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Ecosystem Roundup: SoftBank on the upswing | AI fintech funding in SG grows in H2

Dear reader,

SoftBank’s rollercoaster ride seems to have found a thrilling upswing, thanks largely to its chip design subsidiary, Arm. After suffering a substantial setback with a US$6.2 billion loss tied to WeWork and other ventures, SoftBank’s fortunes have dramatically improved. Arm’s recent blockbuster performance, exceeding revenue and earnings expectations, has injected optimism into SoftBank’s investment portfolio.

Arm’s success is propelled by the booming demand for AI technology. With major players like Microsoft and Amazon deploying custom-designed Arm chips, the company stands at the forefront of the AI revolution. As the market for tailored AI chips expands, Arm anticipates a surge in direct sales, translating into higher royalty revenues.

This success story couldn’t come at a better time for SoftBank, especially amidst challenging US-China relations impacting its investments in crucial Asian markets. Buoyed by Arm’s stellar performance, SoftBank’s Vision Fund has notched its first quarterly profit in four consecutive losses, marking a significant turnaround.

Looking ahead, SoftBank faces a pivotal decision on whether to capitalise on its Arm shares or maintain its position. The outcome will likely hinge on the continued momentum of the AI market. As technology continues to evolve, SoftBank’s strategic moves will be closely watched in the ever-changing landscape of investment and innovation.

Sainul,
Editor.

NEWS

Arm’s gains are SoftBank’s gains
Buoyed by Arm, SoftBank’s Vision Fund posted its first quarterly profit after four straight losses and its biggest gain in nearly three years: US$4B. US shares in SoftBank were up 17% following the company’s earnings report, largely on news of Arm’s cheery quarter.

Startup funding in SEA sees a 44% monthly drop in January: Tracxn
Of the 31 deals, 17 were seed-stage deals and 13 early-stage ones; Silicon Box topped the funding chart with a US$200M investment, followed by Motorist (US$60M), Sygnum (US$40M), and Be Group (US$31.2M).

Singapore AI fintech funding grows in H2 2023 despite global decline
Funding for the subsector in the city-state reached over US$333M in H2 2023, a jump of 77% from US$148M in H1 of the same year; There were a total of 24 investment deals for Singapore AI fintech firms throughout the whole year.

Tether, Solana co-founder back Oobit’s US$25M Series A round
Oobit provides a gateway to spending cryptocurrencies in traditional commerce settings; It plans will use the funds to expand into Latin America, the UAE, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and Australia.

Incomlend acquires LC Lite to reach crypto, fiat investors
The merger will empower Incomlend to operate through a new fintech platform, reaching crypto and fiat investors through trade finance as it looks to accelerate its expansion in the Middle East.

Sea Group’s MariBank crosses US$149M AUM for investment account
MariBank, which launched its services in March last year on an invite-only basis, is Singapore’s third digital-native bank. It offers personal savings accounts, business accounts, and business loan products.

Alibaba reports slower growth in core businesses amid rising competition
Alibaba missed Q3 revenue expectations, as the tech giant’s e-commerce and cloud-computing businesses remained sluggish due to increased competition from Pinduoduo and weak consumer sentiment at home.

Thailand removes crypto trading tax in bid to be digital asset hub
Previously, crypto and digital token trading activities were subject to a 7% VAT; The latest development also adds to an existing policy exempting VAT for crypto transfers to a third party, which came into effect last May.

MediConCen bags US$6.85M to take its AI-powered insurtech platform to SEA
Investors are HSBC Asset Management, G&M Capital, ParticleX, and Wings Capital; MediConCen utilises Hyperledger blockchain technology to provide clients with an automatic experience in insurance claims.

Singapore-based Web3 startup Startale Labs nets US$3.5M funding
Investors include UVM Signum Blockchain Fund, Sony Network, and Samsung Next Ventures; Startale Labs specialises in Web3 infrastructure development; It creates core infra and applications for Web3 that is integrated onto the Astar Network blockchain.

Cento Ventures invests in digital procurement platform Doxa
The company plans to utilise the funds to expand into Malaysia; Primarily targeting the construction industry, Doxa’s procure-to-pay platform, Doxa Connex, provides a clear trail of the transactions that occurred.

East Ventures co-launches emissions calculator for Indonesian companies
Ecovisea gauges emissions in three domains: emissions from company-owned sources, those from purchased energy, and indirect emissions from other parts of a company’s value chain; It uses emission factor information from Climatiq, a carbon calculation platform.

Indian central bank defends ‘proportionate’ action on Paytm
The Reserve Bank of India widened its curbs on Paytm’s Payments Bank, barring it from offering many banking services, including accepting fresh deposits and credit transactions across its services.

CONTRIBUTORY POSTS

SaaS revolutionises finance: From streamlining to AI integration
SaaS solutions are only being constantly upgraded to enhance productivity and efficiency in delivering financial services.

Cross-border payments: Can incumbent banks compete with fintechs in Asia?
Those who embrace next-gen technologies and allow evolution in the way they operate will be able to win the cross-border payments battle against fintechs.

Learning from history: Safeguarding crypto in 2024 and beyond
In 2024, it’s vital to glean lessons from 2023 exploits and underscore preventive measures to avert future occurrences.

Operators turned investors: Navigating the shift to startup investing
As we navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape, let us spotlight the role of operators in investment decisions.

Unlocking Southeast Asia’s financial potential with AI-powered fintech
Besides core financial services, SEA has experienced the rise of novel finance apps and new methods of generating online income.

How to become a Thought Leader with the e27 Contributor Programme
This is your one-stop guide to learn more about being a thought leader –and nurture that writer hidden in you.

FEATURES

Why is The Parentinc aggressively venturing into offline spaces?
The Parentinc doesn’t rule out an IPO within the next three years, but at this point, it brings the retail tech footprint into other markets in SEA.

How Twitter’s descent into chaos is paving the way for a new web
The changes at X have been swift and troublesome, leading to a flurry of activity in the social sphere as X alternatives emerged; But now there’s too much of a good thing.

How Alterno’s vision is changing the energy landscape with sand batteries
Alterno’s innovative sand battery technology is shaping the green energy sector, contributing to a more sustainable future.

AC Ventures: Indonesian startups seem “well-positioned” for this shift
According to Adrian Li of AC Ventures, In response to the growing emphasis on ESG considerations among investors, Indonesian startups are gearing up for a more mature and resilient ecosystem.

Auptimate facilitates US$40M raised across 70 syndicates, SPVs
Auptimate is an online platform that aims to help angel syndicates, founders, and fund managers set up and operate SPVs and Syndicates.

ARCHIVES

Beyond Singapore and Indonesia, SEA startups are working their way out of global crises
Singapore and Indonesia continue to top startup funding list despite ongoing slowdown. What does this mean for the rest?

Be open about ways to grow and expand your skills: Cheryl Liew of MHV
Focus on your core skill sets and where you can add value to an organisation, says the Head of Talent at Monk’s Hill Ventures.

Navigating the capital winter: Strategies for successful fundraising in a slow market
As the capital winter could be prolonged, it is time for the founder to know how to survive and sustain longer and wisely.

Rethinking venture capital: 5 ways it goes beyond investing
Venture capital is a dynamic and constantly evolving industry that requires a deep understanding of both the market and the companies being invested in.

Decoding the definition of a startup from an investor’s point of view
Only a company that will be able to exit (realise profits by selling stocks as an investment) through increasing its corporate value due to rapid growth is a startup.

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