Singapore-based biotech startup Lucence has recently achieved a significant milestone by securing Medicare coverage approval in the US, becoming the first Asian-headquartered company to do so. This approval enhances Lucence’s credibility and market presence in the US while showcasing its advanced technology and evidence to global stakeholders.

“This sets the precedent for similar recognition in other markets for our products’ performance and patient benefit. We are actively pursuing more partnerships in other high-potential markets to broaden the accessibility and impact of our innovative cancer detection tests,” writes Lucence CEO Dr Min Han Tan in an email to e27.

Beyond the Medicare approval, Lucence has reached several key milestones, including the successful launch of its LucenceINSIGHT tests, which can detect up to 50 types of cancer. These tests have been introduced in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Canada, with plans for further global rollouts.

In this interview, Dr Min Han Tan explains more about the prospect of cancer detection services in Singapore today and how Lucence aims to tap into this opportunity.

Also Read: Asia’s biotech boom: Innovation, investment, and a new era of discovery

The following is an edited excerpt of the conversation.

What are the prospects for a cancer detection service in Singapore today? Can you share your current strategy for acquiring customers and expanding your business?

The market need for early cancer detection in Singapore remains robust, with increasing awareness and demand for early detection solutions.

Our strategy focuses on expanding our presence through strategic partnerships and enhancing accessibility to our tests across public and private hospitals and clinics so that more patients can benefit. We aim to educate healthcare providers and the public about the benefits of early detection, which can significantly improve treatment outcomes.

What do you think are some key differences in expansion strategy for a deep tech startup such as Lucence, especially compared to direct-to-customer verticals such as retail and e-commerce?

Unlike direct-to-consumer verticals, deep tech startups face unique challenges, such as additional regulatory requirements and the need for substantial scientific validation.

Also Read: Is a career in biotech right for you?

Our expansion strategy involves close collaboration with medical professionals and regulatory bodies, ensuring our solutions meet rigorous health standards grounded in scientific excellence.

What are some other areas of innovation Lucence is aiming to pursue?

Lucence is committed to expanding its product lines and exploring new innovations in cancer detection.

We are researching the application of novel biomarkers and artificial intelligence to enhance the accuracy and predictive power of our tests. Additionally, we are exploring ways to integrate our technologies with existing healthcare frameworks to create comprehensive screening solutions.

We are also working towards building more mainstream products designed for mass health screening needs.

Does your team use novel technologies such as GenAI in product development or business operations? If so, how?

Our team leverages AI and medical data science to recognise cancer signals in the blood and continuously refine our diagnostic services. This integration of cutting-edge technology supports our mission to provide precise, personalised cancer screening and diagnostics, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of our tests.

Also Read: How NSG BioLabs aims to nurture biotech innovation in Singapore and beyond

We are also increasingly incorporating other forms of AI to improve the operational efficiency of the global organisation across our business functions.

What are your big plans for 2024 and beyond?

For 2024 and beyond, Lucence is focused on scaling our operations internationally, especially in the US and other key markets. We plan to enhance our product portfolio with more comprehensive diagnostic tools and strengthen our global partnerships.

—

Image Credit: Lucence

The post Following US Medicare approval, Lucence expands the global reach of its cancer detection service appeared first on e27.

Global payment processing company Payoneer has acquired Skuad, a Singapore-based HR and payroll platform, for US$61 million in cash.

The deal aligns with Paynoneer’s strategy to build a business-grade financial stack for international SMEs.

Also Read: How Southeast Asian businesses can overcome employee training challenges

It will accelerate the fintech firm’s growth strategy by enhancing its global workforce management services.

Skuad founder and CEO Sundeep Sahi said that the entire team will stay on after the transaction.

This decision was partly driven by the fact that many of Payoneer’s existing customers already use their Payoneer accounts for payroll services. With 25 per cent of its B2B customers seeking enhanced workforce management capabilities, this acquisition presents significant crossover potential.

“Our customers have been asking for more robust payroll solutions, and the acquisition of Skuad allows us to meet that demand,” said Nagesh Deveta, SVP of APAC at Payoneer. “We are seeing SMEs increasingly seeking scalable solutions and the best talent at the right cost without border limitations. This acquisition positions us to to serve our customers’ needs better drive growth.”

Payoneer aims to offer comprehensive payroll, employer of record, and contractor management services to meet the evolving needs of businesses in a post-pandemic world. The demand for remote and distributed work has created a need for scalable solutions that allow companies to hire the best talent globally without being constrained by borders.

