In addition to Arival Bank, we also have updates from Agatha, Pomelo, and Vynn Capital

Singapore’s Arival Bank raises US$2.3M in equity crowdfunding – Finovate

Singapore-based digital bank for SMEs and crypto businesses Arival Bank has raised US$2.3 million in a pre-series A equity crowdfunding campaign led by Seedinvest and Crowdcube, Finovate wrote.

The total funding went beyond the firm’s target of US$864,500.

It follows a US$1 million seed funding round that Arival raised in April 2018.

Claiming to have a pre-money valuation of more than US$14.8 million, Arival Bank looks to use the funding to support licensing and product development initiatives, followed by its launch plan.

It also claimed to have received more than 1,000 requests from individuals and organisations, expressing their interests in opening an account.

Japan’s Agatha raises US$4M in funding to boost sales outside of Japan – Press Release

Japanese cloud-based document management service Agatha announced the completion of a JPY420 million (US$4 million) funding round.

Existing investors Mobile Internet Capital participated in the funding round, which also included new investors GMO VenturePartners and Salesforce Ventures.

The funding round also included a loan from Japan Finance Corporation.

The services that Agatha provide aims to achieve digitisation and streamlining of clinical and project documentation. It claimed to have been adopted by over 200 hospitals and pharmaceutical companies in Japan and overseas.

According to the company, its strength lies in its compliance with GxP regulatory requirements in Japan, US and European Union.

The funding will be used to boost sales and marketing in and outside of Japan, and enhance functionalities that streamline clinical and project operations using artificial intelligence.

Also Read: Southeast Asia fintech community just got a boost with ASEAN Financial Innovation Network, Bridge+, and PwC’s collaboration

Thai fashion tech startup Pomelo raises US$52M – e27

Thai fashion tech company Pomelo today announced a US$52 million Series C funding round from Central Group, Provident Growth Fund, InterVest Star SEA Growth Fund, Andre Hoffman, Toivo Annus, Lombard Private Equity, Ambient Sound Investments OU and The Luxembourg Company Deverel.

The funding round followed a US$19 million Series B that it has raised in November 2017.

With this round, Pomelo has now raised over a total of US$83 million.

The startup wants to use the funding to focus on building its technology, particularly in the implementation of big data and AI for pricing, design, and e-commerce personalisation.

Vynn Capital, OPTI Japan team up to bridge Southeast Asia-Japan investments – e27

Kuala Lumpur-based early-stage venture capital (VC) firm Vynn Capital today announced a strategic partnership with Japanese advisory and consulting firm OPTI.

The partnership aims to bridge more Japanese investments into Southeast Asian startup ecosystem as well as foster collaboration between the two ecosystems.

The partnership was made with the background of an increasing need for early-stage funding in Southeast Asia, complemented with growing interest from Japanese corporations to extend their reach to the region.

—

Image Credit: Matthew Guay on Unsplash

The post Today’s top tech news, Sept 12: Arival Bank raises US$2.3M in equity crowdfunding appeared first on e27.

The selected startups must have raised seed capital and serve the ​UN Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Development Programme in Indonesia announced that it has teamed up with the Silicon Valley venture capital seed fund and accelerator ​500 Startups​ to launch ImpactAim Indonesia. The move seeks to boost the development of social entrepreneurship and startups in Indonesia, which is considered to be a growing economic hub in Southeast Asia.

ImpactAim Indonesia will conduct a nationwide selection process to recruit between 8 to 10 startups. The requirements for startups to be selected include having raised seed capital or more, serving customers, and serving the ​UN Sustainable Development Goals​.

The accelerator is said to focus on providing guidance on impact measurement, tailored business, and impact acceleration assistance. The startups then will be showcased to prospective impact investors from around the world.

The program itself will take place in Jakarta, with no fee or equity from participating startups, and will run for 10 weeks.

“Imagine a world where tech unicorns and venture capitalists tackle the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It’s already happening, and we’re honored to be working with UNDP Indonesia to accelerate this,” said Khailee Ng, Managing Partner of 500 Startups.

Also Read: MaGIC, UN launch bootcamp for youth-led startups, social enterprises in Malaysia

According to the 2018 Survey of Entrepreneurs and MSMEs in Indonesia by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, 99 per cent of the country’s businesses comprise of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs are the key driving force of Indonesia’s economy and contributing 60 per cent of GDP.

Resident Representative of UNDP in Indonesia, Christophe Bahuet emphasised that the new initiative is part of UNDP’s role in championing innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We hope that the partnerships will open doors for many small enterprises, particularly in Indonesia’s most disadvantaged regions,” said Bahuet.

ImpactAIM was first launched by UNDP in Armenia in 2017; similar initiatives are under development in several countries of Asia and Eastern Europe. UNDP also works on SDG impact-oriented accelerators for established and mature companies.
–

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

The post UNDP partners 500 Startups to launch social entrepreneurship accelerator ImpactAim Indonesia appeared first on e27.

