The rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the mobile apps landscape, taking it from niche utility to mainstream essential. According to the State of AI Apps Report 2025 by Sensor Tower, the reach of generative AI (GenAI) has widened considerably, reshaping user demographics, engagement patterns and global market trends.

AI is no longer confined to experimental chatbots or specialist tools. It has spread across verticals, powering everything from calorie counters and editing software to lifestyle guidance platforms. This expansion is reflected in app store metadata, where the term “AI” appears more than 100,000 times in app descriptions.

The scale of adoption is striking. In the first half of 2025, global downloads of GenAI apps reached nearly 1.7 billion, with in-app purchase revenue hitting nearly US$1.9 billion. Usage growth shows little sign of slowing: downloads rose 67 per cent half-over-half, while revenues doubled compared to late 2024. Consumers spent a collective 15.6 billion hours in such apps, equating to 86 million hours daily across 426 billion sessions, an intensity that underscores their stickiness.

The report highlights Asia as the most dynamic market for AI-powered mobile apps. Downloads surged 80 per cent between late 2024 and early 2025, well ahead of Europe (51 per cent) and North America (39 per cent). India and Mainland China have been pivotal in this expansion, establishing Asia as the global epicentre of AI adoption.

This regional dominance signals the availability of low-cost smartphones and internet access and a demographic tilt towards younger populations, who are more willing to experiment with emerging technologies.

Also Read: AI remains a travel underdog, but satisfaction soars among early adopters: Kaspersky

Demographics: young, male-leaning but diversifying

Despite broad uptake, audience profiles reveal distinct patterns. GenAI apps still skew towards younger men: in the US, nearly 70 per cent of ChatGPT users are male and 64 per cent are under 35. However, a more balanced audience is emerging. Flagship apps such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini now attract at least 30 per cent women users. In contrast, entertainment-driven platforms such as PolyBuzz and Character AI are especially popular with young women.

AI Assistants also attract tech-savvy groups. There is substantial overlap with communities such as cryptocurrency traders and peer-to-peer payment adopters, reflecting both early adopters and digitally confident users.

One of the most revealing insights is how usage rhythms resemble those of established search engines. AI assistants are increasingly treated as information gateways, with daily peaks between 7 PM and 10 PM.

ChatGPT also demonstrates a spike in weekend usage, suggesting it has become a go-to tool for broader lifestyle and entertainment needs. On average, ChatGPT users engage with the app 13 times per month, similar to X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, highlighting its growing integration into everyday routines.

The scope of AI apps is diversifying. ChatGPT, once regarded primarily as a technical aid, is now seeing more prompts related to lifestyle and entertainment, which grew from 22 per cent in mid-2024 to 35 per cent a year later. Health and wellness, government and politics, and shopping are also expanding rapidly.

Still, work and education remain the dominant categories, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of use cases.

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ZUZU Hospitality, a Singapore-headquartered platform focused on revenue management and distribution for independent hotels across Southeast Asia and India, has secured US$5.9 million in Series B extension funding.

Wavemaker Growth, the growth fund of long-time backer Wavemaker Partners, led the round. Existing investors Velocity Ventures and Vulpes Ventures and new investor Latin Leap participated.

Also Read: The days of the ZIRP raise-cash-burn-cash model are gone: ZUZU Hospitality CEO

This money will accelerate the deployment and scaling of ZUZU’s AI-powered revenue management platform RevMate, expand data capabilities, and scale its go-to-market efforts.

The hospitality sector is entering a new phase of digital transformation driven by AI. Independent hotels, which constitute the vast majority of the market, face the significant risk of being left behind. Unlike their larger counterparts with dedicated revenue management teams, these properties often lack the necessary expertise and tools to harness AI’s full potential.

ZUZU Hospitality provides a proprietary all-in-one hotel operating system ( including RevMate and a payments platform) to allow hotels to manage guest and channel partner payments seamlessly.

The core of ZUZU’s RevMate AI platform lies in its proprietary dataset, a collection of booking patterns, pricing decisions, and market performance from its 3,000 hotel partners in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

According to the firm, the hotel partners report an average 8x return on investment.

Vikram Malhi, founder and CEO of ZUZU Hospitality, commented, “We’re witnessing the most significant transformation in hospitality since the internet. AI is reshaping how demand is predicted and revenue is optimised. Our mission has always been to empower independent hoteliers–the heart of this industry–who lack the resources of large chains.”

“The foundation of this mission is our unique data advantage. We’ve built a proprietary dataset from over 3,000 hotels in a market segment that historically lacks good benchmarking. This data is the fuel for RevMate, our AI revenue management platform, allowing us to fine-tune algorithms specifically for the nuances of the APAC hospitality industry.”

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

In May 2023, ZUZU announced an oversubscribed US$9 million Series B funding round led by SoftBank Ventures Asia, with participation from Atinum Partners and existing investors Wooshin Venture Investment, Visor Ventures and JG Digital Equity Ventures.

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In the world of finance, access is often mistaken for inclusion. But as tokenised real-world assets (“RWAs”) move from concept to adoption, we must ask: Is access alone enough?

Tokenisation promises to open capital markets to broader global participation. It aims to make exposure to US equities, government bonds, and yield-bearing products as easy as owning stablecoins. But this transformation is not just about making old products faster or cheaper – it’s about rebuilding financial systems in ways that are more transparent, programmable, and equitable. 

For stock tokenisation to succeed, it must go beyond idealism and confront operational, legal, and educational challenges head-on.

Stock tokenisation isn’t new

The idea of putting stocks on the blockchain isn’t some futuristic concept. In fact, it’s been tried before. During the 2020–2021 crypto boom, exchanges like FTX and Binance experimented with tokenised equities, hoping to give global users easier access to US markets.

