Singapore’s container haulage platform Haulio raises pre-series A
Investors: Supply Chain Angels (lead), B7 Capital, GHS Ventures, Guava Capital, iSeed SEA, Iterative, PSA unboXed.
What the funds will be used for: Expansion across Southeast Asian markets within the next three years.
About Haulage: Founded in 2017, Haulage aims to digitise port logistics for companies, clients and drivers. It works by bringing hauliers and shippers into one single platform to better streamline fleet management and trucking services.
The firm claims to have moved over two million tonnes of cargo since launching its portal in May 2017, averaging 300 containers a day.
Batumbu receives digital lending licence in Indonesia
The story: Batumbu, a subsidiary of Validus, has received approval from the Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) to operate as a licensed digital financing platform.
About Batumbu: Founded in 2019, Batumbu offers short-term financing solutions for SME entrepreneurs. The company claims to have disbursed over US$153 million to MSMEs since starting its operations, recording close to 650 per cent annual growth in 2020.
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So far Validus has regulatory approvals in Singapore (Validus Capital) and Thailand (Siam Validus).
Ouch! bags US$364K seed funding for its insurance platform
Investors: Vynn Capital, Temokin, undisclosed angel investors.
What the funds will be used for: Product and business development.
About the startup: Ouch! is a mobile app for users to purchase, manage and learn about digital insurance products.
More about the story: The company is slated to revamp its app in April and has plans to introduce “something big in the future”. It also intends to raise more funding later in 2021.
74% of Singaporeans are shopping online after COVID-19: Visa study
The story: According to the study, 71 per cent of respondents are using home delivery services more habitually, while 25 per cent have started using home delivery for the first time.
67 per cent of Singaporeans have also reduced spending on international travel, out-of-home entertainment (63 per cent), luxury items (59 per cent), and fine-dining (57 per cent).
How the data was compiled: Survey conducted on 1,000 Singaporeans aged between 18 and 65.
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Image Credit: Nilantha Ilangamuwa
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