An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ABBANK), a prominent retail bank in Vietnam, has made a strategic investment in fintech company Backbase launching its new business digital banking platform, ABBANK Business.

With this move, ABBANK aims to digitally transform its services, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Vietnam.

ABBANK’s investment in the Backbase platform is a key component of its broader digital transformation strategy, aiming to simplify banking for SMEs and entrepreneurs. The new ABBANK Business platform delivers features, including customisable account numbers, quick bill payments, international money transfers, and a comprehensive dashboard for easy asset and transaction management.

According to Pham Duy Hieu, CEO of ABBANK, “The new application makes banking easy, safe and convenient for our clients while enhancing ABBANK’s efficiency and enabling us to achieve transformative SME digital banking goals”.

Also Read: The banking revolution: Balancing convenience and security in the digital era

By leveraging Backbase’s platform, ABBANK aims to empower SMEs with the tools they need for success in the digital-first world. ABBANK’s vision is to be a trusted financial partner for SMEs and entrepreneurs, supporting them with the innovation, security, and service levels essential for growth. This partnership highlights the increasing importance of technology investment for financial institutions looking to meet the demands of modern businesses.

Founded in 2003 in Amsterdam, Backbase offers an Engagement Banking Platform, a composable platform that empowers banks to accelerate their digital transformation by progressively modernising their main customer journeys. From onboarding to servicing, lending and investing, the platform streamlines every aspect of the customer and employee journey.

With its APAC headquarters in Singapore, Backbase operates across key regional markets, including Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The company also has regional hubs strategically located in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

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In 2020, serial entrepreneur Bryan Oh and Kenneth Palmer identified a growing challenge that would shape the future: the recycling of lithium batteries. Traditional recycling methods were not only expensive but also lacked scalability, creating a pressing need for innovation. Driven by a vision to develop a cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally friendly solution, the duo founded NEU Battery Materials.

“We wanted to make a real impact by enhancing the value chain managed by existing recycling players and making life better for everyone,” Oh shared with e27.

A groundbreaking approach to recycling

Based in Singapore and co-founded by Oh and Palmer, NEU Battery Materials has developed a proprietary electrochemical redox-targeting technology designed for the sustainable recycling of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Unlike conventional methods like hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy, NEU’s process uses electricity as the sole consumable and employs regenerative chemicals, avoiding toxic waste and harsh acids.

Also Read: NEU Battery Materials scores US$3.7M for sustainable recycling of Li-ion batteries

Oh explained that this approach is less polluting than traditional methods, paving the way for the widespread adoption of a cleaner, more sustainable way to recycle lithium batteries, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The technology produces battery-grade lithium, which can be supplied directly to manufacturers, contributing to a circular economy in the battery industry.

An alternative to conventional recycling

Traditional recycling techniques, such as pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy, are resource-intensive and often deprioritise lithium extraction. NEU’s innovative electrochemical redox process relies solely on water and electricity, which means it can leverage renewable energy sources to produce green lithium and green hydrogen as by-products.

“We can recycle LFP batteries more economically compared to incumbent technologies. At the same time, we can drive positive climate impact by reducing the carbon footprint and pollution levels while meeting the exponential demand for batteries,” Oh said.

The process eliminates the need for wastewater treatment, reduces operational pollution, and significantly lowers costs by avoiding chemical usage. Its scalable electrolyser technology allows NEU to expand without requiring massive infrastructure investments. “Instead of duplicating facilities, we simply add cells to the electrolyser, enabling us to process 100,000 to 300,000 tonnes of batteries per year from the same commercial assets,” Oh elaborated.

This modular approach–likened to building with Lego blocks–positions NEU as a leader in scalable recycling solutions.

Addressing a gap in LFP recycling

Unlike nickel and cobalt, which dominate traditional battery recycling due to their high economic value, lithium often receives less attention. NEU’s focus on lithium positions it as a unique player in the industry. “By supplying recycled lithium, we help companies meet regulatory requirements and embrace sustainable practices,” Oh said.

NEU’s expertise has attracted interest from larger recycling firms specialising in nickel and cobalt, who now look to NEU for collaboration on LFP recycling. This symbiotic relationship allows NEU to fill a critical gap while larger players focus on their strengths.

Scaling for global impact

NEU Battery Materials operates a 150-square-metre pilot recycling plant in Singapore, with the capacity to process approximately 200 tonnes of lithium batteries annually. However, the company’s ambitions stretch far beyond its home base.

“Recycling is a global challenge that requires collaboration and innovation. From the start, our goal has been to become a global recycling company,” Oh said. NEU takes an open, partnership-driven approach, working with local recycling companies worldwide to complement their expertise and leverage their networks.

Also Read: German Li-ion battery recycling startup tozero wins EPiC 2024 in Hong Kong

Oh emphasised that NEU’s technology offers a competitive advantage, enabling the company to address a pressing global issue while adding value to ecosystem players. “With recent geopolitical tensions and proposed trade restrictions, NEU is positioned to play a critical role in securing access to these vital materials for nations around the world.”

In 2023, NEU Battery secured US$3.7 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round led by SGInnovate, with participation from ComfortDelGro Ventures, Shift4Good, Paragon Ventures I and angels.

Looking ahead

As the world transitions to cleaner energy and electrification, the demand for sustainable battery recycling will only grow. With its innovative technology, commitment to collaboration, and focus on scalability, NEU Battery Materials is poised to lead the way in transforming how batteries are recycled, ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable future.

