Working at a small, mission-driven company has given me perspective on what I actually want from my career. There’s no free lunch, no ping pong tables, and no equity that might make me rich. But there’s also no bureaucracy slowing down good ideas, no projects that get cancelled after months of work, and no feeling that my contributions are just a drop in an ocean.

When I fix a bug or launch a feature, I can see its immediate impact. When someone successfully completes a purchase using our platform, or when a tool we built helps someone take the next step, I know my code played a part in that moment. That direct connection between effort and outcome has been incredibly motivating.

Constraints have also made me more resourceful. When you can’t just spin up another service or hire a specialist, you learn to find creative solutions. It’s pushed me to become a more thoughtful architect and a more efficient developer.

Also Read: Transition climate risk: Navigating the future of sustainable real estate

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Singapore’s decision to mandate AI literacy for all public servants marks a critical inflexion point in the region’s approach to technology and governance. This is not simply a workforce training exercise. It is a structural bet on the idea that artificial intelligence will underpin the functioning of government, regulation, and citizen services in the decade ahead.

A structural shift, not a symbolic move

Most economies are still debating “responsible AI use,” drafting frameworks and guidelines that often remain disconnected from frontline adoption. Singapore has taken a different path: embedding literacy at the very heart of its bureaucracy. This is important for three reasons:

• Trust: Citizens expect governments to use technology responsibly. Training officials directly reduces the risk of blind adoption and builds credibility when policies are enforced.
• Competitiveness: For a nation positioning itself as a Tech, financial and innovation hub, literacy within the civil service ensures the regulatory environment keeps pace with private-sector deployment.
• Cultural adoption: Once public servants are equipped, the ripple effect extends into education, enterprise, and society.

AI literacy, in this sense, is not about mastering tools. It is about building a new language of governance.

The global context

Elsewhere, progress has been uneven. In the United States and Europe, regulatory conversations are advanced but implementation at the civil-service level is limited. In Asia, adoption is often driven by the private sector with government struggling to keep up. Singapore’s initiative bridges this gap, setting a precedent for aligning governance capability with technological acceleration.

This also positions Singapore strategically. By training its civil service at scale, it is not only protecting its own institutions from misuse of AI but also signalling to international investors and partners that it intends to be a safe, well-regulated hub for AI innovation.

Also Read: Singapore tops global AI hiring charts: One in six jobs now reference AI

Lessons for business leaders

There are clear implications for the private sector.

• First, if governments are prioritising AI literacy, businesses cannot afford to delay. Every organisation — from financial services to healthcare — should already be considering how to embed literacy into their culture.
• Second, AI adoption cannot be viewed purely through the lens of productivity. Its true value lies in decision quality: better forecasts, reduced blind spots, faster responses.
• Finally, speed and safeguards must advance together. Singapore’s approach illustrates that rapid adoption need not equate to reckless adoption.

A playbook for the future

This is not simply a Singapore story. In three to five years, AI literacy will be seen as a baseline skill — as fundamental as Excel was to the last generation of knowledge workers. The difference is that AI introduces new layers of complexity: ethics, security, and systemic risk.

For leaders, the message is clear: if governments are moving to make AI literacy mandatory, what justification remains for the private sector to treat it as optional?

The coming decade will not reward those who adopt AI tools superficially. It will reward those who understand them deeply, apply them responsibly, and integrate them into the way decisions are made.

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As the United States inches closer to a federal government shutdown, with no resolution in sight after talks between congressional leaders and President Donald Trump ended without progress on Monday, investors are navigating a complex web of signals.

Wall Street stays resilient amid shutdown fears

Despite the looming administrative paralysis, Wall Street closed higher on Tuesday, extending its winning streak into a second consecutive quarter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2 per cent, the S&P 500 gained 0.4 per cent, and the Nasdaq added 0.3 per cent.

This resilience suggests that market participants either believe the shutdown will be short-lived or have already priced in its limited economic impact, given that past shutdowns have rarely derailed broader market trends for long.

Treasury yields and gold signal investor anxiety

Beneath the surface, subtle shifts in asset prices reveal deeper unease. US Treasury yields moved in opposite directions, reflecting a classic flight-to-quality dynamic mixed with short-term policy uncertainty. The 10-year yield inched up by one basis point to 4.148 per cent, while the 2-year yield fell by two basis points to 3.612 per cent.

This flattening of the yield curve often signals that investors expect near-term economic disruptions, such as a government shutdown, to weigh on growth, even if longer-term inflation or fiscal concerns remain elevated. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index declined 0.1 per cent to 97.8, indicating a modest retreat in safe-haven demand for the greenback.

In contrast, gold surged 0.6 per cent to a record high of US$3,858.18 per ounce, underscoring its enduring role as a hedge against political and institutional instability. The precious metal’s ascent to unprecedented levels speaks volumes about the depth of investor anxiety, even as equities hold firm.

