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Ecosystem Roundup: Flash Coffee looking for a turnaround | Google working on AI that can hear signs of sickness

Dear reader,

Flash Coffee, a tech-enabled coffee chain, has appointed former Foodpanda CEO Jakob Angele as its executive chairman to steer the company towards profitability.

After a period of rapid expansion across Asia Pacific, the company has scaled back significantly, liquidating its operations in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea, leaving it with just 67 stores in Indonesia.

Despite this contraction, Angele is optimistic, noting that most of the remaining outlets are EBITDA-positive. The company has focused on fine-tuning its cost structure and revamping its menu, with 63% of drinks being new offerings tailored to Indonesian tastes.

This strategic shift, coupled with enhanced seating options, has improved offline business performance. Angele, who shares a professional history with Flash Coffee’s founder, believes the brand is well-positioned in Indonesia’s competitive market, offering quality at a medium to high price point.

The company plans to open five to ten new stores in Indonesia this year, with no immediate plans for international expansion. Confident in the potential of the Indonesian market, Angele envisions Flash Coffee expanding to 300-400 outlets domestically while maintaining profitability.

Sainul,
Editor.

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NEWS & VIEWS

Flash Coffee taps ex-Foodpanda CEO in turnaround bid
The tech-enabled coffee chain has hired Jakob Angele as its executive chairman in a bid to hit profitability; Flash Coffee liquidated its operations in Singapore last October, while it sold its Thai business the following month.

Google is working on AI that can hear signs of sickness
According to Bloomberg, Google has trained one of its foundation AI models with 300 million pieces of audio that included coughs, sniffles and laboured breathing to identify, for example, someone battling tuberculosis.

Validus secures up to US$50M from HSBC to support Indonesian MSMEs
The capital will be deployed through Validus’s Indonesian subsidiary, Batumbu, to support local MSMEs and address the country’s financing gap; There’re currently 64.2M MSMEs that contribute 61 per cent of the country’s GDP.

Malaysia’s Kenanga Group acquires 8% stake in Singaporean fintech firm Helicap
The partnership aims to further advance the group’s digitalisation initiatives;
Helicap is a platform that specialises in the alternative lending space in Southeast Asia.

Customers of WazirX unlikely to recover full funds
The Indian cryptocurrency exchange WazirX suffered a US$234M hack in July; George Gwee, a director at restructuring firm Kroll working with WazirX, said that at least 43% of the money any customer had in WazirX is unlikely to be recovered.

OKX Singapore gets payment nod from MAS, taps ex-Grab exec as CEO
The license allows OKX Singapore to offer digital payment token services and cross-border money transfers, including spot trading of cryptocurrencies for customers in Singapore.

Uber drives deeper into South Korea to take on Kakao Mobility
Currently, Korea’s ride-hailing industry is dominated by Kakao Taxi, Kakao Mobility’s consumer service, with more than 23 million registered users and a 98% market share.

Singapore’s GIC acquires logistics facility in Yokohama, Japan
The asset is well-located within the Kanagawa Prefecture and enjoys convenient access to the entire Greater Tokyo region; The facility was developed by Daiwa House Industry, a Japanese real estate developer.

Protégé Ventures invests in rocket propulsion, space launch startup ESS
ESS’s HRF-1 technology can eliminate up to 90% of costs and 69% of GHG emissions compared to traditional liquid propulsion systems.

FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

Empowering change: Singapore’s female-led startup success stories
These Singaporean startups, led by visionary women, are proving that female founders are making waves in the tech industry.

Echelon X: Exploring the realities of market access in the Middle East
The Echelon X fireside chat clarified the realities and offered practical insights for companies eyeing the Middle Eastern market.

Echelon X: Pinhome’s strategies for sustainable growth and financial stability
The Echelon X fireside chat showcased how Pinhome navigated Indonesia’s property tech market to achieve sustainable growth and positive unit economics.

Mastering the funding maze: Unlocking financing pathways for founders in the Philippines
Investing in startups in the Philippines has become increasingly attractive due to its rapidly growing economy and youthful population.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Thailand’s tech renaissance: Building bridges to global success
The numbers are in—emerging markets like Thailand need a new strategy for their struggling tech ecosystems to foster global innovation and growth.

Understanding priced and unpriced funding rounds: A startup lawyer’s guide for startups
Learn the key differences between priced and unpriced funding rounds and how they impact your startup’s valuation, equity dilution, and fundraising.

Revolutionising sourcing and procurement with AI: Sourcefy’s vision
Transforming B2B sourcing with AI-driven precision: Sourcefy redefines the supplier discovery and management process.

Why Australia is the hidden gem for global investors
Australia, traditionally known for its strengths in finance, mining, energy, and agriculture, also excels in the technology sector.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

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Owing to the current state of mobile penetration, voice will increasingly be shifting towards higher-value work, including in fintech.

10 unarguable things that great leaders do
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How to keep your remote employees’ networks more secure
As remote working becomes more commonplace, here are some steps you can take to ensure your IT security is not compromised.

5 early lessons I learned building my startup
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A better way to work: independent doers lead the way
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5 analytical tools that entrepreneurs can use to scale
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Why you should start a business in your 40s
In your many years of work experience, you will have figured out your strengths, and be able to use it to your advantage.

Things to consider during the startup fundraising process
By looking at financial projections, the company would have an idea if it can fund plans via cash or should opt for fundraising.

Why fasting is the ultimate productivity hack for entrepreneurs
Who would have thought the secret to working more efficiently lies in a thousand-year-old practice?

These 5 toxic factors cause employees to quit even before they have another job
Founders and managers must know how to retain employees and maintain a good work culture in their businesses.

Here are 8 ways you can utilise expressive blogging for your startup
Blogging is the most effective way of promoting your business without being too up-front about your product or service.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: Flash Coffee looking for a turnaround | Google working on AI that can hear signs of sickness appeared first on e27.

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