In 2020, FTX partnered with German firm CM Equity to offer tokens backed 1:1 by shares of companies like Tesla and Apple. These ERC20 tokens gave global users, especially those in emerging markets, an easy way to gain exposure to US stocks. However, regulatory warnings from BaFin and the SEC deemed the products unlicensed securities, forcing FTX to shut them down. 

Binance launched a similar offering in 2021 using the same model but also faced mounting regulatory pressure in several jurisdictions. The service was eventually discontinued.

These cases underscored a critical truth. The core barrier to tokenised stocks is not the technology but regulatory compliance. While demand and infrastructure exist, navigating the complex landscape of securities regulation remains the key challenge for widespread adoption.

A fragmented but evolving regulatory landscape

Today, regulatory approaches to tokenised stocks vary widely. In the US, the SEC maintains that tokenisation does not alter the underlying asset’s status as a security. Any tokenised equity offering to US users must comply with strict requirements, including broker-dealer and ATS licenses, qualified custody, and full disclosure. 

Also Read: The future of investing isn’t TradFi or DeFi: It’s tokenised, transparent, and built for the next billion

In Europe, tokenised stocks fall under both MiFID II and the new MiCA regulation. While MiFID II governs all securities regardless of form, MiCA expands oversight to include certain asset-backed tokens. Pilot programs, such as those by Robinhood Europe, require careful structuring and regulatory exemptions.

In Asia and the Middle East, regulators like MAS, FINMA, and ADGM have created sandboxes for limited RWA tokenisation, primarily for qualified investors. As stock tokenisation is still a new financial instrument, regulators are open to market experimentation and are expected to adapt their frameworks as more real-world data emerges from ongoing pilots.

Not all tokenised assets are created equal

One of the challenges in today’s market is that the term “tokenised stock” can refer to vastly different mechanisms, each with unique trade-offs:

• Custodial-backed models (e.g., Backed Finance) offer tokens fully collateralised by real-world equities held in regulated custodians. These may provide some degree of economic exposure but often lack shareholder rights or dividend claims.
• Contract-for-difference (“CFD”) models, tokenised stocks provide synthetic price exposure without actual asset ownership. These instruments are typically used for short-term trading and represent a zero-sum game between the trader and the platform acting as the counterparty.
• DeFi synthetic models, powered by oracles and overcollateralised derivatives, enable permissionless and fully on-chain exposure to real world asset prices. However, they carry inherent risks, including oracle failures, collateral volatility, smart contract vulnerabilities, and the absence of backing by real-world assets.

For all the current mechanisms above, owning a piece of tokenised Tesla stock does not necessarily mean owning part of Tesla Company. In most cases, end users do not receive voting rights, dividends, or guaranteed redemption mechanisms.

As infrastructure continues to mature, this issue is expected to be mitigated over time. In the meantime, greater emphasis must be placed on educating retail users to ensure they fully understand the risks associated with the assets they are purchasing. 

Building with accountability, not hype

As tokenised finance grows beyond early experimentation, industry stakeholders – including exchanges, infrastructure providers, and ecosystem enablers – must take collective responsibility for shaping its trajectory. The focus can no longer rest solely on narratives or trading momentum. What matters now is building infrastructure that balances openness with integrity.

Also Read: The 3 ways younger generations are boosting financial inclusion

This includes auditability, clear asset linkages, permission-aware token standards, and regulatory-aligned stablecoin frameworks. Exchanges and infrastructure providers can play a pivotal role here – not only by offering global liquidity but by promoting responsible asset design, transparent disclosures, and risk-managed user access.

A more honest financial future

The future of RWA like tokenised stock is not just about faster rails or fractional access. It’s about making finance more understandable, more interoperable, and more resilient to abuse.

Yes, tokenisation expands who can participate. But participation must come with clarity. We must tell users not only what they own, but what they don’t. We must distinguish between exposure and entitlement, between liquidity and redemption, between freedom and fragility.

If we do this right, tokenised finance won’t just mirror traditional markets – it will complement and improve them. But to get there, we need more than momentum. We need standards, transparency, and a willingness to confront complexity.

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Singapore-based ViSenze, a provider of AI-based visual search and recognition tools for retailers, has announced its acquisition by Nasdaq-listed Rezolve AI, an AI-first conversational commerce and product discovery firm headquartered in London.

The transaction details remain undisclosed.

Rezolve’s ambitions and goals align closely with ViSenze’s, focusing on leading the retail sector through AI, innovation, and impact.

With this integration, all of ViSenze’s AI engineering staffers will join the global Rezolve team. The move will transform ViSenze’s Singapore base into Rezolve’s regional headquarters for APAC expansion, with future research and development initiatives planned.

Also Read: The fast and the scalable: Southeast Asia’s 30 SaaS rocketships you should know

Oliver Tan, CEO and co-founder of ViSenze, said: “This acquisition marks a whole new chapter for ViSenze under Rezolve. We don’t aim small. Stay tuned for the big new things we’re working on.”

Founded in 2012, ViSenze develops “breakthrough” visual search capabilities for retail and introducing multimodal AI search to revolutionise online and in-store product discovery.

The firm’s solutions use deep learning and computer vision techniques to conduct image extraction and recognition, adaptive machine learning and dynamic contextual analysis, enabling shoppers to search and discover products easily on online platforms. It also recommends products based on shoppers’ product purchase behaviour and insights.

Since its inception, the company has raised US$34.5 million in funding from a slew of investors, such as 31VENTURES, Impossible Ventures, Rakuten Capital, SPH Ventures, WI Harper Group, UOB, Gobi Partners, Walden International, SPRING Singapore, Tembusu Partners, Global Brain, Innoven Capital, NUS Enterprise, and SEED Venture Capital.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer confined to the fringes of technology. It is rapidly reshaping the world of mobile apps. According to the latest State of AI Apps Report by SensorTower, AI has gone mainstream, influencing every vertical from health and finance to lifestyle and education. This shift is particularly visible in Asia, where the demand for generative AI tools has transformed both download volumes and user behaviour.