Also Read: The new market symbiosis: How Fed easing, AI, and crypto ETFs are lifting equities

Oil and Asian markets reflect fragile demand

Commodities tell a different story. Brent crude oil dropped 1.4 per cent to US$67 per barrel, pressured by expectations that OPEC+ may accelerate its planned output increases in the coming months. This potential supply boost comes at a time when global demand outlooks remain fragile, particularly with China, the world’s largest oil importer, entering its week-long National Day holiday.

Asian equities reflected this caution, trading mixed on Tuesday and lower in early sessions on Wednesday, with mainland China and Hong Kong markets shuttered for the festivities. The absence of Chinese participation in regional trading has amplified volatility and reduced liquidity, leaving other markets more exposed to external shocks, including developments in Washington and shifts in US monetary policy expectations.

Crypto faces a risk-off correction

The crypto market declined 0.51 per cent over the past 24 hours, aligning with the broader theme of risk-off behaviour and profit-taking following recent rallies. Two distinct forces are shaping this correction: regulatory evolution and the dynamics of the derivatives market.

On the regulatory front, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued new guidance allowing state-chartered trust companies, such as those operated by Coinbase, to act as custodians for investment advisers managing crypto assets.

At first glance, this appears to be a significant step toward institutional legitimacy. Long-term, it could pave the way for greater participation from traditional finance players who have long cited custody as a primary barrier to entry.

However, the guidance comes with stringent requirements, including mandatory annual audits and strict asset segregation protocols. These conditions have sparked operational concerns among crypto firms, many of which now face the prospect of higher compliance costs and structural overhauls.

As a result, the short-term market reaction has been one of caution rather than celebration. The progress is real, but the path to implementation remains uncertain, and the industry is watching closely for follow-up rule-making and clarity on adoption timelines from major platforms.

Also Read: The Fed’s first rate cut: What it means for equities, risk, and crypto

Simultaneously, the derivatives market is flashing warning signs. Perpetual futures open interest, a key gauge of leveraged positioning, fell by 5.48 per cent even as trading volume surged by 16.78 per cent. This divergence suggests that traders are actively unwinding leveraged long positions rather than initiating new ones. Compounding the pressure, average funding rates spiked to 0.0068, a staggering 354 per cent increase over 24 hours.

In perpetual futures markets, funding rates represent the cost of maintaining leveraged positions; when they turn sharply positive, it often indicates excessive bullish sentiment that becomes unsustainable. The recent surge suggests that longs were willing to pay a premium to stay in the market, creating a fragile equilibrium that ultimately collapsed under the weight of profit-taking and margin calls.

Notably, US$50 million in liquidations hit the XPL token alone, highlighting how concentrated leverage in smaller altcoins can amplify broader market selloffs. Historically, such spikes in funding rates precede heightened volatility, and if rates turn persistently negative, it could signal a deeper bearish shift as shorts dominate the market.

The current dip in crypto prices thus reflects a tug-of-war between structural progress and cyclical risk reduction. On one side, regulatory clarity around custody could eventually unlock billions in institutional capital, particularly if traditional asset managers gain confidence in secure, compliant infrastructure.

On the other hand, traders are aggressively trimming exposure in anticipation of near-term headwinds not just from potential SEC enforcement actions but also from macro crosscurrents like the US government shutdown and shifting Treasury dynamics.

This tension is further exacerbated by outflows from crypto ETFs, which have seen US$418 million exit Bitcoin funds and US$248 million leave Ethereum products recently. These outflows suggest that even regulated vehicles are not immune to sentiment swings, and that spot market demand may be insufficient to absorb the selling pressure from leveraged traders and cautious institutions alike.

Also Read: Dow, Nasdaq, and crypto all slip as treasury yields climb on delayed cut bets

The weeks ahead

Looking ahead, the critical support level for Bitcoin sits at US$113,000. A decisive break below this threshold could trigger further technical selling, especially if derivatives markets remain unstable.

Conversely, holding above this level might attract bargain hunters, particularly if the SEC’s custody framework begins to translate into tangible institutional inflows. Altcoins like Aster and Hyperbot face additional challenges due to supply-side constraints, which could either cushion their downside or exacerbate volatility depending on market liquidity.

Ultimately, the next few weeks will test whether the cryptocurrency market can decouple from macroeconomic noise and regulatory ambiguity, or whether it remains tethered to the same risk calculus that governs traditional assets. For now, prudence prevails, and the record highs in gold alongside muted equity gains suggest that even in a world of rising asset prices, uncertainty remains the dominant currency.

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Japanese gaming giant Nintendo has established a new local entity in Singapore to accelerate its business within Southeast Asia.

Nintendo Singapore is a wholly-owned subsidiary, with the parent holding a 100 per cent capital contribution ratio.

