a powerful solution.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: Pollution crisis fuels new investments | Singapore tops global AI hub ranking | Kakao founder cleared appeared first on e27.

There’s nothing quite like a story with a surprising twist, and the real purpose behind stablecoin regulation is one that few saw coming.

President Trump signed the GENIUS Act in July 2025, establishing strict requirements for stablecoins to maintain “one-to-one” backing with low-risk liquid assets, including US dollars and short-term Treasury securities. It was the codification of an elegant financial strategy that de facto channels trillions of dollars in stablecoin reserves into American government assets.

Sounds like an easy US$2 trillion, right?

Today’s stablecoin market is estimated at approximately US$250 billion, with a significant portion of these reserves already invested in US Treasury bonds and repo operations. Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer, reports holding around US$120 billion in American government bonds. This genuinely places a private company among the largest holders of US debt alongside nations – for comparison, Germany holds approximately US$111 billion.

But it’s not just about current volumes. Analysts suggest that under favourable regulatory conditions, the stablecoin market could grow to US$2 trillion in the coming years. Put another way, this represents the US potentially selling trillions of its debt in the form of Treasuries to the rest of the world—with US-backed stablecoins serving as the top salesman. If this trend continues, stablecoins could become one of the largest classes of US debt holders, essentially transforming global digital payments into an automatic US debt financing mechanism.

The mechanics work simply: every USDT or USDC issued must be backed by assets, a significant portion of which consists of American government bonds. Every cross-border payment, every DeFi transaction indirectly supports demand for US debt instruments.

The global chessboard: Nations and financial self-interest

From my travels across Asia, where Venom Foundation works with various digital asset market participants, I see a twist in the story because the geopolitical implications are evident. It’s no longer academics waxing lyrical about ‘what to do’. It’s strategic government planning offices and central bank think tanks executing policy.

China is actively exploring yuan-backed digital currency possibilities. The People’s Bank of China has expanded digital yuan pilot programs and is studying mechanisms to reduce dependence on dollar-based payment systems in international trade.

Also Read: Stablecoins could unlock US$6.2T for ASEAN SMEs: Metacomp study

Hong Kong virtual asset regulators are in high gear working relentlessly with precision. Including, but not limited to creating a regulatory environment friendly to US dollar alternative stablecoins and asset classes.

The European Union, which has been gradually developing the digital euro, now has new momentum and funding which also involves policies to adopt non-US dollar digital currencies.

Various Asian jurisdictions are experimenting with national digital currencies. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and other countries are exploring regional payment systems less dependent on dollar instruments.Digital financial infrastructure must be built domestically to ensure long-term economic autonomy.

While Western media discuss regulatory aspects, real changes are happening in trade corridors and payment systems. Through Venom Foundation’s engagement with SE Asia governments on blockchain, we observe firsthand how nations are prioritising technological sovereignty alongside financial independence.

While specific forecasts of mass deposit outflows vary, the trend is clear: stablecoins create alternative channels for storing and transferring value, bypassing the traditional banking system.

This isn’t an ideological choice, but pragmatic preparation for a changing financial landscape.

Once upon a time: There was a world reserve currency

A 2024 IMF Working Paper titled “Did the US Really Grow Out of Its World War II Debt?” by Julien Acalin and Laurence M. Ball challenges the common narrative that America simply “grew out” of its wartime debt burden. While the paper contains several nuanced arguments, one key point stands out: “surprise inflation” played a crucial role in debt reduction.

Once bitten, twice shy — every country and central bank is acutely aware of this history. As the US debt burden continues to grow with no signs of fiscal austerity, the only viable exit strategy appears to be more of the same monetary policy, with the ultimate price being paid by those holding US debt in the form of bonds and treasuries.

This historical context makes the current shift in central bank behavior appear entirely rational. For the first time since 1996, foreign central banks hold more gold than US treasuries. The remarkable pace at which central banks have been accumulating gold over the past decade represents a trend that shows no signs of slowing, according to sentiment expressed by central bankers worldwide.