With all the hurdles that keep startups from truly flourishing, NTT Startup Challenge is here to help pave the way

In Indonesia’s bustling capital, the local startup ecosystem has been making strides to challenge dominant global startup hubs like Silicon Valley and Beijing. Not only that, but according to e27’s annual report that studied the funding pattern of 847 Indonesian startups in 2018, these startups have procured an average deal size of US$88 million for each one—comprising 38 different verticals including healthtech, fintech, and e-commerce in what can only be described as a microcosm of the larger Asia Pacific’s flourishing startup ecosystem.

Indonesia isn’t alone in this recent boom. Neighboring country Malaysia now also finds itself in an optimistic position, having seen the emergence of thousands of new startups across different tech verticals according to the same annual report. More importantly, notable government-led efforts through Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) have been documented to provide new schemes for young ventures, including their partnership with 9 Digital Transformation Labs to empower more Malaysian businesses to go digital.

Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines have also propelled leaps and bounds in their own respective ecosystems, ultimately impacting the region’s overall performance. These strides cover tech ventures in multiple areas such as AI, fintech, e-commerce, Big Data, and many others.

What does this say about the region? It means much can be expected from such momentum, especially when aided by multifaceted support enabled across all fronts.

Challenges in Asia’s startup scene

It’s no secret that Asia has become an increasingly attractive space to explore and scale various tech solutions. However, this doesn’t render the region immune to certain challenges.

The primary obstacle holding back Asia is understanding local behaviour. Being comprised of multiple countries with different sociopolitical frameworks, different cultural backgrounds, and different consumer behaviours, startups emerging from the region best equip themselves with a solid support system in order to truly flourish.

One important thing that has to be considered is that with the context and geography of Asia, it is important for startups to scale beyond their home countries. In doing so, factors like different languages and different currencies become imperative variables to consider. When a startup isn’t equipped with ample capital, advanced tech, or the right connections, companies are held back from taking those necessary steps.

To combat such obstacles, startups primarily need three key forms of support: funding opportunities, access to networks, and quality technological infrastructures. These three ingredients, when peppered with proper business insights and guidance from reputable industry thought leaders, make for a formidable recipe for success.

Last July, Indonesian ride-hailing company Go-Jek announced new investments from three large companies under Japan’s Mitsubishi group, giving them stronger leverage in the competitive ride-hailing scene in the Southeast Asian Market.

Meanwhile, only last year, Singapore-based ride-hailing company Grab entered into US$1 billion partnership with Japanese carmaker Toyota opening up excellent opportunities for Grab driver-partners particularly in countries like the Philippines.

Singapore-based marketplace, Carousell, also launched its mobile payment service, Caroupay, through an integrated payment system developed in partnership with three key finance players: DBS, Stripe, and Visa. These are only a few examples of Asian startups successfully collaborating with global enterprises to solve certain obstacles.

How NTT Startup Challenge solves obstacles in a unique way

With the goal of supporting startup ecosystems in Asia and scale or leverage startup businesses through forming an alliance with NTT Ltd., the NTT Startup Challenge is a platform that provides opportunities for funding, access to NTT and partners’ investor network, and access to quality technological infrastructure.

NTT Ltd. is a leading global technology services company under NTT Incorporated (NTT Inc). They partner with organizations around the world to shape and achieve outcomes through intelligent technology solutions.

NTT Startup Challenge programme founder Yasunori Kinebuchi said, “NTT Ltd. welcomes a wide variety of applicants from seed and early-stage startups to series A concentrating on Big Data, AI, Fintech, Sharing Economy, and others.”

Startups that apply for the programme get to participate in a series of activities that include pitching sessions, matching events, and networking.

When asked what makes this startup challenge special, Kinebuchi quipped “As NTT Ltd. doesn’t seek an opportunity for investment at this program, the ecosystem can be formed without conflict of interest with various investors. For example, the judges and partners include local venture capital investors (VC), business accelerators, and Southeast Asian mega-VCs like KK fund and Gree Ventures, among others. We provide investors with immediate access to Asian startups in their early stages.”

He further said, “It has therefore received strong support from governments. Since startups tend to be highly susceptible to government regulations, collaboration with government agencies in host countries is essential. NTT Ltd. already has a strong relationship with government bodies in several countries within Asia such as in Indonesia (Ministry of Industry & Creative Economy Agency), in Malaysia (MDEC, MaGIC, and Cyberview) and in Vietnam (Saigon Innovation Hub).”

Perks of joining the NTT Startup Challenge

As with most programmes, the NTT Startup Challenge comes with a plethora of perks that startups across Asia could really benefit from. Of all these perks, the three overarching ones are as follows:

1.) Providing competition rewards such as IT infrastructure, support and management, access to NTT Group’s customer base, and access to Southeast Asian mega-VCs like KK fund, Gree Ventures as well as local VCs for startups.