The new operation has been capitalised with SGD 8 million (US$6.2 million).

Also Read: Gaming as the next social network: How Gen Z and Gen Alpha are redefining digital belonging

Takahiro Miura has been appointed as the Managing Director of the new entity.

In addition to the immediate establishment of the Singapore base, Nintendo, led by President and Representative Director Shuntaro Furukawa, is also “considering establishing a local entity in the Kingdom of Thailand”. This potential move aligns with the overall strategy to accelerate the company’s business presence across the region.

Nintendo is a multinational video game and consumer electronics company headquartered in Kyoto. Founded in 1889 as a playing card manufacturer, Nintendo has evolved into one of the most influential companies in the video game industry. It is renowned for hardware and software innovations and for creating some of the world’s most iconic gaming franchises.

Also Read: Gaming in SEA: Understanding the growing opportunity for SMEs and payment providers

Nintendo is home to some of the most beloved and profitable franchises in entertainment history Mario (Super Mario Bros., Mario Kart, etc.), The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon (in partnership with The Pokémon Company), Donkey Kong, Metroid, Animal Crossing, and Super Smash Bros.

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I am unapologetically pro-AI and pro-automation. Not because they’re buzzwords, but because I’ve lived what they unlock. With the right systems and AI twins in place, I run multiple ventures lean, move faster than bigger teams, and focus my energy where it matters most: Growth.

But there’s a caveat. Automation is leverage — it multiplies what you already have. Multiply zero by anything and you still get zero. Multiply revenue and relationships, and you get scale. The art is knowing what to automate now, what to automate later, and what to keep human.

Adoption is here, but the gap is widening

Globally, AI has crossed the tipping point: 78 per cent of organisations now use it in at least one business function (McKinsey, 2025). This isn’t trial and error anymore — it’s mainstream.

Singapore tells an interesting story. Larger enterprises report 44 per cent AI adoption, while SMEs lag at just 4.2 per cent. The top SME reason for holding back? “No need at current scale.” It’s not resistance; it’s timing. When workflows aren’t yet repeatable, automation feels like over-engineering.

Yet leaders are bullish: 87 per cent of Singapore’s C-suite executives rank generative AI among their top three business priorities. And workers see what’s coming — 64 per cent expect their tasks to be automated or augmented within five years. The message is clear: AI isn’t optional, but its adoption curve isn’t even. Some founders will surge ahead; others will wait too long.

Automate → augment → amplify

Here’s how I think about building AI-first companies:

• Automate survival work: Repetitive, rule-based tasks like lead capture, confirmations, and basic reporting.
• Augment decisions: Train an AI twin to mirror your tone and SOPs, helping with briefs, prioritisation, and routing.
• Amplify the human layer: Reinvest saved time into sales, partnerships, creativity — the things that compound.

This order matters. In one large-scale experiment, giving workers AI assistance raised productivity by ~15 per cent on average, especially for junior staff. But those gains showed up only where structured workflows existed. AI multiplies workflows, not chaos.

Also Read: Policy warning: Without intervention, AI could deepen the digital divide

The revenue-first lens

Here’s my rule: Revenue drives the system, not the other way around.

• If you have customers and repetitive tasks → automate.
• If you have no inflow → focus on outreach first.
• If you’re caught in between → experiment manually, then scale what sticks.

I’ve seen founders proudly demo elaborate automations — while struggling to land their first ten paying clients. That’s a distraction. On the other hand, I’ve also seen lean teams using AI twins to triple their qualified outreach without hiring headcount. That’s leverage.

In my own community, I sometimes challenge students: “How many customers do you have?” When the answer is zero, automating a half-imagined platform isn’t a strategy — it’s procrastination.

Outreach before optimisation

Your first stack should bias toward bringing in revenue. A simple CRM, WhatsApp or email sequences, a booking tool, and analytics are often enough. AI twins and agents shine once the volume builds — when you’re drowning in DMs, juggling multiple funnels, or qualifying leads at scale.

That’s when automation saves you hours and stops revenue from slipping through the cracks.

For lean founders, tools like Sintra’s “AI employees” make the twin concept tangible. You can spin up an AI helper for support, email, or analytics in minutes. But they only deliver when connected to real, active workflows. Otherwise, you’re just paying for idle software.

Guardrails for smart adoption

Being pro-AI doesn’t mean automating everything blindly. Some tasks require nuance and should stay human.

For example, I sometimes use my AI twin, Seraphina, to help me draft a sensitive reply. But I wouldn’t fully automate that exchange. Contrast that with hundreds of social comments or event DMs — there, automation plus AI makes perfect sense.

The rule is simple: Automate where scale creates friction, keep it human where nuance drives trust.