Skuad streamlines the hiring, onboarding, payroll, and managing global talent, eliminating the need for local entities. To date, the firm has secured US$15 million in funding, including a US$4 million seed investment led by Beenext and Anthemis Group in December 2020. Its other backers are Alto Partners Multi-Family Office, Argor Capital, and Zenius Education CEO Rohan Monga.

Also Read: Will flexitime become the norm in Southeast Asia?

According to a 2023 ManpowerGroup study, over 55 per cent of employers are willing to hire internationally amid growing talent scarcity. Additionally, a 2023 study found that 42.5 per cent of organisations hiring cross-border face significant challenges in paying international workers.

The Wall Street Journal has also reported that the trend of outsourcing office jobs overseas is accelerating, with 10-20 per cent of US service support jobs potentially moving overseas in the next decade, according to an economist at Stanford University.

The post Payoneer acquires Singaporean HR, payroll startup Skuad for US$61M appeared first on e27.

Singapore-based Aprisium, a provider of advanced contaminant detection and monitoring solutions, has secured US$7 million in an oversubscribed Series A financing round led by Deep-Tech Venture Partners and Cocoon Capital.

Woh Hup and Solisa Peppercorn also participated.

The new funding will fuel Aprisium’s expansion into key markets in Europe, the US, and Asia.

Founded in 2022 by serial entrepreneurs Raghav Narayan and Dr Lars-Henrik Skjolding, Aprisium is a spinoff from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

The startup helps businesses prevent environmental hazards, optimise treatment, ensure compliance, and enhance both operational efficiency and profitability.

It offers advanced solutions with on-site, real-time testing for the continuous and accurate detection of contaminants, including heavy metals, inorganic compounds, and organic chemicals, like Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It can also rapidly profile novel contaminants in mediums such as fuels and engineered fluids.

Also Read: AI Singapore releases SEA-LION v2 designed to understand SEA’s linguistic, cultural diversity

The company has deployed its analysers in Singapore, the Philippines, and Australia, improving contaminant detection.

“With our innovative technology, we are driving a new era of sustainability, enabling our customers to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency and profitability. Together with our dedicated team, we are not just imagining a better future; we are creating it,” said CEO Narayan.

The global environmental monitoring market, including water, air, and soil, is expected to reach US$25 billion by 2025, driven by rising regulations and demand for contaminant management. The industrial water treatment market alone is projected to exceed US$18 billion by 2027. Aprisium’s advanced technology positions it to capture significant market share in these expanding sectors.

—

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: Aprisium

The post Aprisium scores US$7M to expand contaminant detection solution to US, Europe appeared first on e27.

AIS The StartUp, a programme run by Thai digital infrastructure provider Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS), has won the Prime Minister Award in the National Startup 2024 category for Best Brotherhood of the Year.

The award, organised by the Thai government, is given to public and private organisations with outstanding achievements in promoting innovation and tech entrepreneurs in the Kingdom.

It also aims to enhance the competitive capabilities of the Thai startup ecosystem, enabling sustainable growth and effective competition on an international level.

AIS focuses on supporting and working with startups in all aspects under the Partnership for Inclusive Growth concept to create sustainable growth opportunities together.

Also Read: AIS, SET, NIA to educate Thai entrepreneurs on ESG principles for sustainable growth

AIS CEO Somchai Lertsutiwong said: “For over ten years, AIS has been a digital service provider creating sustainable growth opportunities for entrepreneurs under the Partnership for Inclusive Growth concept. This has proven our commitment to leveraging our internal capabilities, including technology platforms and knowledge from AIS and our group of companies, as well as connecting with partners and investors to provide marketing opportunities for sustainable growth of startups.

“The award reflects our dedication and vision to drive and support startups, bringing ideas to the real business world by creating innovative new services that meet the needs of today’s consumers and customers,” he added.

In April, AIS The StartUp collaborated with the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), the National Innovation Agency (NIA), and the Thai Startup Association to educate local entrepreneurs about the importance of integrating ESG (environment, social, governance) principles into business processes.

—

Image Credit: AIS The Startup Challenge.

The post ‘AIS The StartUp’ wins Thai Prime Minister’s award for promoting entrepreneurs appeared first on e27.

The potential negative environmental impact of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin has been widely discussed due to their energy consumption.