Once regarded as experimental, AI is now woven into the fabric of everyday digital life. Developers across industries are racing to integrate AI assistants and features into their offerings, ensuring users can work, learn and play with smarter tools at their fingertips.

The term “AI” appeared in app descriptions over 100,000 times in the first half of 2025, underscoring the speed of adoption.

Beyond chatbots, AI has made significant inroads into categories such as health and wellness, jobs and education, financial services, and lifestyle. More than 200 apps in these sectors added AI references to their descriptions in just six months, signalling that developers are not only embracing the technology but also keen to highlight it to consumers.

The standout driver of growth is Generative AI (GenAI). Downloads of GenAI apps neared 1.7 billion globally in the first half of 2025, while in-app purchase (IAP) revenue reached almost US$1.9 billion. Growth continues to accelerate, with half-over-half increases that show no signs of slowing.

Also Read: Beyond vibe coding: How AI can build true tech talent

Users are not only downloading these apps; they are spending time in them. In H1 2025, consumers racked up 15.6 billion hours inside GenAI platforms, averaging 86 million hours daily. Across the board, mobile sessions surged to 426 billion, cementing generative AI as one of the most engaging categories in the mobile ecosystem.

Asia’s dominance in downloads

Asia has emerged as the clear leader in GenAI adoption. Downloads in the region climbed 80 per cent between H2 2024 and H1 2025, significantly outpacing other regions. Markets such as India and Mainland China are fuelling this rapid ascent, showing how mobile-first populations are embracing AI as a daily utility.

By contrast, North America’s initial dominance following the launch of ChatGPT has waned. Once accounting for around 20 per cent of downloads, its share fell to 11 per cent in H1 2025, even though downloads continued to grow in absolute terms. Europe registered 51 per cent growth in the same period, while North America managed 39 per cent.

While Asia leads in downloads, revenue patterns paint a different picture. North America remains the most lucrative market for GenAI apps, generating US$762 million in IAP revenue in H1 2025—a 74 per cent increase from the previous half-year.

However, emerging markets are catching up quickly. Latin America saw revenue leap by 147 per cent, Asia by 136 per cent, the Middle East by 131 per cent, and Europe by 121 per cent. These figures demonstrate that monetisation potential is global, not regional, and that consumer willingness to pay for AI-enhanced services is growing across the board.

Despite intense competition, one player towers above the rest: ChatGPT. The app accounted for 63 per cent of all GenAI revenue in H1 2025, leading every major market except Mainland China.

Also Read: Atlas Consolidated scores US$18.1M to help banks escape legacy core systems

Its dominance highlights the strength of established platforms and the challenge for newcomers hoping to carve out market share.

With Asia leading the charge in adoption and global revenues surging, developers have little choice but to innovate with AI or risk obsolescence.

For consumers, this means mobile apps will increasingly deliver personalised, intelligent, and seamless experiences. For businesses, it represents both an opportunity and a challenge: the chance to harness AI’s power, but only if they can keep up with the pace of change.

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Image Credit: Rami Al-zayat on Unsplash

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Picture the electric atmosphere of a World Cup final. The crowd roars, the score is tied, and a penalty shootout will decide it all. The referee turns to the video assistant referee (VAR) system, and the world holds its breath. But then, chaos erupts – a line on the field is off by mere centimeters, throwing the call into question and the game’s outcome hangs in balance.

This scenario highlights a rarely discussed flaw in modern sports: while athletes train with cutting-edge technology and stadiums undergo billion-dollar upgrades, the lines on the field are still painted the old-fashioned way. It’s surprising how labour-intensive this process is: in Hong Kong or Singapore, for instance, teams of workers can toil for hours under the sun, battling mosquito bites as well as the elements as they manually trace lines with chalk or paint dispensers. This outdated method is time-consuming and prone to human error. In an industry obsessed with precision, field maintenance remains stubbornly analog.

Precision meets purpose in redefining efficiency

Transforming this process is FJ Dynamics, a Hong Kong-incubated robotics startup that’s rewriting the rules of precision and efficiency. They are transforming the invisible, labor-intensive tasks that keep industries running—from sports fields to airport runways to construction sites—into seamless, high-tech operations. Established in 2017, it is on a mission to alleviate the burden of manual labour on a global scale by leveraging advanced smart automation and high-precision sensors.

FJ Dynamics has visited every sports ground in Hong Kong with its landscaping robot, the PaintMaster Pro, a smart robotic system designed to tackle field marking challenges. The robot uses advanced GPS technology to apply lines with maximum precision. Dual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers ensure consistent accuracy across large areas, while optional laser guidance handles tricky spots near structures. The technology enables the robot to deliver precise specifications for a wide range of sports grounds, adapting to the unique requirements of each discipline — whether creating football pitches, rugby fields, or tennis courts.

Also read: How Hong Kong drives foreign startup success, student engagement, and international collaboration

The PaintMaster Pro doesn’t just bring 21st-century precision to maintenance practices. It’s also remarkably simple and cost-effective. The technology requires no specialised training. Just pour in the paint, turn on the machine, and press start. Anyone with a tablet can accomplish in 45 minutes what would take a crew four hours to do manually. Plus, it’s available at around half the price of comparable products thanks to its proximity to the Greater Bay Area’s extensive manufacturing resources.

“Innovation does not have to be expensive. The key is that it must be affordable and accessible so that everyone can use it,” says Kiki Zhang, CFO of FJ Dynamics.

The PaintMaster Pro is designed for versatility. Users can use a single robot for multiple functions by assembling different kits, including mowing and fertilisation spraying. Having found enthusiastic uptake in Hong Kong, it’s now enhancing major sports grounds across Europe, including Barcelona’s elite training facilities and premier rugby pitches in England and Germany, this robot is leaving its mark—literally—on the global stage.

