Braze is a leading comprehensive customer engagement platform that facilitates interactions between consumers and their favourite brands. Founded in New York City, the platform recently hosted an exclusive roundtable session in Singapore. It brought together top industry leaders from prominent tech companies. The discussions focused on the evolving landscape of customer engagement. Accordingly, it highlighted trends that are shaping the customer journey in an increasingly digital world.

The roundtable was a dynamic exchange of ideas among participants from a diverse array of companies, spanning e-commerce to game development. Attendees shared their experiences, challenges, and innovative strategies to connect with customers. From leveraging AI for efficient management of resources to navigating the best practices for creating data-driven strategies that deliver real, measurable results, the conversation covered a wide range of topics that are reshaping how tech companies approach marketing.

Find out more about Braze and the roundtable discussion in Singapore below!

Braze is Fostering Connections for a Meaningful Customer Journey

Braze specialises in delivering personalised marketing interactions for businesses. It is driven by a passion for fostering meaningful connections between consumers and their beloved brands. With Braze, global brands can ingest and process customer data in real-time. As a result, this enables them to orchestrate and optimise contextually relevant, cross-channel marketing campaigns while continuously evolving their customer engagement strategies.

The company’s success can be attributed to its commitment to innovation in the customer engagement space and its emphasis on real-time interaction capabilities. Braze allows brands to deliver messages based on user behaviour and preferences, helping to create a more personalised and impactful experience. The platform provides a unified dashboard that centralises customer data, enabling marketers to efficiently analyse and optimise their campaigns. It also integrates well with popular data and marketing tools, allowing brands to create seamless experiences without major technical overhauls.

Also read: Should customer journey be personalised in the age of automation?

Braze Partners with e27 for a Roundtable in Singapore

Braze has been expanding its presence in Southeast Asia. Specifically, it has been assisting brands in the region to enhance customer journeys through highly personalised, data-driven interactions. The company is dedicated to equipping businesses across various industries, including e-commerce, fintech, travel, and media, with the tools needed to create deeper, more dynamic customer journeys. During the roundtable in Singapore, held in partnership with e27, participants shared numerous real-world examples of successful customer engagement campaigns from different companies, sparking candid responses and experiences from everyone in attendance.

Distinguished attendees included:

1. Amy Bell, Founder and CMO – The Meat Club
2. Aparna K, Head of Client Success – Rewardz
3. Assaf Cohen, COO – Mighty Bear Games
4. Benjamin Jun Tai, former Head of PR and Comms – Syfe
5. Boon Kgim Khur, CTO – Hashmeta Group
6. Emily Yu Xian, Marketing Manager – discovermarket
7. Nicole Poon, COO – Shopmatic
8. Jonathan Teo, Head of Marketing – Aftershock PC
9. Violet Lim, Co-founder and CEO – Lunch Actually

Also read: The essentials of mapping a customer journey across digital assets

Delivering Impactful Experiences with Braze

The Braze roundtable event in Singapore underscored the increasing significance of customer engagement and the power of collaboration in marketing. Through thought-provoking discussions and shared insights, industry leaders acquired fresh perspectives on how to connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.

As Braze continues to innovate and expand its presence in Southeast Asia, it is clear that the company is not only empowering brands to adapt to a rapidly evolving landscape but also fostering an ecosystem where brands and consumers can thrive together. Braze is leading the way to equip businesses in the region to deliver personalised, impactful experiences that resonate with their customers and drive long-term loyalty.

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This article is produced by the e27 team.

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On Tuesday, SEEDS Capital, the investment arm of Enterprise Singapore, hosted the Deal Fridays X SEEDS Capital pitching and networking session at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology 2024 (SWITCH 2024). The event complemented the SEEDS Deep Tech Showcase at the main exhibition hall.

Hosted at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, this edition of Deal Fridays brings together startups from the Healthcare and Biomedical, Urban Solutions and Sustainability, and Quantum Technology sectors, as well as SEEDS Capital’s network of corporates, partners, global investors and innovators across Singapore’s deep tech startup ecosystem.

Each participating startup will pitch its solutions and innovations to potential partners.

At the event, e27 witnessed presentations from the 15 companies with some of these companies also showcasing their solutions at the SEEDS Deep Tech Showcase as well.

Some of the most eye-catching innovations we saw included Insectta, an ento-powered biotech company. Its patented extraction technology produces high-value biomaterials for the pharmaceutical, organic electronics, and personal wellness industries, among the few.

Also Read: How to incorporate sustainability into corporate strategies

It aims to create sustainably-produced chitosan and melanin with better functionality and yield by working with black flies. It aims to improve accessibility to these high-quality ingredients for manufacturers looking to optimise both performance and circularity.

Also in the area of sustainability was N&E Innovations which has engineered a natural and non-toxic antimicrobial called Vikang99 technology. The material eliminates virulent particles with a long-term effect to prevent transmission and mitigate resistance for a more sustainable future.