However, the underlying blockchain technology can play an essential role in sustainable development and addressing climate change. Here’s why blockchain technology is necessary for the climate space.

The issues plaguing the market

Before founding a tech company that uses blockchain technology to help enterprises with climate-relevant data, we identified several areas for improvement in creating and using environmental, financial products—products from emission reductions to renewable energy certificates, green and sustainability linked bonds and loans.

These products are only relevant and meaningful if the underlying data supporting them is measurable, verifiable, and ultimately can be relied upon by independent third parties. With typical current processes, there are some issues in the creation of such environmental, financial products.

First, data collection is a challenging process. It often involves one or more site visits to conduct manual data collection, third-party verification, periodic inspections, report generation, and other steps that typically result in lengthy and highly unpredictable timelines, high cost, and human error potential.

Another issue is the inability to permanently link data to products. Conducting data collection, verification and reporting in the traditional manner mentioned above, it is difficult to consistently and transparently tie non-digitised data to a product, making it more complex to verify environmental claims and use that data in future carbon accounting, green ratings and other value-added processes.

Also Read: Changing with the climate: How environmental risk is influencing government and corporate investments

Finally, there is the potential for double counting. The lack of highly referenceable data sets or other universal systems linking underlying project data to claims over emission reductions (i.e. environmental, financial products, carbon accounting)—and ultimately to regional and national targets—means it is more challenging to ensure that multiple actors have not claimed an emission reduction or mitigation outcome.

For these reasons, we looked to blockchain technology as a potential tool in the efficient and effective monitoring and use of underlying data that defines these products.

So what is blockchain technology?

A blockchain is essentially a digital ledger—each block of transaction data on this decentralised growing list of records contains information about the block previous to it, thus forming a chain that is resistant to modification.

It is secure by design.

This technology is well-known for its use in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Still, it can be used with less energy-intensive mechanisms for achieving consensus in a host of other applications, particularly where transparent and permanent information is essential.

How a blockchain-based platform boosts climate action

Provenance
We saw a blockchain-based system as a way of ensuring that data captured from devices and other carbon-relevant sources retained a high degree of provenance.

A verifiable and direct methodology for extracting and recording data directly can materially accelerate processes that are often entirely manual and open to human error, only requiring manual inspection where and when necessary.

This results in greater predictability, reduced time and cost, and vastly improved verifiability and auditability.

Also Read: Need of the hour: How agritech platforms can protect farmers from climate change

Permanently linking digital financial products to data
Blockchain technology allows us to construct a cost-efficient scheme able to quickly, reliably and consistently link underlying data to a digital environment, financial product, a carbon accounting exercise, a green rating or other products and services.

By permanently tying underlying data to environmental claims, you move closer to a more versatile system that doesn’t require traditional tools for trust, providing far more significant optionality to project owners but still allowing for third party collection, reporting and verification where it is necessary or value-added.

The avoidance of double-counting
A blockchain-based solution encompassing source data and digital products tied to that data makes it easier to track the provenance of a product—where and how it originated, where it was traded and who retired it, thus reducing the chance of multiple claims over the same underlying source data and allowing for easy and efficient audit.

A secure system to finance positive environmental impact

To summarise, we saw blockchain technology as the best way to enable parties to custody and transfer environmental, financial products themselves while allowing easy reference by carbon registries, government and other relevant stakeholders.

It also allows for the cheap and reliable fractionalisation of products that would otherwise be difficult for a broad spectrum of buyers to access and access to environmental finance opportunities with minimal friction costs, vastly reduced third party fees.

While potentially not the only solution available, a blockchain-based platform currently provides all stakeholders in the environmental, financial product market with an enhanced underlying product, vastly reduced and more predictable time and costs, increased efficiency in allocating value to participating parties, and more significant optionality and reporting—ultimately contributing to the acceleration of positive climate action.

–

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.

Join our e27 Telegram group, FB community, or like the e27 Facebook page

Image credit: alohaflaminggo

This article was first published on October 25, 2021

The post Blockchain technology for climate action? Here’s why it works appeared first on e27.

 

Are you looking to develop user-friendly solutions that resonate with non-technical users? In today’s digital age, creating technologies that are accessible and beneficial to a wide range of users, including those without a technical background, is crucial for business growth and success.

In this light, e27‘s flagship conference, Echelon X, hosted a fireside chat titled ‘Building for Non-Technical Customers and Growth – The Growsari Experience’. The session featured insights from Growsari, a leading B2B e-commerce platform in the Philippines.

