Day: December 6, 2025

Workplace trends in Singapore are shifting significantly as employees increasingly seek stability and emotional fulfilment amid a cautiously evolving economic climate. The “job hugging” phenomenon captures this mood perfectly, with more workers choosing to stay put in their current roles rather than chase faster progression or higher pay elsewhere.

This trend reflects a marked departure from the fast-paced job hopping that characterised previous years, favouring predictability over rapid advancement. “Employees today are finding success through job stability, emotional fulfilment, and healthier career pathways,” said Karen Ng, Regional Head of Expansion for North and South Asia at global HR platform Deel.

Alongside this preference for steadiness, Singapore’s workforce is embracing an expanded concept of reward called “emotional salary.” Traditional pay rises are becoming less common, pushing employers to offer more personalised benefits that resonate with employee values, such as recognition, autonomy, flexibility, and personal growth.

Deel’s 2025 Singapore Payday Expectations Report reveals that only 13 per cent of local employees say their pay has kept pace with inflation, while nearly 80 per cent want more flexible pay cycles. This dual demand for financial and emotional support underscores a growing trend where compensation packages are measured not only in dollars but also in terms of meaningful workplace experiences.

Adding to this evolution is the rise of “microshifting,” a flexible work style that allows employees to split their day into bursts, seamlessly accommodating personal commitments such as caregiving or fitness. This innovative approach acknowledges the importance of balance between productivity and life’s demands, signalling a more fluid and adaptive workday structure. Meanwhile, new workplace attitudes such as “conscious unbossing” reflect younger generations’ desire for autonomy and wellbeing over climbing traditional corporate ladders.

Also Read: At 60, I joined the creator economy by accident…

In this email interview with e27, Ng describes in detail this rising phenomenon and what businesses can do about it. The following is an edited excerpt of the conversation.

On the job hugging phenomenon: What is driving this shift most strongly, and how should employers respond to employees who are “hugging” their jobs rather than seeking advancement?

The combination of economic uncertainty and employee pragmatism is primarily driving the job-hugging trend. Amid shifting market conditions and a more competitive job market, employees are clinging to the comfort of their current roles rather than changing roles as the job security and stability are more attractive than the risk of being the first on the retrenchment list in a new organisation, even if it is offering higher pay.

At the same time, some employees who feel settled and comfortable in their present roles may also feel less motivated to work for advancement opportunities.

To better understand employees who are “hugging” their jobs, employers should strive to learn more about the needs and perspective of its employees’ career growth goals. This open communication can not only provide insights and clarity into skill gaps, training needs and general mindset, it can help deepen a culture of trust and empathy.

Additionally, employers can take steps to ensure employees have a clear sense of their own career development path, that workloads are fair and that the company is championing initiatives to boost employee well-being. When information is transparent and employees feel supported, employers can transform their team’s hesitation and cautiousness into motivation for career growth with the organisation.

Also Read: Are you a human resource?

How should organisations redesign their leadership development strategies when fewer people want to climb the corporate ladder?

With fewer people keen to climb the traditional corporate ladder, companies must adapt their leadership development strategies from traditional promotion-focused models to skill-based, performance-centred models.

This might mean designing tailored leadership development plans with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, while providing ongoing feedback for employees. Combined with in-house initiatives like mentorship that nurtures soft skills such as communication and on-the-job learning methods like department rotations, employers can develop adaptable leaders beyond typical managerial roles.

Redesigning leadership development strategies can also include an expansion of leadership definitions and roles. This promotes inclusion and empowerment of employees who do not seek conventional leadership positions, but have proven their abilities to contribute to the company’s success.

Deel’s research shows employees increasingly value recognition, autonomy and purpose as much as compensation. What does an effective “emotional salary” package look like in practice?

The key to an effective “emotional salary” package is recognising what employees value today. On top of the raw monetary compensation, it will include non-financial perks such as guaranteed paid leave days meant for upskilling courses.

These perks show that the employer supports its employees, motivating them to work towards personal and professional development. One particular value of note is flexible pay, as it is growing in importance for Singapore talent. Deel’s 2025 Singapore Payday Expectations Report has shown that nearly eight in 10 employees are looking for flexible pay cycles and 54 per cent want greater control over their compensation structure.