The solutions works as a replacement to the traditional plastic-made cling wraps, enabling businesses and customers to cut down on the need for plastic packaging for food products.

From the logistics sector, Speedcargo Technologies leverages computer vision, advanced algorithms, and AI to revolutionise air cargo operations for airlines and ground handlers.

The solutions work in a way best described as “Tetris-like”: First, it scans the boxes and containers that users intend to ship to get clear and precise measurements. Then, based on the information gained through the process, they “design” a better allocation for these boxes and containers, ensuring efficient delivery.

Also Read: Pierrick Bouffaron: Navigating the frontier of deep tech and entrepreneurship

From the health tech sector, QuantumTX develops fitness and medical devices that enhance fitness and health through magnetic muscle energetic training, promoting exercise as medicine.

Central to its innovation is a unique Magnetic-Mitohormesis Technology created in collaboration with ETH Zurich and the National University of Singapore (NUS). This technology uses proprietary magnetic signals to stimulate muscle mitochondria, delivering the benefits of exercise without physical stress or strain.

With this solution, the company aims to create an effect on users’ bodies similar to exercising without the need for exercise itself.

“SEEDS Capital has been hosting Deal Fridays that is an avenue for our portfolio companies to share more about innovation and connect with a wider community of investors and corporates. Our past Deal Fridays has brought success stories for our portfolio companies, translating into a successful investment to continue supporting the companies on their fundraising journey,” said Tan Kaixin, General Manager at SEEDS Capital, on her opening speech.

The post Meet the 4 innovations that catch our eyes at the Deal Fridays X SEEDS Capital event appeared first on e27.

The National Research Foundation has joined hands with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) to launch the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (National GRIP), a SGD50 million (US$38 million) investment initiative for startups.

Announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the NRF, Heng Swee Keat, National GRIP will support startup teams by guiding them in refining ideas, validating market needs, and developing business models.

Also Read: AI gold rush: How OpenAI’s Singapore expansion could reshape the startup ecosystem

The initiative brings together NUS’s Graduate Research Innovation Programme 2.0 (NUS GRIP 2.0) and NTU’s Lean Launchpad (LLP2.0) — which have collectively incubated over 400 startup teams and nearly 160 spin-offs.

National GRIP aims to train up to 300 startup teams by 2028 and nurture over 150 spin-offs by 2030, advancing innovative solutions from lab research to the global market and strengthening Singapore’s leadership in technological entrepreneurship.

This 12-month programme will welcome participants from Singapore’s autonomous universities and A*STAR research institutes. It will provide mentorship from industry leaders and access to a network of experts, enabling them to build founding teams, raise seed financing, and create valuable industry partnerships.

It will also provide access to intellectual property across the institutions, allowing teams to leverage strengths in research, design, and engineering for deeptech venture creation.

National GRIP will work with strategic venture partners, including Legend Capital, SOSV Investments, and Vertex Holdings, to strengthen teams’ investment readiness. These partners will assist in scaling startups, expanding into global markets, and connecting with experienced founders.

Also Read: One-third of Singaporeans never used AI tools in their workplaces: Survey finds

Assoc. Prof. Benjamin Tee, Vice President (Ecosystem Building) at NUS Enterprise, said: “National GRIP will accelerate the growth of globally competitive deep tech startups by providing end-to-end support, aligning closely with our nation’s RIE strategic plans.”

Prof. Louis Phee, Vice President (Innovation and Entrepreneurship) at NTU, added: “This collaboration allows us to combine our strengths in venture building to create high-potential teams that will contribute to Singapore’s economic growth.”

The post Singapore’s National GRIP to cultivate over 300 deeptech startups by 2030 appeared first on e27.

As content marketers, we often find ourselves racing against the ever-changing digital landscape. New trends, platforms, and technologies emerge at a rapid pace, and it can be tempting to focus solely on staying current. 

But from advertising to film to founding my own boutique agency—I’ve learned that while trends matter, there are timeless principles in content marketing that drive real, sustainable results. If we want to enhance our brand visibility, we must focus on these core principles.

Learning from the past to build for the future

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of understanding the history of our craft. Content marketing has roots that go far beyond digital platforms; at its heart, it’s always been about storytelling. When we study the evolution of marketing, we gain insights into what makes a message resonate across different audiences and eras.

I’ve always been a firm believer in reading broadly—not just marketing books but fiction, history, and even poetry. Fiction, in particular, has taught me the power of word choice and narrative structure, which are vital tools for any content marketer. 

Tailoring content to your audience

For startups, the biggest mistake is prioritising quantity over quality. In the rush to create content, we forget that it’s not about how much we produce, but how well we speak to the needs and desires of our audience. Tailoring content is not just about knowing who your audience is—it’s actively listening to their feedback.