Moderated by Gullnaz Baig, Executive Director of Angsana Council, the discussion included Shiv Choudhury, Co-Founder of Growsari. Growsari has been at the forefront of transforming the way small businesses operate by providing them with the tools and technologies needed to thrive in the digital economy.

The fireside chat focused on what small businesses in Southeast Asia can do to build, deploy, and scale technologies that cater to the needs of non-technical audiences and consumers.

—

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.

The post Echelon X: Gullnaz Baig and Shiv Choudhury on Growsari’s approach to non-technical customers appeared first on e27.

Mushroom Material, a startup that converts agricultural waste into eco-friendly packaging, has secured over US$5 million in seed funding led by Wavemaker Partners and SEEDS Capital.

Icehouse Ventures, K1W1, and Black Kite Capital participated.

Also Read: Nibertex develops chemical-free fabric for sustainable textiles

The investment is being used to establish a 1,300-sqm pilot plant in Auckland’s Mount Roskill in New Zealand.

Founded in 2020 by Shaun Seaman and Jotinder Singh, Mushroom Material harnesses the power of mycelium—mushrooms’ root structure—to create a sustainable alternative to polystyrene (Styrofoam).

The startup grows millions of fungi-based pellets, which are then coated in a binding agent, allowing them to be shaped into customised packaging solutions. This technology addresses scalability and cost-effectiveness.

Its packaging solution is compostable, offering shock absorption, low density, and natural water resistance. It can be produced from various organic materials, including food waste, cardboard, and agricultural waste, such as hemp, straw and wood chips.

According to the greentech startup, over 200 companies have expressed interest in purchasing its products. Mushroom Material plans to start delivering orders to existing customers in 2025.

Also Read: Indian startup Neeman’s converts plastic bottles into stylish, eco-friendly footwear

“At Mushroom Material, we aim to bridge the gap between the packaging industry’s need for scalable, cost-effective solutions and society’s demand for environmental sustainability. Our mission is to scale this technology to meet global demand for eco-friendly packaging, delivering superior material characteristics while maintaining uncompromised sustainability,” said CEO Seaman.

—

Image Credit: Mushroom Material.

The post Mushroom Material nets US$5M to convert agri waste into eco-friendly packaging appeared first on e27.

Growsari, a B2B marketplace for sari-sari stores (neighbourhood stores) in the Philippines, has closed a US$5 million investment round from global investor Oppenheimer Generations Asia.

The e-commerce startup will use the capital to support its three business lines and provide liquidity to employees and early-stage investors.

Also Read: How soonicorn GrowSari plans to expand its reach to 300K sari-sari stores in Philippines

The Philippines has 1.3 million independent entrepreneurs who run small mom-and-pop stores that play an active role in their community’s lives and choices. However, inefficient supply chains and the inability to access capital have often hindered their scaling.

Growsari seeks to even the playing field by democratising access to technology for these storeowners and empowering them to double their earnings.

Launched in 2016 by ER Rollan, Shiv Choudhury, Andrzej Ogonowski, and Siddhartha Kongara, Growsari provides growth tools to 100,000 sari-sari stores in 400 municipalities nationwide. Its three business lines are B2B e-commerce (SariMart), MSME financial services (SariPay), and last-mile logistics (Tranko).

It provides store owners access to affordable FMCG goods at convenient service levels. Goods are delivered to the stores for free, with no minimum order quantity, and flexible payment options of cash on delivery, digital payments or credit.

The platform also allows store owners to grow their business further by selling digital services (prepaid telco load, bill payment assistance, e-wallet top-ups, insurance, online shopping, etc.) to their end consumers via the same Growsari app.

Store owners can also access various business management solutions, including credit, payments, cash management, and insurance.

The company claims its revenue has grown 2x since its US$77.5 million Series C funding round in 2022 and is now close to profitability.

Also Read: GrowSari raises Series B to help 30K small convenience stores in PH increase their earnings

To date, Growsari has raised more than US$110 million across multiple rounds from Robinsons Retail, JG Summit, KKR, International Finance Corporation, Wavemaker Partners, Pavilion Capital, Tencent Holdings, Saison Capital, ICCP-SBI, and Endeavor Catalyst.

—

Image Credit: Growsari.

The post Growsari lands US$5M to empower 1.3M sari-sari store owners in Philippines appeared first on e27.