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Biotechnology companies invest significant time and resources in developing scientific content for regulatory submissions, educating the scientific community and patients, training internal teams, and differentiating themselves from competitors. In an era where misinformation is prevalent, these companies must swiftly and consistently produce high-quality, targeted content.

Beyond drug discovery and manufacturing, content creation is a core activity across various departments, including marketing, medical affairs, research and development, regulatory, and pharmacovigilance. Essentially, biotechnology companies create large volumes of content.

Writing high-quality, compliant content is complex and demanding, especially in a highly regulated industry. There is often more work than available personnel, and even when writing is outsourced, it requires time to supervise and review agency outputs. Budget constraints and layoffs further limit resources for content development.

Writing is just one facet of the content development workflow. Content creators must educate themselves, sift through an ever-growing volume of scientific publications, draft outlines, collaborate with stakeholders, and review drafts. These tasks are time-consuming and labour-intensive.

Given these challenges, innovative biotechnology companies, use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for scientific content generation. AI is not only a technological advancement but a strategic necessity. As the industry discovers new products, the demand for efficient, accurate, timely, and cost-effective content development is crucial for success.

Generative AI has the potential to revolutionise how scientific data is processed, analysed, and presented, pushing biotechnology leaders and scientists to rethink their content generation strategies.

The role of generative AI in scientific content generation

AI-powered tools can be utilised in all phases of content creation, enabling faster and more accurate generation of scientific documents. Creating scientific content manually can take weeks or even months. AI drastically reduces this time by automating repetitive tasks and providing data-driven insights that accelerate the writing process.

Also Read: Generative AI for sustainability: How these startups are saving the planet with the technology

For example, AI can significantly reduce the time needed to search literature databases, draft outlines, and review content. AI writing assistants are invaluable for paraphrasing, writing titles, checking spelling and grammar, changing tone, generating plain language summaries, seamless citation generation, and language translations—tasks that are often time-consuming or require external expertise.

Examples of AI-generated content in biotech

Biotech companies can leverage AI to create diverse content types, including clinical study reports, regulatory submissions, slide presentations, posters and abstracts, marketing materials, journal articles, medical information letters, training materials, patient information leaflets, and plain language summaries. Announcements about using AI for drug discovery generate more attention. 

However, companies are also using AI in other areas. Recently, Moderna announced a collaboration with OpenAI to integrate AI across all departments and business processes. Agencies that produce clinical study reports and other content for biotech companies are also adopting AI tools, further highlighting its versatility.

Impact of AI on content creation cost

The cost of generating scientific content can be substantial. Developing a slide presentation can cost between $20,000 and $60,000 when outsourced to an agency. Biotechnology companies spend millions annually on content development. AI can help mitigate these costs by automating many aspects of the content creation process.

Experts estimate that generative AI tools can reduce the time to write a clinical study report by nearly half, improving the speed of regulatory submissions by 40 per cent, while significantly reducing costs across regulatory teams.

Moreover, AI enhances content quality by minimising human errors and ensuring consistency across documents. This quality improvement can save costs by reducing the need for extensive revisions and rework.

Concerns about using AI in scientific content generation

Several concerns must be addressed to ensure the effective use and adoption of AI tools in scientific content-generation workflows. These concerns include accuracy, data safety and privacy, the availability of fit-for-purpose solutions, the cost of implementation, and the learning curve associated with using AI tools effectively.

• AI accuracy: AI systems rely on algorithms and data inputs, which have the potential to lead to errors or misinterpretations. Ensuring the accuracy of AI-generated content is critical, particularly in fields requiring precision, such as biotechnology. With human oversight and guided prompts, AI can produce accurate outputs comparable to those of subject matter experts.
• Data safety and privacy concerns: AI systems require access to large datasets, raising concerns about the safety of sensitive or proprietary information. Companies can mitigate risks by restricting AI use to non-sensitive data and employing models that do not train on proprietary information. Robust data protection measures, like encryption and compliance with privacy regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, are essential for safeguarding data.
• Fit-for-purpose AI solutions: Generic AI models alone are often insufficient for creating life sciences content. Companies should collaborate with life sciences AI vendors to develop tailored solutions that integrate into existing workflows. Thorough evaluations ensure AI tools align with organisational needs and effectively support content generation processes.
• Cost of implementation: Deploying AI involves expenses for software, infrastructure upgrades, and maintenance, requiring a cost-benefit analysis to assess ROI. Scalable and cloud-based AI solutions, along with pilot projects, can reduce upfront costs and test suitability before full implementation. Most companies cannot afford bespoke large language models, making scalable solutions more practical.
• Training and workforce development: Successful AI adoption requires employees to gain skills through comprehensive training programs. Fostering a culture of continuous learning with workshops, online courses, and seminars is key to equipping teams to leverage AI. Cross-functional collaboration and celebrating AI-driven successes can enhance adoption and effectiveness.
• Job displacement concerns: While AI may replace certain tasks, it cannot replicate human experience, strategic thinking, or judgment. Instead of replacing jobs, AI enhances professional capabilities and creates new opportunities. Workers proficient in AI are more likely to succeed than those who resist leveraging it effectively.

Also Read: The rise of generative AI: 6 ASEAN countries leading the charge

Embracing AI: The key to revolutionising biotechnology’s content future

Integrating AI in biotechnology content generation presents a transformative opportunity to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. Biotechnology leaders and scientists must take proactive steps to integrate AI into their content generation workflows.

This involves investing in fit-for-purpose AI solutions, ensuring data privacy and security, and fostering a skilled workforce ready to embrace technological advancements. By doing so, companies can increase efficiency, focus more on strategy and innovation, and maintain a competitive edge.

