ACE raises US$400K in funding from Manila Angel Investors Network

The story: Singapore-based personalised celebrity video platform ACE has raised US$400K in pre-seed funding to propel global growth of the largest celebrity shout-out platform in Southeast Asia.

Investors: Manila Angel Investors Network (MAIN), celebrity investor Max Loong, angel investors hailing from Grab, Carousell, Ayden Payments, and Google.

The plans: ACE will be using the funds to scale ACE’s talent and consumer base both regionally and globally, with domination of the Southeast Asian market in sight.

What does ACE do? Founded in November 2019 by Dene Schonknecht, ACE is a collaborative platform designed for fans to connect directly with their heroes or favourite celebrities for exclusive content. ACE aims to unite a traditionally distant celebrity-fan dynamic and revolutionise the entertainment industry with accessible, authentic celebrity connections.

Singaporean fintech startup BondEvalue launches bond exchange platform BondbloX

The story: Singapore-based fintech startup BondEvalue has launched blockchain-based bond exchange BondbloX (BBX).

BBX makes fractional ownership of bonds possible by allowing them to be traded in smaller denominations of US$1,000, which the company believes to be paving the way for many more investors to buy and sell bonds, making bond trading much faster, transparent, and at a lower cost.

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The process: Settlement on BBX is on a T+0 basis, that is within seconds instead of the normal two-day settlement cycle, thereby reducing counterparty settlement risks for investors. Investors around the world can trade on BBX via web and mobile devices by opening an account with their banks, wealth managers, family offices or robo-advisors, subject to individual country restrictions on bond trading.

In Singapore, BBX is open to accredited and institutional investors. The ability to trade bonds in smaller denominations means that investors can build a diversified portfolio without a hefty outlay.

BBX will charge a flat fee of US$2 per trade, irrespective of size and a platform fee of 20 basis points annually, while its partners can opt to charge a commission for each transaction.

BondEvalue operates from offices in Singapore and India, and recently expanded to Mexico with the appointment of Jaime Zenizo as the CEO of BondEvalue Mexico.

Shippit expands to Singapore, partners with SingPost

The story: Today, Australian logistics technology company Shippit announced a partnership with e-commerce courier service Singapore Post (SingPost) as a part of its expansion to Singapore.

Shippit officially launched in Singapore on 14 July to serve as the startup’s regional headquarters. It plans to expand into Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia in the near future.

The deal: The company plans to scale by providing users with instant access to more delivery options — including packages to be delivered directly to Pick Own Parcel Station (POPStations) and letterboxes — a service typically reserved for larger companies.

As part of the deal, Shippit will also offer SingPost’s Speedpost Express Service to SMEs, alongside discounted, pre-negotiated rates for next day and economy delivery services.
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