Also Read: How AnyMind Group achieved profitability through its approach to human resource and leadership

This signals that Singapore’s employees value autonomy over their salaries, and want to be trusted to have more say in how and when they receive their compensation.

With only 13 per cent of employees saying their pay keeps pace with inflation and many wanting more flexible pay cycles, how should companies rethink compensation and payroll structures?

Companies can redesign their compensation packages to blend base salaries with incentives and equity grants. This might offer a more competitive package for employees, while allowing the company to manage costs.

With greater demand for flexibility, companies can also consider offering on-demand access to wages. This arrangement may help alleviate financial stress from sudden emergencies and provide employees more control over their finances throughout the pay cycle, which can boost overall employee satisfaction.

How realistic is microshifting for Singaporean employers across different industries, and what conditions must be in place for it to succeed without compromising productivity?

Similar to the idea of providing flexible work, microshifting offers employees the flexibility to structure their working hours around their peak-productivity windows as well as personal commitments, providing more effective work-life balance.

It is especially effective for roles that prioritise independent output and do not require real-time, in-person interaction with colleagues, clients or other stakeholders. In contrast, roles that require coordination with multiple stakeholders, such as professional services or customer care, may be less suited for microshifting since real-time communication and face-to-face interactions are essential. This means fixed hours are still a priority and microshifting is less feasible.

Also Read: Moving mental health out of Freud’s era and beyond the couch with big data

For employers offering microshifting as a flexible work benefit, it’s important to implement a system that ensures accountability.

Managerial roles and team members must still work cohesively, with clear protocols and handovers to maintain continuity when work is passed between microshift blocks. It may also be worth setting core working hours for easier alignment and team syncs. Ultimately, teams and managers need to work together, continuously fine-tuning processes until microshifting works to meet productivity and employee needs.

On LinkedIn Envy and other forms of external peer pressure: What role can companies play in reducing the pressure employees feel from external career benchmarks, and how can leaders foster a healthier culture?

Companies have little control over how employees use their personal LinkedIn. However, to alleviate external comparative pressure, a good approach is to ensure your company culture champions transparency in communication, celebrates contributions beyond titles, and emphasises individual development over competition.

Internally, organisations can assure employees and keep them regularly engaged through town halls and company updates. Externally, as employees seek visibility and recognition, leaders and managers can also choose to celebrate key achievements on LinkedIn to highlight the good work from the team.

—

Image Credit: tommao wang on Unsplash

The post The Singapore workplace in 2025: Job hugging, emotional salary, and a whole new approach to leadership development appeared first on e27.

Singapore-founded deeptech startup SynaXG Technologies has raised over US$20 million in its first funding round, marking one of Asia’s largest early-stage investments in the fast-rising field of AI-Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN).

The round, backed by Qualgro, Vertex Ventures, and January Capital Growth Credit, positions the company as one of the region’s most ambitious contenders in AI-native wireless infrastructure.

Also Read: Deeptech’s secret: Ignore the market, master the engineering, and let opportunity find you

The investment arrives at a moment when Singapore’s deeptech ecosystem is entering a period of unprecedented growth. The city-state now leads Southeast Asia in AI activity, capturing an overwhelming 91.1 per cent of the region’s deeptech funding, supported by US$1.6 billion in government AI commitments and US$26 billion in broader tech investments.

With 650 AI startups, 32 unicorns, and a projected AI market size expected to reach US$4.64 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 28.1 per cent, Singapore has quickly become the regional centre of gravity for advanced computing and frontier technologies.

It is within this accelerating landscape that SynaXG has emerged as a standout deeptech player. Founded by industry veteran Xin Huang, the company has quietly spent nearly four years engineering AI-native RAN systems, supported by a team with decades of wireless and compute expertise. Today, its partners already include global AI-RAN chipmakers, Network Equipment Providers, and major telecom operators.

“SynaXG is building products and solutions for the next generation of AI-powered wireless infrastructure,” said Chin Chao, Partner at January Capital. “A true deeptech AI-powered wireless-infrastructure startup is rare in this part of the world, and SynaXG is well-positioned to pioneer the next wave of innovation in this space. The team has both the ambition and the capability to shape the future of AI-driven connectivity, and we are proud to support them.”