Also Read: AI-powered marketing: How to generate leads, nurture customers, and close deals on autopilot

Why this matters now

Singapore’s digital economy already contributes nearly 18 per cent of GDP, and infrastructure is scaling fast. Keppel, for instance, is more than doubling its data-centre capacity to handle the AI workloads of tomorrow. Similar investments are happening across Asia and beyond.

This isn’t just infrastructure; it’s a signal. The cost of not using AI will soon outweigh the cost of adopting it.

That’s why events like Flux Series 2025 are so important. The conversation has shifted. It’s no longer “should we use AI?” but “how do we redesign our companies around it?” My view is simple: The winners will be those who treat AI twins and agents not as add-ons, but as the foundation of how lean teams operate.

Closing thought

I believe in AI because it has given me back time for relationships, creativity, and growth. It extends me, not replaces me.

For founders, the lesson is clear:

• Automate with purpose.
• Augment with AI twins.
• Amplify the human edge.

Automation is not about doing less. It’s about doing more of what matters. And the sooner we embrace that mindset, the sooner we build companies that are not just bigger, but smarter.

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With technology cycles accelerating faster than ever, the next wave of innovation will not just be defined by what’s new, but by how seamlessly it integrates into our lives. This October, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is set to highlight this future through two flagship events: the Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia, running 13–16 October 2025 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The two fairs are expected to feature more than 3,200 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions.

Now in its 45th edition, the Electronics Fair will bring together global exhibitors and buyers to explore how AI, robotics, digital entertainment, and the silver economy are shaping industries and societies. Visitors will also find well-known brands in the Hall of Fame and discover up-and-coming names in the new RISE Avenue. Another brand new zone the Adventure Hub will provide immersive experience in gaming accessories, and interactive entertainment combine AI, AR and VR.

Register for free entry here.

AI, robotics, and the new frontiers of automation

Among the most anticipated highlights is the dedicated RoboPark, where service robots, industrial bots, and consumer-facing machines will be on display. There will be over 30 sharing sessions with speakers from leading robotics companies including Booster Robotics and Unitree Robotics. Exhibitors such as Ti5robot and PADBOT exemplify how robotics is no longer limited to factories or research labs, but is becoming part of everyday life. From healthcare assistance to logistics, these demonstrations will offer a glimpse into how automation can reshape business models and customer experiences.

The emphasis on AI-driven robotics signals a broader shift in Asia’s innovation agenda. Beyond the novelty of robots, the conversations are increasingly about integration: how robotics can collaborate with humans, augment productivity, and scale sustainably across industries. For startups and investors alike, this is not just a product showcase but a chance to understand where robotics is heading in both consumer and enterprise contexts. The new Hong Kong Tech Showcase has been added to this year’s exhibition area to present high-quality innovation and technology products from local tech companies to global buyers.

Entertainment and lifestyle innovation on display

The fair also places digital entertainment at the heart of its program. Visitors will find immersive VR sports, gaming experiences, and travel gadgets that highlight how leisure technology is blending with mobility and lifestyle. The new Adventure Hub takes this one step further, offering interactive metaverse journeys and outdoor entertainment solutions designed to push the boundaries of engagement.

What makes this significant is the shift from entertainment as a passive activity to one that is participatory and experiential. These technologies are not only redefining consumer expectations, they are also opening up fresh opportunities for startups working at the intersection of gaming, tourism, and wellness. By situating entertainment within broader lifestyle contexts, the fair reflects how digital innovation is extending far beyond traditional industry silos.

Also read: Innovation on display: Discover the tech shaping Asia’s future at Hong Kong’s leading fairs

Building inclusive futures through the silver economy and IoT

Another strong theme is the silver economy, with fitness and health technologies designed for ageing populations. Asia’s demographics are changing rapidly, and the need for elder-friendly innovation is becoming critical. By spotlighting solutions that promote active, healthy living for seniors, the fair acknowledges that designing for inclusivity is now a competitive advantage as well as a social imperative.

These innovations connect directly to the broader IoT and smart living landscape presented in the Tech Hall, where solutions for connected homes, cities, and healthcare ecosystems will be showcased. Alongside product displays, the symposium and startup showcases will bring together founders, investors, and corporate leaders to explore how demographic shifts, connectivity, and frontier technologies converge.

Also read: Multilingual conversations decoded: Fano’s vision for communication clarity

Why this matters for Asia’s innovation economy

In 2024, the fairs drew over 60,000 industry buyers from 136 countries and regions, underscoring their role as one of the largest gathering points for the electronics and technology community.

The 2025 edition expands this momentum with fresh features like the RoboPark, featuring over 30 sessions with speakers from leading robotics companies, and RISE Avenue, spotlighting rising innovators in robotics and entertainment. Together, they offer startups a stage to showcase ideas, corporates a window into emerging trends, and investors a direct link to the next generation of growth opportunities.

Register for free entry here.