The question is no longer whether AI should be used but how to effectively integrate AI into biotechnology content development workflows.

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AI-generated deepfakes in crypto have emerged as the most alarming threat to the ecosystem, with a projected US$25 billion in losses by the end of 2024. In the first half of 2024, crypto scammers siphoned US$679 million in user funds. This figure is closely in line with the last two quarters of 2023, showing scammers have no plans of slowing down.

“Pig butchering” is a form of these scams that has proven very successful. Amongst many other examples, in October 2024, Hong Kong authorities uncovered an operation where deepfake technology was used to create fake romantic profiles, eventually leading victims into fraudulent crypto investments.

For context, over 15 billion AI-generated images were created in a single year, equating to 150 years of photography. While this is a staggering development, it has become a Pandora’s box of digital fraud that poses a serious threat to all digital transactions.

AI deepfakes in crypto: A new era of crime

With minimal technical knowledge, AI can now generate hyper-realistic deepfake content. As a result, it is becoming increasingly hard to distinguish between legitimate and deceptive media.

Deepfakes are particularly concerning in crypto for two reasons:

• Sybil attacks: Criminals can exploit AI-generated identities to create multiple fake identities, manipulating blockchain governance systems and consensus mechanisms. These attacks harm the fundamental trust of decentralised systems.
• Bypassing KYC: Deepfakes enable bad actors to appear as legitimate users and bypass Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, allowing them access to financial services using false identities.

The computing power for AI training has quadrupled year on year for the past decade, accelerating the sophistication of deepfakes to a point where this technology is accessible to anyone, including bad actors. These scammers can now create convincing videos impersonating influential figures promoting fake crypto schemes, as seen with Elon Musk.

This rapid progression, paired with the potential for misuse highlights the critical need for solutions that ensure these powerful technologies are developed and used responsibly.

Also Read: Cross-chain interoperability: The key to unlocking crypto’s true potential

Tokenised identity: A defence against deepfakes

The rise of deepfakes has exposed vulnerabilities in traditional security systems, particularly those reliant on outdated KYC and anti-fraud measures. As these defences struggle to keep pace, tokenised identity emerges as a powerful solution.

Tokenised identity leverages blockchain technology to verify and authenticate identities. Against deepfakes, tokenised identity is routed in three principles; dynamic verification, source validation and immutable records. This multi-layered verification approach targets the vulnerabilities exploited by AI deepfakes.

At the forefront of these innovations is the implementation of face comparisons for continuity checks and liveness detection systems. Unlike traditional static checks, like uploading your passport photo, this new dynamic check will ask you to do something in real-time, like move your camera closer to your head.

An advanced deepfake scammer could present a convincing fake photo and fool the system. However, with dynamic verification, the task of fooling the system becomes more challenging. Systems that can prove genuine human interactions are the first step.

The next step of the process extends beyond facial recognition to include source verification to ensure individuals have explicitly consented to the use of their likeness and validate the authenticity of their identity claim. This prevents bad actors from using an Elon Musk deepfake to open a crypto account, even if the video is perfect and bypasses dynamic verification, as they don’t have Elon’s real ID or actual permission. By utilising tokenised identities that prove both consent and authenticity, businesses can establish a powerful defence against deepfakes. 

The final step of tokenised identity when combating deepfakes is the tying of digital assets to verified individuals through immutable privacy-preserving blockchain records. This ensures that once an identity is verified, its proof cannot be tampered with or duplicated when it is used in on-chain use cases. 

For businesses concerned about protecting their platforms and users, these enhanced identity checks become crucial custodians against unauthorised access and identity theft.

Implementing a new standard of security

Across the industry, identity verification is not approached as an exact science. Instead, it’s thought of as a matrix of signals evaluated in aggregate, of which ID document verification is just one potential component. 

Businesses should choose an appropriate level of identity verification based on their specific use case and risk tolerance. In other business use cases where a high degree of certainty is required, checks such as knowledge-based authentication, re-verification at the time of transaction, and document verification may easily be added and help combat AI deepfakes. 

When it comes to beating AI, in-person verification (physically verifying a person compared to their ID) is the ultimate indicator that a person is the individual they claim to be. 

Conclusion

AI deepfakes represent a US$25 billion threat that crypto can no longer afford to ignore. To protect users and restore trust in the ecosystem, the industry must embrace solutions like tokenised identity. These tools can ensure authenticity, safeguard privacy, and enable a more secure digital future.

Collaboration between the blockchain and AI industries will be essential to developing strong measures against deepfake fraud. Action must be taken now so that risks can be mitigated and the full potential of decentralised technology can be unlocked. 

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In today’s fast-paced world, banking isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days of waiting in line at brick-and-mortar branches; instead, we’re ushering in the era of digital banking, where everything you need is just a tap away on your smartphone.

Digital banking, the heart of the fintech world, has completely transformed the way we manage our finances. No longer confined by physical limitations, digital banks offer a plethora of financial services right at our fingertips. From depositing checks to investing in stocks, everything can be done with the touch of a button.

But as the popularity of digital banking skyrockets, so do concerns about security. After all, with great convenience comes great responsibility — and vulnerability. With sensitive financial information floating around in cyberspace, are these digital banks really as secure as they claim to be?

Let’s delve into why digital banking has become the backbone of the masses. Convenience is the name of the game. Imagine being able to pay your bills while waiting for your morning coffee or transfer funds between accounts without ever leaving your couch. Digital banks offer unparalleled convenience, coupled with lower fees and personalised services tailored to your needs.