AI-RAN: the backbone of the physical AI era

AI-RAN refers to radio access networks in which AI is embedded directly into the wireless architecture, enabling networks to process both cellular and AI workloads in real time. Unlike traditional RAN systems, AI-RAN architectures are cloud-centric, multi-tenant, and compute-rich, leveraging CPUs, GPUs, and DPUs to deliver ultralow latency, secure operations, anomaly detection, and enhanced privacy compliance.

This new category of network infrastructure is considered foundational to the rise of Physical AI (AI systems interacting with the real world across robotics, autonomous vehicles, drones, and industrial automation). These applications demand real-time responsiveness and adaptive decision-making at the network edge, making AI-RAN the critical enabler.

“We believe AI-RAN is the foundation of the next technology revolution – much like the iPhone reshaped the mobile era,” said Xin Huang, founder and CEO of SynaXG. “With four years of pioneering work and strong global partners, we are ready to scale and lead the next generation of AI-native wireless networks and Physical AI.”

Also Read: Funding deeptech: Balancing potential and complexity in the search for capital

The global momentum behind the sector has accelerated sharply. In one of the most significant signals of confidence to date, NVIDIA announced a US$1 billion investment in Nokia, granting it a 2.9 per cent equity stake and deepening their strategic collaboration to embed AI into next-generation 5G and 6G radio networks. The partnership focuses on integrating Nokia’s RAN software with NVIDIA’s CUDA platform, establishing a unified AI-native foundation for future telecom infrastructure.

Industry-wide coordination is also rising. The AI-RAN Alliance, comprising more than 80 members, is spearheading research and standards across Asia-Pacific, while operators such as Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison have become among the world’s first to roll out commercial AI-RAN deployments—highlighting Southeast Asia’s growing leadership in the domain.

SynaXG’s global ambition aligns with rising regional momentum

With fresh capital in hand, SynaXG plans to accelerate product development, expand its global engineering teams, and deepen collaborations with telecom operators and enterprise partners worldwide. Early traction with AI-RAN chip providers and network equipment companies suggests that SynaXG is positioning itself not just as a participant but as a potential category leader.

“We believe that the deep AI capabilities of SynaXG’s team will position the company very well for capturing significant opportunities in a market driven by the demand for significantly more computing capacity,” said Heang Chhor, Managing Partner at Qualgro. “SynaXG has the potential to become a global player, growing out of Singapore.”

AI-RAN is shaping up to be one of the most consequential technological shifts since the emergence of cloud computing. By merging AI and telecom infrastructure into a single, adaptive computing fabric, AI-RAN unlocks applications previously considered unfeasible—from large-scale industrial automation to real-time public safety systems and next-generation smart cities.

SynaXG’s full-stack portfolio — spanning L1/L2/L3 RAN software, virtualised distributed and centralised units (vDU/vCU), radio units, and heterogeneous compute-optimised systems — positions it to serve operators transitioning from conventional RAN to AI-native architectures. As telecom providers increasingly seek software-driven agility and AI-enhanced intelligence, demand for such solutions is expected to rise sharply.

Preparing for the next stage: a global Series A

To support global rollouts and scale deployments, SynaXG is now preparing for its Series A fundraising. The company aims to broaden commercial adoption of AI-native RAN systems across international markets, leveraging Singapore’s growing reputation as a strategic base for deep-tech scaleups.

Also Read: How early-stage deeptech startups can attract and retain the right talent

Singapore’s dominance in AI investment, coupled with Asia’s expanding telecom modernisation efforts, creates a fertile environment for innovators like SynaXG. Although Southeast Asia’s deeptech funding dipped 34 per cent year-on-year in 2024, its share of regional venture capital rose to a record 17.6 per cent, indicating strong underlying momentum despite the temporary capital contraction.

Against this backdrop, SynaXG’s emergence as a well-funded AI-RAN pioneer demonstrates how Singapore’s deep-tech ecosystem is evolving from research-driven to globally competitive. With accelerating sector growth, strategic global partnerships, and its upcoming Series A, SynaXG is on course to become one of Asia’s most influential forces in AI-native wireless networks.

The post Singapore’s SynaXG scores US$20M to shape the future of AI-powered wireless networks appeared first on e27.

At first glance, the sharp drop in US jobless claims to 191,000, the lowest level in over three years, should have sparked optimism. Fewer Americans filing for unemployment typically signals labour market resilience, which in turn supports consumer spending and broader economic activity. Despite this positive development, market participants remained unmoved, with equities trading in narrow ranges and volatility suppressed.