“Home to a multitude of multinational companies, Hong Kong is an ideal launchpad for reaching global audiences. Once our products gain validation and recognition here, scaling the business overseas becomes significantly easier,” says Zhang.

Also read: Hong Kong startups set their sights on SEA and beyond at GITEX Asia

Infrastructural precision saves lives

In daily life, the significance of precise markings extends beyond athletic fields. Modern infrastructure depends on carefully placed lines for optimal functionality, from bustling parking lots, sprawling warehouses to high-stakes airport runways, perfectly placed lines are critical for safety and efficiency.

FJ Dynamics’ recent collaboration with Hong Kong International Airport on runway markings highlights the role of high-precision sensor technology in infrastructure. With its advanced technology, the airport can now paint and maintain markings with exceptional accuracy and improved efficiency, significantly reducing manual labour while ensuring safety down to the millimeter.

Bridging the labour gap with 3D LiDAR

The same core technologies powering precise field markings are already revolutionising another sector facing labour shortages: construction development. Dominated by the older generation, the industry can be hard for younger workers to break into as experience is crucial. With a large number of workers aged over 60, the looming retirement of skilled laborers is likely to create a significant labour gap.

FJ Dynamics’ innovative robotics solutions are bridging this gap with 3D LiDAR scanners, enabling rapid digital modeling of job sites. Products like the FJD Trion S1 and Trion P1 leverage advanced LiDAR technology and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithms to generate precise, real-time 3D environmental models. Users can effortlessly capture their surroundings and access live data directly on mobile devices. This technology allows for precise distance measurement and detailed spatial mapping, enabling the industry to assess high-risk or hard-to-reach environments, reduce accidents, and enhance operational efficiency. This has provided invaluable support for emergency services. Fire departments and police use them for efficient building inspections, while crime scene investigators employ them to create accurate, court-admissible 3D records, a significant improvement on traditional sketches and photographs.

Also read: Transforming traditional business models with HKSTP’s Elite Programme

Accelerated global expansion with HKSTP’s support

HKSTP’s vast customer and partner network connected FJ Dynamics with everyone from local civil service organisations to multinational enterprises, enabling the company to rapidly scale its business.

Since establishing its regional office in Hong Kong in 2021, FJ Dynamics has embarked on an accelerated global expansion journey, supported by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Asia’s no.1 emerging start-up ecosystem. HKSTP’s vast customer and partner network connected FJ Dynamics with everyone from local civil service organisations to multinational enterprises, enabling the company to rapidly scale its business. This aligns with HKSTP’s commitment to being an innovation and technology (I&T) powerhouse, offering entrepreneurs visionary insights and tangible support to drive technological advancement.

Building on this strong foundation, FJ Dynamics has established their expansion across APAC, Europe, the US, and Africa, while actively pursuing business and investment opportunities in the Middle East. For instance, a recent partnership with Saudi-based advanced positioning solutions provider Sintechs during the 8th edition of the Future Investment Initiative Institute, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last October. It aims to enhance robotics technology and marketing capabilities across critical industries, further solidifying the company’s global footprint.

From lines we often overlook to spatial details invisible to the naked eye, each advancement in automated workflows contributes to shaping the future of work, paving the way for a more efficient, sustainable, and interconnected world. FJ Dynamics is committed to reshaping industries through accessible and affordable automation solutions, empowering labour-intensive and harsh-environment sectors to transform unnoticed — yet vital — manual work.

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In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, the line between technology and consumer behaviour is becoming increasingly blurred as the former has a better understanding of what the customers want and how to meet it. At the forefront of this transformation is Glance AI, a new platform from Singapore-based consumer technology company Glance, backed by Google.

Launched earlier this year, Glance AI promises to reimagine shopping by moving beyond search-driven commerce into an era of inspiration-led discovery, where the “AI consumer” emerges as a central figure.

For years, online shopping has prioritised efficiency. Consumers search, browse, compare and, eventually, purchase. While effective, the process has often “lacked joy”. According to Mansi Jain, Senior Vice President of Glance AI, the company saw an opportunity to introduce creativity, fun and personalisation into the commerce experience.

“We started working on Glance AI almost 18 months ago. Generative AI had already disrupted search, and we believed commerce would be next,” she explained. “Shopping today is not meant for joy; it’s meant for efficiency. We believed that with generative AI, shopping could become fun, real-time, and deeply personal.”

Instead of relying on keyword searches, it allows users to discover AI-curated looks tailored to their preferences. Shoppers can take a selfie or upload an image, which the system transforms into a stylised visual world. Using advanced diffusion models and a live commerce layer, the platform generates personalised fashion looks and maps them to real, shoppable products from more than 400 global brands.

Also Read: How AI, AR, and live streaming are changing the online shopping experience

A global launch with local ambitions

Glance AI launched globally in May on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The company has also struck a strategic partnership with Samsung in the US, introducing an integrated lock screen version of the app for Samsung users. This move expands its reach while embedding the shopping experience into consumers’ daily routines.

While fashion is the starting point, Glance has ambitious plans to expand into beauty, accessories, and travel later this year. Jain sees this as the beginning of a much larger journey. “For us, Glance AI is one of the largest AI commerce platforms globally,” she said. “We already have between one and 1.5 million users, most of them in the US, where we launched our beta. The consumer feedback has been phenomenal.”

Early adoption metrics suggest that Glance AI is striking a chord. On average, beta users in the US generate 18 images a day, each representing a personalised look. Almost 40 per cent of users then start a shopping journey by clicking on product links with 85 per cent of users return within a week to generate and engage with more looks.

Such engagement indicates more than curiosity; it signals a fundamental shift in how people want to shop. The AI consumer, as Glance describes, expects technology not only to meet their needs but to anticipate and inspire them.

In Southeast Asia, where adoption of new digital behaviours often outpaces Western markets, the company expects even stronger traction. Jain points to the region’s history of leapfrogging trends such as social commerce. “We believe consumers in Asia will adopt this even faster,” she said.

