e27 has been dedicated to nurturing a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs since its inception. Our Contributor Programme offers a platform for sharing unique insights.

As part of our newly introduced ‘Contributor Spotlight’, we shine a weekly spotlight on an outstanding contributor and dive into the vastness of their knowledge and expertise.

In this episode, we feature Sunil Nair, Co-Founder of Mela.live, a thematic commerce startup facilitating pop-up shoppathons without investments into technology and content production. A valued contributor, Nair, made his debut in Q2 and has been an engaged member of our community ever since.

Nair shares his personal and professional journey in this episode of Contributor Spotlight.

The driving force

Nair maintains an active community on LinkedIn, where he regularly shares opinion pieces and interesting stories, providing valuable content for his network. His motivation for becoming an e27 contributor is rooted in his belief in the value of sharing knowledge and insights.

“I came across e27 a couple of months ago and found the content and the community diverse and full of energy. This defined my decision to start contributing and selfishly to find a wider audience,” he said candidly.

Also Read: How brands are crafting communities through the art of visual storytelling

How it all began

After selling software and working for marketing and advertising agencies, Nair founded Nautanki.tv, the first Indian-distributed video content platform, in 2006. He has remained deeply involved in the video ecosystem, contributing to the development of OTT platforms such as ALT and launching the Silicon Valley-based startup Firework in India.

In his current role, Nair specialises in video commerce, leveraging short video and Live commerce to enhance e-commerce interactions and consumer connections. He anticipates that future advancements in generative AI and extended reality (XR) will transform brand interactions and content consumption.

“My professional goals have changed as I have gone older, and at this stage, it is my personal goals that have taken precedence. I work very closely with students and startups in Singapore and would love to see a few of them embark on their ventures soon,” he shared.

Advice for budding thought leaders

As part of his advice for budding or aspiring thought leaders, Nair emphasized the importance of allowing knowledge to come through organically. “Stop using ChatGPT or Bard, and stop oversharing. Let your native lived life come through your posts and opinion pieces,” he said.

Juggling too many things?

“Do what makes one happy! Early mornings for me are for myself; that is the time when I read and assimilate the world around me,” Nair stated.

In his daily routine, Nair incorporates regular walks around the neighbourhood to clear his mind between meetings. Occasionally, he also finds it beneficial to board the double-decker bus in Singapore, riding it to the end of the line and back, which aids in enhancing his focus.

Also Read: How to navigate the ethical landscape of Responsible AI

“Saturday morning coffee at a new cafe with my wife is a sacred ritual. That is the time when we discuss and connect about our daughter, about money and about the next few adventures we want to embark on,” he added.

He places a strong emphasis on personal interactions, frequently meeting with a diverse array of individuals. Nair is always open to sharing a cup of coffee and engaging in conversations, recognising the value of learning through active listening to people’s perspectives and experiences.

Nair subscribes to Benedict Evans’ blog for tech insights, Professor Galloway for a fresh perspective, The Morning Context for Indian startups, and relies on The Atlantic and The New York Times for general news.

“Life is beautiful, and most things seem impossible until they are not,” Nair concludes.

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Are you ready to be a part of a vibrant community of entrepreneurs and industry experts? Do you have insights, experiences, and knowledge to share?

Join the e27 Contributor Programme and become a valuable voice in our ecosystem. 

The post Spotlighting Sunil Nair: Charting a trail of scaling innovative video platforms appeared first on e27.

Singapore-based fintech firm BondbloX, specialising in digitising bond markets, has secured US$6 million in a Series B round.

Beacon Venture Capital, the corporate VC arm of Thailand’s Kasikornbank, joined the round along with existing investors Citigroup and MassMutual Ventures.

Potato Productions, led by entrepreneur Lee Han Shih, and Octava, a Singapore-based family office, also participated.

The new funding will enable BondbloX to expand BondbloX Bond Exchange (BBX), its digital platform for trading both fractional and full-size bonds, and support its international growth, including the recent launch in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in India.

Also Read: Authentick secures US$4M for wallet-free digital collectible purchases

Founded in 2016, BondbloX streamlines bond investing by enabling electronic tracking and trading for investors. Leveraging distributed ledger technology, BondbloX empowers investors to trade bonds in increments of US$1,000, a departure from the conventional US$200,000 denomination through a transparent public exchange.

“The bond market is broken globally, and BondbloX is on a mission to allow individual investors the same access to the market that institutional firms enjoy,” said Dr. Rahul Banerjee, Co-Founder and CEO.

BBX claims to have seen strong interest from global clients since launching the platform to individual investors last month. The company also has future plans to list US Bonds (Treasuries as well as Corporate Bonds) on the platform.

“The use of distributed ledger technology coupled with traditional financial custodians excites us and has great potential to reshape the bond market for all,” said Thanapong Na Ranong, Managing Director of Beacon VC.

BondbloX last secured funding in July 2021, raising US$6 million in a series A round co-led by Citigroup and MassMutual Ventures.