This disconnect underscores a deeper uncertainty about the path ahead, particularly as monetary policy remains in flux. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett’s public call for a 25 basis point interest rate cut at the upcoming December FOMC meeting adds another layer to the narrative, suggesting growing political and economic pressure on the Federal Reserve to pivot toward easing. While such a move may be anticipated by some, markets appear to be holding their breath, waiting not just for confirmation of a cut, but for evidence that it will mark the start of a durable easing cycle rather than a one-off adjustment.

Equity markets reflected this indecision. The S&P 500 inched up by 0.1 per cent, the Nasdaq gained 0.2 per cent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped by 0.1 per cent, painting a picture of consolidation rather than conviction. This sideways movement aligns with the broader implication that investors should maintain exposure to high-quality US equities while selectively exploring non-US value and mid-cap opportunities for alpha generation.

The emphasis on quality suggests that in an environment of ambiguous macro signals, investors are prioritising balance sheet strength, earnings visibility, and resilient business models. Meanwhile, the fixed-income market responded with modest yield increases. Ten-year US Treasury yields rose 3.5 basis points to 4.098 per cent, and two-year yields climbed 3.9 basis points to 3.523 per cent.

This upward move may seem counterintuitive ahead of an expected rate cut, but it likely reflects positioning shifts and the market pricing in both near-term easing and longer-term inflation or growth concerns. With spreads widening, however, bonds are regaining appeal as a defensive asset class, particularly for those looking to front-run the Fed’s pivot and lock in relatively attractive yields before they decline further.

Also Read: Markets rally on Fed easing bets: Here’s why Crypto’s move is different

In foreign exchange markets, the US dollar rebounded, but an important shift emerged in yen dynamics. The Japanese yen advanced 0.1 per cent to 155.10 against the dollar following reports that key members of Prime Minister Takaichi’s government would not oppose a potential Bank of Japan rate hike in December.

This development marks a subtle but significant shift in Japan’s policy stance, long anchored to ultra-loose monetary conditions. If the BoJ does act, even modestly, it would further narrow the yield differential between Japanese and US assets, likely fuelling additional yen strength. For global investors, this suggests a reorientation of capital flows and potential repricing of carry trades that have underpinned certain risk strategies for years.

In commodities, Brent crude rose 0.9 per cent to settle at US$63.26 per barrel, while gold held steady at US$2,407 per ounce, consolidating for a fourth consecutive day. Gold’s stability amid choppy risk sentiment reaffirms its role as a defensive hedge, especially as geopolitical uncertainties linger. Oil, meanwhile, remains hypersensitive to supply-chain disruptions and Middle East tensions, though demand concerns continue to cap its upside.

Turning to Asia, regional equities traded mixed, with Chinese markets showing signs of recovery. The rebound in China, supported by both policy expectations and valuation support, has prompted a strategic barbell approach, favouring both high-growth tech names and high-dividend, stable earners.

This duality captures the dual forces shaping China’s market: optimism over long-term innovation potential and pragmatism around near-term economic uncertainty. With US futures pointing higher, the global equity backdrop appears supportive, but the lack of strong directional momentum suggests that traders remain cautious until clearer signals emerge from next week’s labour market data.

The cryptocurrency market, however, diverged from this cautious stability, declining 1.36 per cent over the past 24 hours. This pullback encapsulates three distinct but interrelated dynamics. First, a significant leverage unwind occurred in Bitcoin markets, with US$86.78 million in liquidations, 58.98 million of which came from long positions. This surge in long squeezes, up 20 per cent from previous levels, coincided with a 4.4 per cent drop in perpetual futures open interest and elevated funding rates of plus 0.0027 per cent.

The spot-to-perpetual ratio of 0.21 further signalled an over-leveraged long bias, leaving the market vulnerable to even minor price corrections. As small dips triggered margin calls, cascading sell-offs amplified downside pressure. The Fear and Greed Index’s decline to 25, down from 27 just a day earlier, confirms a waning appetite for speculative risk.

Also Read: December Fed cut countdown: The 25 basis point move that will reshape every asset class

Second, Ethereum’s much-anticipated Fusaka upgrade, launched on December 3, failed to sustain bullish momentum. Despite the technical improvement aimed at reducing transaction costs, ETH dipped 1.5 per cent as traders appeared to treat the event as a classic buy-the-rumour, sell-the-news scenario.