Also Read: How an AI cybersecurity company harnesses the power of AI for optimal business performance

However, convenience doesn’t come without its fair share of risks. With cybercriminals lurking around every corner of the internet, security is a top priority for digital banks. Luckily, they’ve stepped up to the plate with state-of-the-art encryption technology and stringent identity verification measures. Two-factor authentication? You betcha. These banks leave no stone unturned when it comes to protecting your hard-earned cash.

But security isn’t a one-way street; users must also do their part. From setting strong passwords to avoiding sketchy Wi-Fi networks, there are plenty of steps we can take to keep our accounts safe and sound. After all, it’s a team effort to keep the digital banking ecosystem secure and thriving.

In the grand scheme of things, digital banks aren’t just here to stay; they’re here to revolutionise the way we think about finance. With more players entering the market every day, we’re on the brink of a fintech renaissance.

But it’s up to all of us — banks and users alike — to ensure that the future of banking is not only convenient but secure. After all, when it comes to our money, there’s no room for compromise.

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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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This article was first published on February 26, 2024

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AI is everywhere these days. It’s in the tools we use at work, the apps on our phones, and even in the suggestions we get while shopping online. For some people, it’s exciting—like living in the future. For others, it’s terrifying—“Will AI take my job?”

But here’s the truth: AI isn’t here to replace us. It’s here to help us. The real question isn’t whether AI will take over but whether we’ll take advantage of it to stay ahead in our careers.

Let’s talk about how to make AI your ally and not your competition.

Why you should embrace AI, not fear it

Remember when calculators became a thing? People thought it would make us bad at math. But instead, it freed us from tedious calculations so we could focus on problem-solving. AI is the same.

Here’s why you should lean into it:

• It saves time: AI tools can handle repetitive tasks, like sorting emails or summarising documents, giving you more time to focus on strategic work.
• It boosts creativity: Struggling with ideas? AI can help brainstorm or refine your concepts, whether you’re designing a project, writing, or problem-solving.
• It keeps you relevant: In many industries, knowing how to use AI tools is becoming a must-have skill.

The key is learning to work with AI, not against it.

How to use AI positively in your career

So, how do you start? It’s simpler than you think.

Learn the tools of your trade

Every industry has its go-to AI tools. If you’re in marketing, it might be analytics platforms or content generators. In design? Think AI-powered creative tools like Canva or Adobe Firefly. Explore what’s trending in your field and experiment with them.

Focus on skills AI can’t replace

AI is great at processing data, but it struggles with soft skills—like empathy, leadership, and critical thinking. Sharpen these skills to stay irreplaceable.

Also Read: 3 ways AI technology can help startups save money

Use AI to supercharge your productivity

Here are some practical ways to use AI every day:

• Streamline research: Tools like ChatGPT or Notion AI can summarise articles or suggest ideas.
• Automate admin work: Use AI to schedule meetings, draft emails, or create reports.
• Up-skill quickly: Platforms like Coursera or YouTube now have AI-curated learning paths to help you master new topics fast.

Stay curious

AI is evolving fast. Stay updated on trends, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Subscribe to a newsletter or follow experts on LinkedIn to learn about advancements at your own pace.

Turning AI into an opportunity

Instead of worrying about AI replacing jobs, think about this: AI is creating entirely new ones. Roles like AI trainers, prompt engineers, and AI ethicists didn’t exist a few years ago. By positioning yourself as someone who understands AI, you can unlock career opportunities you never imagined.

Here’s an example: Imagine you’re a graphic designer. AI can now create stunning visuals in seconds. Instead of fearing it, you could learn to use AI to speed up drafts, focus on high-level concepts, and offer even more value to your clients.

Using AI responsibly

Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Fact-check everything: AI can sometimes give wrong or outdated information. Don’t take it at face value.
• Respect privacy: Be careful when inputting sensitive or confidential information into AI tools.
• Be mindful of biases: AI learns from data, and data can be biased. Use your judgment to ensure fairness and accuracy.

The future is now—Are you ready?

AI isn’t the enemy. It’s a powerful tool we can use to work smarter, be more creative, and unlock new career paths. The sooner we embrace it, the better positioned we’ll be to thrive in an AI-driven world.

So, instead of fearing the future, let’s shape it. Start small. Try out a new AI tool. Learn something new. The opportunities are endless if you’re willing to explore.

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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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Vietnam has caught the tech world’s attention once again. This time, it’s not just about manufacturing or distribution hubs; it’s artificial intelligence (AI). NVIDIA, a global leader in AI and computing technologies, has partnered with the Vietnamese government to establish AI research data centres, marking a significant milestone for the nation’s tech aspirations.But what makes Vietnam such an attractive destination for AI?

Let’s be honest. We saw all the big names making further investments in Vietnam – but for AI? Is Vietnam the new AI destination? We — and NVIDIA might as well just say yes!

Vietnam’s AI landscape

Vietnam has long been a go-to destination for manufacturing, with tech giants like Apple, Samsung, and Dell setting up operations. However, AI represents a newer frontier.

Historically, Vietnam was considered “low-tech” compared to regional heavyweights like China and India. But recent years tell a different story.

In January 2021, the Vietnamese government issued a National Strategy for Research, Development, and Application of AI through 2030. The goals? To rank among the top four ASEAN nations and the top 50 globally in AI research and development. The strategy also targets trademarking 10 AI technologies and establishing three national high-performing data centres by 2030.