Dear reader,

The ASEAN electric vehicle (EV) market is poised for significant growth, driven by favourable regulations, partnerships with Chinese automakers, and a robust automotive production base.

Maybank Investment Bank highlights that countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand are witnessing a notable uptick in EV sales.

In Malaysia, a 142% increase in fully electric car sales is fuelled by potential cuts in fuel subsidies, which would make EVs more competitive. Indonesia’s market is buoyed by government incentives like sales tax discounts and import duty suspensions, encouraging companies like BYD and VinFast to establish local facilities.

Singapore and Thailand also show impressive growth, with Singapore’s EV sales surging by 218%, aided by significant tax incentives and a shift towards greener transportation. Thailand’s market, although currently experiencing a slowdown, is set to benefit from substantial investments by Chinese automakers despite a broader decline in overall car sales.

Globally, the EV market faces challenges such as the end of European subsidies and tariff increases on China-made cars.

However, the overall trend remains positive, with global EV sales expected to reach 17 million units in 2024. Hybrid vehicles are also regaining popularity as a transitional solution, addressing range anxiety and infrastructure concerns, particularly in regions like Japan and the US.

This dynamic landscape suggests a promising future for EV adoption, especially in ASEAN, as regulatory support and strategic partnerships continue to drive growth.

Sainul,
Editor.

NEWS & VIEWS

Maybank says electrical vehicle sales will pick up in ASEAN
The research house said favourable regulations, local brands and penetration of Chinese carmakers would drive EV sales higher in ASEAN; ASEAN is witnessing a pick-up in electric car sales, mainly in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

EDBI, SEEDS Capital merge to form SG Growth Capital
This brings together the investment expertise and networks of EDBI and SEEDS Capital to support the growth of innovative enterprises and anchor key operations and capabilities in Singapore. The change will take place on April 1, 2025.

Ayala acquires an additional 8% stake in Mynt for US$394.54M
Mynt is the parent of the finance super app and digital cashless ecosystem GCash in the Philippines; This transaction values Mynt at approximately US$4.93 billion and increases Ayala’s ownership in Mynt to about 13%.

Grab-led GXBank to invest US$333M in Malaysia over the next five years
It will also establish the GX Untuk Semua initiative, which is designed to focus on nurturing local tech talent, developing core competencies and best-in-class industry practices, and innovative solutions.

‘Amazon for fresh farm produce in SEA’ Secai Marche raises US$3.5M
The investors include Beyond Next Ventures, Spiral Ventures Asia, and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital; The funds will be used to expand its fulfilment centres, enhance the accuracy of demand forecasts using AI, and optimise last-mile deliveries.

AI Singapore releases SEA-LION v2 designed to understand SEA’s linguistic, and cultural diversity
SEA-LION v2, built on Meta’s Llama 3, is part of AI Singapore’s mission to develop AI capabilities, create social and economic impacts, and nurture local talent.

OpenAI co-founder John Schulman leaves for Anthropic
Schulman said it stemmed from a desire to deepen his focus on AI alignment—the science of ensuring AI behaves as intended—and engage in more hands-on technical work.

Flipkart blitzes into India’s 10-minute quick commerce battle
The new service offers customers the ability to have a wide range of items, from groceries to smartphones, delivered to them within 10 to 15 minutes; The e-commerce firm is offering customers free delivery on orders priced at INR 100 (US$1.20).

US expected to propose barring Chinese software in autonomous vehicles
The US administration will also propose barring vehicles with Chinese-developed advanced wireless communications abilities modules from US roads, according to sources.

Google loses massive antitrust case over search, will appeal ruling
A US District Court judge found the tech giant acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in online search; It’s a major defeat for Google that could alter the way it does business.

YouTuber files class action suit over OpenAI’s scrape of creators’ transcripts
A YouTube creator alleges that OpenAI trained its generative AI models on millions of transcripts from YouTube videos without notifying or compensating the videos’ owners.

Five US states push Musk to fix AI chatbot over election misinformation
Social media platforms have been under scrutiny for years over the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories; There’s been growing concern that AI-generated content could mislead voters in the November presidential and congressional elections.

FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

From standalone to lead magnet: How SugarOKR will fuel Happy5’s global expansion
Happy5 CEO Doni Priliandi and SugarOKR CEO Timothy Kua discuss the strategic acquisition and their expansion plans, starting with the US.

