Ever since the COVID-19 enforced lockdowns compelled educational institutions around the globe to radically alter the way they teach and engage their students, the hybrid learning model has been gaining traction worldwide. Combining elements of face-to-face classroom instruction with online teaching, this method of teaching has taken off, with more and more schools delivering online programmes.

According to a McKinsey report, the number of learners reached by massive open online courses (MOOCs) – online courses with video for many participants at the same time – increased from 300,000 to 220 million from 2011 to 2021. The number of hybrid and distance-only students at traditional colleges rose by 36 per cent between 2012 and 2019, and in 2020, COVID-19 sharply accelerated that rise by an additional 92 per cent.

Several variables have influenced the broad acceptance of hybrid education. First, the strength of unified collaboration has been enhanced by the rapid advancement of technology in video conferencing and collaboration tools. Second, classrooms are increasingly implementing a dynamic structure supported by technology to handle interruptions without interfering with the flow of instruction.

However, countries in the Asia Pacific are at various levels of development when it comes to digital infrastructure and perspectives toward hybrid learning. Traditional teaching approaches still predominate in some markets, while in others, they need to be modified to work with currently available technologies.

Regardless of the different market nuances, students gravitate towards this model. Many find that the hybrid learning experience allows them to learn in a more engaging environment while not restricting them to a particular time or place for learning.

Also Read: Why GoImpact believes that education is the key to promoting ESG investment

A report in June 2021 found that 49 per cent of the student population worldwide affirmed having enrolled in an online course in the previous 12 months. In addition, 95 per cent of students indicated being satisfied with online education and that web-based learning is more engaging and helps them retain information more rapidly. This is adding impetus to the need for schools to include some form of hybrid or blended learning instruction.

Challenges to making hybrid learning work

However, hybrid learning requires a multi-dimensional involvement made possible by technology. Roadblocks to implementing hybrid learning include not just inadequate technology but also the lack of compatibility among devices.

When the lockdowns arrived suddenly, many schools were faced with an urgent need to cobble together solutions utilising a variety of devices and platforms that did not “work well” with one another or were too difficult for instructors to use while teaching.

Additionally, faculty staff with little remote teaching experience have struggled to teach when using devices or platforms with less-than-intuitive interfaces. Poor audio and video solutions can further impact an instructor’s ability to teach effectively – especially when they are teaching from the classrooms where they are most comfortable.

The risk of security issues has also been a potential bottleneck. A broad range of devices run on a campus or district network and platforms or machines accessed by staff and students with limited cybersecurity oversight across less-than-secure public networks can be potential headaches for a school’s IT department.

The same holds true for on-campus faculty, guests, and devices – connectivity and access to the network must be carefully managed. School networks need to be protected from increasingly sophisticated malware.

Hijacked video services and bring-your-own-device type issues are also sources of potential security breaches as devices are transferred between home and the classroom for hybrid learning. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial that educational institutions educate students and faculty about data security risks; teachers themselves may also be unaware of the basic security problems and how to prevent them.

Giving everyone an equal seat

Besides taking into consideration the factors above, schools also need to be mindful of maintaining a consistent online learning user experience for everyone, no matter their location, while still tailoring the solution to the instruction or meeting space.

It is also important to ensure meeting equality in virtual sessions such that everyone has an “equal seat” at lectures, virtual classrooms, or group meetings. Schools need to ensure that the platforms are easy to use, are purpose-built, and are able to provide intelligent video, clear audio, localised AV options, intuitive content distribution, and effective video conferencing solutions for accessible and equitable learning experiences.

Hybrid learning solutions should also include scheduling tools as well. This ensures that classrooms and instructional technology are available when needed by faculty staff, thereby improving efficiency and productivity. Additionally, such solutions should offer the ability to scale by allowing web-based conferencing to be added to existing and new instructional spaces to support those environments. Lastly, the platform should be future-flexible – which means that it can handle upgrades as and when new technologies are developed.

Putting a hybrid learning solution together

To implement a hybrid learning solution, educational institutions should start by clarifying their needs and identifying the current issues and limitations in their infrastructure, and then choose the right solution that addresses their requirements. Different schools will have different needs depending on their platforms and operating system preferences, scale, and percentage of remote students and instructors.

Also Read: ChatGPT becomes the helper or killer to all occupations in Vietnam

The first step in implementing a hybrid learning solution is, therefore, Assessment and Awareness. Schools need to understand the challenges it and its chosen system will be confronting. They need to determine whether students and faculty want the flexibility of learning or teaching from anywhere and consider peoples’ preferences and need when it comes to using personal devices for collaboration and connecting with others.

They also must keep in mind that as new teaching methodologies emerge, IT pain points will increase. So, while the demand for software-based conferencing solutions is surging, they need to be aware that there could be initial compatibility and interoperability problems.

Second, schools need to define objectives and craft their plans accordingly. They should identify the limitations of current learning and instruction methods, examine how technology influences an equitable learning experience for students when learning remotely, conduct site audits and explore use cases.

Additionally, they need to define their desired outcomes for consistency, performance, and connectivity, as well as outline the institution’s objectives and needs for web-enabled conferencing and collaboration solutions.