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Fundraising or preparing your startup for fundraising? Build your investor network, search from 400+ SEA investors on e27, and get connected or get insights regarding fundraising. Try e27 Pro for free today.

Image credit: BondbloX

The post BondbloX secures US$6M Series B to expand bond exchange platform appeared first on e27.

In a new report, GoImpact, in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School and Ant Group, revealed the four main challenges faced by the green fintech industry.

In principle, despite the ongoing ‘funding winter’ faced by global startups, the trajectory of development for green fintech has shown strong momentum, according to the report. However, these four remaining challenges remain:

1. While global reporting frameworks such as the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) have made rapid progress in this area, there remains a lack of agreement on a unifying global standard.

2. Greenwashing as a follow-on consequence in the absence of universally aligned standards and metrics. The report stresses that greenwashing poses a serious threat to the credibility of the entire sector.

3. A lack of interoperability of protocols between different platforms. According to the report, such interoperability is essential for integrating ESG data in green finTech solutions and other ESG offerings.

4. A significant talent gap. A general lack of education and awareness for the sector has resulted in a large talent
shortage for skilled sustainability practitioners, particularly in Asia.

Also Read: What stands in the way of fintech growth in Asia?

“Given the complexity of navigating Net-Zero versus economic growth targets and varying levels of ESG adoption among jurisdictions, it is imperative to have more collaborations between the public and private sectors,” the report said.

“This approach aims to balance the current trend of short-term profit-driven economic growth with the long-term needs of sustainable development, emphasising the demand for talent and skill development at the intersectionof green, finance, and technology. Educational and skills-related institutions are crucial in developing learning programmes that will upgrade and develop the relevant talents in the five APEC economies.”

The report also explains in details about the different forms of green fintech that are available in the Asia Pacific market today, and they are grouped into five categories:

1. Climate solutions
2. Carbon management
3. ESG reporting & disclosure tools
4. ESG risk solutions
5. Green insurance

“The benefits of green fintech bear a direct correlation with the rapid traction of Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) in the APEC jurisdictions, aligning with the long-term vision of nations and corporations to combat climate change,” the report said.

“Alternative data sources utilising blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) can also boost the credibility of ESG reporting that is becoming more regulatory and compliance-driven in nature, as well as well-informed and transparent sustainable investment and financing strategies.”

Also Read: Fintech VC Flourish Ventures banks US$350M to double down on emerging markets

When it comes to its role in supporting the adoption of ESG and sustainability principles in the region, the report stresses that green fintech has “significant opportunity” to support SMEs in this journey.

“Less equipped to embrace sustainability initiatives compared to large corporations in terms of resource availability, SMEs can adopt green fintech solutions as an option to get started more efficiently. Likewise, green fintech companies have an opportunity to make SME operations more environmentally friendly, improving their creditworthiness,” it said.

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Image Credit: RunwayML

The post Unlocking green fintech prosperity in Asia: Navigating the top 4 challenges appeared first on e27.

In an email interview with e27, Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), acknowledges that the country may see slower growth during this period. However, he states that there is still some optimism in the market as Malaysia has continuously undertaken “aggressive efforts” to elevate the startup ecosystem in the country.

“Access to financing continues to be a challenge for startups. However, the government has devised a few developmental roadmaps … that emphasize the greater use of alternative forms of financing, such as VC and digital platform-based models, including peer-to-peer financing (P2P) and equity crowdfunding (ECF). These strategies are an integral part of the government’s strategies for maintaining growth as Malaysia achieves high-income nation status,” he writes.

“Another challenge for startups in Malaysia is a lack of connections to a worldwide network of people who can serve as mentors and advisors. Global connectivity is crucial for startups since it influences their access to markets and their ability to obtain knowledge and insight. A startup’s introduction into the market can be enabled and facilitated by getting to know the right people.”

Ever since the pandemic in 2020, three million new digital consumers have arisen in Malaysia, providing an exciting opportunity for startups and investors to seize. Apart from that, today is considered a crucial time for the digital economy in Malaysia as businesses are pushed to digitalise as soon as possible. There are also plenty of other opportunities in the market.

“In terms of the overall cross-border market, Malaysia is home to vast resources making us one of the main exporters of electrical and electronic products, chemicals, machinery, appliances, and manufactured metals to the world. This has helped us build our ties with countries like Singapore, China, the US, and Japan, making us and one of the world’s major trading nations. We have also continuously pursued our bilateral ties to ensure Malaysian companies can easily trade with competitive rates. This includes our involvement in ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as well as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership,” Aziz says.

Also Read: What we can learn from the first Malaysian founder on NYSE, Foong Chee Mun

To maximise these potentials and tackle the existing challenges, Malaysia has prepared plans to support startups. In this interview, Aziz speaks about the Malaysia Digital initiative and the various programmes that it is running to expand the country’s digital economy capabilities and capacities.

The following is an edited excerpt of the interview.

Now that we know the challenges that the Malaysian startup ecosystem are facing in the post-pandemic era, what kind of support will MDEC provide in this situation?