2.) Encouraging enterprises to enter markets in Asia smoothly and to access and collaborate with other Asian startups’ innovative ideas and unique technologies.

3.) Providing investors with immediate access to Asian startups in their early stages.
Kinebuchi stressed the mutually beneficial nature of establishing networks and partnerships in the NTT Startup Challenge. Other than prizes that are valued at a total of US$10,000, finalists are invited at a matching event in which they will be introduced to potential business partners for innovation.

The event puts premium on the fact that a startup needs not only funding, but also IT infrastructure, organizational and technical knowledge, and a global customer base. On the other hand, global enterprises require innovative solutions tailored to local needs in terms of culture, government regulation, and local market. At the end of the day, engaging with global enterprises is essential for startups to grow rapidly.

Cultivating Asia’s startup ecosystem

During the startup challenge’s earlier edition, each country’s top-three startups of 2018 were invited to Japan in March 2019 for a showcase event aiming to connect Japanese enterprises, investors, and startups with Asian startups. This was done in order to promote Asian startups’ entry into the Japanese market as well as Japanese companies’ entry to Asia.

There are multiple success stories shaped by the NTT Startup Challenge in the past, with some startups procuring funding worth US$500,000 due to media exposure garnered after the competition, while others enjoy engagements with private investors in Japan, as well as startup planning to establish joint ventures with Japanese global company introduced by NTT.

With all the possibilities listed above, we can expect Asian startups to further cultivate their ideas and render them into reality with the help of NTT Startup Challenge. By bridging the gaps and overturning the hurdles that keep startups from flourishing, we only further enrich the booming momentum that Asia now experiences.

If you’re a startup based in Asia looking to explore these possibilities, the NTT Startup Challenge is accepting applications here. For more information about the event, you may visit their official website.

– –

We can share your story at e27, too. Engage the Southeast Asian tech ecosystem by bringing your story to the world. Visit us at e27.co/advertise to get started.

The post Are Asian startups as readily equipped for business growth as they seem? Think again appeared first on e27.

There needs to be a way to create an inclusive set of regulation that will steer the way we develop this technology into the future

There is no doubt that we see significant advances in intelligent machinery across all facets of our lives.

Great strides have been made in neural network technology where patterns are collected from large amounts of data which can be used and improved.

This means that AI can identify objects much faster and accurately and make better decisions without any interference from humans. A great example of this would be self-driving cars.

It raises the question of how this new set of rules will be played out across all segments of our society and in the legal frameworks that we currently have in existence.

Can AI truly make better decisions than humans?

We have case studies today of hospitals refusing to operate on a critically dying patient because they could not get the consent from the right party.

In other words, there is rigidity in the way contracts manage our current lives due to the potential consequences of breaking that contract. That is where we are now as a civil society.

Now, imagine a situation where we know that a person needs medical attention but due to a structured set of algorithms set within a program, there is no permission to allow it. Or a self-driving car that needs to break a road rule in order to avoid a dangerous collision.

To what extent are algorithms able to discern discriminatory patterns as well as humans? And more importantly, how will the courts handle these sorts of cases?

Also Read: An encrypted affair: messaging apps are becoming an important tool for cryptocurrency adoption

What is even more interesting is how the law will treat the layperson, who had no direct involvement in the coding or development of these technologies in the first place, but it was their input (of their own data) which impacted the final decision which set forth the action.

Should they be responsible for the consequence of AI’s decision given by individuals themselves even though they did not code the algorithm that determines its decision-making process? Are the biases that AI generates as a result of our own data our own fault or the fault of the algorithms? These are obviously interesting questions that we, as stewards of the next generation of technology, must seriously consider.

I think one of the issues closest to the heart is whether AI will eliminate or determine my personal choice. As a centre left-liberal, I would be a bit worried if I lost my freedom of choice, and even worse, losing my personal choice and not realizing it.

But of course, our personal choices are largely subjective and as a best-selling author, Daniel Ariely would argue, we are, in any case, predictably irrational.

Could AI actually improve our decision-making process and make our lives more meaningful or would it make us even more polarised than ever before? Let’s take a look at both sides of the equation below.

Potential benefits

AI could potentially make our decisions less subjective. For example, it can create greater efficiencies in any given system. A good example might be the use of energy. It can determine what actions would create the best use of energy by calculating energy peaks, best use case and so on.

It can also determine how best to spend our wealth (in itself also another form of energy) and can be objective in determining the way we spend since spending can become very much an emotional exercise.

Also Read: How I started a US$1K/M side hustle selling slim paper wallets from rural Japan

It can also be a potential benefit by harnessing the collective experience of many in order to determine the best result for any particular action. A bit like garnering advice from a hundred wise elders who have been there and done that, using historical data of previous judgments and decisions.

Potential bad consequences

A bit like a social experiment gone wrong, AI also has the potential of creating some pretty scary dystopia-like scenarios. Like in the episode of Netflix’s Black Mirror where all relationships were based on an algorithm, we risk creating societies so rigid in its application that it loses its touch of humanity.