Reports like the Government AI Readiness Index further validate Vietnam’s potential. Ranked fifth in Southeast Asia and 59th globally in 2021, Vietnam scored high for government support, infrastructure, and data readiness.

NVIDIA’s bold move: A bet or a masterstroke?

NVIDIA’s entry into Vietnam is more than an expansion; it’s a calculated power play. CEO Jensen Huang recently announced plans to establish an AI R&D hub and a cutting-edge data centre in Hanoi. This aligns with Vietnam’s ambitious goal of achieving US$100 billion in annual semiconductor revenue by 2050.

Also Read: AI and healthcare: Navigating challenges and embracing the future

In addition, NVIDIA partnered with FPT, a Hanoi-based tech firm, to develop a US$200 million AI factory.

Equipped with 127 Nvidia HGX H100 server systems, the facility has received approval from US authorities and represents a significant leap in Vietnam’s AI capabilities. This partnership isn’t just about resources; it’s about leveraging Vietnam’s burgeoning talent and infrastructure.

Huang himself has been vocal about Vietnam’s potential. At a roundtable in Hanoi, he noted that Vietnam meets three key criteria to succeed in AI: data, a skilled software workforce, and infrastructure. He described Vietnam as “the future home of NVIDIA,” emphasising that AI’s success relies on processing and utilising data where it originates. AI’s intelligence is built from data and Vietnam’s data is a national resource.

Huang’s enthusiasm isn’t just rhetoric—it’s backed by action. NVIDIA’s investment marks the beginning of a long-term relationship that could transform Vietnam into a global AI leader.

The outlook

This partnership with NVIDIA underscores Vietnam’s commitment to developing high-tech industries and fostering a competitive, skilled workforce. From the establishment of the Electronic and Semiconductor Training Center at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in 2023 to the proliferation of R&D hubs, Vietnam is laying the groundwork for its transformation into a global technology leader.

Also Read: AI: The secret ingredient for unlocking developer success in Asia

The implications go beyond Vietnam’s borders. For foreign investors, Vietnam is emerging as Southeast Asia’s AI nerve centre. Its young, tech-savvy population and growing infrastructure make it a promising market for technology products and services. NVIDIA’s investment sends a clear message: Vietnam is no longer just a manufacturing hub; it’s a serious contender in the global AI race.

But why does this matter?

The stakes couldn’t be higher—for both Vietnam and NVIDIA. Vietnam’s bold vision to become a global AI powerhouse by 2030 is not just aspirational—it’s within reach, especially with heavyweights like NVIDIA in its corner. For NVIDIA, this isn’t just about expanding its footprint; it’s about cementing its status as a leader in AI while harnessing Vietnam’s immense potential as a data-rich, strategically pivotal nation.

As Jensen Huang so eloquently put it, this is far more than a partnership—it’s the “birthday of NVIDIA Vietnam.”

The future of AI in Southeast Asia is being written right now, and Vietnam is wielding the pen. No longer just an emerging contender, Vietnam is fast becoming the destination to watch. With NVIDIA’s backing, the AI revolution here isn’t just on the horizon—it’s happening in real time, with the potential to redefine the tech landscape across the region and beyond.

If you’re searching for the next epicenter of innovation, keep your gaze fixed on Vietnam. The AI revolution has only just begun, and it’s brimming with promise.

Will Vietnam and NVIDIA together rise to echo Taiwan’s transformative role in the tech world? It’s a thrilling question—and one whose answer we’re eagerly awaiting.

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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 robotics industry in Southeast Asia is experiencing notable growth, with projections indicating an increase from US$1.2 billion in 2025 to US$1.75 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.92 per cent. This expansion is driven by advancements in sectors such as automotive, electronics, and logistics, alongside supportive government policies and a focus on Industry 4.0 initiatives.

Singapore leads the region in robotics adoption, particularly in manufacturing and service industries, due to its robust research and development infrastructure and favourable investment climate. The city-state’s emphasis on automation has attracted significant investments, further solidifying its position as a regional hub for robotics innovation.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the deployment of robots across various applications, including healthcare, logistics, and public safety, highlighting the technology’s role in enhancing efficiency and reducing human contact. This period saw robots undertaking tasks such as medical supply delivery, disinfection, and monitoring public spaces.

Despite the positive trajectory, challenges persist, including high initial costs, the need for skilled labour, and cybersecurity concerns. Addressing these issues is crucial for sustaining growth and ensuring the successful integration of robotics across industries.

Also Read: The transformative potential of humanoid robots: A VC perspective

Overall, Southeast Asia’s robotics industry is poised for continued expansion, supported by technological advancements, government initiatives, and increasing recognition of automation’s benefits in enhancing productivity and operational efficiency.

We have compiled Southeast Asia’s 20 prominent robotic startups below:

MEGAROBO

A provider of robotic solutions for industrial laboratory automation. It leverages robotics and AI technologies to enhace productivity and productivity in various life sciences applications, including drug discovery and clinical diagnostics. It provides solutions for throughput drug screening, automated cell line development, and synthetic biology.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2016
Total investments raised: US$427 million
Investors: Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Pavilion Capital Partners, Starr Group, Redview Capital, Taihecap Capital, GGV Capital, Asia Investment Capital, Harvest Capital, Sinovation Ventures, Joy Capital, Chuangxin Innovation Works, Matrix Partners China, Future Capital, WuXi AppTec, Liandong U Valley, Bosch, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, Inno Angel Fund, PowerCloud Venture Capital, and Zhulu Capital.