One of the key targets of the government is to achieve 25.5 per cent of digital economy contribution to Malaysia GDP and MYR70 billion worth of investment in digitalisation by 2025. MDEC is working closely with other ministries, agencies and partners to achieve these targets.

Malaysia is on track to achieve MYR1.65 billion worth of e-commerce revenue by 2025. This achievement is supported by the National E-Commerce Strategy Roadmap (NESR), which is a stepping stone for the nation toward digital trade.

Collaboration is key and we have maintained an open-door policy when cooperation with other government agencies and the private sector to enhance Malaysia’s digital economy sector.

In mobilising the nation towards the Digital Trade initiative, MDEC will intensify partnership and collaboration between the government and industry through the NESR to drive growth of businesses in Malaysia through e-commerce.

Last year, MDEC allocated MYR10.5 million worth of grants benefiting 50 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups. Through MDEC, the government has been actively offering grants to spur innovation, support creation of new intellectual property, and increase adoption of business automation to positively contribute towards growing Malaysia’s digital economy.

Can you tell us more about the Malaysia Digital initiative? What are your targets for this programme? What is your plan to build the ecosystem to be more globally competitive?

Malaysia Digital (MD) is an initiative driven by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM) through MDEC, to encourage and attract companies, talents, and investments to accelerate the nation’s digital economy. The initiative aims to enable Malaysian businesses and the Rakyat to play a leading role in the robust global digital economy through access to digital tools, knowledge, and income opportunities.

Also Read: Why Malaysia is the best choice for freelancers amidst the recession

With a new and enhanced framework, MD seeks to transform the nation’s digital capabilities and boost the digital economy via the introduction and execution of various MD Catalytic Programmes, also known as PEMANGKIN. These projects are set to evolve Malaysia’s digital economy capabilities and capacities, raise Malaysia’s value proposition for digital investments and nurture technology sectors with significant commercial and economic potential.

MD is built to address three strategic priorities, which consist of:

– Driving digital adoption among aspiring young entrepreneurs, companies and the rakyat;
– Supporting local tech companies to become ‘Malaysian Champions’ and successful international players; and
– Attracting high-value digital investments into the country

What is MDEC’s strategy to build the ecosystem to be more globally competitive?

As the lead digital economy agency, we recognised that the existing MSC programmes formed 26 years ago were due for a refresher to adapt and support the current digital economy landscape.

Under the new framework, the new MD Status offers greater agility for local and international digital companies by providing flexibility for the companies to choose from competitive fiscal and/or non-fiscal incentives.

MD Status companies also have more flexibilities and opportunities to operate, grow, expand, or invest anywhere in Malaysia.

With the enhanced framework, Malaysia can offer more options for investors or companies and provide non-fiscal facilitations to companies that do not require fiscal or tax exemption. In addition, the government, through MDEC, will be introducing two initial Malaysia Digital Catalytic Programmes (PEMANGKIN), which are DE Rantau and Digital Trade.

DE Rantau is a programme to boost digital adoption and promote professional mobility as well as drive tourism across the country, intending to establish Malaysia as the preferred Digital Nomad Hub.

Digital Trade aims to drive interoperability and greater harmonisation of standards and regulatory approaches and facilitate trade within and across borders.

MD will assist Malaysia in better preparing for today’s ever-changing landscape and set the groundwork for a digital nation, benefiting the rakyat, businesses, and foreign investors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided plenty of opportunities for digital transformation. How does the Malaysian digital ecosystem fare? How do you plan to sustain any progress made during this period?

The pandemic has catalyzed entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes to incorporate digitalisation into their business operations and work processes. Malaysia has seen an accelerated increase in online sales, with e-commerce GDP contribution growing almost twice since 2015 to reach MYR163.3 billion in 2020.

Also Read: Why Malaysia is the best choice for freelancers amidst the recession

As digital technology develops further, the dynamic interaction between demand, supply, and enablers serves as a metaphor for a thriving digital economy ecosystem.

Malaysia Digital’s inclusive approach aims to synchronise these elements to ensure a thriving and sustainable digital economy ecosystem, starting with the growing demand for digital solutions, steady supply of goods and services, and support from enablers like talents, infrastructure, and regulations.

Malaysia Digital is designed to be the engine that accelerates the growth of our ecosystem within the nine focus areas and drives digital adoption and opportunities in the digital economy via the Malaysia Digital Catalytic Programmes (PEMANGKIN) and other competitive offerings.

MDEC will continue to focus on the areas we have been focusing on in the past, such as digital education, the sharing economy and big data analytics, among others.

In meeting the demand to upskill the existing workforce, MDEC’s #MyDigitalWorkforce Movement aims to re-skill and up-skill Malaysians for digital economy jobs. In 2021, the programme trained over 1,569 workforces. Over 283 job placements have been made through the MyDigitalWorkForce Work In Tech (MYWiT) initiative, training and hiring incentive programme aimed at boosting the digital business services sector and developing quality tech talents in Malaysia.