Finally, educational institutions need to find the right partner in Implementing a hybrid learning solution.  An end-to-end partner — preferably with an ecosystem approach that provides a breadth of solutions and services to help schools meet their objectives – would be an ideal choice. Such a partner would help them craft a strategy that gives faculty the freedom to choose applications while staying fully interoperable with all tools.

Their solution should also be built on an open platform on which new web-based conferencing tools can be integrated with legacy technologies. Additionally, the partner should have an open sensibility towards natively supported third-party solutions and the expertise to deploy and manage every device across the campus or school district, and who will help keep the learning experience top-of-mind.

Combining these strategies together will help enable educational institutions to provide a seamless, meaningful, and equitable learning experience for students while at the same time empowering instructors and educators in their teaching experience.

With the right technology partner, schools and teachers can bring the education experience for students to the next level and be well-prepared to adapt to whatever new learning possibilities that the future interconnected world will bring.

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It feels like 2023 will be the year when things really return to the way they were. COVID-19 restrictions have largely been lifted, people are working in the office more frequently, and travel is returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Yet as we overcome one crisis, we’re starting to feel the effects of another – the cost-of-living crisis. Talks of a global recession and the recent spate of layoffs have put additional stress on people around the world.

Moreover, the pandemic has left an indelible impact on us as consumers. Even as we transition back to our pre-pandemic ways of life, our behaviours and habits have become influenced by how we lived for the past three years, where we relied on the Internet and social media for almost everything, from entertainment to shopping to completing our daily chores, and missed out on things like physical human connection.

With the many different forces at play, it’s hard to make sense of how people truly think and feel. Our latest Connecting the Dots report sheds light on the top need-to-know trends for the year ahead.

Search is no longer the same as before

Recent data shared by Google shows that nearly half of the young people look to TikTok or Instagram instead of Google Maps or Search when looking for answers. The percentage of Gen Z’s online time spent on social media is at an all-time high of 41 per cent, and social media is fast overtaking search engines in becoming the preferred platform for these consumers to start their purchase journey on.

Social media is now seen as a one-stop shop for one’s purchase journey. Social media is an avenue for Gen Zs to explore and find things they didn’t even know they needed.

Also Read: How to orient your brand to Gen Z values

We also found that 48 per cent of Gen Zs are heading to social media for product search, compared to 44 per cent who use search engines. Ads seen on social media have become Gen Zs’ top brand discovery tool when shopping online, and Gen Zs are now more inclined to get recommendations and ideas from real people rather than from an article that could have been sponsored when shopping. Gen Zs in APAC, in particular, are more likely than the average internet user to use vlogs in their product research.

When looking at APAC as a region and its consumers across age groups, our findings don’t deviate much from the above. 60 per cent of APAC consumers say they discover or research products/brands through social media.

With the number of people who are doing their shopping-related research on social media continuing to climb and with platforms testing new features to meet this growing need, brands need to keep track of what’s culturally relevant to their audiences if they want to cut through and make an impact.

Internet and social media behaviours and attitudes are shifting

As we shift back to our pre-pandemic lifestyles, the way we use and even feel about the internet has changed. While certain activities like online gaming continue to thrive post-pandemic, activities that used to be very much associated with ‘going online’ have plateaued.

For example, the number of people globally who use the internet to find information has fallen by 14 per cent since Q3 2018. There are also fewer consumers who are using the internet to share opinions (down 11 per cent), keep up with news (down 15 per cent), and engage in general browsing (down 14 per cent), demonstrating a shift in online habits and how such activities are gradually becoming less important to internet users as a whole.

Looking at social media, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and, more recently, BeReal and Bondee have become a means for people to connect with one another. However, as we become inundated with more apps to download, more notification alerts on our phones, and never-ending posts from the friends and celebrities we follow, we might feel the strain that social media has on our mental health.

Also Read: Gen Z is redefining global consumption. Can companies keep up?

In fact, consumers who say social media causes them anxiety have grown 11 per cent since Q2 2020. Our latest report on Gen Zs reveals that this younger generation worries that they’re spending too much time on social media. A combination of heavy representation of unrealistic body images and more online abuse is leading female Gen Zs to feel the negative impact of social media.

The ramifications of this trend are incredibly broad, which is why brands need to be mindful of creating a trusted, authentic, and captivating online experience for users.

A cost-of-living crisis doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for treats

Although consumers are feeling the heat of economic pressures and being more selective in where they spend their money, financial confidence in APAC looks steady, where more than half of APAC consumers express a positive outlook towards their personal finances and only 10 per cent anticipate a decline in their financial situation.

Previous recessions have shown that products and services can quickly shift from essentials to treats in consumers’ minds. The most distinctive treats that people are allowing themselves to splurge on this year include clothing, skincare, and travel.

In APAC, 84 per cent of consumers made at least one major purchase in the last three-six months. As more people are getting out of the house and socialising, beauty and clothing have become categories that people are willing to spend on. Clothing has emerged as the most preferred indulgence for APAC consumers, with 33 per cent saying they have purchased clothing as a treat for themselves in the last six months. Even when money is tight, people generally make space for small indulgences that put them in a good mood.

Our research shows that quality is the top purchase driver overall, with 53 per cent of global consumers saying it’s important when deciding what to buy, so brands should hone their messaging around the durability of their items as consumers look to make their money count.