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The latest Tracxn data underscores a defining moment for Southeast Asia’s technology ecosystem. With total funding slipping to US$2.6 billion in the first nine months of 2025, the market is experiencing its sharpest bifurcation yet (In H1, funding plummeted by 20.7 per cent year-on-year to US$1.85, marking the weakest period in terms of both deal volume and value in over six years).

On one hand, early-stage activity–the bedrock of innovation–has collapsed. Seed and Series A/B funding plummeted by over 70 per cent, leaving fewer than 60 startups able to raise their first institutional capital. This erosion of the pipeline poses long-term risks, stifling the next generation of regional disruptors.

On the other hand, late-stage resilience paints a very different picture. A handful of giants, overwhelmingly anchored in Singapore, continue to attract mega-rounds. Enterprise infrastructure and applications are fast becoming the sectors of choice, while fintech, once SEA’s golden child, has sharply receded.

The exit landscape reflects this duality: IPOs are rebounding strongly, but acquisitions have lost momentum, and unicorn creation has nearly stalled.

What emerges is a funding environment driven by a “flight to quality”, where proven, mission-critical companies absorb outsized capital, while early innovation is left in the cold. The challenge ahead is clear: without replenishing the seed and early-stage base, Southeast Asia risks narrowing its innovation horizon.

REGIONAL

Fintech rebound: Singapore bags US$1.04B, outpaces global peers
This significant influx marks the highest investment quantum seen in the city-state since the first half of 2023, when investments reached US$1.59 billion across 125 deals | Crucially, Singapore’s deal values increased by approximately 87 per cent year-on-year compared to H1 2024 and rose by 28 per cent from H2 2024.

Southeast Asian digital bank Yup raises US$32M Series C1
The investors are Moore Strategic Ventures, and Spice Expeditions | The company will use the funds to expand its customer base and enhance its digital banking offerings for underbanked and underserved segments in the region | Yup currently serves millions of credit card holders and aims to reach break-even by the end of 2025.

Ex-Investree CEO arrested after being on the run
Adrian Gunadi is accused of raising at least US$161.4M from the public without market regulator OJK’s approval between January 2022 and March 2024, using two legal entities under Investree’s name | Authorities say some of the funds were used for personal benefit.

SG hospitality firm Zuzu raises US$5.9M Series B extension
Investors include Wavemaker Growth, Vulpes Ventures, Velocity Ventures, and Latin Leap | The company operates RevMate, an AI-powered revenue management platform that uses data from over 3,000 independent hotels | The new funding will help scale RevMate’s adoption among independent hotels across Asia.

Singapore’s iSense taps DNAKE partnership for global smart city expansion
iSense, which has active initiatives progressing in the Philippines and Vietnam, will further expand into Indonesia, Australia, Europe, and the US | The Southeast Asian smart city market is projected to triple in valuation from US$49B in 2024 to US$145.8B by 2033.

OKX SG debuts stablecoin payments at local GrabPay merchants
OKX SG partnered with StraitsX and Grab for the rollout | The service lets users pay for daily purchases at GrabPay merchant locations using stablecoins USDT or USDC, with transactions converted to the StraitsX-issued XSGD stablecoin and settled in Singapore dollars.

Singapore Management University debuts tech accelerator for startups
Urban SustaInnovator (USI) is a 12-month, zero-equity, non-residential programme open to startups worldwide and backed by a consortium of public and private partners, including A*STAR, Antler, and ST Engineering.

Backing bold ideas: Singapore Polytechnic funds 16 student ventures
The funding injection follows an event in which more than 300 students across eight Singapore Polytechnic schools formed trans-disciplinary teams to develop commercially viable solutions to real-world issues, including senior care, social connection, and sustainability.

REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

IPO surge, unicorn scarcity: The new face of SEA’s funding landscape
The US$2.6B total funding pool for 9M 2025 was sustained by fewer deals overall, reflecting a broader tightening of investment criteria | The total number of funding rounds dropped by 62 per cent, landing at 168 compared to 443 in 9M 2024 | The impact was most acutely felt by nascent startups and those attempting to scale early on.

Policy warning: Without intervention, AI could deepen the digital divide
Policymakers face the immediate challenge of ensuring the benefits of AI do not only accrue to already-rich economies, and must address the risk of deepening digital divides.

Enterprise AI adoption: Context, not cost, defines deployment
A Claude study suggests that deploying AI for complex tasks might be constrained more by access to appropriate, readily available information than by underlying model capabilities.

INTERNATIONAL

OpenAI’s H1 2025: US$4.3B in income, US$13.5B in loss
R&D expenses were its largest cost, totalling US$6.7B in the first half | OpenAI also spent US$2B on sales and ad—nearly double what it spent in all of 2024—and about US$2.5B on stock-based compensation, nearly double the amount from the first half of last year.