Also Read: Phishing threats: Protecting your online shopping and banking

Unlike many AI shopping experiments, Glance AI sees itself as more than just an app. The company has built what it calls an open architecture framework, allowing its software to integrate with different hardware ecosystems, from smartphones to telecom operators. This flexibility opens doors for wider distribution and ensures the platform is not confined to a single channel.

For brands, the proposition can be equally attractive. With more than 400 mass premium labels already integrated, Glance AI offers direct access to engaged consumers in a discovery-driven environment. The company works with brands on a revenue-sharing model, earning commissions on completed transactions.

Jain believes the AI-native approach will boost conversion rates for brands by delivering highly personalised recommendations. The target is ambitious: 1,200 to 1,500 brand integrations by year’s end.

The road ahead

By making shopping playful, creative and embedded in consumers’ digital lives, Glance AI aims to challenge long-standing conventions of e-commerce. The company’s early traction in the US, paired with its ambitions in Asia, positions it to influence how future consumers interact with products and brands.

At its core, Glance AI embodies the shift towards an anticipatory digital economy, one where consumers do not simply search for what they need but are inspired by what they never knew they wanted. As Jain puts it, “In the world of generative AI, shopping is becoming fun, real time and deeply personal. That is the story of Glance AI.”

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Image Credit: Glance AI

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When we talk about career reinvention, the stories often sound extreme: A banker who becomes a yoga teacher, an engineer who becomes an artist. But reinvention doesn’t always mean abandoning your past. Sometimes the most powerful pivots come from repurposing the skills, relationships, and insights you’ve already built.

That’s what Joanna Wong has done.

For over two decades, Wong was a brand builder. She started in agencies, then spent 16 years at Eu Yan Sang, where she rose to become Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management. It was there that she shaped campaigns across Asia, built partnerships with world-class chefs, and repositioned traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) from a “grandmother’s remedy” into a lifestyle product.

But after years in the corporate world, Wong chose a second act. Not one defined by climbing titles, but by creating experiences – blending heritage, food therapy, and modern dining into a unique niche she calls Chinese herbal cuisine.

Her story isn’t just about food. It’s a case study in reinvention – and one with lessons every founder can apply.

Lesson one: Leverage your past, don’t abandon it

Wong didn’t reinvent herself by starting from zero. She carried forward her greatest strengths: Understanding audiences, telling stories that stick, and building credibility through partnerships.

At Eu Yan Sang, she proposed collaborations with the World Gourmet Summit, partnering with chefs like Sam Leong, Susur Lee, Emmanuel Stroobant, and Justin Quek. The result? Multi-course dining experiences where herbs weren’t just medicinal, but culinary.

That experience is now the backbone of her venture, Herbalicious. When she designs a workshop or dining event, she’s not just a cook – she’s a communicator. The way she frames each herb, tells its story, and links it to both flavour and wellness, reflects decades of branding expertise.

Takeaway for founders: Don’t erase your past to build your future. Reinvention works best when it’s additive – when you combine what you already know with where you want to go.

Lesson two: Turn passion into a methodology

Her journey into herbal cuisine began with personal curiosity. She would experiment at home, infusing herbs into everyday dishes. Family and friends noticed – and loved it.

But passion alone doesn’t scale. Over time, Wong refined her approach into something repeatable: A methodology. She frames dishes around the concept of “Herbs in Every Bite” – showing how GanCao, DangGui, YuZhu and other ingredients can elevate familiar favourites like chocolates, salads, or fried chicken wings.

By turning passion into a structured method, she gave herself a platform she could teach, replicate, and monetise.

Takeaway for founders: Whether you’re building software, launching a consultancy, or creating content, passion is only the spark. What makes it scalable is turning that spark into a framework others can follow.

Also Read: Leading global from SEA: Lessons from scaling SaaS, cultures, and team from Amity Group’s journey

Lesson three: Adapt tradition for today’s audience

If Wong had only doubled down on traditional herbal soups, she might have remained a niche curiosity. Instead, she asked: What do people already love – and how can herbs make it better?

That’s how she ended up with creations like herb-marinated chicken wings, herbal chocolates, and modernised desserts. She’s not substituting herbs for flavour; she’s enhancing flavour while adding depth and nutritional value.

This is more than cooking. It’s market positioning. Younger consumers aren’t rejecting tradition outright; they’re rejecting irrelevance. By reframing heritage through a contemporary lens, Wong makes something timeless feel fresh.

Takeaway for founders: Whatever your industry, think about heritage as innovation fuel. The strongest brands are often those that balance tradition with trend, credibility with novelty.

Lesson four: Speaking multiplies your business

One of the most interesting parts of Wong’s pivot is that she hasn’t leaned only on products. Instead, she’s leaned on speaking.

Her talks on “Herbs in Every Bite” do more than educate – they build trust. A keynote can spark curiosity. A workshop can deepen engagement. A dining event can turn that engagement into a memorable, high-value experience.

It’s also why she became a founding member of the Speakers Society, a community built to help professionals use their voice as a business multiplier. For her, speaking isn’t a side activity – it’s the platform that unlocks everything else.

Speaking is the bridge that connects expertise to monetisation. And it’s a strategy more founders should consider. In a world flooded with ads and algorithms, your voice can cut through. It’s not just content – it’s credibility.

Takeaway for founders: Don’t underestimate the power of speaking. It can multiply your reach, create demand for your services, and position you as the authority in your niche.

Lesson five: Build experiences, not just products

When Wong hosts an herbal dining event, it’s not simply a meal. It’s an experience. Guests taste modernised heritage dishes, hear stories about each herb, and leave with both full stomachs and new knowledge.

Recently, she collaborated with an executive Chinese chef on a herbal high tea at a five-star hotel – the kind of immersive format that combines food, storytelling, and education. It’s a glimpse of what she aims to deliver: Experiences that go beyond information to transformation.