Also Read: Tried-and-tested marketing strategies for startups across all stages in Singapore

When I worked in film, we always focused on how the audience would feel when watching a story unfold. In content marketing, the approach is similar: we must craft our messages with empathy, understanding what our audience wants and how we can provide value. Content that resonates on an emotional level is what builds long-term trust and loyalty.

Content marketing is a long game

It’s easy to fall into the trap of seeking immediate results. But content marketing is like farming: you plant seeds, nurture them, and with time, you will see them grow into something fruitful. Building a brand is a long game. It requires patience, consistency, and a deep understanding of your audience’s evolving needs.

I’ve always advocated for long-form content as a powerful tool for building thought leadership. While shorter pieces may grab attention at the moment, it’s the well-researched, in-depth articles or white papers that solidify your authority in your field. For startups, these pieces establish credibility and long-term, competitive advantage in the industry.

Leveraging books as a content marketing tool

In a world where digital media dominates, I still believe in the power of the physical book. Writing and publishing a book isn’t just about sharing knowledge—it’s about establishing yourself as a thought leader and creating a lasting impression. Unlike a blog post or social media update, a book is a tangible, credible piece of content that stands the test of time.

Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand how publishing a book can be an incredibly effective content marketing tool. It not only helps build startup branding but also offers something concrete to your audience—something they can hold, share, and refer back to. It’s a way of saying, “This is what we stand for, and we’re committed to it.”

Also Read: Why traditional marketers must embrace digital marketing: Top 3 skills to learn

Staying open-minded and flexible

Content marketing is not a static field; it’s constantly evolving. To stay relevant, we need to adapt—whether it’s to new platforms, audience feedback, or even shifts within the industry. This means being open to change, but also staying true to the core values of effective communication.

In the past, I’ve seen marketers who are too rigid in their strategies miss out on opportunities to better serve their audiences. Startups benefit from this flexibility, as they can pivot quickly and experiment with various approaches to discover what works best for their audience.

Asking the right questions

In content marketing, success often comes down to asking the right questions. What does my audience truly need? How can I serve them better? What message will resonate most with them at this particular moment? The ability to ask these questions—and adjust our strategies based on the answers—is what sets great marketers apart from good ones.

For startups, content marketing is a cost-effective way to build a reputation, create awareness, and attract early customers. 

At the end of the day, content marketing isn’t just about producing material—it’s about creating meaningful, valuable experiences that connect with people.

In a world where attention is fleeting, it’s those deep, authentic connections that will help your brand stand out.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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In the fast-paced world of customer acquisition, understanding the funnel stages isn’t just essential—it’s transformative. Enter ToFu and MoFu, the pivotal checkpoints in the customer journey.

ToFu, or Top of the Funnel, is where potential customers first intersect with a brand. It’s the pulse-check of brand introduction. Placed right at the onset, “Awareness” sets the stage for the AARRR (Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Referral, Revenue) framework, more commonly known as Pirate Metrics. Simply put, “Acquisition” is the next step, marking the phase where the brand story starts resonating with the audience. 

Then there’s MoFu, the Middle of the Funnel. Here, customers are no longer strangers to the brand. They’re evaluating, contemplating, and sizing up its offerings against their individual needs. In the realm of Pirate Metrics, this is where ‘Activation’ gains traction.

A quick comparison between ToFu and MoFu churn drivers:

• ToFu: Think brand perception and first impressions
• MoFu: It’s all about product alignment with marketing promises

While both are crucial, our spotlight today is on the drivers of ToFu churn. Let’s dive in.

We’re covering more parts of identifying and solving churn in the funnel.

Identifying core ToFu churn drivers

“Clarity in positioning is potential retentiveness in customer experience.”

It’s not just about getting them to register, it’s about becoming a habit-forming product that creates value long-term.

• Positioning pitfalls: A brand that tries to be everything to everyone often ends up resonating with no one. A misaligned brand position might garner attention, but if it’s not reaching the target segment, engagement becomes fleeting. The risk? Mismatched expectations and rapid disengagement. The lack of clarity, especially regarding the niche, can misdirect communication and even product features.
• Expectation versus reality: “Trust is built in drops and lost in buckets.” The gap between promotion and delivery can be lethal. When potential customers encounter a disparity between what was promised and what was served, trust erodes. The result? A potential brand advocate is turning into a passive bystander. Here’s where our Causality frameworks shine. They can precisely pinpoint where marketing promises diverge from actual product deliverables, leading to eroded trust and potential churn. Product-Market Fit Testing your current strategic differentiator versus other potential differentiators can uncover opportunities to lower acquisition costs, find more valuable customers and improve payback periods.
• Inconsistent messaging: “Consistency isn’t about repetition; it’s about alignment.” A product’s feature might be revolutionary, but if the marketing narrative is out of sync, the message gets muddled. The consequence? Confusion, which often translates to churn. A disjointed narrative between what a product offers and how it’s marketed can create confusion, fostering an environment ripe for churn.