US-based Velocitor acquires NextBillion.ai, Microsoft exits
NextBillion.ai, which develops routing, dispatch, and mapping APIs for logistics and delivery businesses, had previously raised over US$32M million from backers such as Microsoft, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Alpha Wave Global.

S Korea telco firm, Microsoft team up on GPT-4o-based AI
SOTA K, an AI model based on GPT-4o and tailored for the Korean language, is designed to handle Korean nuances, including honorifics, dialects, and terminology across law, finance, and history.

India’s Together Fund launches platform to back early AI startups
The Bengaluru- and US-based venture capital firm said SwarmSpace combines a community, a 12-week AI studio, and a research lab, offering selected startups up to US$1 million in funding and US$600,000 in partner credits.

AI recruiter Alex raises US$17M to automate initial job interviews
The startup’s voice AI tool can conduct autonomous interviews with applicants soon after they apply for a job | Its AI recruiter does thousands of interviews a day.

Entrepreneur Charlie Javice gets over seven years for JP Morgan fraud
The founder of the college financial aid startup Frank was convicted in March on all four counts she faced: bank fraud, securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy. Javice was found guilty of exaggerating the company’s customer numbers before JP Morgan acquired it for US$175M in 2021.

Alibaba in talks to buy Hong Kong office for US$900M: sources
Alibaba and its affiliates, which currently lease 10 floors at Times Square in Causeway Bay, will see their tenancy end in 2028 | The potential purchase comes as Hong Kong’s office vacancy rate nears a record high, with commercial property values dropping and vacancies reaching about 17 per cent.

SEMICONDUCTOR

Nvidia CEO: US-China tech rivalry could benefit both sides
Nvidia’s sales to China, a key market, have been disrupted by US export restrictions, though some shipments resumed after new levies were agreed | Nvidia’s shares have surged 62 per cent in the past six months, with its market cap reaching US$4.3T.

Samsung backs S Korean AI chip maker Rebellions’s round at US$1.4B valuation
Other backers are Arm Holdings, Lion X Ventures, Korea Development Bank, and Korelya Capital | Rebellions is raising funds to scale up mass production of its chips and advance product development | It is among several firms working to build AI infrastructure globally.

Huawei to double AI chip production in 2025
Huawei targets to produce 600,000 units of its flagship 910C Ascend AI chips in 2025 | The company will also raise total output of its Ascend line to as many as 1.6 million dies in 2026 | Huawei partners with Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. to produce the chips.

Trump reportedly mulls chip tariffs on foreign electronics
The Commerce Department would set tariffs as a percentage of a device’s chip content value, aiming to push companies to manufacture in the US | White House spokesperson Kush Desai said the US should not rely on foreign-made chips, citing national and economic security.

AI

AI in Southeast Asia: The silent force powering today and the engine for tomorrow’s growth
While discussions about the future of AI often conjure images of autonomous robots or complex algorithms, the reality is that its most profound impact is already woven into our daily lives | Much like electricity became an invisible utility, AI has transitioned from a niche technology to an indispensable part of our digital infrastructure.

The unspoken truth about AI in Southeast Asia: It’s not the robot, it’s the raw material
In the world of AI, the data is the raw ingredient | And for all the chatter about the transformative power of AI, especially in a diverse and dynamic region like Southeast Asia, we haven’t spent nearly enough time talking about the messy, complex, and often overlooked state of our data.

AI-powered marketing: How to generate leads, nurture customers, and close deals on autopilot
Automation has long been a part of marketing, but the integration of AI has elevated it to the next level | We’ve moved beyond just content generation and image editing to creating meaningful value in a company’s operations.

AI in Southeast Asia: The silent force powering today and the engine for tomorrow’s growth
While discussions about the future of AI often conjure images of autonomous robots or complex algorithms, the reality is that its most profound impact is already woven into our daily lives | Much like electricity became an invisible utility, AI has transitioned from a niche technology to an indispensable part of our digital infrastructure.

How AI agents will transform financial services
As AI agents become more capable, they will be able to conduct transactions and complex processes without the need for human intervention | However, it is important to put the right safeguards in place to ensure the right levels of accountability when it comes to AI decision making.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

How Malaysian SMEs are using AI to save time, money, and stress
In Malaysia, AI for SMEs isn’t about futuristic factories or robots; it’s about taking the repetitive, time-consuming work that usually frustrates small teams and turning it into something simple, faster, and less stressful—so they can focus on growing the business instead of being stuck with admin tasks.

The great divide: How Southeast Asian SMEs are bridging the AI gap between survival and success
For many SMEs across Southeast Asia, the rise of live shopping presents both an opportunity and a barrier | Traditional livestreaming requires studio rental, merchandise samples, and human hosts—costs that can quickly overwhelm small business budgets.