The upgrade itself represents a meaningful step forward for Ethereum’s scalability and user experience, but short-term market dynamics often prioritise positioning over fundamentals. With ETH’s 14-day relative strength index at 65.75, the asset remains in neutral territory, not yet oversold, but lacking immediate upside catalysts. This opens the door for further consolidation as the market digests the upgrade’s real-world impact.

Third, Binance’s announcement of a dual-CEO structure, appointing Yi He alongside Richard Teng, introduced a layer of governance uncertainty. While the move ostensibly balances innovation with compliance, markets interpreted it as a sign of internal recalibration, possibly influenced by lingering regulatory scrutiny and the indirect role of founder Changpeng Zhao.

The resulting 3.75 per cent weekly decline in BNB reflected broader concerns about platform stability and regulatory risk, which spilt over into the wider crypto ecosystem. In an environment already marked by caution, such leadership shifts can amplify bearish sentiment, particularly when they raise questions about strategic direction.

Taken together, these three forces, leverage flush, post-upgrade selloff, and governance concerns, explain the crypto market’s retreat. The rise in Bitcoin dominance to 58.7 per cent further underscores a flight to perceived safety within the digital asset space, as altcoins underperformed amid risk-off flows.

Looking ahead, all eyes turn to tomorrow’s US jobs data. A strong report could rekindle the positive correlation between Bitcoin and the Nasdaq, currently at plus 0.53, by reaffirming the narrative that crypto behaves as a risk asset in a growth-friendly macro regime. Conversely, any sign of labour market weakness might accelerate the Fed’s pivot, potentially reviving demand for yield-sensitive assets, including crypto.

For now, Bitcoin’s US$3.04 trillion Fibonacci support level stands as a critical test of market resilience. In a world where macro signals are improving, but sentiment remains subdued, the path forward will hinge on whether fundamentals can finally overpower fear.

—

Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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

Image courtesy: Canva

The post The Fed pivots, but markets hold their breath appeared first on e27.

Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem showed renewed resilience in November 2025, pulling in US$328M across 21 deals, says a Tracxn data. This is a sharp rebound that underscores improving investor sentiment.

The surge represents a 203.7% jump year-on-year and a 21.9% rise from October, signalling that capital is once again flowing more confidently into the region after several uneven months.

A striking feature of November’s activity is its capital concentration: the top 10 deals accounted for over 81% of total funding, reflecting a continued “power law” dynamic where standout companies capture the lion’s share of investment.

Early-stage momentum remained strong—10 early-stage rounds and eight seed deals made up more than 85% of activity—highlighting investors’ ongoing conviction in SEA’s emerging venture pipeline.

The month’s performance was anchored by major raises, with Ampersand leading at US$80M, followed by Roojai (US$60M) and Olares (US$45M). Additional deals from Moladin, Paywatch, and deeptech players such as Transcelestial and LightSpeed Photonics added further depth to the landscape.

While November’s total sits well below the billion-dollar peaks seen in late 2024 and mid-2025, it marks a clear recovery from recent troughs, suggesting that SEA’s funding environment is stabilising, and potentially primed for a stronger 2026.

REGIONAL

The US$328M comeback: SEA tech posts massive 204% YoY funding spike: Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem rebounded strongly in November 2025, securing US$328M across 21 rounds, driven by early-stage momentum and top deals that captured over eighty-one per cent of total funding.

Singapore’s SynaXG scores US$20M to shape the future of AI-powered wireless networks: Investors include Qualgro, Vertex Ventures, and January Capital; The new funding enables SynaXG to expand engineering, speed product development, and scale AI-RAN deployments as global Physical AI demand surges.

bolttech acquires Kenya’s mTek to expand embedded insurance to East Africa: mTek is one of Kenya’s leading digital insurance innovators. Its paperless, mobile-first platform allows customers to compare, purchase, and manage insurance policies seamlessly.

Tonik secures US$12M to power profitability push as digital bank eyes 2026 breakeven: Investors include Diligent Capital, Plio Limited, and Altara Capital. Tonik’s fundraise sends a signal that SEA’s digital banking landscape is transitioning from experimentation to sustainable, regulated growth.