The challenges of CPO and CMO misalignment

The road between product creation and market presentation is a two-way street—both the Chief Product Officer (or Product Team) and CMO (or Marketing Team, and Product Marketing in particular for early-stage startups) “drive” on it.

Divergent perspectives

The lens through which a Chief Product Officer views a product, prioritising its features and functions, may not always sync with the broader, market-driven view of the Chief Marketing Officer.

This disparity can often dilute market messages, leading to ambiguity. For example, when launching a D2C insurance product, are you targeting the need for adults getting insurance for their aged parents? Or for helping someone be prepared in light of their hereditary risk of critical illness by helping them understand the costs of potential treatment so they can right-size their coverage?

Also Read: Debunking 5 common misconceptions about product-market fit

This is clearly a dysfunction at the strategy level, preceding execution and its effectiveness in implementing strategy. I call this the “Strategy Gap, ” and a deep coverage follows in my book.

Both are “selling insurance D2C,” but require different product marketing of benefits, different insurance products in the experience, and most crucially, different onboarding experiences to get them from defining their needs and evaluating their options to becoming paying users.

N.B. The three gaps are not to be confused with the Top of Funnel, Middle of Funnel or Bottom of Funnel. The three gaps are the strategy lens that complements the customer journey lens that the Enhanced Pirate Metrics cover.

Lack of cohesive communication

“Silos belong in farms, not in firms.”

Infrequent interactions or misaligned goals between the Product and Marketing can lead to fragmented strategies, potentially jeopardising customer retention in the ToFu stage. When product and marketing narratives diverge, strategic inefficiencies sprout. Entire feature sets may be wasted, and weeks or even months of work can be lost if CMOs and CPOs don’t sit next to each other. Fortnightly syncs just don’t cut it when a startup is moving at the pace it should.

Likewise, campaigns may acquire users unlikely to convert or segments that have high rates of churn, leading to low Return on Advertising Spend (ROAS) and misgivings that marketing is spending advertising but failing to drive revenue.

Different success metrics

When one eyes product innovation and the other targets market penetration, harmonising visions become a tall order. While a CPO might be tracking product retention and features, the CMO might be gauging success by market reach, traffic to a page and brand resonance.

Within the four fits lie tradeoffs that leadership must make deliberately.

For example,

• a focus on profitability vs quantity of users,
• shorter time to revenue vs longer but larger deals etc.

What are the four fits in the overall business model?

Market product fit

This is about finding the right audience before perfecting the rest of the fits. Before even beginning with the product, companies must identify their audience. A lack of clarity here can result in product features that don’t match the needs of the intended audience. From a marketing perspective, the benefits might be communicated in terms that don’t resonate with the target niche.

Product channel fit

A product must fit into its marketing channel like a key in a lock. It’s a two-way street: the product must be built keeping in mind where it will be marketed. In the absence of this fit, the product can seem out of place, leading to subpar engagement or retention rates.

Channel model fit

This revolves around the economics of marketing. If there’s no alignment between the ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) and CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost) with regard to the chosen marketing channel, the results can be economically unsustainable.

Model market fit

Ensuring that the business model aligns with the market’s potential is essential. If the market potential doesn’t support the business model, the company might not achieve its revenue goals, regardless of product quality or marketing prowess.

The risk of misalignment

When marketing and product teams don’t have a precise understanding of these fits, both brand and product marketing can go astray. A misaligned brand position may cast too wide a net, failing to appeal to the intended niche.

Also Read: Achieving product-market fit: The ultimate guide to growth, strategy and positioning

Inconsistent messaging, a gap between promoted benefits and delivered features, or products not tailored for specific niches all stem from this lack of alignment. Essentially, a misstep in understanding and implementing the Four Fits can be a costly mistake, leading to churn, wasted resources, and missed opportunities.

This is particularly evident when users experience message mismatch in registration and onboarding flows. As much as 90 per cent of users download an app and never open it a second time, and misalignment is a significant contributor to this.

“With misalignment, you never know if strategy or execution led to missed targets; and no, there is no clarity in the next steps.”

The Four Fits play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless alignment between a company’s product (CPO’s domain) and its marketing strategies (CMO’s domain).

Optimising through CPO-CMO collaboration

Unity in strategy brings consistency in messaging. Avoid the Strategy Gap.

“Alone we’re smart. Together we’re brilliant.”

Unified messaging

A genuine reflection of the product’s value in marketing campaigns is non-negotiable. It’s the bridge between promise and delivery. It’s imperative for marketing campaigns to mirror the true value proposition of the product, ensuring consistent communication with potential customers.

Regular collaboration

“Encouraging a rhythm of regular inter-departmental sync-ups ensures alignment, fostering mutual objectives and shared success. Promoting a culture where product and marketing teams engage in consistent dialogue ensures strategic alignment, minimising potential missteps.