Sound familiar?

This kind of social engineering might some of the fictional stuff today, but it could very well become reality if we don’t have discussions about the role of AI across all aspects of society in the future. There are many more potential disasters.

For example, gerrymandering may become even easier. Just look at the Cambridge Analytica scandal and how data can be used to influence voting results.

Imagine if AI takes this even further and it somehow manipulates to make a certain segment of people “choose” to buy houses in a certain area. Or having our choices in say fashion or art narrowed to what algorithms choose for us based on our previous choices and therefore eliminating the potential to open our minds to other kinds of creative experiences.

All of this could have the potential to make future generations a narrower, less multi-faceted, dare I say, less tolerant individuals.

The social responsibility of developers of AI technology

As the developers and guardians of this new technological revolution, we must keep these issues in mind. We know we cannot stop it and I don’t really see any reason why we should stifle its advancement in any case.

But we must ensure that this technology is used for the advancement of humanity, in creating a more inclusive world that emphasises our commonality rather than our differences.

AI has the potential to make our lives that much richer and give us more time to focus on more important things in life rather than “working just to make a living”.

Also Read: The raging Amazon forest fires: Why businesses need to step up for climate change

It is a chance for us to redesign the paradigm of our very existence as we know it with a focus on creating synergies rather than competition. In the words of R. Buckminster Fuller, “we can operate our planet in such a manner as to support and accommodate all humanity at a substantially more advanced standard of living than any humans have ever experienced”.

As technologists and participants working in its development, we have an important role to play in setting the right foundation for the advancement and development of future protocols.

In our interconnected world, this will obviously require a multi-stakeholder, global effort so that we can ensure its direction does not fall in the hands of those who wish to take advantage of it for selfish means. We find the opportunity once again to ensure that we develop this technology for the better evolution of humanity.

–

Editor’s note: e27 publishes relevant guest contributions from the community. Share your honest opinions and expert knowledge by submitting your content here.

Join our e27 Telegram group here, or our e27 contributor Facebook page here.

Image Credit: Annie Spratt

The post Rise of AI and the legal considerations we must face in the new world appeared first on e27.

In the past two years, gojek’s Go-Pay has consistently been the top e-wallet service in Indonesia. But will this change anytime soon?

You may have read this exclusive Reuters report about Southeast Asian ride-hailing giant Grab’s plan to merge OVO, its e-wallet service with DANA– an Indonesia-focussed e-wallet platform run by a joint venture between Ant Financial and Emtek Group.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the report mentioned that the deal would see Grab buy a “majority interest” in DANA from Emtek then merge it with OVO. None of the companies have confirmed or denied the news.

All of this was certainly part of Grab’s major plan to compete with old-time rival Gojek.

If you have been on Twitter today, then you would be aware that this has been the topic that some Indonesian startup industry players have been discussing (apart from Bukalapak laying off employees). The initial reaction was to collectively drop our jaw; but then like the rest of the world, I wondered what it meant for the ecosystem.

My conclusion is that for the first time ever, Gojek should really consider its next best move, as this might just be the hit that will topple them down from the throne.

Also Read: Grab reveals details of Vietnam investment plan, to invest US$500M over 5 years

But first, let us look at the statistics.

In August, DailySocial published a report based on research by iPrice Group and App Annie. The research revealed that Go-Pay is the most downloaded and used e-wallet service in Indonesia, a market that is widely known to be heavily cash-reliant.

It is stated that from Q4 2017 to Q2 2019, Gojek’s Go-Pay has been consistently the most downloaded and used app among users in Indonesia.

In Q2 2019, Go-Pay was closely followed by OVO. If you pay attention to the infographic in the report, you will realise that for some time, OVO has been battling LinkAja (formerly known as Tcash and backed by major state-owned enterprises) to become the second top e-wallet service.

Having its starting point in the fourth position in Q4 2018, you will see that DANA immediately jumped to the third position, pushing LinkAja down to the fourth place.

After those four platforms, the rest of the list was dominated by platforms launched by private and state-owned banks such as CIMB Niaga and BTPN. Doku, once the top e-wallet service in the country, sits calmly on number nine, proving how time has changed.

Phew, such intense paragraphs to write.

Also Read: Consumer credit company Experian invests in Grab’s Series H round

Now, another set of information that we need to keep in mind: OVO is now the official e-wallet service for e-commerce unicorn Tokopedia while DANA has worked with Bukalapak to launch e-wallet BukaDana (because, well, they are both a portfolio of Emtek).

From Gojek’s side, the company has recently launched a partnership with LinkAja that will enable users to use it on Gojek’s platform. A partnership that came up as a surprise when it was first announced that I had to write another opinion piece about it.

Apart from that, Google’s investment into Gojek has also enabled Go-Pay to become a payment option for purchases on Google Play Store.