Also Read: AI and the art of team building: Lessons for startup leaders

Takeaway for founders: In today’s market, products are easy to copy, and information is everywhere. What sets you apart is the experience you create. When your audience feels your message, they don’t just remember it – they act on it.

Reinvention as a founder strategy

Wong’s second act is more than a personal story. It’s a reflection of the founder landscape today.

The pandemic accelerated digital transformation. AI and automation are reshaping industries. The corporate world is moving faster, younger, and more competitive. For many professionals, the choice is clear: Cling to the old playbook, or reinvent.

But reinvention doesn’t have to mean burning everything down. Wong didn’t throw away her years in branding. She leveraged them. She didn’t see age as a disadvantage; she saw it as depth. She didn’t wait for permission; she created a new stage.

That’s the real lesson here.

Whether you’re contemplating a second act or simply looking to make your current chapter more fulfilling, remember this: It’s never too late to pivot. Your past isn’t baggage; it’s capital. And your voice – used with clarity and courage – can take you further than you think.

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Across Southeast Asia, investors are looking beyond growth-at-all-costs and asking a new question: can startups scale while delivering measurable social and environmental outcomes? The urgency is clear. Climate change, demographic shifts, and infrastructure gaps are reshaping the region, creating both heightened risks and opportunities for solutions that address real-world challenges.

Impact-driven ventures are showing that “funding for good” is not just an ethical positioning but a sound strategy. Businesses that deliver independently verified results attract capital from a wider pool, from venture investors to governments and philanthropic funds, while also building resilience through strong community adoption and policy alignment.

Agriculture as a proof point

This shift is already visible across agriculture, health, education, and clean energy. Agriculture, in particular, offers a clear illustration of how measurable impact and growth can reinforce each other. Take biochar as an example. Farmers report yield improvements of 10 to 20 per cent during dry periods, while organic growers reduce input costs by as much as 60 per cent.

On the carbon finance side, each ton of biochar can store roughly 2.5 tons of CO₂ equivalent, enabling verifiable carbon credits. Importantly, reported impacts, both environmental and social, are independently verified, giving investors confidence that the metrics are credible and auditable. These outcomes show that a business can be high-growth, measurable, and socially responsible at the same time.

Southeast Asia is also among the regions most affected by climate change. Increased rainfall variability, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events threaten smallholder agriculture, fisheries, and coastal communities. Startups that provide tech-enabled climate adaptation solutions are therefore addressing immediate and escalating risks.

Also Read: How Southeast Asia’s agritech startups are turning smallholder farms into high-tech powerhouses

In agriculture, for instance, biochar improves soil resilience against droughts and floods while enhancing water retention and reducing nutrient runoff into waterways. Supporting ventures that tackle these challenges aligns capital with urgent climate mitigation and adaptation needs.

Beyond agriculture: Health, education, and clean energy

Impact-driven ventures are not unique to agriculture. Across the region, startups in health, education, and clean energy are demonstrating that measurable social impact attracts both customers and capital. Digital health platforms expanding access to care, edutech startups improving literacy rates, and renewable energy providers electrifying rural communities all show that technology applied to real societal challenges can outperform purely commercial ventures. The common denominator is clear: investors can back enterprises that generate tangible social outcomes without sacrificing growth potential.

Investors increasingly recognise this. ESG mandates, philanthropy-linked funding, and impact investing funds are growing rapidly in Southeast Asia. According to the Global Impact Investing Network, the Asia-Pacific impact investment market surpassed US$25 billion in 2022, reflecting rising interest in ventures that deliver measurable social outcomes. Startups that rigorously document impact through data, independent verification, and reporting stand out, gaining credibility with both investors and partners.

Beyond attracting capital, measurable impact strengthens resilience. Businesses that solve real problems are naturally aligned with long-term trends, policy priorities, and community needs. Governments promoting sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, or equitable education are more likely to partner with startups whose models are proven to work. Likewise, communities adopting these solutions provide a built-in market, reducing customer acquisition risk and stabilising revenue streams.

The lesson for investors is simple. Funding good is smart strategy. Ventures that integrate technology with independently verified social outcomes are better positioned to scale, attract diversified funding, from venture capital to philanthropic and government sources, and create defensible market positions. In a region facing climate, demographic, and infrastructure challenges, startups that solve real problems while generating profit are both rare and valuable.

A founder’s perspective

From my own experience at Reclimate, I’ve seen how this dual value (the combination of measurable social and environmental impact with sustainable financial returns) plays out. By combining biochar production, carbon finance, and practical training for farmers, we’ve been able to build a model that works across different geographies while generating measurable environmental and social impact. Smallholders see yield gains and lower costs, communities benefit from cleaner air and water, and carbon credits create an additional revenue stream that supports growth. Importantly, all of this is tracked and verified independently, giving investors confidence that the impact data is both transparent and reliable.

The potential for scale is enormous. Southeast Asia produces millions of tons of agricultural residues annually. Converting even a fraction into biochar could sequester millions of tons of CO₂, providing a credible carbon removal pipeline. At the same time, smallholders and rural communities benefit directly from improved soil health, water retention, and income diversification. Investing in this space therefore combines measurable environmental impact, social uplift, and financial return—a rare triple bottom line.

The path forward

For investors, the broader message is clear. Backing ventures that deliver both profit and purpose is not merely ethical; it is strategic. High-growth companies with measurable social impact can attract a mix of funding, from venture capital seeking strong returns, philanthropic capital targeting social good, and government support aimed at policy-aligned outcomes. This diversified backing reduces risk while amplifying potential returns and social reach.