SEA neobank Circle Asia to launch Vietnam’s AI paylater card: The new card will use Pismo’s API-based platform to offer instant credit approval, flexible installment options, and virtual payments without requiring a bank account.

Google DeepMind starts research team in Singapore: The research team will focus on advanced reasoning and LLMs, according to research scientist Yi Tay, who will lead the group. The team will work on developing and improving models such as Gemini and Gemini Deep Think.

PulseTech lands US$3M to wage war against Bangladesh’s counterfeit medicine crisis: With the help of AVV and Iterative, PulseTech plans to expand into South and Southeast Asia, where fragmented supply chains and counterfeit drug risks mirror Bangladesh’s challenges.

TusStar strengthens Singapore’s AI ecosystem through new SEA partnership: TusStar, SEA Bound and AI Singapore have partnered to accelerate people-centric agentic AI adoption, bringing global AI firms to Singapore while enabling local enterprises and mid-career talent to co-develop industry-ready AI solutions.

REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

Online travel becomes 2025’s breakout winner as accommodation prices lift SEA’s GMV: Accommodation rate hikes drive sharp value growth, pushing online travel GMV toward US$33 billion and strengthening revenue performance across ASEAN’s digital markets.

From US$40B to US$300B: SEA’s digital economy ends a transformative decade: With 71% internet penetration and strong revenue growth, SEA is closing the gap with mature global markets, shows the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report.

Autonomous vehicles, ads, and new dining models: The future of SEA mobility takes shape: With GMV hitting US$51B in 2025, SEA’s delivery platforms push deeper monetisation, diversifying beyond delivery as autonomous vehicle pilots reshape mobility’s next phase.

SEA e-commerce surges to US$185B as video commerce becomes the new growth engine: SEA’s e-commerce sector surges on video commerce adoption, rising seller participation, strong monetisation, and growing grocery and non-grocery demand.

Why agritech is key to securing long-term food resilience in Indonesia: An analysis by Foundry Collective highlights how digital innovation and new business models can build food resilience in Indonesia through a three-part framework known as the 3R Pathways: Robustness, Recovery and Reorientation.

The Singapore workplace in 2025: Job hugging, emotional salary, and a whole new approach to leadership development: More workers in the island nation’s workplace choose to stay put in their current roles rather than chase faster progression or higher pay elsewhere.

INTERNATIONAL

Elon Musk warns AI risks, urges focus on truth: He said that AI must focus on truth, beauty, and curiosity. He warned that AI systems can absorb false information from the internet, leading to faulty reasoning and dangerous conclusions.

Nexus Venture closes US$700M fund for AI, fintech, consumer startups: Nexus Ventures VIII will target companies at the inception, seed, and series A stages. It has invested in 130+ companies and achieved 30+ exits, including IPOs. Its portfolio includes Postman, Apollo, Zepto, and Delhivery.

InMobi founders buy back US$250M stake from SoftBank: This reduces SoftBank’s holding in the company from roughly 35% to between 5% and 7%. The buyback was financed through debt, with InMobi’s founders pledging their shares as collateral.

Binance names co-founder Yi He as new co-CEO: He will join Richard Teng in a dual leadership structure. Yi He, a longtime Binance executive, has been with the company for more than eight years and currently serves as its Chief Customer Service Officer.

Taiwan may launch first stablecoin by late 2026: The timeline depends on the passage of the “Virtual Assets Service Act,” which is set for review by the Cabinet this week. The Cabinet is scheduled to review the act this week, following three prior meetings that produced a high level of consensus.

SEMICONDUCTOR

EY, Nvidia partner on physical AI platform: Built with Nvidia’s computing infrastructure, the platform helps companies deploy and manage AI systems for robots, drones, and edge devices. The lab offers facilities to prototype, test, and deploy robotics and automation solutions.

Nvidia CEO unsure China would take its H200 chips if US export restrictions were relaxed: Jensen Huang said that Nvidia cannot offer downgraded chips to China, as the country would likely reject them. The US has imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips since 2022 to limit China’s access to sensitive technology.

Nvidia says US$100B OpenAI investment is still pending: Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, revealed a letter of intent in September to deploy at least 10 gigawatts of its systems for OpenAI, but a definitive deal is still pending.

