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Ecosystem Roundup: PropertyGuru acquired for US$1.1B | DCS Innov snaps up HolyWally

Dear reader,

The acquisition of PropertyGuru Group by EQT Private Capital Asia for US$1.1 billion marks a significant milestone in Southeast Asia’s proptech landscape.

With the deal unanimously approved by PropertyGuru’s board and backed by major shareholders TPG and Epsilon Asia, it signals confidence in its growth potential despite its lack of profitability.

The 10x revenue multiple reflects strong market validation, particularly in a region where such valuations are rare.

EQT’s track record in real estate, exemplified by its previous investment in Idealista, positions it well to drive further growth and value creation for PropertyGuru. The potential for a 3x return within five years indicates a positive outlook for the proptech sector in Southeast Asia, which is increasingly attracting global investment.

However, Halper Sadeh’s ongoing investigation raises concerns about whether the agreed sale price adequately reflects the company’s value. The law firm’s scrutiny could lead to demands for higher consideration or additional disclosures, ensuring that shareholders are treated fairly.

As the deal progresses, these legal challenges could impact its finalization and the future trajectory of PropertyGuru under EQT’s ownership.

Sainul,
Editor.

NEWS & VIEWS

EQT Private Capital Asia to acquire PropertyGuru for US$1.1B
Meanwhile, a US-based investor rights law firm said it is investigating whether the sale of PropertyGuru to EQT for US$6.70 per share is fair to its shareholders.

Singapore’s DCS Innov acquires wallet-as-a-service platform HolyWally
With the acquisition, DCS Innov will be able to bring its wallet apt InstaWally global and provide a revolutionary WaaS solution that allows companies to offer the same payment experience to their end users worldwide, all within a single app.

Animoca Brands subsidiary GAMEE receives investment from TON Ventures
GAMEE will further integrate TON-based digital assets, such as TON-powered tokens and NFTs, into GAMEE’s Telegram Mini App to enhance user engagement.

Nexus Ocean AI bags funding to eliminate ‘grunt work’ in maritime sector
The investor is London-based Tradeworks.vc; The Singaporean startup creates genAI personas, augmented by a Maritime Language Model, which interacts with knowledge graphs spanning the customer’s internal and external data silos, including mailboxes.

Cradle Fund, VentureTECH to provide comprehensive support system for Malaysian startups
This partnership is a key initiative under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation’s Fund Funnel program, which is designed to address the lack of continuous financial coverage from early-stage to later-stage funders.

Gogoro delays India plans due to policy uncertainty, launches bike-taxi pilot with Rapido
Taiwanese electric two-wheeler maker Gogoro is forced to wait for the finalisation of incentive schemes from the Indian government before ramping up its vehicle sales and battery pack production in the country.

Google is bringing AI overviews to India, Brazil, Japan, UK, Indonesia and Mexico
The search giant is rethinking how it displays source material links, as well; It’s adding a view on the upper right-hand side showing icons of sites above the AI overview on both desktop and mobile.

ByteGami gets Antler’s backing for its plug-and-play gamification platform
ByteGami provides app developers with a platform that eliminates the need for hefty upfront resources to develop gamified features from scratch.

Demand for AI is driving data centre water consumption sky-high
Microsoft, a major data centre operator, says 42% of the water it consumed in 2023 came from areas with water stress. Google said this year that 15% of its freshwater withdrawals came from areas with high water scarcity.

FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

‘Selling a startup in an ‘acqui-hie’ is more lucrative than it seems’
While traditional M&A deals often include retention bonuses for a management team, paid out 18 to 24 months post-acquisition, acqui-hires increasingly focus on incentives for the startup’s workforce.

Forget the rest: This is why you should build your startup in the Philippines
Compared to its SEA neighbours Singapore and Indonesia, the Philippines has some advantages that these markets could not offer.

AI in journalism: Thai media show a 95 per cent adaptation rate despite concerns about overreliance
A contrasting attitude was expressed by journalists in the Philippines with only 52 per cent have integrated AI into their work.

Echelon X: Jeremy Au and Ameer Jumabhoy explore utu’s strategies for sustaining growth in the travel industry
The Echelon X fireside chat underscored the importance of innovation, resilience, and customer-centric approaches in driving business growth.

Echelon X: Catherine Shu, Pei Sheng Goh, Rod Bristow, and Clare Leighton on synergies between Australia and SEA
The Echelon X panel provided valuable perspectives on the opportunities and challenges in bridging Australia and Southeast Asia.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Blockchain: Revolutionising global payment solutions and cross-border remittance
As blockchain technology continues to mature, it will play an increasingly pivotal role in creating a more efficient, accessible, and secure global financial ecosystem.

Navigating the AI maze in Malaysia’s martech: Striking a balance between efficiency and ethics
As AI continues to penetrate different industries, it has never been more urgent to raise awareness and ensure that AI is properly implemented.

Why does cybersecurity training for employees in Malaysia matter and how to go about it?
As Malaysian businesses navigate the complexities of an increasingly advanced landscape, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Need of the hour: How agritech platforms can protect farmers from climate change
Using crop protection products and digital tools, we can empower farmers to overcome climate change and safeguard food security.

How to grow a global audience by leveraging social media
Social media has revolutionised the way people interact, a solid social media following will build loyalty and create a lot of buying power.

The data revolution: Innovation and evolution in APAC’s hospitality industry
Technology is enhancing the hospitality industry’s ability to deliver meaningful experiences that people remember and recommend.

Why community building has replaced lean startup approach to lurk investors?
Ultimately, considering the shift in purchase decision dynamics, companies can sell better with an engaged community.

The age of the super farmer: How technology is enabling the average farmer
By embracing innovative technologies to meet the growing global demand for food, we can make a difference for farmers.

After QRIS, what is next for the Indonesian e-payment ecosystem?
Like in many markets, the pandemic had catapulted the use of e-payment services in Indonesia. But what is next?

Eyeing a Slice of the fast-growing influencer economy in Indonesia
Slice is betting big on the next generation of entrepreneurs who use the audience they built through their content to launch their own businesses.

Fore Coffee sharpens business strategy to achieve profitability
Fore Coffee repositions its brand as a trendy, affordable beverage brand that is adored by Indonesian customers.

How the API economy has sparked innovation during the pandemic in Indonesia
Having been in Indonesia’s fintech startup scene since the early 2010s, I have witnessed firsthand the country’s rapid digital transformation.

Digital detox: A vacation idea for unplugging your life
A digital detox offers a unique opportunity to recalibrate your relationship with both the physical world and the digital realm.

Cakap paves the way for sustainable growth by empowering lifelong learning in Indonesia
Cakap CFO Jonathan Dharmasoeka explains how Indonesian edutech startup Cakap experiences robust growth, doubling revenue YoY.

From a single brew to unicorn: Kopi Kenangan’s journey of coffee and creativity
Kopi Kenangan is now in the early stage of exploring the use of AI for picking locations for new store openings.

There is talent shortage in the e-motorcycle space in SEA: ION Mobility CEO
Indonesia’s e-scooter market is not picking up as there are few appealing offerings for riders to make a switch, says ION Mobility’s James Chan.

We want to be the ‘validation check’ for growth-stage companies in SEA: TNB Aura
In their investment philosophy, TNB Aura is taking a top-down approach when it comes to assessing a potential investment.

Indonesia may have a bright future in Web3 space, but some homeworks remain
Indonesia has all the elements of a supportive Web3 ecosystem with a close-knit community to forward-looking initiatives.

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