Shared feedback mechanisms

When feedback flows freely between departments, it nurtures an environment ripe for joint strategy adjustments. Implementing a joint feedback system ensures agile strategy modifications based on real-time insights, paving the way for continuous improvement.

Pirate Metrics and awareness

The well-regarded AARRR (Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Referral, Revenue) framework, i.e. the Pirate Metrics, offers a deep dive into customer engagement. But to truly capture the essence of customer engagement, we must preface it with “Awareness.” After all, before acquisition even begins, a potential customer first becomes aware of a brand or product. So let’s think of it as the Enhanced Pirate Metrics or AAARRR.

Final thoughts

ToFu isn’t just a phase; it’s the cornerstone of the customer journey. Its proper understanding and optimisation set the stage for all downstream interactions. The fusion of CPO-CMO perspectives, steered by causality frameworks, is indispensable for reducing early-stage churn and fostering lasting customer relationships.

For those keen to delve deeper into the intricacies of ToFu optimisation, seeking expertise in causality frameworks can be a game-changer. Stay tuned for our next instalment, where we’ll uncover more secrets of effective customer acquisition.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

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Image credit: Abobe Firefly

This article was first published on August 21, 2023

The post Demystifying ToFu churn: How strategic CPO-CMO collaboration makes the difference appeared first on e27.

Build Your Startup’s Foundations: Strengthening Business Fundamentals Before Scaling and Fundraising

The panel discussion at Echelon Philippines 2024, titled ‘Build Your Startup’s Foundations: Strengthening Business Fundamentals Before Scaling and Fundraising’, offered insights into the critical elements of establishing a successful startup.

Moderated by Natasha Bautista, Head of Growth Marketing and Corporate Relations at 917Ventures, the session featured industry experts Kristine Claire Ongcangco, Founder and CEO at Parlon; Mathieu Sneep, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer at Tablevibe; Luis Sia, Chairman and Co-Founder at PayMongo; and Don Pansacola, CEO and Co-Founder at NextPay.

Watch the session video above to learn more about these insights and the strategies shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

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The post Echelon Philippines 2024: Expert panel on building a strong foundation for startup success appeared first on e27.

If you google cyberbullying, you’ll find page after page of articles advising parents on how to best protect their kids from cyberbullying and bullies. Almost all of them wax eloquent about the importance of open, honest communication with kids. There is plenty of common advice on how to recognise bullying, not give in to peer pressure, and understand – deeply – that nothing ever dies once it’s in cyberspace.

After all, even innocuous things can take on a life of their own and digital footprints from a lifetime ago can come back to haunt the child in adulthood long after they’ve outgrown the beliefs their younger selves swore by what children must never, ever share online, no matter how strong the temptation to be cool and, of course, sounding alarm bells to trusted adults who will address the problem without judgment or victim-blaming.

All of this is good advice.

As a technologist, I have a lot of empathy for those of us trying to raise children in the age of unfettered access to the internet and deep fakes so good they can blur the boundaries between what’s real and manufactured even for the most discerning eye, let alone vulnerable.

As a father and an educationist, I feel helpless rage, profound sadness, and, admittedly, a lot of fear every time I read about ‘trends’ like sextortion (extorting sexually coloured, explicit content in the form of writing, photos, or videos by threatening to reveal embarrassing information about someone online) among teens.

It’s hard to imagine that the very AI we’re using to make education a level playing field for kids around the world is being used to target the very kids we’re trying to help. But here we are.

As important as it is to educate kids sufficiently to prevent them from being cyberbullied, I think we’re missing one crucial piece in the online safety jigsaw puzzle: Are we doing enough to ensure our kids don’t become the bullies that other kids need to be protected from?

It’s an uncomfortable, jarring thought. Every parent tries (as far as possible) to model kindness, compassion, and social responsibility for our kids. We worry endlessly about our children’s moral centre and value system and guilt ourselves to death for every misstep. No one wants to think – let alone see – their kid as someone so dangerous that other kids need active protection from them.

Also Read: Cybersecurity in Asia: Trending toward a safer digital future

And yet, if UNICEF research is telling us that about 30 per cent of teens and tweens across 30 countries have been bullied online, 20 per cent have even skipped school due to it, and 80 per cent of children in 25 countries have at some point have felt that they are in danger of online sexual abuse or exploitation, someone must be on the sender’s side of those missives of online terror, right?

As someone who interacts with children as young as six all the way up to almost-adulthood, there’s one thing I want all parents to know: Although it might often seem like it by the constant need to compete and keep up due to the incessant noise on social media, Dear Parents, your children are not your personal report cards.

And here’s another: Being a cyberbully does not make a child awful or irredeemable, inherently. It just makes them someone who made a mistake and needs help course-correcting.