So we are now talking about a battle that features Grab-OVO-Dana-Tokopedia-Bukalapak on one side, and Gojek-LinkAja-Google Play Store on the other.

This is basically Helm’s Deep and whichever side you are rooting for, I hope they get to look to the East and find the help that they need.

So what kind of help do these companies need? To answer that, we just have to look at the customers and see what drives them to use a particular e-wallet platform.

Sadly, the answer is still promos, discount, and cashback offers.

Also Read: Today’s top tech news, July 11: Grab warns of a possible increase in fares with new regulations in Malaysia

But I am not worried. See the lead image used for this article? We received them from Grab’s PR team when the company, together with investor SoftBank Group and Tokopedia, attended a meeting with President Joko Widodo at Merdeka Palace where SoftBank stated its commitment to invest US$2 billion to “grow Indonesia’s digital infrastructure.”

Generally, both Grab and Gojek are also in the process of fundraising, and they definitely do not aim for a US$50,000 seed funding round.

I can see Gandalf in the horizon, but it remains to be seen which side he is on.

—

Image Credit: Grab

The post Grab reportedly wants to merge OVO with Ant Financial’s DANA. What does it mean for the rest of us? appeared first on e27.

The Indonesia-based fintech, formerly known as EmasDigi, said that its goal is to democratise access to financial products

Pluang, Indonesia-based a fintech startup providing digital micro-savings for Indonesians, announced today that it has received a US$3 million Series A funding led by Go-Ventures. Pluang was formerly known as EmasDigi.

With this fresh capital, Pluang plans to launch other products, including US dollar savings and fixed return products adding to its recently launched gold savings product.

With 38 per cent of existing fintech is in the payment sector and 31 per cent in lending, Pluang becomes one of the few fintech companies that try to solve the difficult problem of improving savings in Indonesia, in efforts to tackle the financial inclusion problem in Indonesia.

Pluang allows users to access curated financial products without having to worry about hidden or exorbitant fees. Pluang’s gold product, for example, allows investments starting from 0.01 grams (equivalent to roughly USD$0.50). Pluang provides users real-time liquidity as the gold is kept in a government-backed institution through the official Indonesian commodities exchange.

“Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, and over 50 per cent of that population does not have access to bank accounts. Even fewer have access to formal investment and savings channels. We believe in Pluang’s fully compliant micro-savings products for all Indonesians,” said Aditya Kumar, Go-Ventures VP of Investments.

Also Read: Go-Jek investment arm makes first deal and it is an Indian e-sports startup

Claudia Kolonas, Founder of Pluang, explains, “In terms of investment solutions, Indonesians are underserved. We want to help Indonesian consumers see that better possibilities exist for growing their savings.”

Before changing its moniker to Pluang, EmasDigi made news for welcoming Natali Ardianto, ex-CTO of Indonesian online travel agency Tiket, as CTO at EmasDigi in June 2018. It is not clear whether Ardianto remains in his position in Pluang.

Prior to investing in Pluang, gojek’s venture arm reportedly has invested in online media Kumparan, and Indian e-sports company Mobile Premiere League, followed by investment in Indian cloud kitchen company Rebel Food.
–

The post Digital micro-savings startup Pluang raises US$3M, becomes the latest Go-Ventures’ portfolio appeared first on e27.

By looking at financial projections, the company would have an idea of whether it can fund its plans via cash from operations or if it needs external funding

 

When a startup has come up with growth plans and strategy to scale its business, it is time to look at the financial resources needed to achieve those plans.

The startup will work out the amount it needs to raise and consider the type of investor it wants on board. It will also explore the different aspects of fundraising, including what instrument to issue, the structure of investment and the extent of influence the investor will have on the company.

There are two broad categories of investors it can approach – strategic investors or financial investors.

Strategic investors bring with them industry expertise and possible synergies when working with the startup. They are not investing purely for financial returns but also to reap the benefits of collaboration and exchange of expertise.

The growing number of innovation labs sponsored by major corporations show their burgeoning interest in being strategic investors.

On the other hand, financial investors like funds and venture capitalists invest with a view of gaining a financial return from an eventual exit from the investment. Financial investors may also bring a bevvy of contacts from other businesses in their investment portfolio that may benefit the startup.

Structure of fundraising

Depending on the stage of the startup, the fundraising may involve the issue of shares or some variation of a convertible instrument eg convertible preferred shares or notes.

In issuing shares to the investor, the current shareholders of a startup will have their ownership diluted immediately. By issuing convertibles, the dilution will happen only upon the eventual conversion of the instrument to shares.

In an issue of shares to investors, the company will crystalise its valuation at the point of issue. If the startup is at an early stage, for example, in the pre-seed or seed stage, arriving at a valuation may be a highly subjective affair.

Also Read: The holy grail of fundraising for startups

That is why many investors of early-stage startups prefer to subscribe to convertibles where the conversion price is set, for instance, at a discount to the price of a future round of investment. This postpones the need to arrive at a valuation to a later stage when there is more of an operating track record to be relied on.

