VC firm OBOR Management to accelerate investment in Cambodia with newly-approved license

The story: Venture capital firm and fund manager OBOR Management has been issued a Fund Management License by the Securities Exchange Commission of Cambodia (SECC).

The background: The Fund Management License is one of several licenses the SECC began issuing since mid-2018 that allow private individuals or entities to act as fund managers in Collective Investment Schemes (CISs). Only those with licenses can raise funds and invest them on behalf of individuals.

The plan: With the new license, OBOR Management is now able to offer small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups alternate sources of regulated funding while giving local and international investors the opportunity to invest in fast-growing Cambodian businesses.

OBOR Management Chairperson Christophe Forsinetti, said: “The license will help expand financing strategies for SMEs and startups beyond bank and Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) loans while allowing local investors to diversify investments into new asset classes previously limited to real estate purchases and bank deposits.”

What is OBOR Management: OBOR Management is a Phnom Penh-based venture capital firm and fund manager investing in SMEs and startups led by visionary entrepreneurs building market-leading brands. The firm supports SMEs and startups through CISs, access to resources and networks, and hands-on mentorship and guidance.

Also Read: The rise of the subscription economy in Southeast Asia

Malaysian product, service subscription marketplace PopWonders officially kick off operation

The story: PopWonders, a Malaysia-based e-commerce marketplace specialising in product and service subscription with an aim to help all small and medium business owners to start an online business via the subscription model, announced its official launch. The company’s website will officially launch in the third quarter of 2020.

How PopWonders works: PopWonders helps merchants to launch their own subscription-based businesses by streamlining the processes for them.

PopWonders allows merchants or retailers to list their products and use the backend system for free. The platform then automates subscription processing and transactions for online merchants and charges a minimal fee to the customers for each transaction.

PopWonders also provides services such as inventory management/shipping tools, brand-building assistance via influencer marketing, hybrid AI chatbot, and in-depth data analytics.

The goal: PopWonders aspires to prop up the retail fad in Malaysia by helping small and medium business owners expand their business online through this e-commerce platform. Instead of focussing on the closing ‘the deal’, an individual sale with a big profit margin, PopWonders wants merchants to secure recurring revenues by continuously building good relationships with their clientele and offering a unique and delightful online shopping experience.

PopWonders will launch ‘Subscription Academy’ soon to guide merchants on how to start a subscription-based business.

Also Read: Budget hotel startup ZEN Rooms’s Co-founder Kiren Tanna steps down after Yanolja’s acquisition

South Korean leisure tech group Yanolja partners Malaysian Bnetworks to expand hotel tech solutions to Southeast Asia

The story: Yanolja, a South Korea-operated unicorn leisure platform has expanded its hotel tech solutions to Southeast Asia via a partnership with Malaysian accommodation platform Bnetworks. According to an article by Digital News Asia, Bnetworks is an incubatee of Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) Corp.

The deal: Further report noted that both companies will “combine its respective technologies and hardware to roll-out IoT & AI-driven automated room management systems (RMS)”. They will focus on countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

What is Yanolja: Yanolja is a South Korean unicorn startup focusses on providing all services for travel including accommodation, leisure, and transportation. In the offline sector, it is one of the largest franchise operators in Southeast Asia, managing more than 10,000 rooms.

It has integrated entire hotel operations, covering from front office to back office including housekeeping and maintenance. Yanolja connects the B2B2C value chain of the travel industry with a one-stop network and integrates it into a single platform.

What is Bnetworks: Bnetworks is a member of MDEC’s GAIN programme that is designed to catalyse the expansion of Malaysian tech companies to reach the global stage. The company provides a smart living through innovative automation and digitalisation solutions for private and commercial dwellings through its bWave IoT platform.

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Image Credit: Vouchlim Ton on Unsplash

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