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Ecosystem Roundup: Sea disbands venture unit | Binance, Nansen lay off employees

Sea Group disbands investment arm
The arm, Sea Capital, stopped new equity investing in 2022 with leadership moving on in May, while Sea itself is placing less priority on investing given market conditions.

SG-based Trirec taps Thai energy firm to launch cleantech fund
The new fund, called Energy Ignition Ventures, has a minimum fundraising target of US$100 million for its first vehicle; It will look for companies tackling greenhouse gas issues in the agri, mobility, buildings, and energy sectors.

SG blockchain intelligence firm Nansen lays off 30% of staff
Nansen was touted as the “Bloomberg for digital assets,” helping crypto investors make informed decisions through its intelligence platform; Companies like OpenSea, Polygon, and Google currently use its platform.

Binance conducts layoffs amid crypto market downturn
The layoffs come during a downturn in the overall cryptocurrency market and after a period of rapid expansion for Binance, which has sprawling global operations.

Stockbit, Fullerton jointly acquire asset management firm Ayers Asia
Stockbit, Fullerton, and Ayers will collaborate to develop quality investment solutions for a broad spectrum of investors across retail, intermediaries and institutions in Indonesia.

Ringkas raises US$3.5M to digitalise mortgage process in Indonesia
The lead investors are East Ventures and Crestone Venture Capital; Ringkas will use the fresh funds to advance and scale its platform across multiple cities in Indonesia and the secondary market.

India ranks 5th in countries with most AI investments
In 2022, the total investments in AI startups in India was US$3.24B, which puts it ahead of the likes of South Korea, Germany, Canada and Australia; Countries that are ahead of India in the list include the US, China, the UK and Israel.

Sequoia India leads US$5.7M round for climate tech startup Newtrace
Newtrace is developing a new type of electrolyzer, which is used to create green hydrogen from renewable electricity; It says its electrolyzers have lower costs and higher efficiency than what is commonly used in the market.

SG’s workforce management platform Hybr1d nets US$3.2M
The investors are Global Founders Capital, MS&AD, 468 Capital, and 1982 Ventures; Hybr1d enables businesses to streamline their IT and HR processes, ranging from onboarding, procurement, and managing devices globally to leave and attendance management.

Apar Technologies invests in Singaporean data analytics firm BigTapp
BigTapp empowers businesses to transform data into actionable insights, driving better decision-making and improved business outcomes; It will enable Apar to achieve its strategic growth objective of doubling its customers within three years.

Amili gets East Ventures backing to expand into Indonesia
Amili provides gut microbiome sequencing services, aiding healthcare professionals in improving patient care and developing probiotic formulations tailored specifically for Asian consumers.

Social networking platform WeGoWhere bags US$1.2M
The investors are 500 Global, Goodwater Capital, Peng T. Ong, and Antler; The app helps users find out what friends are planning ahead of time, discover nearby meetups, and allow them to organise in-person gatherings.

Crypto.com receives license to offer digital token services in SG
With this license, the crypto exchange can continue to extend its digital payment token services to customers in Singapore; Other notable licensed players include Coinhako and DTC.

MPFunds secures US$1.1M to expand its funded trader programme in Asia
The fresh funds will be used by MPFunds to expand into the wider Asia Pacific region and scale up the platform to cater to a diverse and rapidly-growing audience.

Ant Group expands Alipay+ integrations in Thailand
By adding support for the e-wallets, Ant Group aims to help more Asian tourists have a smooth travel experience in Thailand, as it’s a popular travel destination.

SDTA revamps venture building programme for deep-tech startups in SG
The nine-month programme will be segmented by new venture tracks, mentorship from SDTA’s senior advisory board, and access to the market through key Alliance Partners.

Communication workshop for TOP100 Semi-Finalists at Echelon Asia Summit 2023
This interactive workshop for TOP100 Semi-Finalists will provide insights to help startups navigate the complex media landscape in SEA.

Echelon: Exploring the future of fintech in Southeast Asia
Learn all about how fintech has reshaped financial services in Southeast Asia at this year’s Echelon Asia Summit — straight from the experts!

‘Lack of the right team could break your business’
FreshToHome Founder and COO Joseph recounts his roller-coaster ride and how a good samaritan came to his rescue when he almost gave up.

The ownership is with the leadership to be honest and respectful
Each tech professional’s responsibility is to upskill themselves and remain relevant in the job market, says the KarmaV Co-Founder, Madhura Moulik.

Myth busters: Buy Now Pay Later edition
BNPL has grown in popularity because it offers additional flexibility at a time when many people are feeling financially insecure.

Greentech revolution: Catalysing software’s success to drive a sustainable future
The delivery models and enterprise-wide integration associated with the software must also mature and manifest for Greentech.

Empowering startup entrepreneurs: Harnessing benefits of Web3
While Web3 offers numerous benefits, it’s important to note that it is still an emerging field with its own set of challenges.

New research report: The nexus between elite university education and startup funding
Our research underscores the importance of postgraduate education from prestigious universities during the later stages of fundraising for startups.

Echelon Asia Summit 2023 brings together APAC’s leading startups, corporates, policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to Singapore this June 14-15. Learn more and get tickets here. Echelon also features the TOP100 stage, where startups can pitch to 5000+ delegates, among other benefits like connecting with investors, visibility through the platform, and other prizes. Join TOP100 here.

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