Valuation of startups is subjective because projections may not be that strong an indicator of the future of the business. The business idea may not be validated in some cases, and even if validated, the product offering may undergo substantial revisions.

Also, startups are usually not profitable and are cash flow negative, especially in the early stages. Performance metrics and evidence of traction may provide some colour to the investor, but the investment case is based mainly on the potential of the business.

Regardless of whether it is a share or convertible issue, it is likely that the investor will insist on having certain veto rights over major decisions to be made by the company post-investment.

The company will typically need to have the investor agree on events like major disposal of assets, taking on borrowings, making distributions to shareholders, etc. There is a level of control that founders will need to give up when bringing on investors.

Interaction with investors

Startups should keep in mind that especially in the case of financial investors, the valuation they invest at must make sense from a returns perspective. Funds and venture capitalists are looking to achieve multiple times their money upon exit of the investment.

Putting forward their investment case, startups should illustrate how the funds raised will allow them to expand and scale to hit the exit valuation such investors look for. Highlight the targeted metrics it intends to achieve and how these translate to financial projections that point to an attractive exit valuation.

A big part of the dialogue between the interested investor and the startup will occur at the due diligence stage. This is where the investor will query, investigate and verify various aspects of the startup before finally deciding to invest.

Also Read: 9 elements of every new venture that investors expect

Founders should anticipate the concerns of investors, furnish in suitable detail the information requested and suggest practical solutions where the investment case is weak.

It is useful for founders to get their house in order before the due diligence starts and make sure it has details of its operations, key metrics and financial performance in an accessible format.

The startup can decide the appropriate level of detail to disclose depending on the depth of discussions. As such information can be sensitive, startups should be cautious in handing it over to potential investors who may be competitors or are in a ‘fishing expedition’.

Another big part of the negotiation process will involve discussions over the legal documentation, which will encompass agreements like the term sheet, subscription or investment agreement and shareholders’ agreement.

It is useful for founders to have some knowledge of the standard terms that go into such agreements.

For example, the general terms in standard SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) and VIMA (Venture Capital Investment Model agreements) documents are good reference points for pre-seed or seed-stage investments.

–

Editor’s note: e27 publishes relevant guest contributions from the community. Share your honest opinions and expert knowledge by submitting your content here.

Join our e27 Telegram group here, or our e27 contributor Facebook page here.

Image Credit: Fabian Blank

The post Things to consider while during the startup fundraising process appeared first on e27.

Digital elements including lead magnets, videos, podcasts and special reports will move prospects closer to a positive investment decision

Half of the investors say they use digital platforms says a survey

Investor list building is what all clients want from their advisors. Many imagine it to be the Holy Grail that will eliminate market volatility, calm trade war uncertainty and propel them to untold profits.

The problem with this idea is the nature of list building and attracting investors has fundamentally changed.

Small caps, mid-caps and blockchain companies are facing the same business reality as an Etsy shop owner. In modern marketing your digital footprint matters.

A study from Brunswick found half of the investors now use digital platforms to learn what CEO’s are saying.

Younger investors and analysts are also using social media not just for research but to make investment decisions: of those aged between 20 and 29, 44 per cent have used Twitter for this purpose; 29 per cent have invested based on something they learned on Whatsapp, and 20 per cent acted based on something they learned on Reddit.

The fact is investors, analysts and traders increasingly want to see a strong and relevant online presence. This is bad news for half of the companies seeking to grow their investor lists. doing it wrong.

Many blockchain and traditional small caps are simply doing it wrong.

I’ve had the opportunity to look at hundreds of small-cap and blockchain websites. Senior executives are not using digital and social to reach and engage investors. The websites are stacked with stock photos and blandness. The basics of providing an irresistible offer in exchange for a visitors name and email address are virtually non-existent.

These companies are waving the white flag at utilizing digital assets to build relationships and convert online traffic into qualified investors. Their game plan may consist of renting email addresses a list broker.

Also Read: How do you grow your startup? Take some advice from 4 experts in digital marketing

Small caps are publicly traded firms with a market capitalization of less than US$300 million. Blockchain companies offer a mix of digital securities and Security Token Offerings (STOs). Investors are showing an increasing interest in participating with these types of companies.

In the Grayscale Annual Bitcoin survey more than a third (36 per cent)of U.S. investors would consider an investment in Bitcoin, representing a potential market of more than 21 million investors in the general population.

Investors considering Bitcoin, small caps, blockchain-powered digital securities and STOs are going to conduct some level of online research. A percentage of these prospects will make decisions based on what they find.

There are many sources available. Checking the sentiment in forums, chatrooms, Telegram and Discord groups is part and parcel of generating buzz. Even institutional investors will move if a particular stock or new crypto goes viral on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

VIDEO: An investment officers view of social media

So what can be done to improve the chances and pull victory from the jaws of digital defeat? Focus on positioning your company.

