Neuron Mobility expands e-scooter service to Korea
The story: Neuron Mobility has announced it is launching a fleet of 2,000 e-scooters in the South Korean capital, Seoul. The company claims the move will create over 100 jobs in Korea and an additional 30 roles in their Singapore headquarters.
The scooters will be fitted with an app-controlled helmet lock – a critical differentiator in the Korean market where recently-updated laws require all riders to wear a helmet.
About Neuron Mobility: Founded in 2016, the Singapore-based operates its e-scooter business across ten cities in Australia and New Zealand. As part of its international plans, the company expanded its business to the United Kingdom last year.
In September 2020, the company announced it received an additional US$12 million in Series A funding co-led by Square Peg and GSR Ventures, bringing their total funding for the round to USD$30.5 million.
Vietcetera Media bags seed funding to expand media platform
Investors: The investment round was led by Genesia Ventures with participation from US-based VC firm Hustle Fund and a group of Vietnam and Hong Kong-based angel investors including Linh Thai, the former CEO of Vingroup Ventures, and Calvin Lam, the Co-founder of Infina.
Also Read: How startups can work the media to their advantage
What will the funding be used for: To grow Vietcetera’s data science, engineering and product teams.
The company is also planning a Series A round this year.
About Vietcetera: Since its launch in 2016, Vietcetera Media is a media company targeting millennials and Gen-Zs. It is one of Vietnam’s few online channels that serves both Vietnamese and English content.
Xebia partners with DigibankASIA to launch digital bank in the Philippines
The story: Xebia, a global digital services consulting firm, announced it has partnered with Singapore-based fintech company DigibankASIA to launch UNObank — a full-service digital bank, which is working with the regulators for a pilot launch in the Philippines.
About UNObank: UNO is DigibankASIA’s neo banking brand. DigitbankASIA claims UNO has an AI-first approach to banking. It’s Cognito platform uses machine vision and learning models for services such as customer onboarding, transaction authorizations, and alternate data-based credit scoring, among others.
Digital wallets thrive in Singapore as e-commerce surges, new FIS report finds
Key Trends:
- The Singapore e-commerce market reached US$7 billion in 2020, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The market is expected to grow by 40 per cent over the next four years, driven by mobile shopping.
- Credit cards (45 per cent), digital wallets (20 per cent) and bank transfers (12 per cent) were the most popular online payment methods in 2020. Digital wallets are forecasted to overtake credit cards as the most popular online payment method by 2024, accounting for almost a third (27 per cent) of the market.
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment methods are also gaining in popularity. Currently only accounting for 3 per cent of the market, it is on track to increase to 13 per cent by 2024.
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Image Credit: Neuron Mobility
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