Fourier Intelligence

The company provides rehabilitation robotics development and redefining services.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2015
Total investments raised: US$83 million
Investors: Prosperity7 Ventures, SoftBank Vision Fund, Vision Plus Capital, Qianhai Ark Asset Management, Shenzhen Guozhong Venture Capital Management, Volcanics Venture, IDG Capital, and Prosperico Venture.

Rotimatic

Rotimatic develops a fully automatic flatbread-making robot. The robot comes with built-in artificial intelligence and IoT capabilities with a 32-bit microprocessor that harmoniously orchestrates 10 motors and 15 sensors. Users load the machine with the required ingredients and select the number of bread they wish to make, for it to prepare up to 20 loaves of bread in one go. It claims that the robot mirrors human judgment to adjust the proportion of flour and water in real time.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2008
Total investments raised: U$48.5 million
Investors: Credence Partners, EDBI, Openspace Ventures, Robert Bosch Venture Capital, SPRING Singapore, NUS Enterprise, Enterprise Singapore, ABCOM Investments, and Rikvin Ventures.

Biobot Surgical

It develops surgical automation devices. The products include a robotic transperineal biopsy device (rTPB), developed through a collaborative partnership that enables surgeons to extract prostate biopsy tissues through two small needle puncture incisions on the perineal skin.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2010
Total investments raised: US$17.9 million
Investors: ZIG Ventures.

LionsBot

LionsBot develops cleaning robots for commercial applications. It offers vacuuming and scrubbing. Its characteristics include the ability to convey its emotions through its eyes and voice. Some of the other features include obstacle avoidance, auto-docking capabilities, AI-enabled batteries, and multiple cleaning modes. It comes with soft bumpers, an emergency stop button, and clear lights and sounds to avoid collisions with people.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2018
Total investments raised: US$17 million
Investors: TransLink Capital, Supersteam, and Kyra Ventures.

Eureka Robotics

Eureka provides robotic arms and control software for multi-utility. It develops software and systems to automate jobs requiring both high accuracy and agility in a variety of sectors, including optics, electronics, telecom, electronics, automotive, and more. It offers application-providing features such as coating lenses, cleaning and inspecting lenses, shaft assembling, connector insertions, and more.

Also Read: Navigating challenges and opportunities in the Malaysian robotics industry

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2018
Total investments raised: US$14,750,000.
Investors: B Capital, Airbus Ventures, Maruka Machinery, G. K. Goh Holdings, UTEC, ATEQ, and Touchstone.

EndoMaster

EndoMaster is involved in developing a robotic-assisted surgical system for endoscopic surgeries (minimally invasive surgery). The company claims that the system will enable surgeons to perform incision-less surgery. EndoMaster has tested its prototypes in first-in-man trials and showed positive results. The system can be used for the removal of gastrointestinal tumors endoscopically.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2011
Total investments raised: US$14.6 million
Investors: Chuang Capital, HOYA, NTUitive, Nanyang Technological University, and SysteMED.

SESTO Robotics

SESTO develops AGVs for warehouses. Its features include payload transfer in warehouses and factories, onboard LIDARs for localization, navigation, and obstacle detection, job tasking and routing, as well as multi-purpose adaptability. It also provides disinfection robots for the healthcare sector. It caters to manufacturing, commercial, warehousing, and healthcare facilities.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2017
Total investments raised: US$10 million
Investors: Trive Capital, WTI, Singtel Innov8, Heliconia Capital Management, SEEDS Capital, TRIVE, Temasek, and Great Noble International.

NDR Medical Technology

It provides an AI-enabled robotic-based device for image-guided procedures. The company offers Automated Needle Targeting (ANT) system that facilitates accurate and precise needle punctures in the minimally invasive image-guided procedures for lung, liver, kidney, spine, etc.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2014
Total investments raised: US$5.8 million
Investors: K-Startup Grand Challenge, SGInnovate, NTUitive, MedTech Innovator, and JLABS.

Botsync

Botsync provides robotic solutions for material movement in the logistics industry. Products include material mover and ground mobile robot platform. The material mover features include lift racks or pallets through the lifter module to move it across the facility, it has a lock and pulls option to drag the item from one point to another with automatic lock & unlock, it can move based on size using a free and open module and it also comes with custom-designed rack based on the type & size of the material.

Also Read: Botsync closes US$5.2M Series A financing to further develop autonomous mobile robots

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2017
Total investments raised: US$5.2 million
Institutional investors: Capital 2B, Betatron Venture Group, IvyCap Ventures, AppWorks,
Iterative, ZB Capital, Ascend Angels, Wong Fong, Seeds Capital, AngelHub, Artesian, Venture Catalysts, Locus Ventures, Brinc, Nanyang Technological University, RISE,
Kharis Capital, SAP.iO, CoE-IoT, K3 Ventures, WFVEN, Ntuitive, Ecolabs, CapFort Ventures, and SEEDS Capital.

Augmentus

Augmentus is an online platform offering no-code robot programming. It provides a no-code computer vision and robot motion planning, enabling the programming of industrial robots. The platform is hardware-independent and provides end-to-end integration.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2019
Total investments raised: US$5 million
Investors: Sierra Ventures, Cocoon Capital, StartupX, and GROW.

DF Automation and Robotics

It manufactures and maintains automatic guided vehicles. The AGVs can be magnetic strip guided or programmed to follow a particular path. Apart from the AGVs, they also develop and market universal robots and autonomous mobile robots.