There are market and price volatility. There are negative scenarios and bad actors. But there are also opportunities and surprises that can be uncovered that attract investors. Don’t wait. Get started.

Here are seven tactics that attract new investors with digital

Avatar me

Know the avatar of the investors you want to reach. Which social platforms are they active on?

LinkedIn is the most favoured social platform for professionals. With over 500 million members (300 million active each month) you have to filter in order to connect. Things like a branded company page, identifying employees and a regular posting schedule are essential.

Peeping in

Your website is an open window into your company.

The initial digital impression can work for your benefit or be a disaster. I’ve looked at hundreds of small-cap websites that have the same format. Stock photos, boilerplate text and the same menu options. Show some creativity to improve your conversions.

Googled you

What are the keywords related to your industry and how do you rank for them? Investors often look at big-picture industry information, announcements and trends. If you have specialized products then you should be showing up on the first page of Google and other search engines like Bing and even YouTube.

A strategic approach is key to winning

Join your network

The CEO and Founder need to have a strong digital profile. In addition to the company website, LinkedIn is a great place to start. Optimize the content and give it a real feel.

Also Read: These tech companies are eyeing for Singapores digital banking license

A Twitter handle is another option (today even the POTUS tweets). The point is to personalize the brand.

Click IR

News flash. No prospective investor is combing through all of those PDFs on your Investor Relations tab. They also won’t read all 47-pages of your whitepaper. Sell the sizzle, not the steak. Re-purpose that content into bite-size chunks of delicious information. A bonus is the content is already regulatory compliant.

Know your analytics

Check your Google Analytics to see which platforms are referring traffic and links to your website. Also, dig into the demographics and interests of the people hitting your site. Determine which pages they come in on and where they exit. This will further validate your avatar and can provide a basis for advertising.

The money’s in the list

Building a huge list of qualified investors is a pot of gold. But first, you have to create an effective funnel. Attract website visitors onto your email list with an irresistible offer. Nurture them with follow-up emails and broadcasts. Lead them to make an investment decision in your favour.

Summary

Today it is harder for small public companies to get attention and raise capital. Social media provides a proven way to create community, engage and activate your audience. Speak directly to the people who care the most about what you’re doing. A weak digital profile puts your company at a disadvantage to competitors who are more active on social platforms.

A strategic approach is key to winning.

Recognize the convergence of traditional roadshows, analyst calls and shareholder meetings with digital marketing. A solid digital marketing strategy is your blueprint.

Also Read: Why business transformation is important in the digital age

Use it as your GPS and guide as much traffic as possible to your online properties. This approach will enhance your website, support investor relations and position your brand as a leader in digital communications.

Next Steps

Many blockchain and small-cap companies find it cost-effective to outsource this work to a dedicated professional. The time and talent are typically not in-house to make it happen.

As a senior executive, it is your duty to use social and digital to reach and engage investors.

What are you waiting for anyway? Social media provides an opportunity to expand your potential investor universe into the millions. Done effectively you can grow your list in the short term and build value in the long run.

–

Editor’s note: e27 publishes relevant guest contributions from the community. Share your honest opinions and expert knowledge by submitting your content here.

Join our e27 Telegram group here, or our e27 contributor Facebook page here.

Image Credit: Daan Stevens

 

The post 7 valuable ways to attract new investors through a digital medium appeared first on e27.

Also, two tech companies announce new senior hires today, and Grab Financial to launch Singapore-Philippines cross-border remittance service

AngelHub and WHub raises US$3M funding from Kharis Capital, TNG Fintech Group [Press Release]

WHub, Hong Kong’s startup community platform and power connector with over 3,000 startups, announces that it has received investment valued at US$3 million led by Kharis Capital, a VC that builds and manages direct investment partnerships backed by and dedicated to families and entrepreneurs. Joining the investment is Hong Kong’s fintech unicorn TNG Fintech Group.

Along with the investment, WHub has also launched AngelHub as a new way to invest in vetted startups that are building the future. WHub said it will deploy the investment across both AngelHub and WHub to further develop the business through geographical expansion, technology upgrades, and talent acquisition as both companies build their offering and attract more customers and new investments to the platform.

“AngelHub’s experienced team and partners provide investors worldwide with a way to startups scaling in Asia. Investors can now be part of this digital (r)evolution and invest in innovative technology companies in a regulated, fully digitalised, and efficient way,” said Karen Contet Farzam, Co-founder of AngelHub and WHub.

Online event marketplace EFFRO relaunches new platform in Singapore [Press Release]

B2B events hiring technology platform EFFRO announces that it has officially relaunched in Singapore with a new look and platform. It aims to help businesses organise their events by minimising delayed payments and mediocre talents, ensuring that time or money is not wasted in each event-planning process.

The new platform, the company said, will connect clients with talents and vendors via a chat-to-hire function and a review-and-rating system.

Also Read: Grab reportedly wants to merge OVO with Ant Financial’s DANA. What does it mean for the rest of us?