Echelon X: Peng Ong of Monk’s Hill Ventures on AI’s transformative impact in Southeast Asia
The Echelon X fireside chat took a retrospective look at the evolution of AI and the trends in investing within Southeast Asia.

Lydea Quek: Championing cybersecurity innovation in APAC
Quek is passionate about guiding customers through their security challenges and customising solutions to meet their specific needs.

Meet the founder who built and sold a US$600M enterprise software startup from Sri Lanka
Sanjiva Weerawarana’s WSO2, an open-source enterprise software provider with customers such as Samsung, Axa, and AT&T, recently agreed to be acquired by PE giant EQT at a valuation of US$600 million.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Genetics AI in Asia: Pioneering the future of technology
One of the most meaningful areas of innovation is genetics AI—a fusion of artificial intelligence and genetics research.

How a data-driven approach can optimise decarbonisation in the built environment
Granular data is key to decarbonising real estate, enabling targeted improvements and optimising ESG goals for greater sustainability.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Why the right framework creates impactful apps
While this leap to a new framework might seem daunting at first, this article explores why it can be worth making that change.

The future of mobility is in public-private collaboration
Foxconn-initiated MIH Consortium and Techstars are paving the way as they engage startups in Southeast Asia and globally.

How do angel investors source opportunities?
This article is meant to help angel investors build a routine in order to make sure they get to see the great opportunities out there.

Angel investors vs Venture Capitalists for startup funding: Which is right for you?
Choosing the right investors, whether angels, VCs, or a mix, is crucial for providing both financial support and invaluable guidance to ensure startup success.

The pros and cons of signing on an angel investor for your startup
They are seeking to invest their hard-earned savings in your venture in hope of cashing out if your company ends up being a future unicorn. But there are a number of trade-offs you must consider before taking an angel investor’s money.

All you need to know about how angel investors evaluate their opportunities
It is important to take a step back and see if the founder is persistent and pursues the investment opportunity or if we simply feel a deal is not ready for our investment yet but might be in several months; We want to spectate.

How technology is making our food safer
Emerging technologies, including blockchain, RFID tags, and sensors, offer the ability to fight food fraud efficiently.

Why finding your co-founder is a lot like meeting your soulmate
What I learned about finding co-founders from my experiences at MaGIC, Entrepreneur First, and Singapore-Deep Tech Alliance.

The business of social responsibility: Why brands are redefining their social conscience
Here, we examine best practices and guidelines for brands looking to publicly communicate their social conscience.

Is generative AI the game-changer for productivity?
While Generative AI can automate various tasks, it cannot entirely replace human creativity, empathy, and critical thinking.

Pivoting beyond product: You need to look at your company culture, too
During a crisis, getting the team on board with pivoting amidst a very palpable crisis requires shifts in culture.

What are some networking benefits that are essential for startups?
From trading information to cultivating relationships with mutual benefits, networking should be a part of any startup’s marketing efforts.

How Southeast Asian businesses can overcome employee training challenges
The challenge of bringing employees aboard the digital transformation ship is not exclusive to SEA. However, most firms admit to not being adaptable enough.

—

Image Credit: 123RF.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: EV sales will pick up in SEA: Maybank | EDBI, SEEDS Capital merge | AI Singapore releases SEA-LION v2 appeared first on e27.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the business landscape in Southeast Asia, opening up new opportunities and transforming traditional models. As AI technologies continue to advance, the region’s startups find themselves in a unique position to leverage these innovations.

In light of this, e27‘s flagship conference, Echelon X, hosted a fireside chat titled ‘Global Market Expansion: A Spotlight on Patsnap’s AI Story’.

The session explored the journey of Patsnap, an innovation intelligence platform, from its inception to its current status as a global market leader in innovation, research, and development. The discussion highlighted how AI has enabled Patsnap to enhance its offerings, streamline processes, and provide unparalleled insights to its customers.

Moderated by Caela Tanjangco, Director of Endeavor Catalyst at Endeavor, and featuring Guan Dian, Co-Founder, APAC General Manager and CMO of Patsnap, the fireside chat delved into key milestones, trends, and insights that have shaped Patsnap’s success. The conversation underscored the transformative power of AI in driving innovation and economic growth in the region.

The fireside chat also explored the future of AI in Southeast Asia, emphasising how startups like Patsnap are well-positioned to capitalise on AI advancements to drive further growth and success.

—

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.

The post Echelon X: Co-founder Guan Dian discusses AI’s role in Patsnap’s global expansion appeared first on e27.