Also Read: Hacking your way into angel impact investing with just US$10K

The challenge now is to make funding for good the norm rather than the exception. How can investors embed impact measurement as part of their standard due diligence? How can funders prioritise ventures that not only generate profits but also deliver independently verified social and environmental outcomes? Addressing these questions will define the next wave of sustainable investment in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Supporting startups that solve real-world challenges is a win-win. Reclimate’s work has shown me that it is possible to balance growth with independently verified environmental and social outcomes. The opportunity in Southeast Asia is clear. It is a region underrepresented in global carbon markets, heavily impacted by climate change, and full of smallholder farmers and communities ready to benefit from tech-enabled solutions. Investors willing to align capital with purpose are positioned to capture both impact and growth.

Conclusion: Doing good and doing well

Funding for good is not only possible; it is increasingly profitable, scalable, and essential for tackling some of the region’s most pressing challenges. By directing capital to high-growth, impact-driven startups, investors can help reshape Southeast Asia’s future, proving that doing good and doing well can go hand in hand.

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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: DALL-E

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AI is fast becoming the darling of customer experience strategies, but the numbers don’t quite add up.

Verizon’s latest report exposes a sobering truth: while executives hail AI as a CX game-changer, most of their optimism rests on gut feel, not hard data. Seventy-two percent claim improved customer experience and 66 percent cite better loyalty, yet few can tie these gains to robust, measurable metrics.

This blind spot matters. AI’s efficiency wins–slashing content creation timelines or cutting call handle times–are tangible. But those are productivity boosts, not proof of deeper customer satisfaction or long-term loyalty.

Businesses risk confusing speed with substance. If the industry continues down this path, “AI ROI” will remain a boardroom buzzword, not a balance sheet reality.

The real challenge is measurement. Legacy CX metrics were never designed to capture the nuanced, distributed impact of generative AI across operations. That’s why a third of firms are already working on entirely new frameworks. Until those arrive, talk of ROI will be more hope than evidence.

AI in CX may be inevitable, but its value must be proven, not presumed. Without rigorous metrics, enterprises risk over-investing in tools that look transformative, but can’t yet prove they move the needle where it counts.

REGIONAL

TikTok says Tokopedia layoffs due to team size, business needs
The layoffs reportedly affected 420 employees in two rounds: 180 in July 2025, and 240 a month later | Tokopedia is an Indonesia-based e-commerce platform now controlled by TikTok after a merger.

Atome achieves FY profitability with US$236M operating income
Operating income rose 63% year-on-year, with GMV reaching over US$2B, up 50% from 2023 | As of Q2 2025, Atome Financial said its annualized net revenue surpassed US$500M, with annualised GMV crossing US$4B.

Vietnam’s business capital opens central hub for startups
Innovation Startup Center, a 17,000-square-meter facility in Xuan Hoa Ward, operates under a public-private partnership model, offering one-stop services for startups and serving as a hub for resources and policy testing.

Ytl, Sea officially debut Malaysia’s AI-powered digital bank
Ryt Bank uses an AI assistant, Ryt AI, built on a local language model called ILMU, to help users manage transactions, pay bills, and access financial information in natural language | Core services include savings accounts with daily interest and instant credit via Ryt PayLater.

Indonesian EV logistics provider Blitz raises pre-Series A
Investors include Vynn Capital, Iterative Capital, Vinner Ventures, ADB Ventures, and Peak XV | Blitz, a platform focused on last-mile delivery using a fleet of EVs, claims over 14M deliveries and operations in 60 cities.

Cashku closes US$2.4M round as digital financial planning heats up in Malaysia
Investors include Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, former Securities Commission Chairman Datuk Ali Abdul Kadir, and 1337 Ventures | Cashku will use the capital to enhance its technology, scale its outreach, and continue to develop its platform.

Earth VC backs nuclear innovator Aalo Atomics to address SEA’s data centre power crunch
The funding will be used to construct Aalo’s inaugural nuclear power plant, the Aalo-X, at the Idaho National Laboratory in the US | With criticality targeted for next summer, this project will become the first advanced nuclear facility to commence operations in the US in decades.

Thunes co-founder returns as CEO
Peter De Caluwe takes over from Floris de Kort, who previously led the firm | De Caluwe had served as deputy chairman at Thunes for the past 18 months | Thunes provides payment infrastructure enabling international transfers across bank accounts, mobile wallets, cards, and digital assets.

REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

Verizon study warns: AI in CX needs new metrics to justify spend
As spending on AI in CX operations is expected to grow, management will increasingly demand concrete evidence of its financial returns |
As spending on AI in CX operations is expected to grow, management will increasingly demand concrete evidence of its financial returns.

Asia’s new AI wave: Startups driving smarter healthcare, safer roads, better living
Meet the Asian startups harnessing AI to transform healthcare, mobility, security, and customer experiences, delivering innovation that directly improves everyday life.

“Don’t build for Demo Day”: Zhang Fan on the enduring truths of entrepreneurship in the AI era
In his view, Southeast Asian founders aren’t chasing applause; They’re building purposeful solutions, often with sharp market understanding and a clear focus.

INTERNATIONAL

Hong Kong overtakes US as top IPO venue for Chinese firms
So far this year, 46 Chinese firms have raised a combined US$16.5B in Hong Kong | In comparison, 16 Chinese companies listed in the US raised about US$740.9M | The city’s exchange has benefited from regulatory changes that speed up listings for large mainland companies and stronger investor sentiment.

Oyo to file IPO papers in November, eyes US$8B valuation
SoftBank, one of Oyo’s largest shareholders, has held discussions with banks including Axis, Citi, Goldman Sachs, ICICI, JM Financial, and Jefferies to gauge market sentiment | The filing is expected to highlight Oyo’s latest Q1 financial results.

Musk’s xAI sues Apple, OpenAI over AI competition
xAI accuses Apple and OpenAI of working together to limit competition in the AI sector | The complaint claims that Apple’s partnership with OpenAI, which will bring ChatGPT to Apple devices, is aimed at protecting Apple’s position in the smartphone market.