In an ideal world, our kids would learn and model their behaviour only on that which we want them to learn and retain. They’d be able to filter out all the harmful noise around them and have our sense of right and wrong encoded in them like it’s part of our shared DNA.

But that’s an unrealistic expectation to have. We know that the prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that controls impulsiveness and decision-making. We also know that it is one of the last parts of the brain to develop, and the process of development continues well into adulthood. It’s largely the reason teenagers behave erratically, because the emotional centre of their brain is maturing faster than the reasoning part.

As someone who also interacts with parents day in and day out, I can’t tell you the number of times I see parents personalising even the idea of ‘failure’ in their children. Almost like it’s an indictment of their upbringing.

It’s good to assume responsibility for your children’s actions – as parents, we are, after all, their foremost teachers. But it’s wrong to turn this responsibility into a burden that doesn’t allow kids the space to make mistakes and learn from them.

I see this all the time: Warning signs that could have been caught – should have been caught – get ignored because we don’t want to see our child having failed at being ‘good’, which, by extension means we have failed at being good parents as well.

Also Read: Understanding cybersecurity threats: What you need to know to stay safe

I can also tell you this: Once we’re able to reframe the narrative around our kids’ mistakes, it becomes so much easier to prevent them.

An unspoken rule at BrightCHAMPS, across all our countries and verticals, is to ensure that our students and their parents or other primary caregivers are socialised in how to avoid bullying, both as the receiver and the perpetrator.

Oddly, not being a bully requires a lot of the same kind of work and educating that not being bullied does:

• How to recognise bullying: Many bullies don’t know they’re being bullies because when you’re young and impetuous it’s hard to discern the balance of power and the difference between banter/joking and picking on someone. It’s hard for kids to understand how their words are affecting the person receiving them. So recognising bullying needs to be a conversation not just from the POV of how you feel when you hear someone say something nasty to you, but also practising active compassion on how your words are impacting the ones you’re saying them to.
• Not giving in to peer pressure: In addition to what I said above, I’ve seen that sometimes bullying happens not due to personal dislike for the child being bullied, because it’s easier to fall in line with the popular kids than do/say things that could make you their target. Being a teen is hard, being a teen making waves and challenging what’s popular is harder. In my experience what works and is practical is to create avenues for kids to alert adults without being caught in the crosshairs or becoming a “hero”. Most kids are terrified of the tide of popularity turning against them.
• Making mistakes and taking responsibility for them: This is the hardest part – letting kids know that at the end of the day, cyberbullying is a mistake that can be corrected, while doing everything we can to ensure that our kids don’t actually make them. How do we tell them that they will be loved, accepted, helped, and not judged even if they do end up faltering while also teaching them the gravity of making this mistake? It’s a constant conversation, and one that is successful only when kids believe that they will not be instantly branded as bad, evil, or problematic the instant someone ‘finds out’. Mistakes become crimes when they keep trying to cover it up with escalating acts of cover-up to prevent being ‘caught’. Missteps become permanent personality traits when children fear rejection.

To sum up, I can only say that there is no silver bullet cure to the problem of cyberbullying. And with more sophisticated tech tools that can become a nuisance for all of us parents when the right tools meet the wrong intent, the reality is that cyberbullying isn’t going anywhere.

Our best hope is acknowledging that there are two sides to every problem and that sometimes our kids might find themselves on the creator’s side instead of the victim’s side. And have a plan on how to walk them back from this dangerous ledge.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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The software outsourcing scene is no longer a one-horse race; it’s more like a tech rodeo! Recently, a lively debate kicked off on the “developersIndia” subreddit, asking: Who’s this rising tech star in Southeast Asia? Spoiler alert: it’s Vietnam!

The thread turned into a lively, free-for-all about the changing face of outsourcing, with participants practically salivating over the potential cost savings and the shiny new reputation of Vietnamese developers. Who better to weigh in than a Vietnamese pro working in a global outsourcing firm? I’ll do my best to keep it balanced, though I may have a slight soft spot for my fellow countrymen!

Full disclaimer: We got curious and decided to take a closer look, checking the facts against all the different things people were saying about this hot topic on a public forum. But we want to be upfront: we’re just here to explore, not to take sides. This is all about looking at the evidence and letting you make your own judgment.

Balancing the budget — Vietnam?

Yes and No. Calling developers in Vietnam cheaper than in India would greatly generalise the answer. Looking at the market medium cost for developers, we believe Vietnam is at a slightly better rate than India.

While India has long been the go-to for competitive rates, Vietnam is stepping onto the stage with a charming smile and an attractive offer. Just take a peek at the pay scale for junior Indian software developers, which ranges from a modest US$601 to US$1.5K+ per month or making US$29/hour. But beware! Hiring developers in bustling cities like Chennai, Pune, or Mumbai can feel like getting a ticket to a premium concert—prices can skyrocket!

