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Ecosystem Roundup: TNG Digital eyes IPO in 2-3 years | Google CEO announces US$120M fund for AI education | Oyo acquires Motel 6 for US$525M

Dear reader,

TNG Digital’s potential IPO signals a significant milestone for Malaysia’s fintech landscape. As the largest fintech player in the country, the company has grown rapidly since its inception in 2017 through strategic partnerships with major global players like Ant Financial and Alibaba’s Lazada.

The projected IPO, which could raise over US$300 million, highlights its ambition to strengthen its presence both domestically and across Southeast Asia. The move also aligns with the broader trend of the region’s tech firms seeking capital to expand and compete in a region marked by digitalization and fast-growing financial inclusion.

TNG Digital’s services, including its widely adopted Touch ‘n Go eWallet, already position it as a key enabler of digital payments in Malaysia, boasting over 20 million verified users. With cross-border capabilities and partnerships with global payment giants like Visa, the company is poised for further growth, potentially reaching unicorn status before the IPO.

This expansion into adjacent financial services, such as lending, remittances, and insurance, will only solidify its leadership in the digital financial ecosystem.

However, the timeline remains fluid, as ongoing deliberations suggest the company is carefully considering market conditions before making a final decision on its public offering.

Sainul,
Editor.

NEWS & VIEWS

TNG Digital eyes Malaysian IPO in next 2-3 years, sources say
The Malaysian fintech could raise over US$300M; TNG Digital could potentially fetch the valuation of a unicorn before the potential IPO; The company raised US$179.30M from an equity funding round in 2022 led by Lazada and Touch ‘n Go.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces US$120M fund for global AI education
Pichai pointed to four broad opportunities for AI: helping people access information in their own language, accelerating scientific discovery, providing alerts and tracking around climate disasters, and fueling economic progress.

Crypto scammers hack OpenAI’s press account on X
Late Monday afternoon, OpenAI Newsroom, an account OpenAI recently created to spotlight product- and policy-related announcements, posted about a supposedly new OpenAI-branded blockchain token, “$OPENAI.”

SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son has been planning his comeback
Son largely disappeared from the public eye after SoftBank’s Vision Fund took huge losses from investments like WeWork; Now SoftBank is betting big on AI, and finding success by taking chip design company Arm public.

Temasek-backed ABC Impact leads Aye Finance’s US$30M Series G
Aye is an MSME lender; With a national presence spanning over 478 branches, Aye has diversified its product offerings to cater to the diverse needs of India’s rapidly growing MSME customer segment across various industries and clusters.

Adam Neumann’s startup Flow opens co-living community in Saudi Arabia
The rent for the furnished units starts at US$3,500 a month and includes hotel-style services such as laundry and housekeeping; Flow is building three other properties with nearly 1,000 apartments in Riyadh.

India’s Oyo acquires Motel 6 for US$525M
The Indian startup opened its first US location in 2019 and now operates more than 320 hotels across 35 states; Motel 6 is arguably the best-known budget motel brand in the US, with a franchise network of around 1,500 locations in the US and Canada.

Sam Altman catapults past founder mode into ‘god mode’ with latest AI post
The OpenAI leader presents an incredibly positive update on the state of AI, hyping its world-changing potential; Far from being an occasionally helpful alternative to a Google search or a homework helper, AI will change humanity’s progress.

MDEC launches investor matching programme
It is a key initiative aimed at connecting tech startups with a vast network of investors; Since its inception in 2020, the programme has facilitated over US$300M in capital matching, significantly supporting the growth of Malaysia’s digital economy.

Vietnam’s VinFast’s Q2 gross loss widens on impairment charge
The gross loss stood at US$224M, which is equivalent to a gross margin of negative 62.7%; This was primarily due to an impairment charge on NRV of US$104 million, compared to US$5 million in Q1.

Indonesia’s eFishery to expand Indian market after positive first year achievements
In India, eFishery has adopted business practices that have been implemented in Indonesia, including the automated smart eFeeder, feed trading services, fingerling support, medication, and pond management with best practices for farmers.

Mox Capital announces strategic support for rapid-scaling startups across SEA
COO Nguyen Dinh Giang said the US-based VC firm seeks to nurture rapid growth in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, especially those that fit the fund’s fast pace and alternative mandate.

FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

The future of Thai startups: Key players shaping the ecosystem
Thailand’s startup ecosystem is booming, driven by government support, investor interest, and key sectors like fintech and agritech.

FROM ARCHIVES

Expert advice for crafting a winning pitch deck, straight from the community
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Cracking the code: Key traction metrics early-stage investors seek in startups
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Innovation meets piety: How Netverse sets itself apart as a sharia-compliant metaverse
The IBF Net Group’s involvement in Web3 includes the IBFX token and a number of blockchain projects, including Netverse.

Muuse wants to eliminate single-use containers in Singapore’s thriving F&B scene
In this project, Muuse received support from the SG Eco Fund. It is also expected to launch a full commercial partnership in 2024.

Evercomm wants to pave the way for corporate decarbonisation success
In 2024, Evercomm is looking forward to expanding to the Middle East and Europe, after winning an award at the COP28.

Startups should celebrate failures. This is how to keep the experimenting culture alive
As founders, how do decide which experiments to run and what needs to be considered before experimenting? Startups should celebrate failures.

Essential insights: Crafting a comprehensive cap table for founders
When preparing for a cap table, pre- and post-money valuations are some of the key elements that founders must consider and include.

Visenze reveals its approach to B2B customer acquisition
B2B platforms have their own unique approach to customer acquisition. This is how Visenze does theirs.

The way startups are finding out if there is a pain point to solve
Only when the customers are willing to pay for the solution can the idea be said to be validated.

The coworking experience is not just about space but more about community
Coworking spaces are pushing the boundaries of traditional office spaces, embodying the perfect representation of the modern world.

Equity harmony: Strategies for fair founder equity distribution without discord
So, how much equity should you give your co-founder so that he feels motivated to join and work long hours to make the company successful?

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Brands as forces for change: Shaping the future through purpose
In today’s world, where things are fractured — geopolitically, socially, economically — brands have the power to bring people together.

Mastering AI prompt craft: One rule to rule them all
AI models are powerful, but they rely on clear, structured, and thoughtful inputs to generate useful outputs; A well-crafted prompt can save you time, ensure more relevant results, and enable you to fully leverage the AI’s capabilities.

Transforming customer insights into preventative wellness solutions: NalaGenetics’ story
NalaGenetics integrates preventive care with genetic testing to improve health outcomes and drive lasting change.

Filling the funding gap to fuel startup success
Thankfully, the landscape of startup financing is undergoing a significant transformation with the emergence of alternative funding options.

How to use Gen AI enabled chatbots for workplace safety?
By using the power of Gen AI, industries can not only meet but exceed current safety standards, setting a new benchmark for the future.

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