While we can’t be sure what lies ahead, it’s important for brands to remember that there’s still so much pent-up demand, and many consumers will be carving out space for affordable, high-quality and ‘must-have’ treats.

So much is going on around us that is influencing the consumer mindset. By connecting the dots between what people say, think, and do, brands can make sense of what’s happening and zone in on what really matters to consumers across the globe.

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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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Venture capital has become an increasingly popular investment option in recent years, fueled by a wave of innovation and disruption in technology and emerging markets.

However, breaking into this high-stakes industry can be a daunting task, especially given the current market conditions. With competition for funding at an all-time high and market volatility on the rise, it’s more important than ever to have a deep understanding of the industry and the key factors that can lead to success.

Our team at Insignia Ventures Academy has put together five essential factors to consider before diving into the world of venture capital. From developing a sound investment strategy to building a strong network, we’ll cover insights that can help you navigate the challenges and capitalise on the opportunities of this fast-paced industry.

Whether you’re a finance professional, a tech enthusiast, or an entrepreneur, read on to learn more about what it takes to break into venture capital in today’s ever-changing market.

Experience is important

But it’s a balancing act of being open to new ideas and data versus leveraging on your own past experience.

Having a solid background can give you a better understanding of the industry, the players as well as the trends. However, it’s important not to be too rigid in your thinking because the VC world is constantly changing.

Also Read: The secret sauce of de-risking early-stage venture capital

It’s essential for you to stay flexible and open to new ideas and perspectives. This means taking in differing opinions and perspectives, as well as being updated on the latest trends, and being willing to take calculated risks that can help you in the long run. 

Network can be a sourcing alpha that is unique to every individual investor

But developing a quality network requires intention.

A strong network can give you access to valuable deals, potential investments, or partnerships that would otherwise not be possible. In order for investors to grow their network, they need to be proactive in building and maintaining the relationships they’ve gained with other investors, founders, and industry experts. This involves being open to sharing your expertise and making time for others by offering help and support to those in the industry.

As the famous saying goes, it’s quality over quantity. It shouldn’t matter the number of connections you have. What matters is how these connections can benefit both parties. Investors should focus on developing relationships with other individuals who share the same values and investment strategies, which brings us to our next point.

Investment strategy alignment to experience is important

But formulating an investment thesis (or investment worldview) is not a one-and-done affair.

There needs to be a constant revisiting of investment strategy and evaluation of past decisions. The more systematic and disciplined the approach, the better.

Aligning your strategy with your experience can help you make informed decisions based on your past. Past successes and failures can be a helpful baseline for your decisions, but it’s necessary to remember that the investment thesis should not be set in stone, rather they should be revisited and updated on a regular basis.

This is because the industry is constantly changing, and so it’s best for an investment thesis to change along to ensure that you don’t fall back. This will involve analysing your investment performance, identifying areas of improvement, as well as adjust your approach to invest accordingly. 

As mentioned before, the more systematic and disciplined the approach, the better. This is because you’ll stay more on track and make more informed decisions. By re-analysing and revisiting your investment thesis, you are improving your chances of finding those fund returners and reducing the chances of making costly mistakes.

It’s a long-term, uncertain game

But it’s not just about waiting for returns.

It goes beyond making the investment. It’s important to position yourself as someone whose values go beyond the investment. Venture capital is a high-risk, high-reward industry. When investing in startups, there is always a high chance of failure. Startups won’t be profitable right off the bat. It can actually take years for them to mature and generate returns. Being an investor, it’s key to have patience and a long-term outlook on these companies.

Also Read: 5 lessons from 5 years in venture capital

However, this doesn’t mean that once investors have invested, they just have to wait for the returns. It’s quite the opposite. Investors are expected to actively keep up with the portfolio’s company’s status and growth, as well as identify any potential areas of improvement. So while patience is important, it’s also important not to just sit back and watch.

Collaboration is not just about making connections

But actually doing the little things to show your value to your network.

Collaboration goes beyond coming up to someone, introducing yourself, and exchanging contacts. It’s more important to maintain the relationship by proving your value. This can be done by facilitating valuable introductions.

For example, if you think that an industry expert can be of great help to a startup, you might want to introduce them to each other. Providing relevant insights to these startup founders will, in return, grow their company, which then increases the investor’s return. It’s the little things that are done to help other individuals in the industry that will solidify your relationship with others. 

Final thoughts

The public perception of venture capital often revolves around the idea that it is an exclusive club for the wealthy, only interested in making a quick profit. However, as the five key points highlighted above demonstrate, the reality of venture capital is far more complex.

Venture capital is a dynamic and constantly evolving industry that requires a deep understanding of both the market and the companies being invested in. At its core, venture capital is about creating value and helping to build successful businesses, not just making money. As such, those who are willing to stay flexible and open to new ideas can find great success in this exciting field.

If you’re keen on improving yourself and learning about investing from a VC’s point of view, there might just be a program for you. For fully immersive and experiential learning on SEA’s VC scene, check out Insignia Venture Academy’s VC Accelerator course, where you can take in knowledge from the hours of content and live sessions, as well as the practical learnings of what it’s like in a VC – learning VC by doing VC.