From ChatGPT to Copilot: The security blind spot everyone misses
Some organisations have already moved to block risky AI use | Because they recognised that what feels like an innocent productivity hack could lead to intellectual property leaks, compliance violations, or even open the door to cyberattacks.

The future of food: Tech-enabled, hyper-personalised, and sustainable
Tech will be a key enabler to achieving such food security, wellness, and sustainability goals across Asia and worldwide | Investment and innovation will advance and harness tech to shape the future of food, transforming options for food production, accessing nutrition, and how food consumption is shaped and experienced.

How to unlock possibilities through data privacy enhancing technologies
We see the possibilities of data exchange across industries such as manufacturing, where external data sources on weather and other factors can allow a full view of supply chain issues to mitigate risks early or even within the energy sector, studying data sets from smart homes to building management to drive operational efficiency and provide customers with advanced services.

Why unmanned retail solutions are the turning point for the F&B industry
Robots are not new to us; they’ve been around for the last 30 years in factories producing cars, laptops and more | By taking the technology a step further and combining robotics with AI, F&B owners can solve the aforementioned challenges, significantly improving their chances of maintaining and even scaling their business in the long run.

Funding deeptech: Balancing potential and complexity in the search for capital
Despite this uncertainty, more VC funding than ever has been allocated to deep tech over the last five years | Yet in 2022, according to Crunchbase and Pitchbook, these numbers represent only a fraction of the total: 12 per cent | Excluding AI, drones, and robotics, we are down to two per cent for all other frontier tech sub-segments, including advanced materials.

Why blockchain is instrumental for the future of trade finance
When trade finance is done on a decentralised blockchain, all transactions are recorded in a secure database which is accessible to all parties to the trade | This addresses the three major challenges facing trade finance transactions: inefficiencies stemming from the use of large quantities

Can autonomous delivery vehicles handle the chaos of real roads?
They process large numbers of moving objects in fractions of a second, balancing near-range precision with long-range awareness to ensure safe, stable navigation in crowded environments | This level of real-time perception is what makes safe autonomous navigation possible.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: IPO surge, fewer unicorns shape SEA funding | Yup raises US$32M | Singapore fintech bags US$1.04B | Ex-Investree CEO arrested appeared first on e27.

The Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE) has unveiled a new flagship global deeptech accelerator, the Urban SustaInnovator (USI).

The Urban SustaInnovator is a zero-equity, zero-fee, 12-month hybrid, non-residential programme open to eligible global startups. The accelerator aims to scale and anchor breakthrough solutions in the urban solutions and sustainability (USS) space.

The USI is designed to tackle critical urban challenges facing regional cities, including decarbonisation, energy transition, sustainable construction and mobility, and the rising costs associated with climate inaction. It aligns directly with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, positioning innovation towards these urgent national priorities.

Also Read: Urban solutions, sustainability take centre stage at SMU’s LKYGBPC startup challenge in 2025

The programme framework provides crucial tailored support for deeptech ventures. Each startup receives dedicated one-to-one mentorship, with a Lead Mentor assigned from a consortium of business, scientific, and government leaders.

Additional benefits include:

• Fundraising guidance and industry introductions.
• Pathways for lab validation and accreditation, facilitating fast-tracked commercialisation.
• Access to SMU’s Overseas Centres and events to expand networks across Asia.

The USI is backed by a public-private consortium that aims to connect participating startups to global networks and strengthen Singapore’s role as a deeptech hub. The consortium powering the USI includes institutions such as A*STAR, Antler, Building Construction Authority, Energy Market Authority, ST Engineering, The GEAR by Kajima, TRIREC, and Wavemaker Partners.

The launch of the USI was witnessed by Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development, during the Grand Finals Week of the 12th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC), which serves as a talent pipeline for the USI. The competition attracted a record 1,572 applications from 91 countries this year, marking a nearly two-thirds increase compared to the previous edition.

Sixty university-affiliated deeptech startup finalists from around the world have converged in Singapore to compete for a prize pool of SGD2.5 million in cash, in-kind support, and mentorship.

SMU IIE has a track record of supporting sustainability ventures; in the past five years, startups emerging from its incubator, the Business Innovations Generator, have collectively raised over SGD1.15 billion. Furthermore, nearly 40 per cent of these incubator startups have focused on addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Minister Chee Hong Tat stated: “Innovation is not just important; it is essential.” He noted that the accelerator “brings together venture capitalists, R&D experts, leading companies and public agencies to mentor promising urban solutions and sustainability startups. Participants will receive guidance on fundraising, market access, and R&D as you build and launch your ventures.”

Also Read: 60 global startups to compete for US$2M prize at LKYGBPC grand finals

Professor Lim Sun Sun, SMU’s Vice President of Partnerships and Engagement, added: “Bridging global startup talent to Singapore’s ecosystem can both catalyse revolutionary solutions for a more equitable, sustainable future, and greatly boost knowledge and skills transfer for our local workforce.”