Headquarters: Malaysia.
Established in: 2012
Total investments raised: US$3.7 million
Investors: Vynn Capital, MTDC, Leave a Nest Capital, pitchIN, Cradle, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Crown Digital

Crown Digital manufactures automatic coffee-making robots. Its system takes customer orders using an app and provides real-time notification when the coffee is ready.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2015
Total investments raised: US$3.7 million
Investors: Momentum, ParticleX, Leave a Nest, Glocal Link, East Japan Railway Company,
Heliconia Capital Management, SEABD, and Momentum Ventures.

Quantum Intelligence

Quantum Intelligence is a manufacturer of inspection robots. It specialises in automation applications in mining, smelting, and other scenarios and has developed special operation robots.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2016
Total investments raised: US$2.1 million
Investor: Tianying Capital

BeeX

It develops unmanned underwater vehicles and surface vessels. Its features include hover, robotic, and autonomous marine capabilities for underwater inspections. The company integrates with a software platform so that owners and service providers can collaborate on inspections.

Also Read: BeeX scores US$2M to accelerate autonomous inspection of offshore wind farms

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2018
Total investments raised: US$2 million
Investors: SEEDS Capital, Earth Venture Capital, ShipsFocus, Nus Technology Holdings,
Infinita, ema.gov.sg, Cap Vista, Quest Ventures, IMC Ventures, National University of Singapore, PIER71, and Origgin.

Movel AI

It develops a computer vision system for robots. The company intends to employ camera-based computer vision instead of Lidar. It is working on software that will be able to make sense of the image and identify objects and pathways from it. It caters to the construction, healthcare, and commercial industries.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2016
Total investments raised: US$1.51 million
Investors: 500 Global, Avi-Tech Electronics, Seeds Capital, SGInnovate, Entrepreneur First, SparkLabs Global Ventures, PT Prasetia Dwidharma, Antares Capital, Founders Capital, 500 Durians, and August One.

CtrlWorks

CtrlWorks has developed and deployed a cloud-based navigation infrastructure and add-on kit that helps reduce robot size and weight. The company’s flagship product, Axon, is an autonomous guidance system that can be integrated into existing platforms via its CloudNav system.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2011
Total investments raised: US$1.4 million
Investors: Wavemaker Partners, National Research Foundation, Qualcomm, Techstars, NTUitive, and Blue InCube.

AITREAT

AITREAT designs and manufactures assistive robots for doctors and surgeons to aid them during clinical processes. The flagship product is a robotic arm called TCM2R which is a messaging robot. The robot can be pre-programmed with the reference points on the patient’s body and pressure to be maintained. The robot also monitors the patient’s stress and endurance levels to ensure a bearable and therapeutic experience.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2015
Total investments raised: US$1 million
Investors: Brain Robotics Capital, NTUitive, Bowery Residents Committee, Tasly, Mega-Tech, AIRX, and Blue InCube.

JAZRO

It provides an online platform offering coding courses.
Headquarters: Malaysia
Established in: 2019
Total investments raised: US$280,000
Investor: Gobi Partners.

Maitian.ai

Maitian.ai provides smart vending machines for fully autonomous retail stores. It offers an AI-based self-service smart cashier solution that helps retail owners convert their stores into self-functioning, unmanned retail stores. Its computer vision-enabled technology solution has features like automated payments, marketing tools, shopping path analysis, customer purchasing behaviour analysis, and others.

Headquarters: Singapore
Established in: 2018
Total investments raised: US$125,000
Investors: Y Combinator and TRIVE.

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It’s an exciting year for telecommunication services (telco) industry. Global data usage is on a steep climb, set to triple by 2027, with billions of dollars invested in network upgrades. At the same time, competition is heating up, with everyone from tech startups to retail giants jumping into wireless services.

Customers, too, are demanding quick, top-notch service and better experiences. The convergence of these factors has pushed traditional telcos to embrace digitisation and automation to reimagine growth, efficiency, and service quality.

What are telcos hoping to achieve from digital transformation?

A study by Forrester Consulting commissioned by EdgeVerve found that telcos are striving for operational efficiency and connectivity and exploring new technology operating models, prioritising speed and responsiveness. Their digital transformation agendas are characterised by a clear focus on enhancing customer experience (CX) through operational improvements, data-driven insights, and AI and other emerging technology integration.

Telcos are depending on digital transformation to:

• Amplify operational strengths: Improve IT security and privacy, IT operating model performance, and efficient query resolution.
• Become an insights-driven business: Unlock the potential of data and enhance intelligence and automation across IT and business processes.
• Breakdown silos and build seamless connectivity: Connect strategic data and network silos, establish peer-to-peer networks and partner integrations, harness emerging technologies holistically rather than in isolated pockets, and drive business and IT synergies.
• Achieve greater operational visibility and efficiency: Merge human insight with AI’s analytical prowess to drive straight-through processing and enhance customer experience (CX), operational efficiency, cost reduction, and risk mitigation.

What happens when telcos embrace digital at scale?

Telcos that are leading the digital charter are witnessing immense gains. Take the case of world’s leading telecom service provider whose contract enforcement teams were overwhelmed with a large volume of tower rental contracts. Heavy dependence on manual review of these contracts affected visibility, efficiency, and accuracy.

They automated the contract review process to identify, extract, and manage data from over 700,000+ contracts. The new platform processed contracts from upstream repositories- building a structured contract summary and enabling teams to exchange important information.

Also Read: How efficient communication drives positive relationships in product development

The platform also assessed risk and flagged high-risk contracts, which augmented negotiation teams’ capability to make decisions that were favourable to the business. This helped the telco optimise rent and utilisation and minimise risk, saving them US$21 million while improving productivity by 60 per cent.