Aside from the VC Accelerator course, IVA has also newly launched the VC Launchpad program. Adapted from the content of the VC Accelerator, the program was designed for a light but still substantive exposure to the world of venture capital in Southeast Asia.

It is especially for professionals who are on the go or are starting from square one and want a teaser before diving into an experiential 12-week program. The VC Launchpad course is a fully online, self-paced course where you can develop your early-stage investment acumen with an extensive amount of content and practice. 

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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

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

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e27 is bringing the tech ecosystem together through a series of MeetUp events across six cities this April. Over the last few years, the ecosystem has achieved a new mode of digital business meetings. With the global economy reopening, we have the unique opportunity to leverage offline events to take discussions surrounding the ecosystem and networking opportunities to the next level.

Startup founders have always regarded the importance of being efficient in time management, especially when building partnerships and collaborations with other ecosystem stakeholders. A hybrid format of digital connections, such as connecting with active VCs through the Pro membership platform, plays an ever-important role in initiating the first introductory meeting. The role of offline events is important as it facilitates a more closed-door networking opportunity featuring curated profiles.

e27’s Regional Meetup 2023 as an ecosystem enabler

e27 has evolved its TOP100 Roadshow with this year’s MeetUp events across six cities. The project aims to reignite its connection to the various ecosystems and stakeholders of startups, corporates, investors, and governments. While the program is a by-invite-only event, a specific portion of the RSVP remains accessible to the public via the waitlist.

Interested participants can access the waitlist here: https://forms.gle/ovaCkwTGjVs7g35LA

The MeetUps will cover important topics on industry trends and insights, featuring panels of industry experts and insiders. The panels will be moderated by e27.

Also Read: 8 startup frontrunners vying for a spot in the 2023 TOP100

The running theme for the program is “Southeast Asia Growth Series: How can the tech ecosystem grow sustainably and where to find future growth drivers?”  — a key topic that is incredibly timely and relevant in today’s tech startup ecosystem in Southeast Asia.

With the help of WebEngage as the supporting sponsor and WeWork as the official venue sponsor, e27’s Regional MeetUp will be taking place in the following cities on the following dates:

1. Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia – 12th April 2023
2. Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam – 13th April 2023
3. Manila – Philippines – 18th April 2023
4. Singapore – 21st April 2023
5. Bangkok – Thailand – 25th April 2023
6. Jakarta – Indonesia – 9th May 2023

TOP100 Partner

Ranked #1 consistently across all review platforms on ease of use and comprehensiveness of the platform, WebEngage is used by 800+ brands across India, the Middle East, Latin America, Southeast Asia and European markets. WebEngage is on a unique mission to ensure that no business should ever have to work hard to retain its customers. WebEngage helps them scale through a robust customer data and analytics platform – unifying data across silos, the best-in-class journey builder enabling automated triggers and campaign orchestration across channels.

 The third piece of the stack is the personalization engine that includes all the data in the system and AI/ML-driven product recommendations that boost the conversion for all channels including the web and mobile apps. This puts immense power in the hands of marketers as they try to live up to the consumer expectation of a personalised user experience, a habit formed by the Amazon and Netflix of the world. The company is working across several industries like eCommerce, Edtech, Fintech, Foodtech, Media & Publications, Gaming, BFSI, Healthcare, and Online Retail. The key clientele includes marquee brands like IKEA, Unilever, Walmart, Myntra, Bajaj Auto, Unacademy, GoIbibo, Pepperfry, HT Media, Wego, and many more.

Venue sponsor

WeWork is a leading global flexible space provider

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Echelon Asia Summit 2023 brings together APAC’s leading startups, corporates, policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to Singapore this June 14-15. Learn more and get tickets here. Echelon also features the TOP100 stage, where startups can pitch to 5000+ delegates, among other benefits like connecting with investors, visibility through the platform, and other prizes. Join TOP100 here.

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Dear Pro member,

The Indonesian fintech industry is at an inflexion point!

As per an AC Ventures-Boston Consulting Group study, e-payments and lending have ceased to be the primary areas of interest for fintech investors. They have been replaced by wealthtech, insurtech, and SaaS fintech.

The wealthtech is booming because the millennial and Gen Z generations, who have benefitted from the country’s economic growth, have started exploring robo-advisor platforms like Bibit to foray into retail investing.

As for insurtech, easy access to insurance products, mostly micro-sized non-life products, has made the vertical popular.

The adoption of SaaS platforms is also growing, with 6M SMEs currently using them, representing a 26x expansion over the preceding three years.

As the region’s largest market, Indonesia is expected to see increasing investor interest in these three verticals in the coming years. Click here to read the report.

Let’s also look at the other top stories from across the region.

Have a nice weekend!

Sainul
Editor.

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The gist: The “world’s biggest startup funding festival” that never was
The details: The World Startup Convention garnered much attention but turned out to be a flop; Ads for the event falsely claimed that SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Elon Musk would attend.

The gist: Wealthtech, insurtech, SaaS fintech are the new hot verticals in ID
The details: An AC Ventures-Boston Consultancy Group report says investment trends also echo the diversification of Indonesia’s fintech market, with lending and payments no longer being the primary areas of interest.