AI

Reimagining weight loss with AI: How Welling AI stands out: Rather than rely on manual calorie logs, Welling AI users can record meals through voice, text, or photos. The platform uses AI to analyse food choices and provide tailored feedback, replacing tedious tracking with a conversational interface.

Why your AI pilot failed: Inside the 7 mistakes that cost enterprises millions: AI pilots fail for predictable reasons: from static models to centralised bottlenecks. Understanding these seven errors is the key to unlocking real business value.

How AI is transforming Asia’s universities and the future of talent: Asian universities are rapidly integrating AI, with Hong Kong and Singapore leading bold initiatives reshaping education, workforce readiness, and industry partnerships as the region races to build future-proof talent for an AI-driven economy.

Preserving memories in the age of AI: How technology helps us remember who we are: AI powered storytelling helps families preserve memories and identity, turning personal moments into lasting emotional legacies.

AI or human? The wrong question in a world that demands both: The founders who thrive in the next decade won’t be the ones who avoid AI, nor the ones who blindly automate everything. It will be the leaders who strike the right balance: Human where it matters. AI where it scales. And transparency woven throughout.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Why SEA and India would take centre stage in startup and VC world in the next decade: Vertex Ventures SEA & India’s US$541M fund underscores SEA’s rising startup potential, driven by growing consumer markets, SME digitisation, healthcare needs and AI, despite structural challenges.

From job-hopping to growth-hacking: What SMEs can learn from Gen Z’s approach to work: Gen Z grew up with YouTube tutorials, online courses, and side hustles. We don’t wait for permission to learn. That’s good news for SMEs, who often can’t afford the formal training programmes of larger corporations.

Why institutional money is flowing into crypto, even as fear grips retail: Markets held steady as soft labour data and strong services activity boosted expectations of a December Fed rate cut, lifting equities, weakening the dollar, and sustaining cautious crypto gains driven by rising institutional adoption.

Asia’s Fifth Industrial Revolution: Leading the next wave of sustainable prosperity: Asia’s unique strengths position it to lead the Fifth Industrial Revolution by aligning human-centric innovation, sustainability, and resilience for shared prosperity.

The future of consumer tech: Founders who design for human agency, not dependency: Founders are rejecting extractive consumer tech models to build agency-driven systems where users become stakeholders rather than products.

The culture conundrum: Why private equity’s best CEOs still fail and how Moneyball thinking can fix it: Data-driven analytics reveals the real driver of PE returns is firing toxic employees in month three, not cap table optimisation.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: SEA tech rebounds with 204% YoY funding surge; SynaXG raises US$20M; Musk flags AI risks; travel surges appeared first on e27.

In the high-stakes world of healthcare startups, innovation is the lifeblood of success. Disruptive technologies like AI-driven diagnostics, personalised medicine, and wearable health trackers are transforming how we access and deliver care. Yet, for every groundbreaking idea, there are countless replicative models—startups that adjust existing solutions rather than introducing true innovation.

While imitative strategies may offer faster market entry and lower risk, they often lack the transformative potential that defines long-term success in healthcare. This article explores the tension between innovation and imitation in the healthcare sector, shedding light on why the distinction matters and how startups can navigate this dynamic.

The temptation of imitative strategies

Replicative startups, or those that mirror existing solutions with minor modifications, are common in competitive industries. In healthcare, where barriers to entry are high, imitation may seem like a practical shortcut to success.

Why imitative strategies persist in healthcare:

• Lower risk: Mimicking a proven model reduces uncertainty, particularly in healthcare, where regulatory hurdles and clinical validation processes are time-intensive and expensive.
• Faster time to market: By bypassing the lengthy R&D phase required for true innovation, startups can focus on execution and scaling.
• Localised solutions: Some imitative models adapt successful global concepts to fit regional needs, addressing gaps in underserved markets.

Example: Several telemedicine startups in Asia have drawn heavily from Western platforms like Teladoc Health, adapting features for local languages, pricing, and cultural contexts.

The cost of imitation

While imitative strategies may yield short-term gains, they often limit long-term impact and scalability, particularly in healthcare, where trust, differentiation, and regulatory compliance are critical.

• Lack of differentiation: Imitative startups struggle to stand out in crowded markets, leading to price wars and diminishing returns.
• Missed opportunities for true impact: By focusing on replication, startups risk overlooking unaddressed problems or emerging trends that could define the future of healthcare.
• Regulatory challenges: Imitating a model from a different market often overlooks region-specific regulations, creating compliance risks.