Those from the informal workforce are also included in our outreach campaigns such as the Global Online Workforce (GLOW) programme, eRezeki and eUsahawan. Over MYR1.49 billion worth of income was generated from the three programmes mentioned and has benefitted over 330,877 informal workers.

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Fundraising or preparing your startup for fundraising? Build your investor network, search from 400+ SEA investors on e27, and get connected or get insights regarding fundraising. Try e27 Pro for free today.

Image Credit: MDEC

This article was first published in September 8, 2022.

The post MDEC CEO: Under Malaysia Digital, digital businesses will have more flexibility in fiscal, non-fiscal incentives appeared first on e27.

Flux Series: Marketing Leaders is happening at the St. Regis in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 15 November 2023. Are you working in the field of marketing? Don’t miss out on this focused and curated event designed especially for marketing professionals!

Visit Flux Series: Marketing Leaders for more information! Read on to get discounted tickets.

Embracing AI technologies not only enhances operational efficiency but also positions organisations to thrive in an increasingly competitive and data-driven business landscape. By leveraging the power of AI, businesses can unlock new levels of productivity, creativity, and customer satisfaction, ultimately driving sustainable growth and success. The integration of AI technologies has become a pivotal factor for sustained growth and competitive advantage. However, implementing AI within existing operating teams presents both opportunities and challenges for organisations.

Also read: Explore how AI is changing the way we market at Flux

For starters, AI technologies encompass a wide array of applications, including machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and more. These capabilities have the potential to revolutionise business operations by automating repetitive tasks, enhancing decision-making processes, and providing valuable insights from data.

However, implementing AI within your organisation also comes with its own set of challenges. Because AI technology is relatively new, many companies do not yet have access to the necessary knowledge and skills needed to fully utilise AI. Employees still grapple not only with new software and tools but also with the mindset needed to fully harness AI’s potential.

Challenges when it comes to implementing AI

The field of AI is dynamic and constantly evolving. New algorithms, frameworks, and best practices emerge frequently. Keeping up with the latest advancements and ensuring that employees are equipped with current knowledge and skills can be a significant challenge for organisations, particularly those in fast-paced industries.

Access to high-quality training and educational resources in AI may be limited, particularly for smaller organisations or those in regions with less developed tech ecosystems. Quality training programs often come at a cost, and ensuring that employees have access to the most up-to-date and relevant information can be a logistical challenge.

Also read: This tech solutions provider is humanising AI through its unique approach

Bridging this knowledge gap requires a concerted effort to provide comprehensive training and educational resources. This entails not only technical training in using AI tools but also a broader understanding of how AI fits into the larger organisational framework. Additionally, organisations must invest in talent acquisition or upskilling programs to ensure that their teams have the expertise needed to effectively collaborate with AI technologies.

Furthermore, managing organisational innovation and change in the context of AI implementation demands a nuanced approach to addressing the knowledge gap. It’s essential to create a culture of continuous learning and adaptability, where employees feel encouraged and supported in their journey towards AI proficiency. This might involve setting up knowledge-sharing platforms, providing access to online courses, and establishing mentorship programs between employees with varying levels of expertise. Recognising and celebrating early successes in AI integration can also serve to boost morale and motivation, helping to overcome initial resistance or uncertainty related to the knowledge gap.

Bridging the knowledge gap through Flux

The successful implementation of AI technologies within current operating teams requires a strategic and holistic approach. By setting clear objectives, fostering a culture of innovation, establishing cross-functional teams, ensuring data quality, choosing the right AI solutions, providing training and support, monitoring performance, and addressing ethical considerations, organisations can navigate the path towards innovation and change effectively.

Get discounted tickets today!

Embracing AI technologies not only enhances operational efficiency but also positions organisations to thrive in an increasingly competitive and data-driven business landscape. By leveraging the power of AI, businesses can unlock new levels of productivity, creativity, and customer satisfaction, ultimately driving sustainable growth and success.

With this in mind, Flux Series: Marketing Leaders aims to address challenges when it comes to the AI knowledge gap by providing today’s top marketing professionals with a platform to co-create, ideate, and strategise ways to implement AI within their respective organisations. The conference will take place on Nov 15, 2023, at the St. Regis Jakarta, Indonesia.

Learn from the best

Flux Series is a curated, intimate, and focused gathering of top industry leaders to engage in active learning sessions, enabling access to in-depth knowledge and actionable insights that can propel sustainable growth and profitability for businesses everywhere. One of the key highlights of the Flux Series is a workshop session on “Case Study: Implementation of AI Technologies within Current Operating Teams, Managing Organisational Innovation, and Change.”

This panel seeks to provide participants with the practical knowledge to come up with solutions to challenges in the implementation of AI technology live and on the spot.

Facilitating the workshop is Adhitya Bhaswara, Vice President of AI and Machine Learning at PT. Bank Central Asia Tbk. With a remarkable career journey that transitioned from the world of physics to the cutting-edge realm of artificial intelligence, Adhitya brings a unique blend of scientific acumen and strategic vision to the banking industry through the work that he does at BCA.