Also Read: How stablecoins are quietly reinventing the global dollar system

The USD remains deeply entrenched in the global financial plumbing and will not be displaced anytime soon. However, clear signals indicate that nations are considering reducing their reliance on the USD as their settlement instrument of choice, shifting toward alternative methods such as gold as a neutral reserve asset.

When we layer blockchain infrastructure for settlement and payments over this geopolitical landscape and add regulatory compliance frameworks, we find ourselves staring at the dawn of a new global financial infrastructure. This transformation mirrors how the eurodollar system evolved during the early 1950s, but with exponentially faster implementation timelines.

But the kingdom needed a new ledger

Post-World War II, the Marshall Plan served as a catalyst for creating the colossal eurodollar system. These offshore bank liabilities have grown to several trillions of dollars and become mission-critical to the world’s financial system. The eurodollar is often misunderstood as a US Federal Reserve-controlled monetary system, but the reality is that no single entity controls it. History demonstrates mankind’s remarkable creativity – the eurodollar emerged through unspoken consensus since 1945, facilitating global trade when centralised financial systems proved inadequate for worldwide economic expansion.

Today, the US dollar is used in approximately 80 per cent of global trade payments and settlements, yet the US contributes only about 16 per cent of global manufacturing output. Meanwhile, China’s manufacturing output represents around 30 per cent of global production, but its currency accounts for merely five per cent of international trade flows. This glaring mismatch between economic activity and financial representation, combined with the immense friction of the banking system, is why the kingdom needs a shiny new ledger.

The incentives for other countries to develop their own digital currency systems is reaching an apex. For emerging market nations, the situation proves particularly complex. States already experiencing difficulties accessing dollar liquidity now face the prospect that even their digital payment infrastructure may reinforce dollar dependence rather than provide alternatives.

However, technological solutions for viable alternatives do exist. Successful experiments with regional digital currencies demonstrate that with sufficient political will and technical infrastructure, effective non-dollar payment systems can indeed be created.

A thousand ledgers bloom

We stand at the dawn of the protocol age in an exponential world of technological advancement. Unlike the eurodollar system, which required 75 years to fully develop, this new financial infrastructure will emerge with blinding speed. The incentives driving this transformation aren’t measured in hundreds of millions or even billions, but in trillions of dollars. When national self-interest combines with monetary sovereignty and cutting-edge technology, the pace of change becomes unprecedented.

This new ledger represents a multitude of interconnected ledgers, each communicating and settling with others in ways that create genuine alternatives to existing monopolistic systems.

Also Read: Stablecoins and Singapore: The path to mainstream adoption

Let the games begin!

The GENIUS Act has become an important symbol of a new era when digital currencies are explicitly recognised as instruments of state economic policy. By making this connection, America has accelerated a process whereby every major economy must now define its comprehensive digital currency strategy.

The United States made the right decision for its immediate self-interest. However, the outcome likely won’t unfold as many pundits predict. Rather than a straightforward channeling of global stablecoin reserves into American debt instruments, we’re witnessing the activation of unprecedented competitive dynamics – it’s “GAME ON” in the truest sense of global financial rivalry.

The era when digital currencies were considered mere technological experiments has definitively ended. For those building tomorrow’s financial infrastructure, this creates extraordinary opportunities in our rapidly evolving multipolar digital world. 

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Marketers have heard it all before. New platforms. New promises to fix fragmentation. Yet most end up as another dashboard with a bigger bill.

That is why scepticism around the term Marketing OS is fair. After years of CRMs, CMSs, and every flavour of automation tool, it is natural to see it as just another label. But this time, the shift is bigger than branding.

A Marketing OS is not a rebrand. It is a rethink. Instead of patching over fragmentation, it creates a system built for connection between tools, teams, strategy, and execution. It is not a response to complexity. It is a plan to outpace it.

The stack is no longer a strategy

Over the past decade, the marketing technology landscape has exploded with over 14,000 tools, each promising optimisation, personalisation, or automation.

Yet most teams still copy and paste campaigns across tabs, juggle disconnected tools, and sync spreadsheets that no one really owns. What was meant to simplify ended up splintering workflows even further.

