Asia’s pollution crisis has evolved beyond an environmental concern; it’s now a defining economic and health emergency.
According to the ‘Unlocking Capital for Climate x Health’ report by AVPN and Prudence Foundation, air and water pollution are responsible for a staggering share of premature deaths in major Asian economies. India and Indonesia, in particular, face some of the world’s worst urban air quality, where exposure to PM2.5 particles is now one of the leading premature deaths.
The economic losses are equally sobering. Air pollution costs the Philippines over US$44 billion annually, while India saw 1.6 million deaths linked to pollution in 2021. Yet amid this grim reality, investors are beginning to investment opportunities. With 87 per cent citing pollution control as a top investment priority, capital is flowing into adaptive technologies aligned with government efforts like India’s US$1.7 billion National Clean Air Programme.
Startups such as Devic Earth are showing how scalable innovation can align profit with impact. Its subscription-based “clean air as a service” model– already proven to reduce PM2.5 by up to 50 per cent in industrial settings–exemplifies how the future of climate tech in Asia will hinge less on grand infrastructure and more on accessible, replicable solutions.
REGIONAL
Singapore outsmarts the world in AI–ranked No.1 global hub: Singapore leads with 1,100 AI job openings on LinkedIn, hosts 666 AI companies listed on Crunchbase and offers ~US$123k annual salary for AI specialists. Singapore is home to three major AI institutions, including the Centre for Frontier AI Research and the NUS AI Lab.
GCash delays planned IPO to late 2026, say sources: The company had previously considered going public as early as this year, but the IPO is now expected later than anticipated as the Philippine stock market sags. GCash aims to raise between US$1B and US$1.5B, which could set a new record for the country’s largest IPO.
Superbank posts US$4.9M Q3 profit: Its net interest income rose 176% year-on-year to US$66.3M as of September 2025, while total loan disbursement climbed 84% to US$542.5M and total assets rose 70% to US$994.5M. The bank’s customer base reached 5 million since launching its digital banking app in June 2024.
Thailand-based GetLinks acquires HK edutech firm Xccelerate: The deal combines GetLinks’s AI-driven job matching tools with Xccelerate’s workforce development programmes in AI, big data, cybersecurity, and UX/UI design. This move aims to address the region’s demand for digital skills and AI-ready workers.
Sea founder Forrest Li sees US$1T valuation as possible through AI: Sea has started using AI in areas such as customer service and gaming, after making the technology a bigger priority over the past year. Li cautioned employees about potential share price volatility, referencing a previous stock drop in late 2021.
Antler backs Malaysian AI startups M3TRIQ, NCSpeech driving innovation in biotech and fintech: M3TRIQ is a biotech innovator applying AI to protein design whereas NCSpeech is a voice AI platform transforming debt recovery. Both companies exemplify how AI is reshaping traditional industries in SEA, from cellular agriculture to financial services.
Secai Marche cultivates US$6M to build a fresher, smarter food ecosystem in SEA: Investors include Kuroneko Innovation Fund II and NX Global Innovation Investment. The funds will be used to develop a real-time temperature-controlled delivery and monitoring network to minimise waste and maintain product freshness.
REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS
Air and water pollution are killing millions, but also creating new investment frontiers: Indian startup Devic Earth exemplifies how a tech-driven, subscription model can succeed in this market. Its Pure Skies system clears PM from the air, creating wide-area clean air zones without reliance on expensive filters or heavy infra.
Inside Taiwan Innotech Expo 2025: Where AI innovation meets real-world inclusion: Taiwan Innotech Expo 2025 showcased AI innovation across accessibility, safety, and eldercare, featuring technologies from Ubestream and ITRI.
How BluMaiden uses AI to transform small-molecule drug discovery: The company has developed what it refers to as a transformative approach to small molecule drug discovery: the limited diversity of chemical compounds in traditional chemical libraries, which restricts the scope of potential drug candidates and hinders innovation in drug discovery.
INTERNATIONAL
Kakao founder acquitted of SM stock manipulation charges: Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison sentence and a US$350,000 fine, alleging Brian Kim and associates manipulated SM’s share price during a 2023 acquisition battle with Hybe.
Japan tops in-depth AI awareness globally: survey: 53% of respondents in Japan said they have heard or read a substantial amount about the technology, according to a Pew Research Center survey. France and Germany followed closely at 52% and 51%, while the global median was 34%.
China’s generative AI user base doubles to 515M in H1 2025: This adoption rate stands at 36.5% of the country’s internet users. Most users prefer domestic AI models, with those under 40 years old making up 74.6% of the user base, and 37.5% holding a higher education degree.