Now, let’s turn our gaze to Vietnam. Here, average software developer salaries start at around US$25 per hour. Monthly wages for junior and mid-level developers typically range from ≥US$400 to ≥ US$1.4K+. Even in tech hotspots like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang, you’ll find salaries (and living costs) that won’t leave your wallet gasping for air.

Specifically, Vietnam’s salary is approximately 29.82 per cent of China’s! So, why not get more bang for your buck without sacrificing quality?

Just how skilled are they?

Both Indian and Vietnamese developers are incredibly talented, so it’s a win-win for both sides! As we explore the strengths and weaknesses of these two dynamic tech communities. While each has its unique flair, one thing stands out: both markets are filled with outstanding developers recognised and respected worldwide.

Also Read: New player emerges in Vietnamese startup ecosystem: Accelerator as a service

India and Vietnam boast brilliant developers, but each has its own strengths and quirks. India has built a tech empire thanks to its top-notch educational institutions and booming tech scene. According to NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies), India produces over 1.5 million engineering graduates.

Out of the global population of 28.7 million developers, 19 per cent of software engineers reside in India today, all pros in Java, Python, and NET. Indian developers offer the second largest AI/ML BDA talent pool globally and stand third in the installed supply of Cloud professionals.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is also on the rise, fuelled by a government keen on boosting STEM education and the emergence of vibrant tech hotspots. As of 2024, the country boasts approximately 530,000 software engineers, with around 57,000 IT professionals graduating annually from universities and private institutions.

According to the Pentalog Report 2022, developers from Hanoi are flexing their skills as the fifth-best globally, particularly in C/C++. This ranking puts them shoulder-to-shoulder with Moldova, Germany, and Ukraine.

These Vietnamese developers are also catching up with the latest tech trends, diving into mobile app development, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence like pros. They’re quick learners, too, mastering new programming languages and frameworks faster than you can say “outsourcing.”

Putting English to the test — Indians?

English has emerged as a vital player in the race to identify the world’s next global talent pool. India and Vietnam are stepping up to the challenge, revamping their education systems and inspiring citizens to sharpen their English-speaking skills. Yet, despite these efforts, the competition remains neck and neck. It would be a stretch to say that Vietnamese speakers have a clear advantage over their Indian peers in mastering English. So, what’s really going on in this fascinating showdown?

Also Read: India’s big opportunity with open data

In India, English feels more like that cool foreign cousin you admire rather than the family member you grew up with. On average, Indian English speakers enjoy moderate fluency, which places India at an impressive #60 on the 2023 English Proficiency Index, with a score of about 504 out of 800. Not too shabby, right? Yet, there’s still plenty of room for growth and refinement in their language skills!

And here’s a fun fact: around 135 million people in India can speak English, making up about 9.71 per cent of the population. The language landscape is vibrant and full of potential!

Over in Vietnam, the developer scene is buzzing with a mix of English proficiency levels. According to the same 2023 English Proficiency Index, Vietnam lands a little on top of India, at #58, with a 505 out of 800 score. Way to go! However, according to the Vietnam Total Workforce Index 2022, the proportion of Vietnamese workers proficient in English accounts for only five per cent of the total workforce.

Developers who go all the way

Both cultures bring their unique flavor to the outsourcing table, making the experience quite an adventure! A Reddit thread recently poked fun at the “chalta hai” attitude often associated with Indian developers, raising eyebrows about deadlines and project management. While it’s not a universal truth, it underscores the need for a little cultural TLC in outsourcing.

Flashback to a Quora chat from four years ago, where the praises for Vietnamese work ethics still echo today! Vietnamese developers are like the superheroes of the coding world—committed to quality, eager to please, and with an eye for detail that would make a watchmaker jealous. In my experience, they consistently go above and beyond, turning client satisfaction into art. It’s no wonder many clients are looking for these dedicated partners who make high-quality work their mission!

Facts or “cap”?

So, have the questions been answered?

Well, sort of! Both countries are like treasure troves of top-notch software developers known for their dazzling skills and innovative flair.

But hold your horses. Choosing the right country comes with a price: choosing the right local partner. A reliable collaborator can be your compass, guiding you through the local market’s twists and turns while helping you dodge potential landmines. Without a trusty sidekick to manage the chaos, figuring out the best country for your outsourcing adventure can turn into a wild goose chase.

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81RAVENS, the Singaporean company behind the free-to-play 3v3 arena shooter PARAVOX, has raised US$4.5 million in seed funding led by Japanese investors DIGITAL HEARTS HOLDINGS and GREE Ventures.

The funding will support the development and marketing of PARAVOX, which will launch on the Solana blockchain.

Also Read: From niche hobby to billion-dollar industry: The meteoric rise of esports

81RAVENS was founded in 2020 by a team of experienced game developers, publishers, and league organisers in Japan and Southeast Asia. Its inaugural title, PARAVOX, features a unique blend of movement, skill mastery, and tactical precision.