Research shows the cracks are widening. Nearly half of all martech investments go unused according to Harvard Business Review. Deloitte’s 2024 CMO Survey found that only 24 percent of CMOs believe their stack directly drives growth. Accenture reports that many teams now spend more time managing tools than doing actual marketing.

The old model has run its course.

The human cost of fragmentation

The problem is not only technical. It is human. Marketers spend hours each week stitching together insights from platforms that do not talk to each other. Campaigns stall because creative sits in one system, targeting in another, and reporting in yet another.

It is a familiar cycle of duplicate work, missed deadlines, and a creeping sense that the technology designed to accelerate marketing has instead slowed it down. When teams are already stretched thin, this burden becomes more than an inconvenience. It is lost momentum and ultimately lost revenue.

Also Read: Embracing AI’s promise: Navigating the future of marketing

What is a marketing OS?

It is not another point solution. It is an operating model that connects strategy, content, channels, and performance in one coordinated flow.

Think of it as the layer that turns marketing from a collection of apps into a functioning system. You set the goal, and the OS activates the plan, powered by agentic AI that does not just analyse but acts.

This is not automation. This is orchestration. Real time, goal driven, adaptive. A system where teams are no longer stuck stitching tools together, but actually moving forward.

From dashboards to decisions

The most common complaint from CMOs today is not lack of data. It is lack of action. Dashboards proliferate, but decisions get slower.

That is the shift a Marketing OS promises. It moves from being a system of record to a system of execution. Instead of another dashboard to stare at, the OS connects inputs to outputs. Campaigns launch faster, optimisations happen in real time, and learnings feed directly back into the system.

The term operating system matters here. It is not about replacing every app. It is about providing the connective tissue that allows them to work together.

Why now?

The timing is not accidental. Several industry forces are colliding.

AI has matured, but adoption has not. Everest Group describes agentic AI as the new operating system for execution rather than just ideas. Yet MIT Sloan shows that most AI projects still fail because they are bolted onto outdated workflows. Without systems to embed intelligence, AI becomes another bolt on, not a breakthrough.

Unified teams are growing faster. Boston Consulting Group found that companies bringing data, content, and delivery together grow nearly three times faster than peers. But most marketing organisations still operate in silos, with creative, data, and performance each running their own stack.

Also Read: Building brand visibility: Timeless content marketing principles for startups

Efficiency has become strategy. Budgets are tightening while expectations around personalisation climb. CMOs are increasingly judged not by activity but by revenue contribution. A fragmented stack simply cannot keep up.

In other words, the shift is no longer optional. It is already underway.

This is not a hype cycle — it is an operating model

Skeptics are right to worry that the phrase Marketing OS will be overused. Inevitably, some vendors will attach the label to dashboards or data layers. That always happens when language runs ahead of infrastructure.

But the underlying reality is clear. Marketing has changed. Campaigns are omni-channel by default. Buyers expect personalisation at speed. And the cost of inefficiency, from double work to disconnected tools, is higher than ever.

The Marketing OS is not about adding more tools. It is about changing the way teams work. It is about spending less time managing technology and more time moving ideas into market.

From concept to practice

The vision of a Marketing OS is not about any single vendor or platform. It reflects a broader industry shift toward systems that are interoperable by design, agentic at the core, and capable of orchestrating strategy through to execution.

Across the market, we are seeing solutions move beyond static dashboards and siloed apps toward architectures where assets, data, and campaigns operate in sync. Instead of treating files as storage items, they become live components. Instead of stitching together spreadsheets, content connects directly to channels. And instead of reporting after the fact, intelligence is embedded into workflows so optimisation happens in real time.

This evolution is less about replacing tools than about rethinking how they work together. The Marketing OS represents that next step: a connected foundation where technology finally supports the way modern teams actually operate.

Final thought

Hype is what we call things that overpromise and underdeliver. But if your stack feels like a puzzle made from five different sets, you already know the problem the Marketing OS is solving.

This is not a rename. It is a rethink. Not more tools, but a better way of working. One campaign, one team, one operating system at a time.

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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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