S Korea’s Gmarket to invest US$492M, expand globally with Alibaba: The e-commerce platform owned by Shinsegae Group said US$350.4M will support existing sellers, while US$14M will go to new sellers and small- and medium-sized enterprises, a 50% rise from the previous year.
Startup deals hit record in Japan before listing curbs: Startup buyouts in Japan reached a record high in 2024 as anticipation of new Tokyo Stock Exchange rules and regulatory pressure prompted founders to sell instead of pursuing public listings.
SEMICONDUCTOR
OpenAI’s massive chip bet highlight aggressive strategy: OpenAI has committed to acquiring 26 gigawatts of advanced data processors from Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom in less than a month. The ChatGPT parent, which does not expect to be profitable until 2029, is forecasting billions in losses this year despite generating about US$13B in revenue.
Nvidia launches first US-made Blackwell chip with TSMC: The Blackwell wafer will be processed at TSMC Arizona, which will manufacture advanced chips for AI, telecommunications, and high-performance computing using 2-, 3-, and 4-nanometer processes as well as A16 chips.
TSMC seeks approval to build new chip plant in Taiwan: The new semiconductor plant, the A14 fab, will focus on manufacturing high-speed wafers using the company’s 1.4-nanometer process, which promises faster computing and improved power efficiency compared to its 2nm process set for production this year.
US chip distributor Arrow to be removed from trade blacklist: The Colorado-based chip distributor faced sanctions earlier this month after the Bureau of Industry and Security linked several companies to Arrow for allegedly aiding Iranian proxies in acquiring US technology.
AI
Why your AI strategy should be less ‘iron man’ and more ‘ironing board’: For SMEs in Southeast Asia, AI’s greatest value lies not in chatbots but in back-office automation that protects human trust. It’s the boring, repetitive, and often-overlooked stuff that we can easily double-check.
Why agentic AI isn’t what the hype suggests: What we have today isn’t autonomy at all: it’s orchestration. And while orchestration can be powerful, it comes with brittleness, cost overheads, and control issues that leaders need to confront before betting their business on it.
AI revolution: Balancing human empathy and robotic efficiency in customer service: In the customer service business, every minute counts. Being able to save time to summarise a call with a customer means that an agent could take an extra call with another, ensuring they stay happy with your company’s services.
Navigating the AI revolution: An APAC perspective on workforce transformation: The APAC region’s unique characteristics position it perfectly to lead the global AI transformation. IDC projects AI spending in Asia Pacific to reach US$110B by 2028, with a 24% CAGR, underscoring the region’s commitment to future-ready workforce strategies.
Beyond the inbox: How SEA startups can drive growth with AI-powered communication: According to Stephen Hamill of 8×8, growth fuelled by AI-powered engagement will become a critical to startup communication strategies.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Re-skilling Malaysia: Why the nation’s workforce transformation needs precision, not just policy: The country’s workforce faces automation risks, making data-driven, precision re-skilling through intelligent LMS platforms key to future readiness.
QR payments: Southeast Asia’s digital lifeline or just a stepping stone?: QR payments transformed financial inclusion in Southeast Asia, but security risks and perception limits may keep them a bridge technology. Trust issues, fraud risks, and its image as a “small transaction tool” may prevent QR payments from becoming the ultimate solution
Fintech growth in Asia: Why businesses should prioritise expansion in the region: The potential for fintech companies to establish themselves in Asia is significant. They can provide local businesses with accessible and affordable financial services that improve their efficiency and competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Building smarter, customer-centric businesses with integrated technology in Asia-Pacific: APAC SMEs must embrace integrated digital transformation to meet rising customer expectations and stay competitive in a fast-evolving market.
The most common supply chain threats and how to mitigate them: Suppliers, especially smaller businesses, often lack the resources and expertise to implement strong cybersecurity measures, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to infiltrate larger, well-protected organisations.
AI as a question of national security and independence: Guardrails that govern AI reasoning and transparency matter, but without control over infrastructure and assets, those guardrails could be changed or removed by foreign entities.
US$25 billion lost: Crypto’s deepfake defence is failing: The rise of deepfakes has exposed vulnerabilities in traditional security systems, particularly those reliant on outdated KYC and anti-fraud measures. As these defences struggle to keep pace, tokenised identity emerges as a powerful solution.
The post Ecosystem Roundup: Pollution crisis fuels new investments | Singapore tops global AI hub ranking | Kakao founder cleared appeared first on e27.