Dear reader,
As TikTok faces a looming April 5 deadline to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or risk a ban in the US, a flurry of high-stakes bids is emerging.
Amazon has reportedly submitted a last-minute offer to acquire the entirety of TikTok, according to The New York Times. However, insiders suggest the bid is not being taken seriously by key stakeholders involved in the deal.
Meanwhile, a more viable bid appears to be taking shape around Oracle, backed by major American investors. The Financial Times reports that venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is in talks to join the Oracle-led consortium, leveraging its track record in social media investments—including early backing of Facebook and Instagram, as well as a US$400 million investment in Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition.
In addition to Oracle and a16z, other major players like Blackstone and Susquehanna International Group are reportedly exploring ways to provide capital or participate in bids to keep TikTok under US control.
With President Trump expected to meet officials this week to determine TikTok’s future, the outcome of these competing bids could reshape the social media landscape—and the geopolitical tensions surrounding it.
Sainul,
Editor.
REGIONAL NEWS
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Vietnam, slapped with 46% tariffs, called for talks with Washington in order to reconsider “unfair” US duties | Thai PM said she would pursue negotiations to try to reduce the 37% rate her country faces – far greater than the 11% it had expected.
Maybank sees acquisition of Gojek to be the most favourable scenario for Grab
The research house said in a note that if Grab acquires Gojek, it sees synergy net present value (NPV) of US$2.4B, leading to 10% NPV accretion for Grab while balance sheet cash will still be a strong US$3.2B.
Qualcomm expands AI R&D with acquisition of MovianAI from Vietnam’s Vingroup
The integration of MovianAI’s expertise promises to accelerate Qualcomm’s development of next-generation AI solutions for a wide array of applications.
SG-based early-stage VC fund launches, concludes US$746K angel round
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Wavemaker Impact launches Nūl with US$500K investment to tackle fashion overproduction
Nūl helps fashion brands transition to zero-waste production by combining agentic AI with data science and ML to improve stock planning, allocation, and replenishment.
FEATURES & INTERVIEWS
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Tesla records worst deliveries in two years amid Elon Musk backlash
The dip in sales comes as Musk continues leading DOGE, the “advisory body” that has laid off thousands of federal employees | His involvement in the government has not only proven controversial but also unpopular.
Amazon reportedly submits last-minute bid to acquire TikTok
The last-minute bid comes as TikTok faces an April 5 deadline to shed its Chinese ownership or face a ban in the US | President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with officials to discuss the app’s fate on Wednesday.
A16z said to consider TikTok investment as part of Oracle-led bid
This move comes as TikTok faces a potential ban in the US on April 5, unless it transitions to non-Chinese ownership | The Oracle-led proposal is reportedly one of the leading options under consideration.
Hong Kong IPOs surge as AI hype fuels investor interest
Hong Kong saw 15 IPOs in Q1 2025, raising US$2.27B, its strongest start since 2021 | Six IPOs surpassed US$128.5M, compared to just one last year | Support from Beijing and stock exchange rule changes have encouraged listings.
Crypto markets slide after Trump tariff announcement
Bitcoin fell 5% to US$81,849.63, while ether and solana dropped 7% and 13%, respectively | The broader stock market also declined, with the S&P 500 set for its worst day since September 2022.
Musk’s US$1T federal spending cuts worry tech investors
The proposed cuts could hit companies that rely on government contracts, as the federal government is expected to spend around US$40B on software and cloud services in 2025.
TikTok may face US$553M fine over EU data transfer violations
The penalty from Ireland’s Data Protection Commission stems from the unauthorised transfer of European user data to China, where it was accessed by engineers.
Bitcoin-related startups see 50% surge in pre-seed funding
According to Trammell Venture Partners, from 2021 to 2024, pre-seed deals jumped by 767%, with early-stage bitcoin startups attracting nearly US$1.2B over four years | This surge comes despite a general slowdown in tech venture capital.
Tesla faces decline in China sales as local competitors grow
Tesla’s sales of China-made vehicles dropped by 11.5% in March, with 78,828 cars sold | Local competitors like BYD and Geely outperformed Tesla in growth | BYD’s sales rose by 23%, while Geely saw a 167% increase.
SEMICONDUCTOR
Singapore semiconductor firms eye Malaysian bourse as IPO momentum builds
UMS Holdings and Grand Venture Technology recently received approval to pursue listings on Bursa Malaysia | The move comes as Malaysia’s stock market continues to buck global trends, maintaining strong IPO numbers amid sluggish activity elsewhere.
GlobalFoundries explores merger with Taiwan’s UMC
This is part of a long-shot deal aimed at creating a more resilient manufacturer of older-generation semiconductors | The US chipmaker has a market value of roughly US$20B, while the Taiwanese firm is worth about US$17B.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Singapore isn’t just watching the AI hardware boom — We’re building it
The island nation’s AI hardware revolution is here: We’re shipping smart glasses with edge AI, real-time data & global SDK integration — no waiting.
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AI and cybersecurity: Pillars of Malaysia’s economic growth and regional leadership
Malaysia is driving digital growth with AI and cybersecurity investments, aiming for a 25.5% GDP contribution by 2025 and global leadership.
2024 in tech: AI’s rise, developer growth, and what’s next
AI shaped 2024, redefining work and tech; as 2025 begins, global collaboration and innovation continue to accelerate.
Dynamic content in the era of machine learning
With machine learning, each variation is automatically crafted for the individual consumer, catering to unique tastes and interests.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
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Trump’s tariff bombshell: A US$660B shake-up for global trade
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For Web3 to take off, we need to fix the rigidity problem of smart contracts
The immutable aspect of smart contracts makes it a double-edged sword, if Web3 developers cannot easily patch known vulnerabilities.
Unlikely mentors: What kids can teach you about entrepreneurship
Just like curious kids, you must seek out information, grow new theories, convert theories into actionable ideas, and then execute them | Asking questions and taking a game-based approach to critical thinking will make sure you remain nimble.
Bull-proof, bear-proof: How smart startups win in every market cycle
Startups thrive in bull markets but only the best survive bear cycles—mastering treasury, margins, and strategy ensures long-term success.
Expert tips for crafting an effective pitch deck from a seasoned early-stage investor
Pitch decks are a “teaser” that can help you get on the path of investment. Find out what investors think a good pitch deck should cover.
Pitching from home: How to get investors’ attention in a virtual world
Golden Gate’s Vinnie Lauria shares his quick advice on getting a “yes” to an investor pitching, and making it a home run.
The slow death of financial flexing and the rise of financial fundamentals in the startup world
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Diverse paths to profits: Exploring exit strategies beyond IPOs and M&A
The pickup in IPOs and M&A deals in the region bodes well for the possibility of high-value exits for investors.
Know thy customer: The only rule for startups looking to build trust on social media
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Why you should start a business in your 40s
Through your many years of work experience, you will have figured out your strengths and been able to use them to your advantage.
The post Ecosystem Roundup: Amazon, a16z eye TikTok | Maybank backs potential Gojek-Grab deal | Tesla delivery slump appeared first on e27.