Example: A healthtech startup that replicated a Western mHealth app failed to account for data privacy laws in Southeast Asia, resulting in legal setbacks.

Also Read: Beyond apps and telehealth: The power of the Village approach for mental well-being

The power of innovation in healthcare

Healthcare is an industry ripe for innovation, with numerous unmet needs and inefficiencies waiting for creative solutions. Startups that prioritise innovation can achieve meaningful impact, not just financial success.

• Addressing complex problems: True innovation tackles systemic issues, such as improving access to care in rural areas or reducing diagnostic errors.
• Building competitive moats: Innovative solutions create barriers to entry for competitors, securing long-term market leadership.
• Driving better outcomes: At its core, healthcare innovation is about improving patient outcomes—whether through faster diagnoses, better treatments, or more personalised care.

Example: Butterfly Network revolutionised diagnostic imaging by creating a portable, smartphone-compatible ultrasound device, making advanced imaging accessible and affordable globally.

Balancing innovation with feasibility

Innovation doesn’t have to mean reinventing the wheel. The most successful healthcare startups strike a balance between originality and practicality.

• Incremental innovation: Improving existing technologies or processes can be just as impactful as creating entirely new ones. Example: Many electronic health record (EHR) startups are focusing on simplifying user interfaces and improving interoperability—innovations that address real pain points without requiring groundbreaking inventions.
• Customer-centric design: Listening to patients, providers, and other stakeholders ensures that innovation solves real-world problems rather than creating solutions in search of problems.
• Adapting proven models thoughtfully: Adapting successful ideas for new markets or use cases can bridge the gap between innovation and imitation. Example: Halodoc (Indonesia) adapted the telemedicine model for a fragmented healthcare market, integrating pharmacy delivery and insurance services into a single platform.

Innovation vs imitation: The role of ecosystems

A startup’s ability to innovate is often influenced by the ecosystem it operates in. Factors like funding availability, regulatory support, and access to talent shape whether companies lean toward innovation or imitative strategies.

• Developed markets: Established ecosystems like the U.S. and Europe foster cutting-edge innovation through robust R&D funding and strong IP protection.
• Emerging markets: In regions like Southeast Asia and Africa, the focus is often on solving accessibility and affordability challenges, which may require adapting existing models rather than starting from scratch.

Example: MPharma (Ghana) innovatively addressed medication accessibility by introducing shared ownership models for pharmacies, enabling affordable treatments without replicating Western models.

Also Read: Decoding digital preferences: A glimpse into the future of health tech ecosystem in SEA

Lessons for founders: How to lead with innovation

• Identify real gaps: Instead of imitating what’s popular, focus on unaddressed needs in your target market. Pro tip: Conduct deep customer research and map pain points that existing solutions fail to address.
• Leverage technology: Technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT are enabling entirely new ways to approach healthcare problems. Example: A startup using AI to identify biomarkers for early-stage diseases can leapfrog traditional diagnostic models.
• Collaborate across disciplines: Innovation often emerges at the intersection of fields. Collaborate with technologists, clinicians, and policymakers to develop holistic solutions.
• Focus on impact, not trends: Resist the urge to follow the latest hype cycles. Long-term success comes from solving problems that truly matter.

The future of healthcare: Innovation as the standard

As the healthcare landscape evolves, the bar for innovation is rising. Startups that embrace creativity, bold thinking, and patient-centred solutions will lead the industry forward. Meanwhile, imitative strategies, while still prevalent, will likely fade in relevance as ecosystems mature and demand greater differentiation.

The most impactful startups won’t just change how healthcare works—they’ll redefine what’s possible.

The choice between imitation and creation

In healthcare, the stakes are high. Startups have the power to save lives, improve quality of care, and transform how systems operate. While imitation offers a safer, faster path to market, the long-term rewards of innovation far outweigh the risks.

For founders, the question isn’t just how to build a business—it’s how to build a legacy. In the race to shape the future of healthcare, those who choose innovation will always lead the way.

—

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.

Join us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn to stay connected.

Image credit: Canva Pro

The post Innovation vs imitation: Shaping the future of healthcare startups appeared first on e27.