Established in 1957, as the largest private bank in Indonesia, BCA is committed to always understanding various needs and providing the right financial solutions to achieve optimal customer satisfaction. BCA has achieved various achievements from year to year, such as Forbes’ List of The World’s Best Banks 2020 – 2021 and many others. The company has always strived to provide the best solution for every customer need, both individual, commercial and corporate. This is inseparable from their efforts to continue to carry out the commitment of “Always by Your Side”.

Also read: Leveraging AI for Growth: Learn about hyper-personalisation from the experts

BCA continues to grow with tens of thousands of employees spread across BCA offices throughout Indonesia. Various awards in the field of human resource management were also won by BCA, such as Gallup Great Workplace 2019, Indonesia Human Capital Award (IHCA) 2021, HR Asia Award 2021, Stellar Workplace Award 2021, and others. This is a clear proof that BCA always strives to create a pleasant work environment and always provide space for employees to continue to grow and develop.

Join Flux Series: Marketing Leaders

Join Adhitya Bhaswara and other industry leaders at the Flux Series and be a driving force in the AI-powered marketing revolution. To learn more about the event, you may visit the official Flux Series: Marketing Leaders page.

Get ready to embark on a journey that will not only deepen your understanding of AI-driven marketing but also equip you with the actionable insights needed to thrive in the dynamic world of modern marketing.

The post Learn how to implement AI technologies on the spot at Flux appeared first on e27.

As an entrepreneur, one of the key milestones on your path to success is securing funding from venture capitalists (VCs).

However, every VC pitch inevitably comes with a question that can make or break your chances of investment: “What’s your exit strategy?” This question is not to be taken lightly, as it reflects the VC’s interest in your long-term vision and commitment to value creation.

In this article, we’ll explore the importance of an exit strategy, how to approach it, and what VCs look for in your response.

Understanding the why

Before delving into crafting the perfect exit strategy, it’s crucial to understand why VCs pose this question. Venture capitalists want to ensure that entrepreneurs have thought long-term, possess a laser focus on value creation, and are aware of the various potential avenues for exiting a business. In essence, they want to see that you are building a sustainable, successful enterprise and not just chasing short-term profits.

Being realistic

One common pitfall when responding to the exit strategy question is offering vague or overly optimistic responses. It’s essential to base your strategy on your specific industry and the stage of your business. Consider the three primary exit options: Initial Public Offering (IPO), acquisition, or staying independent. While it’s good to be ambitious, you should also be realistic about which of these options aligns best with your long-term vision.

Showing a clear path

To build credibility with VCs, you should provide a clear roadmap outlining the steps you’ll take to reach your chosen exit goal. Highlight key milestones, growth projections, and any previous successes that demonstrate your potential to achieve this goal. This roadmap demonstrates your strategic thinking and planning abilities, which are highly valued by investors.

Also Read: Is your exit strategy really an exit?

Demonstrating market insight

Your exit strategy should not exist in a vacuum; it should be grounded in your understanding of the market landscape. Showcase your insights into the industry and explain how your product or service fits into the bigger picture.

Articulate how your chosen exit strategy complements current industry trends. This demonstrates that your business is not just about making money but also about contributing meaningfully to the market.

Embracing flexibility

Venture capitalists appreciate entrepreneurs who can adapt to changing market conditions. Emphasize your willingness to pivot if necessary. This flexibility reassures VCs that you’re not rigidly committed to a single exit strategy and that you’re capable of adjusting your approach to achieve the best results.

Exit strategy as part of the bigger picture

It’s essential to convey that while the exit strategy is important, it’s not your sole focus. Your primary goal is to build a sustainable and successful business. This reassures VCs that you’re not simply looking for a quick exit but are committed to the long-term growth and success of your company.

In conclusion, when the exit strategy question arises during your VC pitch, view it as an opportunity to showcase your strategic thinking, your commitment to long-term value creation, and your vision for the future.

Remember that VCs are more than just investors; they are potential partners who want to be part of businesses that offer both financial promise and a clear roadmap for sustained success.

Crafting a compelling exit strategy is not only about securing investment but also about setting a strong foundation for your business’s future. So, approach this question with confidence, and make sure your response reflects your commitment to building a business that stands the test of time.

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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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Singapore-based healthcare and lifestyle company Perfect Nature announced that it has raised S$1 million (US$738,000) in a seed funding round for its subsidiary brand Snuugo which produces smart wearable breast pumps.

The funding round was led by angel investors Peter Tan, founder and former CEO of Fischer Tech Ltd, and Willy Koh, founder of Racer Technology Pte Ltd.

Perfect Nature will officially launch Snuugo in Singapore at the Babyland event on December 1-3, followed by expansion into Southeast Asia in mid-2024 and China. The company aims to create a complete ecosystem of nursing solutions, offering mothers freedom and versatility throughout their breastfeeding journey.

Perfect Nature also said that the funding has been strategically allocated for the development of prototypes, evaluation, and trials over the past two years. The company also have secured international patents for the product’s design and are streamlining the manufacturing process.