The gist: Bukalapak still in the red despite seeing US$130.8M in FY22 profit
Why: It recovered from a loss of US$111M the year prior; However, it mainly attributed the recovery to a marked-to-market gain from its investment in Allo Bank; On an adjusted EBITDA basis, Bukalapak is still in the red.

The gist: Indonesia’s Shox Rumahan shuts down, terminates all staff
The reason: This was due to the social commerce startup’s financial losses, co-founder Maria Octavyani Manao said in a document accessed by TiA; According to its LinkedIn page, the firm had around 100 employees.

The gist: Alibaba’s restructuring can benefit Lazada, analysts say
How: Under the new structure, Lazada will fall under the Global Digital Business Group, which also includes AliExpress, Trendyol, and Daraz; After the change, Lazada’s management could become “more decentralized and thus more agile.

The gist: Chinese regulators looking for buyer for SVB’s local venture
The details: China’s Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission convened a meeting this week to discuss offloading SVB’s 50% holding in SPD Silicon Valley Bank.

The gist: US charges FTX founder with bribing Chinese officials
The details: During a court appearance on Thursday, Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted bribery and campaign finance violations unveiled in two recent superseding indictments.

The gist: AnyMind Group debuts on Tokyo Stock Exchange
The details: The Japan-headquartered company seeks to raise about US$23M
The SEA link: The film was originally founded in Singapore and has 19 offices in 13 markets across Asia and the ME.

The gist: Lalamove parent files for HK listing
Why now: The Lalatech’s filing comes after the HK Stock Exchange eased listing rules for tech firms, which included lowering the required market value to US$765M from US$1B.

The gist: Thai insurtech firm Roojai bags US$42M in fresh funding
The investors: HDI International, IFC
The product: Roojai is an online insurance platform providing critical illness insurance, cardiovascular insurance, and personal accident insurance, among others.

The gist: B2B life sciences marketplace Labviva secures US$20M Series A
The investors: Senator Investment Group, B Capital Glasswing Ventures
The product: The B2B platform enables life sciences and research organisations to manage corporate purchasing and procurement to accelerate life science research.

The gist: Filipino fintech Advance raises US$16M funding
The investors: Do Ventures, Lendable, Phoenix Holdings, Kaya Founders, Foxmont Capital
Acquisition: It has also acquired BravoHr, a platform providing digital solutions for employee engagement, benefits, and rewards in VN.

The gist: India’s BetterPlace acquires Malaysian recruitment startup Troopers
The size: The deal is estimated to be worth US$15M-US$20M, says Tech in Asia
The product: Troopers provides part-time recruitment roles for people and offers staffing solutions to companies.

The gist: Indonesian insurtech firm Qoala raises US$7.5M Series B+
The investors: responsAbility Investments AG, Eurazeo, Indogen.
Plans: Qoala will use the money for the product and geographic expansion, primarily in emerging markets in SEA.

The gist: Indonesia gets new crypto exchange Mobee
The details: The digital assets exchange focuses on qualified investors, family offices, and institutional-grade clients.
Funding: Mobi has also raised an undisclosed sum in a funding round led by 1982 Ventures, with participation from strategic family offices and individuals.

The gist: Right-Hand Cybersecurity raises US$5M Series A
The investor: PayPal executive Jack Selby and his AZ-VC
The product: Right-Hand aims to expand its platform integrations with commonly adopted technologies to improve employee behaviours and lower risk tendencies.

The gist: SG’s rocket company Equatorial Space secures US$1.5M seed funding
The investors: Elev8.VC, SEEDS Capital, Masik Enterprises.
The product: Equatorial Space’s Dorado commercial-sounding rocket provides low-cost space access for science experiments, tech demonstrators, and academic payloads.

The gist: Indonesian supply chain tech startup Baskit raises US$1.5M
The investors: Forge Ventures, Sketchnote Partners, DS/X Ventures, Prasetia Ventures.
The plan: Baskit aims to strengthen the traditional distribution chains of distributors and wholesalers with commercial support and technology.

The gist: Khazanah-backed Gobi Dana Impak Ventures (GDIV) invests in Care Concierge
The product: Care Concierge provides home care, residence care, day-care, and shop care services for the elderly in Malaysia Other details: GDIV is a part of the Future Malaysia Programme, an initiative under the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah’s Dana Impak.

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Copyright: sakoen

The post Ecosystem Roundup: Lending, payments no longer hottest in ID; a mega Indian startup event that never was appeared first on e27.

Singapore-headquartered fintech company Little Wallet secured US$1.6 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Tikaani Partners.

“We recognise the opportunity in the SEA region and plan to invest our first round of funding in scaling up our operations and engineering teams, as well as marketing and strategic partnerships. With partners like Visa in place, we are prepared for the big launches in select SEA markets,” says Little Wallet co-founder Phoebe Tran in a press statement.

Little Wallet aims to pioneer the concept of “family banking” in Southeast Asia, which the company said has not been introduced in the region before. Its primary focus is to promote Smart Money habits and improve financial well-being for entire families.

It differentiates itself from traditional banking brands by creating a gamified, youthful, modern brand image that appeals to users aged 13 to 18–even as young as 6 to 12.