PARAVOX is currently in Global Open Alpha and claims to have clocked over 100,000 downloads on the Epic Games Store following its Private Alpha launch in Japan and Southeast Asia.

81RAVENS has chosen to deploy on the Solana blockchain. With its fast, scalable infrastructure and extremely low transaction costs, Solana enables real-time gameplay and smooth on-chain integrations, perfect for enhancing the player experience.

This year, PARAVOX hosted the PARAVOX Global Rapid Tournament (PGRT), its first major esports event, which featured a prize pool of 100 million yen and attracted over half a million viewers, with 23 esports teams participating.

81RAVENS claims that world-class professional teams from Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America, such as LOUD, ZETA DIVISON, and Blacklist International have already partnered with PARAVOX.

Also Read: For gamers by gamers: How Razer incorporates its understanding of user behaviour into product development

PCI, the second major esports tournament, is planned to take place in December, with top-tier teams like LOUD among the participants.

The game is currently being enhanced and improved in preparation for its Steam release, scheduled for the end of 2024.

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In 2018, Dan Williams, a PhD from the University of Reading, and Josh Eadie, a robotics and machine learning expert, recognised a ubiquitous but overlooked problem: energy waste from electronic devices left plugged in or on standby.

The duo saw substantial environmental and financial costs of this unnecessary power draw, particularly in commercial settings.

Driven to make a difference, they harnessed their expertise and developed an innovative solution: an AI-powered smart socket to reduce energy consumption at the source.

Also Read: measurable.energy’s AI smart sockets set for SEA expansion with Vertex’s backing

In early 2018, Eadie built the first prototype, embedding intelligent controls directly into plug sockets. By early 2019, they had produced the initial batch of prototypes, followed by pilot installations in April 2020.

That was the beginning of measurable.energy, their UK-headquartered company, which is now helping businesses reduce energy waste and cut costs.

“While typically overlooked in favour of larger systems such as HVAC, plug power makes up nearly 40 per cent of a commercial building’s total energy use,” says Williams, co-founder and CEO of measurable.energy. “Our smart sockets work autonomously to detect and eliminate this power drain, allowing businesses to cut electricity bills and reduce carbon emissions by up to 50 per cent.”

AI-driven insights for better energy management

The AI-driven technology within measurable.energy’s smart sockets plays a key role in identifying and adapting to usage patterns. The system learns from each device’s behaviour, detecting when devices are likely in use or idle and automatically switching them on or off accordingly.

Users can access real-time data via a dedicated dashboard, enabling them to monitor, manage, and optimise energy consumption at a granular level. This detailed feedback helps businesses improve carbon tracking accuracy and ensure compliance with energy regulations.

“Since the product launch in 2023, we have helped reduce nearly 200 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in commercial deployments,” claims Williams. “In commercial buildings, which account for 28 per cent of global carbon emissions, measurable.energy targets plug power waste, thereby supporting companies in achieving their net-zero ambitions.”

Currently, measurable.energy’s smart sockets are available for businesses through a pricing model that combines a one-time hardware fee with a software license for AI-driven functionality.

Measurable Energy offers smart sockets for businesses. Their pricing model consists of a one-time hardware fee and a software license fee for AI-driven functionality.

While expansion into the residential sector is planned for the future, the company remains focused on B2B clients for now.

With widespread adoption, the startup envisions cumulative positive impacts across both commercial and residential sectors, advancing sustainable energy practices on a large scale.

measurable.energy recently raised £4 million (US$5.2 million) in a Series A+ funding round co-led by Vertex Exploratory Fund, a fund under Vertex Holdings (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek), and UK-based cleantech VC firm Clean Growth Fund. This capital injection will support R&D efforts, allowing the company to expand manufacturing capabilities and add new features to its smart sockets, with a particular focus on expansion in Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.

Expansion in Southeast Asia

“One of the most promising aspects of our expansion strategy lies in Southeast Asia,” Williams adds. “We see considerable potential in markets like Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, where the UK-standard socket is widely used. This compatibility, coupled with the region’s push toward energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, has created a favorable environment for measurable.energy’s technology.”

Also Read: 5 reasons why energy management is key to individual and organisational success

The venture plans to partner with local businesses and experts in Southeast Asia to streamline entry, leveraging their insights to ensure smooth adoption and local relevance.

Looking ahead, measurable.energy plans to launch a version of its smart socket compatible with US outlets, making strides toward the North American market.

Additionally, the startup is developing a desk extension module to provide users with more flexibility and connectivity, allowing the technology to integrate even further into daily operations.

The team is gearing up for a Series B funding round in 2025, setting ambitious milestones to enter new international markets, boost unit sales, and scale its R&D workforce.

As measurable.energy continues to expand and innovate, its impact on reducing energy waste and promoting sustainable practices could shape the future of energy management on a global scale.

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