Tesla rejected US$60M offer before losing US$242.5M Autopilot verdict
The verdict was delivered over a 2019 fatal crash involving Tesla’s Autopilot system | The case concerned a Tesla Model S that went through an intersection with Autopilot engaged, striking a Chevrolet Tahoe, killing Neima Benavides Leon and severely injuring Dillon Angulo.

EV battery market grows with new types, options
Startups globally are developing new battery technologies such as sodium-ion and lithium-sulfur to lower costs and reduce dependency on key minerals for EVs | China currently accounts for 85% of global battery cell production and 90% of processing for the main lithium-ion types used in EVs.

US reportedly may sanction EU over Digital Services Act
The potential move follows US complaints that the law censors Americans and increases costs for US tech firms | Senior State Department officials have not yet decided whether to impose the measures, which could include visa restrictions.

South Korea develops AI tool to detect varroa mites in beehives.
BeeSion uses AI to analyse hive frame videos, and can reportedly identify varroa mites in real time, reducing inspection time to about 30 seconds per frame, with an accuracy rate of 97.8%.

SEMICONDUCTOR

US 10% stake in Intel could impact business, funding
The US will acquire Intel shares using US$5.7B in unpaid grants under the CHIPS Act and US$3.2B from the Secure Enclave programme | It could create risks for its business, including potential impacts on overseas sales and future government funding.

Nvidia set to report Q2 earnings as AI boom drives growth
The company’s revenue has more than tripled and profits have quadrupled since late 2022, as demand for AI chips surged after the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT | Nvidia’s market cap recently crossed US$4T, and its stock has risen 12x since 2022, closing at US$177.99 on August 22, 2025.

Nvidia launches Jetson AGX Thor robotics chip at US$3,499
The Jetson AGX Thor chip, based on Nvidia’s Blackwell graphics processor, will begin shipping next month, and is designed for companies building robots | Nvidia said the Jetson AGX Thor is 7.5X faster than its previous generation and comes with 128GB of memory to support large AI models.

US chipmaker Skyworks appoints ex-AMD exec as CFO
Philip Carter is leaving Advanced Micro Devices, where he was corporate vice president and chief accounting officer since November 2024 | Carter previously worked at Skyworks from 2017 to 2024 as vice president and corporate controller.

AI

How should non-tech companies approach AI?
When employees, stakeholders, or customers are not ready for AI implementation, workflows often get disrupted in a negative way | To overcome this, companies need to think about their change management strategies in advance and ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding AI implementation.

The AI classroom dilemma: Are we raising students who can’t think without machines?
The qualities that define humanity–creativity, moral reasoning, critical judgment, and navigating ambiguity–require the cognitive abilities that AI dependency weakens | Without deliberate effort to preserve human intelligence, we’ll create a generation dependent on machines in an era demanding independent thought.

From hype to harmony: Why agentic AI needs a platform-first mind-set to redefine CX
Automation excels at speed and pattern recognition; humans excel at judgment, negotiation and relationship‑building | The goal is augmentation, not substitution | A global med‑tech firm recently introduced an agentic‑AI layer that triages tickets and surfaces knowledge‑base articles.

AI in legal tech: Keeping it customer-centric
AI tools are streamlining contract lifecycle management (CLM) by automating aspects of contract drafting, review, negotiation, and risk analysis | AI is revolutionising e-discovery by quickly analysing high volumes of digital data to identify relevant evidence, reducing the time, cost, and risk of discovery in litigation.

AI and healthcare: Navigating challenges and embracing the future
In healthcare, accuracy and patient safety aren’t just ideals; they’re non-negotiable | Mistakes in a chatbot recommending dinner are harmless; errors in a clinical setting can be catastrophic | Before healthcare AI can be trusted, it must undergo rigorous testing and adhere to the highest safety standards.

AI: The secret ingredient for unlocking developer success in Asia
Home to the fastest-growing developer community globally, APAC is also the second-largest adopter of GenAI | The region’s potential is unquestionable, and local organisations are well-positioned to drive real AI innovation and all its benefits.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Beyond Silicon Valley dreams: Why SEA is rewriting the rules of tech for good?
SAE’s approach represents a paradigm shift that challenges every assumption about how innovation works | Here, tech isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity | This is how a region once considered a tech follower is becoming the world’s lab for tech that actually matters.

Powell’s pivot: How Jackson Hole reshaped markets and what comes next
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s carefully calibrated remarks last Friday did far more than hint at potential policy shifts; they effectively slammed the door on prolonged restrictive monetary policy while opening a wide window for immediate easing.

Why impact-first marketing matters more than ever for Asia startups
But in markets where trust in new technology can be low, digital literacy uneven, and access to infrastructure inconsistent, having a brilliant product is not enough | Without marketing that connects with people’s real needs, habits, and contexts, adoption stalls.

Rethinking business information Access: The role of conversational AI
Acting as digital copilots, conversational AI enables professionals to query complex datasets using natural language and get verified, contextual responses in seconds | There’s no longer a need to comb through spreadsheets or lengthy documents; insights are now delivered as if in a conversation with a trusted advisor.

From Bangkok to billions: Inside OpenAI’s startup growth playbook
Marc Manara, head of startups at OpenAI, pulled back the curtain on how the company works with founders worldwide, and why its platform is becoming a launchpad for the next generation of market leaders.

How Southeast Asia’s agritech startups are turning smallholder farms into high-tech powerhouses
Agritech is transforming the landscape by integrating emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, blockchain, and mobile fintech | These innovations address inefficiencies in input management, pest detection, supply chain transparency, and farmer financing.

From reactive to proactive: Closing Indonesia’s care gaps with digital health
Indonesia has the rails and the legal backbone | The next two years should be about disciplined execution against measurable outcomes | If Indonesia proves that scale, equity, and privacy can coexist in digital health, it will close its own care gaps.

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