This platform offers services, including earning, saving, budgeting, spending, and giving. It comes equipped with a debit card, companion app, wearable device for tap and pay transactions, and an educational resource for teaching critical financial skills to youth.

Also Read: How digital banking is driving financial inclusion in SEA

“Traditional banks do a great job tailoring their services toward financially established adults, but none has done well building services for families and younger pre-collegiate consumers. These digital natives are a part of the multi-billion-dollar addressable market. Contrary to belief, most customers often stay with their first bank, so it is important to introduce them to banking while young,” cites Cyrus Daruwala, MD, Global Financial Services at IDC.

Little Wallet founder Rahul Sharma and co-founder Phoebe Tran are INSEAD global executive MBA classmates.

Sharma says, “Our customers’ data safety & security is our utmost priority. Our top focus is to embrace zero personal data knowledge, implement strong encryption techniques, adhere to industry standards, carefully select our technology partners, regularly test & monitoring security measures and educate our customers on security best practices.”

The company is one of the winners of Tech in Asia Startup Arena 2022.

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Echelon Asia Summit 2023 brings together APAC’s leading startups, corporates, policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to Singapore this June 14-15. Learn more and get tickets here.

Echelon also features the TOP100 stage, where startups can pitch to 5000+ delegates, among other benefits like a chance to connect with investors, visibility through e27 platform, and other prizes. Join TOP100 here.

Image Credit: Little Wallet

The post Little Wallet secures US$1.6M in pre-seed funding to enhance its services in Asia appeared first on e27.

Horizon Quantum Founder and CEO Joe Fitzsimons

Singapore-based Horizon Quantum Computing has secured US$18.1 million in a Series A investment from Sequoia Capital India, Tencent, SGInnovate, Pappas Capital and Expeditions Fund.

The investment will allow the startup to strengthen its science and engineering teams to accelerate product development, establish its new engineering centre in Europe, and bring its technology to the market.

This round takes Horizon Quantum’s total funding to approximately US$21.3 million.

Quantum computing faces two main challenges to widespread adoption: developing hardware capable of supporting quantum computation at scale and creating software tools that allow programmers to harness this hardware to solve real-world problems.

Horizon Quantum Computing is focused on the second challenge.

Also Read: Quantum computing could help us tackle Alzheimer’s disease: Dr Michio Kaku

Founded in 2018 by CEO Joe Fitzsimons, Horizon Quantum develops a new generation of programming tools to simplify and expedite software development for quantum computers. By removing the need for prior quantum computing experience to develop applications for quantum hardware, Horizon’s tools will make the power of quantum computing accessible to every software developer.

“Quantum computing has the potential to change how we think about computing completely,” said Fitzsimons. “While getting to large-scale quantum computing is a daunting challenge, it is undeniable that progress towards that goal is being made.”

“At Horizon, we focus on unlocking the power of future quantum computers and have made significant headway towards our goal of enabling conventional software developers to take advantage of the technology through abstraction and automated algorithm synthesis. The new investment will support our effort to break through the barriers to useful quantum computation,” he added.

Last year, Horizon Quantum joined Singapore’s National Quantum-Safe Network and recently saw its node’s first data transmission. It has also recently announced that it is opening its first European offices in Ireland, where it is building out its new engineering centre.

The company recruits a software engineering team in Dublin to boost worldwide operations.

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Echelon Asia Summit 2023 brings together APAC’s leading startups, corporates, policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to Singapore this June 14-15. Learn more and get tickets here. Echelon also features the TOP100 stage, where startups can pitch to 5000+ delegates, among other benefits like connecting with investors, visibility through the platform, and other prizes. Join TOP100 here.

The post Tencent, SGInnovate join US$18.1M Series A round of Horizon Quantum Computing appeared first on e27.

Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day are two moments that encouraged us to be extra careful about the way we support women in the tech startup ecosystem. If we were not careful, we might fall into the risk of purple-washing–an action where businesses present the image of being women-friendly without any concrete steps taken to do so.

This is the lesson that Pocket Sun of SoGal Ventures warned us in a recent interview with e27.

“Besides investing, there have been efforts to set up a separate programme for women. It definitely helps to build your reputation, but nothing comes as strongly as when you actually deploy capital into women entrepreneurs,” she said.

This reminded us to look at how we support women in tech at e27. We want to think that we have done a decent job, as seen through our latest #She27 initiative, where we spotlight 27 inspiring women in the tech industry who are breaking barriers, pushing boundaries, and making a significant impact in their respective fields.

But if you see ways to improve, we are always open to listening.

Also Read: Women in Tech: Female leaders shaking up insurtech in Asia

A return to Myanmar

In February 2021, the SEA startup ecosystem anxiously watched as a coup d’etat in Myanmar changed the country’s face forever.

I still remember that day vividly. The e27 content team dropped every single task of the day to focus on covering how the political event impacted the local startup ecosystem. We tried to contact our sources in the country; I recalled holding my breath when the responses came moments later, with startup founders stating that they wish to lay low for the moment. Safety was the priority.

Today, the world is a different place. In February 2021, most countries were under lockdown. Exactly two years later, most borders have reopened. Naturally, we begin to wonder if things are improving for our friends in Myanmar.

We covered the launch of Common Health’s e-commerce platform, which made us feel slightly hopeful about the situation. But before that, our editor Sainul wrote this feature article.