It also stated that a “significant” portion of the funds has been devoted to optimising the mobile application’s technology.

Also Read: Una Brands raises US$30M Series B to acquire e-commerce brands in home & living, mother & baby care

“This funding is a testament to our belief that mothers deserve the best when it comes to breastfeeding. Snuugo has been meticulously designed to address all concerns of Asian mothers, from the materials and technology to the design features and mobile application. With these funds, we’re not just building a product; we’re building a future where mothers can experience the joy of breastfeeding like never before,” shared Justin Tan and Charles Lim, Co-Founders of Snuugo.

The product was designed by Tan and Lim, inspired by their own personal experiences as fathers. Tan identified a gap in the existing market and an opportunity to create a meaningful difference by developing the first user-centric, innovative and ergonomic breast pump tailored to modern Asian mothers.

Lim came on board by bringing his mechanical product and software design expertise.

Founded in 2019, through Suugo, Perfect Nature designs a breast pump that includes Pump-to-Feed and Pump-to-Store systems, reducing the need to transfer milk to other containers, thus minimising wastage and spillage.

It aims to provide mothers with greater flexibility in their pumping routines.

The product’s minimalist packaging utilises biodegradable materials and maximises space.

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Image Credit: Perfect Nature

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Authentick, the creator of Authentickator, a wallet-free platform for easy browsing, purchasing, and authentication of digital collectibles, has successfully raised a US$4 million seed round, with Menyala as the lead investor.

The fresh funds will be used to execute the company’s roadmap, which encompasses expanding the marketplace, fostering collaborations with brands and creators, enhancing services, and advancing the product roadmap.

Authentickator has also announced partnerships with Southeast Asia’s leading e-commerce platform Lazada, social media giant TikTok, and Shopify to enable select users to easily purchase digital collectibles directly from each platform using traditional payment methods. 

Authentick’s vision is to bring digital collectibles to a Web2 audience by creating a seamless and secure shopping experience that enables anyone to purchase a digital collectible without a wallet or access to an exchange.

Also Read: How can your business benefit from the NFT phenomenon

To achieve this, the Authentickator platform transforms digital collectibles into a format that can be listed as a product on popular e-commerce platforms, including Lazada in Southeast Asia and Shopify worldwide. Customers can purchase these digital collectibles just like they would any other item on these platforms, using familiar payment methods.

In addition to easing the purchasing process, Authentick has developed a proprietary system to evaluate and verify digital collectibles using AI and human review to ensure safety, compliance, and authenticity. 

In the future, the company plans to roll out exclusive offerings for brand partners interested in gaining access to a broader audience. Authentick will work with brands entering Web3 by handling the distribution of digital collectible drops, ensuring that they are listed on major global online retailers, and expanding the reach of the brand’s drop to include web2 audiences where they already shop.

“We firmly believe that digital assets should be available to everyone, and our partnership with Lazada and TikTok removes all barriers when it comes to owning a digital collectible. This is the first step of our vision to become a digital asset platform that will eventually include services and products for Authentick-hosted wallets,” commented Boyko Draganov, CEO of Authentick.

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Fundraising or preparing your startup for fundraising? Build your investor network, search from 400+ SEA investors on e27, and get connected or get insights regarding fundraising. Try e27 Pro for free today.

Image credit: Authentick

The post Authentick secures US$4M for wallet-free digital collectible purchases appeared first on e27.

Flux Series: Marketing Leaders is happening at the St. Regis in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 15 November 2023. Are you working in the field of marketing? Don’t miss out on this focused and curated event designed especially for marketing professionals!

Visit Flux Series: Marketing Leaders for more information! Read on to get discounted tickets.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative powerhouse across many of today’s industries. The field of marketing, in particular, is experiencing a seismic shift with AI redefining strategies and approaches that marketing professionals may explore as we move further into our increasingly digital world. With new disruptive technologies sprouting everywhere, marketers get to explore tangible ways in which AI is reshaping the industry and how businesses can strategically adopt these technologies to gain a competitive edge.

Arguably, AI’s most significant contribution to marketing lies in its capacity to process and analyse vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds. This empowers businesses to make more informed decisions based on real-time insights. AI algorithms can sift through customer behaviour, preferences, and demographics to uncover patterns that might elude human analysts. This data-driven approach refines marketing strategies, allowing companies to target their audience with precision and deliver personalised messages.

Also read: This tech solutions provider is humanising AI through its unique approach

Moreover, the era of one-size-fits-all marketing campaigns is fading. With AI, businesses can create highly personalised experiences for their customers on a large scale. By analysing individual preferences and behaviour, AI algorithms can tailor product recommendations, content, and messaging in ways that align with the unique needs of each customer. This enhances customer satisfaction and increases the likelihood of conversion and long-term loyalty.