The Singapore-based company was started in 2014 by Adam Tan, brother of ex-Mediacorp actor Andie Chen, who is also actively involved in EFFRO as an advisor and investor. It currently has 1,200 talents and 300 clients on its Singapore platform and has recently launched its platform in Thailand and Malaysia.

Razer Fintech adds Lim Siong Guan into company’s board of advisors [Press Release]

Razer Fintech, the financial technology arm of Razer Inc. and one of the Offline-to-Online (O2O) digital payment networks in Southeast Asia, has appointed Lim Siong Guan as an Advisory Board member.

Lim will add his experience from his past careers that include serving as the Group President of GIC Private Limited (GIC) from 2007 to 2016 and subsequently, Advisor to GIC’s Group Executive Committee to March 2019.

Lim also previously served as a board member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and as Chairman of the Singapore Economic Development Board, focussing on enhancing Singapore’s position as a global business center and as a critical hub in the global supply chain. In addition to that, Lim was the first Principal Private Secretary to Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, and has served as the Head of the Singapore Civil Service, as well as Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Defence.

Hong Kong-based blockchain insurtech Galileo appoints Simon Copley to Board as Independent Director [Press Release]

Galileo Platforms Limited (Galileo Platforms), a blockchain-based insurance technology company, has announced the appointment of Simon Copley to the Board of Directors as an independent director.

Copley’s appointment made him the first independent director to join the Galileo Platforms board.

Galileo Platforms has a business-to-business (B2B) operation, and this appointment signifies its readiness for fresh funding and a pending product launch. The move also ties in with the company strategy to expand the use of blockchain across more sectors of the insurance industry and in a greater number of markets, partnering with challenger insurers, incumbent insurers, distributors, and reinsurers.

Also Read: P2P lending fintech Validus closes over US$15.2M Series B funding led by Dutch bank FMO

From the UK originally, Copley worked for more than 30 years advising many of the leading financial services groups in Europe and Asia, mostly on insurance, risk management, banking, and capital markets. During 21 years as a partner at PwC in Hong Kong, he led the firm’s regional insurance industry practice in what was a period of huge sector growth and transformation in the region.

Grab Financial to launch Singapore-Philippines cross-border remittance service [DealStreetAsia]

Grab Financial, Grab’s financial arm, announced that it plans to launch its first cross-border remittance service targeting Singapore and the Philippines in the fourth quarter of 2019, DealStreetAsia has reported.

Since remittances play an important role in Southeast Asia’s economy and the Philippines is the fourth-largest remittance market in the world, Grab believes that the move is necessary. The service will allow users to remit money using their GrabPay wallets securely and instantly.

“This represents both a clear opportunity and an issue to resolve, as remittance is often a lengthy and laborious process from sender to agency to receiver. We are also looking to launch other remittance corridors in the near term,” said Reuben Lai, senior managing director of Grab Financial Group.
–

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

The post Today’s top tech news, September 11, 2019: AngelHub and WHub raises US$3M funding from Kharis Capital, TNG Fintech Group appeared first on e27.

Southeast Asia’s property technology company PropertyGuru appoints Olivier Lim as Independent Chairman to the Board and Jenny Macdonald and Melanie Wilson as new Independent Directors to the Board

PropertyGuru, the proptech company operates in Southeast Asia, has appointed Olivier Lim as Independent Chairman to the Board. The company’s official statement coined that the move is part of a “broader exercise to evolve its corporate governance and to bring even greater diversity, breadth, and depth to the Board”.

Lim is an experienced Chairman and non-executive Director who is currently Chairman of Certis CISCO and Frasers Property Australia. He was a former Chairman of Australand, a property group formerly listed on the ASX, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of DBS Bank and the Board of Trustees of Singapore Management University (SMU) amongst others.

Both seasoned Australian Directors, Jenny Macdonald, and Melanie Wilson will also bring on board their expertise into the company.

Macdonald is a former CFO with experience in marketplace businesses and is currently a Board Director at Bapcor and Redbubble amongst other companies. Wilson has many years of experience as a Director for consumer-oriented businesses and currently sits on the Boards of Baby Bunting, iSelect, and EML Payments, amongst other companies.

“Over the last twelve years, I have watched with great interest the rapid growth of the business from a Singapore based property portal, to a high-growth property technology company with leading property marketplaces in five core Asian markets. I see so many opportunities in this next phase of growth,” said Lim.

Also Read: PropertyGuru raises US$144M from KKR

The Group will form a fully independent Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) chaired by Macdonald. Wilson will chair the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC), which will comprise of majority independent directors.

Recently in March 2019, PropertyGuru introduced Lens, an augmented reality feature that allows people to move their phone camera around a given area and see what apartments are available. At that time, it was in an invite-only beta launch phase.

–

Picture Credit: PropertyGuru

The post PropertyGuru announces 3 senior hires for company’s Independent Chairman and Directors appeared first on e27.