The things we learned from it were heart-breaking:

– Over 70-80 per cent of startups shut down
– Founders did not see the junta as being supportive of startups
– Even big businesses, such as Telenor and Ooredoo, either shuttered or sold
– This situation has triggered a migration of tech talents to neighbouring countries

“As the military junta tightened its grip on the government, pro-democratic people, including founders and techies, took to the streets … However, these movements were crushed. Several prominent founders were framed and arrested, many fled the country for safety after imprisonment for six to 12 months, and some got killed in interrogation camps,” we wrote.

Also Read: Women in tech have leaned in enough. This is what we should do instead

This reminded us of the one thing we often take for granted: Security. We can stress the importance of government support and other things when we talk about supporting the startup, but in the end, there is not much that we can do in an environment where we are unsafe.

As the month ends, may this always remind us of those living on the margins of society and those who had their opportunities limited by circumstances.

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Echelon Asia Summit 2023 is bringing together APAC’s leading startups, corporates, policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to Singapore this June 14-15. Learn more and get tickets here.

Echelon also features the TOP100 stage, where startups get the chance to pitch to 5000+ delegates, among other benefits like a chance to connect with investors, visibility through e27 platform, and other prizes. Join TOP100 here.

Image Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

The post In March, we celebrated women in tech and returned to Myanmar appeared first on e27.

The crypto market cap jumped by at least US$250 billion in January, with Bitcoin prices increasing approximately 40 per cent since its low in November. It’s no wonder many investors are more optimistic and bullish in crypto in the new year, especially after the touted long winter and the fiascos that happened in 2022.

However, cryptocurrency, as a relatively new asset class despite it being around and trading for more than a decade, has no unifying regulatory framework internationally. This only means that investors could potentially be exposed to unchecked risks and many other unidentified challenges with such regulation uncertainties.

Hence, crypto regulations are needed now more than ever and even more so after FTX’s collapse last year.

Crypto regulation: An ongoing challenge

One prominent example of the ongoing challenges of regulating crypto is the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple Labs, which has dragged on for years. The US Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleges that Ripple’s XRP token is unregistered security and that the company has been illegally selling it to investors. The lawsuit has been ongoing since December 2020. and has created uncertainty for many XRP investors’ price volatility.

This case shows the need for clear guidelines on what constitutes security in the context of cryptocurrencies and even for crypto-stablecoins. More recently, on February 13th, the SEC made headlines for going after unregistered securities. The SEC issued a Wells Notice to Paxos Trust Company, the issuer of the stablecoin Binance USD (BUSD), labelling the stablecoin as an unregistered security. On the same day, the New York Department of Financial Services ordered Paxos to stop issuing BUSD.

Also Read: Why is the cryptocurrency market growth in Eastern Asia slowing down

Some dismissed the issue as “FUD”, a crypto abbreviation for fear, uncertainty and doubt, while others claimed it was an attack on the Binance exchange. These theories on the allegations that BUSD is unregistered security were examined, alongside some additional ones.

CZ, CEO of Binance, wrote a thread on his Twitter summarising the issue and assured investors that the funds are “SAFU” (safe in layman’s terms). He further commented that Binance does not issue BUSD and is not in any way an owner of the stablecoin and will allow users to trade with USDT on their platform instead. Furthermore, Binance will also be reviewing other projects to ensure their users are insulated from any undue harm given the ongoing regulatory uncertainty.

The potential challenges with cryptocurrency regulations are reminiscent of the early days of the internet when governments struggled to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change. In the 1990s, many governments attempted to regulate the internet, but ultimately, the decentralised nature of the technology made it difficult to control.

This lack of regulation created a fertile ground for criminal activities like identity theft and online fraud. These regulations were often slow to develop and enforce, leading to a patchwork of rules and regulations that varied widely across different jurisdictions.

Likewise, the decentralised nature of cryptocurrencies makes it challenging for governments to regulate them effectively. Cryptocurrencies operate independently of national borders and are not subject to the same regulations as traditional financial assets.

This lack of oversight creates opportunities for money laundering, tax evasion, and other illegal activities and potentially affects the ecosystem and highly regulated nations. In an interview with CoinDesk, European Commissioner Mairead McGuiness commented that crypto regulations are pointless without global coordination.

Different approaches adopted by countries

With the many new developments in crypto regulations from various nations, governments around the world are still figuring out the best practices to regulate and streamline them. Some countries have embraced cryptocurrencies and have created clear regulatory frameworks, while others, such as China and Bangladesh, have banned them outright.

A law was passed in Russia in 2022 which effectively prohibits the use of cryptocurrencies and NFTs as payment for goods and services within the country. However, it is still possible to trade and pledge these assets.

Since the implosion of Terra, lawmakers in South Korea have started working on Digital Assets Basic Act (DABA), a comprehensive legal framework that will provide guidelines for the country’s crypto industry.

In the United States, the regulatory environment is still evolving, as seen in the two prime cases above, calling for the need for clear regulation guidelines, with different states adopting varying approaches to regulating cryptocurrencies.