Engaging customers with efficiency

AI-powered chatbots have also transformed customer service by providing instant, 24/7 support. These intelligent bots can understand and respond to customer queries in a natural, conversational manner. They handle routine tasks, such as answering frequently asked questions or assisting with basic troubleshooting. This improves customer satisfaction and frees up human agents to focus on more complex issues, leading to higher overall efficiency.

Furthermore, AI enables bands to create high-quality, relevant content as part of their marketing efforts. AI tools can analyse trends and user behaviour to provide insights into what type of content resonates best with the target audience. Additionally, AI-powered platforms can assist in content creation by suggesting keywords, optimising headlines, and even generating portions of text. This not only saves time but also ensures that content is optimised for maximum impact.

Ultimately, by harnessing the power of data-driven insights, personalisation, and automation powered by AI, companies can not only increase their efficiency and effectiveness but also deliver a superior customer experience. Embracing AI in marketing is no longer a luxury but a necessity for staying competitive in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. Those who adapt and innovate with AI will be the ones who thrive on the edge of tomorrow.

Challenges in bridging the knowledge gap

One of the most significant challenges marketing professionals encounter in adopting AI-powered marketing is the knowledge gap within their teams. AI technology demands a level of technical proficiency and understanding that may not be present in traditional marketing roles. This creates a need for upskilling and reskilling efforts within the marketing department.

Therefore, professionals must invest time and resources in learning how to effectively implement and manage AI-powered tools and platforms. This process can be time-consuming and may require external training resources or the recruitment of new team members with the requisite technical expertise. Bridging this knowledge gap is crucial for ensuring that AI is utilised to its fullest potential in enhancing marketing strategies.

Also read: Leveraging AI for Growth: Learn about hyper-personalisation from the experts

With a rapidly evolving landscape of AI technologies and platforms, marketing professionals also face the challenge of identifying the right tools that align with their business objectives. Understanding the nuances of different AI applications, from predictive analytics to natural language processing, requires a deep level of expertise. Selecting partners and technologies that integrate seamlessly with existing marketing ecosystems adds another layer of complexity.

Marketing professionals must navigate through a myriad of options, evaluating not only the technical capabilities of AI solutions but also their compatibility with existing processes and data infrastructure. This selection process demands a nuanced understanding of both marketing strategy and AI technology, further highlighting the importance of addressing the knowledge gap.

Get discounted tickets today!

With the goal of bringing the marketing ecosystem together is Flux Series: Marketing Leaders, a carefully curated, intimate, and focused convergence of top industry leaders dedicated to hacking growth opportunities in specific business areas such as marketing. Flux Series will be gathering top leaders in marketing this Nov 15, 2023, at the St. Regis Jakarta for a full day of growth-oriented learning aimed at addressing the knowledge gap in AI-powered Marketing.

The Edge of Tomorrow: How AI is Changing the Way We Market

At the Flux Series: Marketing Leaders, one of the event highlights will feature a keynote on “The Edge of Tomorrow: How AI is Changing the Way We Market,” an educational presentation on how to leverage AI-powered tools not only to empower your brand’s marketing efforts but with the specific goal of bolstering your customer engagement.

This keynote will be delivered by Joe Maulana, Country Lead for Indonesia at CleverTap. Joe specialises in the area of B2B software companies in Indonesia. Prior to leading the Indonesia market for CleverTap, he had spent more than 11 years in the industry from Adtech to Martech space and helping companies achieve what they wanted to achieve with the technology they wanted to explore.

CleverTap is the all-in-one customer engagement platform that helps brands personalize and optimize all consumer touch points to improve user engagement, retention, and lifetime value. It’s the only solution built to address the needs of retention and growth teams, with audience analytics, deep segmentation, multi-channel engagement, product recommendations, and automation in one unified product.

The platform is powered by TesseractDB — the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.

Also read: Learn how to achieve automation in operational processes and workflow at Flux

CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TiltingPoint, Gamebasics, Big Fish, MobilityWare, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John’s, and Tesco.

Backed by leading investors such as Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Accel, and CDPQ the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, and Jakarta.

With Joe’s wealth of experience and the support of CleverTap’s robust track record in customer engagement, participating marketing professionals will be able to access industry knowledge on how to unlock growth opportunities through AI-powered marketing.

Join Flux Series: Marketing Leaders

Join Joe Maulana and other industry leaders at the Flux Series and be a driving force in the AI-powered marketing revolution. To learn more about the event, you may visit the official Flux Series: Marketing Leaders page.

Get ready to embark on a journey that will not only deepen your understanding of AI-driven marketing but also equip you with the actionable insights needed to thrive in the dynamic world of modern marketing.

Join Flux Series: Marketing Leaders with discounted tickets here.

The post Explore how AI is changing the way we market at Flux appeared first on e27.

In the midst of a tech funding winter, which is felt by fintech startups in particular, Investree recently announced a US$231 million Series D funding round. Apart from securing the funding round, the Indonesia-based company has also made several important milestones that contribute to its growth.

In an email interview with e27, Investree Group CEO Adrian Gunadi named the company’s collaboration with the National Public Procurement Agency (LKPP) through E-Catalogue and Electronic Procurement Services (LPSE) as one of its notable milestones.