To the discerning leader, the gains from digital transformation success are obvious. However, despite their strong focus and informed intentions, many telecommunications services firms are struggling to drive strategic change with their digital transformation initiatives.

Forrester found that even after pouring over US$100 million annually into digital transformation, a staggering 86 per cent of telco firms struggle to cross the chasm between investment and impactful business outcomes. Few survey respondents could attribute their organisations’ transformation initiatives to any business value. Instead, they resulted in reduced productivity, efficiency, and customer outcomes.

What is holding back digital ROI in telecom?

While the intention to digitise and automate is clear, the execution often falls short. These initiatives often involve complex, long-term projects with a high risk of failure, particularly in today’s volatile market.

Most companies are unsure of where to start their digital journey. The lack of a cohesive digital experience (DX) framework only compounds the problem, making the already challenging issues of siloed operations and fragmented data and networks even more pronounced. Even coveted technologies like AI are unable to scale due to technology immaturity, security concerns, and user trust issues.

These challenges are only widening the divide between digital transformation leaders and laggards in the telco industry. Almost three-quarters of telco organisations are currently in the beginner or intermediate stage of connectivity. Most of these lack concrete execution plans or struggle with the high total cost of ownership and siloed organisational structures that stifle innovation and efficiency.

How can they overcome these challenges and achieve digital success?

Key Recommendations for digital success to optimise their digital processes toward effective outcomes telcos need to:

• Build connectivity that drives a customer-centric tech strategy. Strategically align business and IT stakeholders on transformation priorities from the early stages. Ensure tools, systems, and metrics come together to build a connected enterprise.
• Prioritise AI and automation capabilities that remain accountable to employee outcomes. Focus on AI and optimise automation tools and processes to drive more self-service at scale. This focus augments human potential and impacts employee productivity, and, ultimately, CX.
• Embrace emerging technologies with clearly defined use cases. Define a set of use cases and map capabilities and outcomes to devise a clear strategy to prioritise the right emerging tech capabilities for business success.
• Optimise partner ecosystems to drive accountability and efficiency while co-creating new approaches. Navigate the complexity of partner ecosystems with platforms that enable visibility and accountability- priming them for scale without hindering success.
• Leverage a platform strategy that enables you to capture value through efficiencies, insights, and growth. Adopt a platform-based approach that builds the visibility required across internal and external ecosystems, drives the automation agenda to build efficiency, and provides insights for accountable decision-making.

Also Read: Connecting clouds in SEA: How to ensure interoperability in the hybrid and multi-cloud context

The platform-centric approach: A gateway to digital success

A platform-centric approach is emerging as a key enabler for enhancing operational resilience, addressing modernisation and efficiency challenges, and gaining a competitive edge. This strategy connects business, IT, and partner ecosystems, ensuring seamless interaction across systems, data, and processes.

A platform model also gives unparalleled flexibility to telcos by shifting development decisions from traditional build approaches to buy-to-customise or compose models. It enables organisations to minimise technical debt by easily replacing underutilised or expensive modular components.

For telcos looking to future-proof their business, a platform-based approach is key to laying the foundation for a digital ecosystem that not only streamlines integration and automation but also fosters intelligence across processes.

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Skor Technologies, the fintech firm behind Skorlife and the newly launched Skorcard credit card, has raised US$6.2 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Argor Capital.

The round involved both existing investors, such as QED Investors and Saison Capital, and new investors, such as Digital Currency Group.

This latest injection of capital brings Skor’s total funding to over US$12 million. The new round will help the business scale while growing the team with key talent across the organisation. Skor has set clear sights for 2025, with a target of crossing US$100 million in transaction volume.

The company aims to address the underpenetrated Indonesian consumer credit market. Credit card usage in the archipelago remains low, below 3 per cent, compared to regional peers like Thailand (8 per cent) and Malaysia (20 per cent).

A 2022 national survey indicated that less than half of Indonesians understand their finances well. Skor aims to bridge this gap, offering both a digital-first credit card and a credit education platform.

Also Read: Ex-Stripe Indonesia Head’s credit-tech startup SkorLife US$2.2M pre-seed capital

Skor’s journey began with its credit-education product, Skorlife, which launched in May 2023 with a US$4 million seed round led by Hummingbird Ventures.

In March 2024, Skor expanded into credit cards with Skorcard, in partnership with Bank Mayapada International. Skorcard is designed as a digital-first product, with a purpose-built mobile app that uses “gamification” to engage users. The card leverages data in unique ways to assist and engage users.

Skorcard has already surpassed US$10 million in annualised spending volume in its first year. Skorlife, the credit-education platform, has achieved over 2 million downloads.

Ongki Kurniawan, co-founder and CEO of Skor, notes that Indonesia is a supply-constrained market for credit products, and the timing is right to solve this growing consumer need. He believes there is potential to build a 2 million card base customer, and they are highly motivated to achieve this goal with their bank partners. The partnership between Skorcard and Bank Mayapada International is intended to be mutually beneficial, with the bank expanding its BaaS platform for growth.

Skor’s leadership team combines domain expertise, market understanding, and strong financial service networks.

The company recently strengthened its team with the additions of Kush Srivastava, Kirill Odinstov, and Surendra Singh.

In 2022, Skor raised US$2.2 million in pre-seed funding round from a group of investors, including AC Ventures, Saison Capital, OneCard founders, Advance.ai’s Jefferson Chan, and KoinWorks’s Will Arifin.

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