The launch further underlines Singapore’s robust position in the global tech scene. Startupblink ranked the nation 4th in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, having climbed 12 places since 2020. Singapore also commands nearly 60 per cent of Southeast Asia’s venture capital deal flow.

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When people interact with money, friction shows up everywhere. It takes the form of unanswered questions, confusing jargon, and tools that do not meet users where they are. Too often, investors face information gaps, cognitive barriers, and fragmented workflows that leave them uncertain or even paralysed when making financial decisions.

This is exactly where AI Financial Assistance can make the biggest impact. Its true value is not in flashy features or futuristic speculation. It is in removing friction.

Done right, AI can:

• Provide the information, research, and analysis people need in the moment
• Educate users in simple, accessible terms to lower cognitive barriers
• Live inside the apps and workflows where financial decisions actually happen

AI gives us the opportunity to reshape how people everywhere engage with money.

Provide relevant info, research, and analysis when needed

Rates changes, stocks move, markets shift, and investors are often left piecing together news from multiple sources. The result is wasted time, frustration, and sometimes costly mistakes.AI can close this gap by pulling together reliable inputs such as verified data, exchange feeds, and research, and presenting them instantly in context. That is what Robinhood’s Cortex does: it gives users the “why” behind market movements in the very moment they are wondering.

For Southeast Asia

This is even more urgent. Data sources are fragmented, disclosure standards vary, and research coverage is thin. Startups here will need to partner with exchanges, brokerages, and regulators to ensure the data behind AI assistance is trustworthy. Because when money is on the line, trust in the source is part of the product.

Also Read: The new market symbiosis: How Fed easing, AI, and crypto ETFs are lifting equities

Educate users in simple terms to remove cognitive barriers

But information alone is not enough. Across the world and across Southeast Asia in particular, millions of people can solve calculus problems but do not understand risk-return, diversification, or how to build a budget. They do not just need data. They need understanding and clarity.

AI Financial Assistance can serve as a personal tutor. It can explain why saving early matters more than saving big, why dollar-cost averaging reduces risk, or why volatility should not automatically spark panic. Cortex hints at this by clarifying the “why” behind price moves, but the bigger opportunity is to integrate financial literacy directly into daily investing experiences.

When an investor sees their stock drop five percent, they should not only learn the news event that caused it. They should also understand what that means for long-term returns, risk management, or their specific goal.

Education removes the cognitive barrier that keeps many people from taking confident financial steps. In a region where first-time investors are flooding into the markets, that educational role is as important as the informational one.

For Southeast Asia

The lesson is just as important. Regulators from MAS in Singapore to the SEC in the Philippines have taken cautious stances on AI-driven financial advice. But there is enormous space for AI to play a role as an always-on coach. Explaining why a stock or mutual fund is moving, summarising relevant news, or clarifying terms in a financial product are all areas where AI can add immediate value without crossing the regulatory line.

By combining info with education, AI can help users feel not just better informed in the moment, but also more financially literate over time. That is how trust deepens: through clarity, context, and confidence.

Be where users already are in their apps and workflows

The best AI does not feel like AI. It feels like part of the process you were already doing, just smoother. Cortex lives inside Robinhood, appearing the instant you tap on a stock chart and ask, “why did it move?” It does not demand a new app or a separate chatbot. It is integrated.That is the principle fintechs in Southeast Asia need to embrace.

First-time investors here are overwhelmingly mobile-first, with workflows that often start inside e-wallets, banking apps, trading platforms, or super apps. AI Financial Assistance should meet them there, not in a standalone tool that adds another layer of friction.

Also Read: The great divide: How Southeast Asian SMEs are bridging the AI gap between survival and success

At Infina, this is the approach we are exploring: building AI financial assistance into the apps where financial decisions already take place. Imagine setting a financial goal in your banking or e-wallet app and being guided step by step: how much to put aside each month, which products align with your tolerance for risk, and how close you are to achieving it. Or opening your portfolio in your brokerage app, seeing a dip, and immediately receiving a plain-language explanation of why it happened, backed by real data.

By living inside the app where money decisions actually happen, AI shifts from being a novelty to being an indispensable guide.

Looking ahead

AI Financial Assistance is not about making decisions for people. It is about reducing friction so that people can make better decisions themselves.

• Information reduces uncertainty
• Education reduces confusion
• Integration reduces effort

For Southeast Asia and the global fintech ecosystem, the opportunity is enormous. Tens of millions of new investors are entering the markets with limited literacy but high mobile penetration. If AI can meet them where they are, explain in language they understand, and provide trustworthy insights, it can accelerate financial inclusion at scale.

Because when it comes to money, credibility is not just a feature. It is the foundation. And if AI can remove friction while earning credibility, it will not just change how people invest. It will change how people trust.

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