He sees that the company’s strategy to provide a source of funding for MSMEs who are involved in government procurement projects has been a key milestone for its growth.

“So far, we have recorded a total of IDR1.2 trillion in loan disbursement specifically for MSMEs who won government tenders. This makes up around 10 per cent of our total loan disbursement figure since we started in 2015. Through this collaboration, we have assisted MSMEs from various industries to obtain a source of funding, including MSMEs providing goods & services for health facilities, electronic office supplies, and MSMEs in the creative industry. We have done this specifically through Garuda Financial, Investree’s sales channel specifically for government projects or tenders,” Gunadi elaborates.

“This is important as MSMEs are the backbone of the economy, especially throughout difficult times such as the pandemic. We are also proud of the collaboration that we have built, as we believe that collaborating with strategic partners enables us to leverage each other’s strengths and bring the best results for MSMEs in Indonesia, in line with our campaign #KolaborasiUntukTumbuh (#CollaborationForGrowth).”

Also Read: Investree completes acquisition of Amar Bank, increases stake to 18.4 per cent

What is the thought process behind these initiatives? According to the company, supporting and empowering MSMEs has always been its vision and mission since it started in 2015.

Investree acknowledges that the difficulty faced by the MSMEs may not come from the financial institution itself because, per law for loan disbursements, the requirement for legal documents and collaterals can be quite complex. This is the part where MSMEs usually face the issue of their loan application being rejected.

“Our goal is to support various industries in Indonesia, such as creative industries or service provision industries, to be able to grow at a rate they’re comfortable with and support them with the financial needs to grow. Thus, we wanted to reach as many MSMEs as possible in order to bridge the credit gap that remains in Indonesia through strategic initiatives, where one of them is to build collaborations with relevant stakeholders to increase our reach to more MSMEs,” Gunadi says.

“With LKPP and LPSE being the main government institutions that deal with MSMEs who are involved with government tenders, we decided that collaborating with them would be the right strategy to reach and support more MSMEs in various industries inside their ecosystem.”

When asked about why these initiatives are better at delivering success for the company, Gunadi says that the company did not see its initiatives in terms of better or worse, as they are all “developed based on the needs of our borrowers.”

“From a business point of view, we aim to provide a solution to a problem faced by a market, in this case, the problem faced by MSMEs in Indonesia when it comes to loan applications,” he explains.

Also Read: Investree attracts US$10M from Swiss firm to fund Indonesian MSMEs making social, economic impact

“It comes back to our vision and mission to provide access to financial tools for those that did not have access to it from conventional financial institutions.”

Across the SEA

Investree is one example of an Indonesian startup that has expanded its footprints across the region. With regards to their expansion across Southeast Asia (SEA), what lessons can Investree share with us?

It all begins with the differences between the countries that the company operates in, which include Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

“This became both a challenge and an opportunity for us, as we had to do our research to obtain a good understanding of the different needs and behaviours of MSMEs in these three countries, along with the different rules and regulations that apply in each respective market. Moreover, we also built positive relationships with the regulatory bodies that are responsible for fintech in each market, such as the Securities Exchange Commission in the Philippines and Thailand,” Gunadi explains.

“We are continuously committed to increasing our business performance sustainably in each market while keeping in mind our goal to empower the MSME sector as the backbone of the SEA economy. To do this, we have developed strong partnerships with local partners and stakeholders who are knowledgeable of each market’s behaviours and developed relevant strategic initiatives that answer the needs of MSMEs in each market.”

Gunadi gives an example of Investree Philippines’ partnership to launch an AI-powered credit scoring solution to increase accuracy and inclusiveness in assessing MSME players. Leveraging AI technology, Investree Philippines can now conduct extensive evaluations of potential borrowers, considering various data and factors beyond the traditional credit matrix.

Investree Thailand has also announced a collaboration with Thanachart Group subsidiary T Broker to maximise MSME credit access amidst the ongoing increase in interest rates in Thailand.

Also Read: Bank BRI-Investree partnership earmarks US$143M to support creative entrepreneurs in Indonesia

“Our various partnerships show how Investree is leveraging local knowledge and catering to the different needs of MSMEs in each market, which has also helped us in obtaining Series D funding from trusted investors as we continue to demonstrate our capabilities to create relevant solutions for MSMEs in various contexts,” Gunadi says.

“We are focusing our efforts on scaling our business in a sustainable manner instead of chasing unsustainable growth that will cost us in the future. We are committed to expanding our reach to more MSMEs in the region but still keeping our business growth efforts at a reasonable and sustainable level.”

So when it comes to building relationships with external parties, there is only one advice that Investree would like to share.

“We would advise other startups to build valued partnerships whenever possible to achieve things that would be difficult to do on their own. We believe that partnerships allow us to take advantage of each other’s strengths and bring more impactful results.

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Image Credit: Investree

The post Investree on why strategic collaboration for MSME support is essential to its growth strategy appeared first on e27.