Also Read: IMF calls for cryptocurrency regulation to ensure financial stability

Dubai established Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), the world’s first specialised regulator for the Virtual Assets sector, in March 2022. Just last month, VARA published the Full Market Product Regulations (FMP Regulations) consisting of virtual asset licensing regulations.

The regulatory authority plays a central role in the creation of Dubai’s advanced legal framework to protect investors and establish international standards for the Virtual Asset industry governance.

Singapore has been proactive in its approach to regulating cryptocurrencies. In 2019, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) introduced a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency trading platforms. Under this framework, cryptocurrency exchanges must comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures. Additionally, exchanges must be licensed by the MAS and meet stringent cybersecurity standards.

Controversies surrounding cryptocurrencies have later on prompted the MAS to re-examine its regulations. In December 2020, MAS announced that it would be imposing new requirements on cryptocurrency exchanges to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

These requirements include enhanced customer due diligence measures and transaction monitoring, notably, users had to submit non-custodial wallets to the exchanges as exchanges increased their efforts to link users to their respective crypto wallet addresses.

In January 2022, the MAS introduced measures to restrict the marketing and advertising of cryptocurrency services in public areas and disallow cryptocurrency trading from being portrayed in a manner that trivialises its risks. Moreover, the lack of clear regulations in other countries makes it difficult to monitor cross-border transactions, and Singapore is vulnerable to the same risks as other financial centres.

Regulatory uncertainties: What’s next?

Undoubtedly, when more countries start to accept and embrace cryptocurrencies, crypto regulations will have to be streamlined worldwide. After the 2022 crypto downturn, we can expect regulators to step up their game in a greater way, particularly to protect retail investors.

How do professional investors then procure investments into cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, while not having to worry about regulatory risk?

The emergence of properly licensed entities is becoming increasingly critical in the ecosystem. Regulations are essential in an environment where assets like cryptocurrencies are not physical, unlike fiat, gold, and realty property. As such, being licensed in a major financial jurisdiction means high standards and checks are met, signalling the trust and credibility of the institution.

One possible solution is to invest through licensed fund managers like Fintonia Group, who are subjected to strict regulations and oversight. This ensures that all cryptocurrency transactions are conducted in compliance with relevant laws and regulations, giving professional investors peace of mind knowing that their investments are safe and secure.

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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

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

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Market cycles are a certainty and can alternate between favourable and challenging times. During a bear market, businesses may encounter difficulties in sustaining their revenue streams, and some may have to shut down altogether.

However, targeting a super niche can offer a sustainable business model that can help businesses not only survive but also thrive during a downturn.

Super niche is the new niche

First, let’s define what a super niche is. A super-niche is a small, specialised market segment that has specific needs and preferences that are not being met by larger players in the market. It is a subset of a larger market that is underserved and overlooked. The key to success is to understand your customers deeply, to provide tailored solutions to their unique problems, and to build a loyal following around your brand.

Super niche marketing is not a new concept, but it is becoming more important than ever in today’s business landscape. In a world where technology has made it easy for anyone to start a business, competition is fierce, and traditional marketing strategies are becoming less effective. To stand out in a crowded market, you need to differentiate yourself by focusing on a niche that you can dominate. 

Also Read: How does marketing agility fuel disruptive innovation?

Take an example like Peloton, the exercise equipment and media company that has grown to over six million users. They started by targeting a super niche of customers who are willing to pay a premium for a high-quality home workout experience. During a bear market, this strategy becomes even more critical. Consumers become more selective with their spending, and businesses need to be more targeted with their marketing efforts.

Launch strategically

By targeting a super niche, you can maximise your marketing budget and generate a higher return on investment. You can also create a community of loyal customers who will stick with you through tough times.

Bluutopia is a new social platform that has caught the attention of a niche segment of users who come from cross-cultural backgrounds and are interested in Web3. By focusing on empowering others to voice our social issues, Bluutopia has differentiated itself from larger social platforms and created a community of users who share their interests and values. Their latest roadmap (Bluumap) features five functions across the community, art, live activities, and digital events – bringing together a tight group of early adopters.

Another example is Elemental Raiders by Games for a living, a new entrant in the gaming space that’s been able to differentiate itself from its competitors by targeting a super niche market of blockchain gaming enthusiasts. While traditional gaming companies focus on eSports and Web2 communities, Elemental Raiders has identified a subset of the gaming market that is underserved and overlooked.

Also Read: The future of Web3 communities: What’s next after the NFT community craze?

By creating a game that leverages blockchain technology, Elemental Raiders has tapped into a growing trend of decentralised gaming platforms that prioritise user ownership and control. This strategy has resonated with a community of gamers who value privacy, security, and transparency in their gaming experiences.

The key takeaway from these Web3 examples is that by focusing on a super niche, you can create a sustainable business model that can weather any storm. During a bear market, your customers may have less money to spend, but they will still have specific needs that are not being met. By understanding those needs and providing tailored solutions, you can create a loyal customer base that will stick with you through thick and thin.

Final thoughts

By focusing on a small, specialised market segment, you can differentiate yourself from your competitors and create a loyal following around your brand.

During a bear market, this strategy becomes even more important, as you need to be more targeted with your marketing efforts to generate a higher return on investment.

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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

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

Image credit: Canva Pro

The post Super niche marketing: The secret to thriving in a bear market appeared first on e27.