In an industry long defined by personal charisma, manual processes, and gut instinct, artificial intelligence is entering real estate with a quiet, but transformative, force. 

Many agents remain hesitant, yet the signal is clear: the role is changing. Those who evolve their service model will earn deeper trust; those who don’t will be outpaced by client expectations.

The confusion gap: What clients are really feeling

Let’s start with the real pain point, not for agents, but for clients. Property transactions are among the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make. Yet the experience remains fragmented: calculators on one site, listings on another, advice on chats, side notes on iPad or A4, and opinions scattered across channels, easy to lose, hard to align.

For clients, this can feel overwhelming. Many don’t even know what stage they’re in. Even high-performing agents find themselves repeating the same explanations, struggling to keep spouses or co-buyers aligned. 

Shared understanding is rare; second‑guessing is common.

In fact, Singapore’s Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) found in their Public Perception Survey that consumers now expect more from real estate agents, not just in technical expertise like valuation or negotiation, but in improving their overall transaction experience.

That means better communication, clearer next steps, and greater transparency, all areas where tech-enabled tools can play a supportive role.

Also Read: AI for the rest of us: What it really looks like in a scrappy SME

AI’s real value: Less rush, clearer next steps

AI has the potential to fix this, not by speeding things up, but by slowing them down and structuring the chaos. We’re already seeing how smart dashboards, client journey mapping, and AI-generated explainers can reduce confusion and help users feel in control.

Imagine an interface that shows the journey in plain language: timelines, budget ranges, short‑listed units, trade‑offs, and the next step, plus a quick profile of how each person prefers to communicate (visuals vs numbers, concise vs detailed). 

It doesn’t remove the agent; it removes repeated confusion and mismatched communication.

A real-world example: Single screen, shared understanding

I recently worked with a couple who couldn’t align, one prioritised location, the other budget. After a few viewings, tensions rose; they felt stuck, not progressing. We mapped the journey on a single screen: what had been discussed, price bands, units they liked, and the trade‑offs each option required. A simple timeline and financial sketch sat beside each path.

Seeing everything in one place shifted the tone. Instead of debating listings, they compared trade‑offs together. Three short alignment check‑ins replaced a dozen back‑and‑forths, and within two weeks they chose a home both felt good about. 

It wasn’t raw data that moved them, it was having a calm, shared picture of what to do next.

Also Read: Leadership mindset: The key to driving real estate digital transformation?

Why some agents resist (and what they’re missing)

So why aren’t more agents jumping on board?

Common pushbacks are that real estate is “too human” for AI or that tools feel cold or complex. But the best use of these tools is deeply human: ask better questions, frame options in plain language, and guide next steps at a pace that suits the family. 

Buyers and sellers today are quietly expecting a smoother, more transparent experience. If you don’t offer it, someone else will.

Beyond services: What future clients will expect

Soon, it won’t be enough to say you’re responsive or knowledgeable. Future clients will expect their agent to guide them like a coach, visualise their long-term strategy like a planner, and deliver a seamless experience like a tech product.

This is where terms like emotional UX and predictive insights come into play.

Emotional UX refers to how digital systems respond to the emotional cues of users, such as hesitation, repeated listing views, or long silences, and support the agent in making empathetic, well-timed check-ins.

Predictive insights are about analysing client behaviour to suggest likely next steps or useful alternatives, for example, surfacing homes that match unstated preferences, or flagging mismatches before they become roadblocks.

And the agents who are experimenting with those tools today will be the ones shaping tomorrow’s standards.

Also Read: From buzzword to application: Southeast Asia’s AI momentum

Guardrails that keep it human

Tools should explain assumptions in plain language, protect client data, and make it easy to challenge or adjust numbers. AI can suggest paths, but human judgment remains the agent’s job: aligning priorities, surfacing trade‑offs, and guiding the next step with accountability.

A call to rethink what we value

Real estate has always celebrated the loudest voices, the fastest closers, the flashiest brands. But the agents who will thrive in the next decade might not be the ones shouting the loudest.

They might be the ones who ask better questions, share better visuals, and build better systems. The ones who understand that great service isn’t about more, it’s about less: less friction, less confusion, less doubt.

And that might be the most human thing of all.

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When Unilever sought to strengthen its supply chain reliability, it turned to GoComet, an intuitive AI-powered Transportation Management Software. What began in 2022 as a pilot to tackle a narrow challenge—managing ocean freight spot rates—has since expanded into a full-scale collaboration that spans Unilever’s international business.

“We started working with Unilever at a very limited capacity three years back in 2022,” shared Chitransh Sahai, CEO of GoComet, in an interview with e27. “Initially, we started with some limited spot rate discussion. And now the entire Unilever international business is on board.”

Unilever’s global logistics operations rely heavily on achieving the on-time in-full (OTIF) equation, ensuring cargo arrives as scheduled and in complete order. Sahai explained that before GoComet’s involvement, inefficiencies and fragmented manual processes led to gaps in performance.

“A lot of the cross-border processes were very manual and required proper coordination,” he said. “That’s where a product like GoComet came in. We digitised these workflows so counterparties could coordinate seamlessly on the platform.”

Headquartered in Singapore, GoComet empowers businesses with real-time visibility, risk mitigation, and unified control across their supply chains. With over 500 global brands in over 70 countries using its platform, the company’s mission is to simplify global logistics and make it transparent, resilient, and intelligent.

Also Read: Navigating trade turbulence: Digital transformation enhances global logistics amid rising tariffs

GoComet’s platform unifies data, automates workflows, and integrates smoothly with leading ERP systems. It allows logistics teams to make faster decisions while reducing costs. Its intuitive interface and deep automation capabilities stand out in the competitive logistics technology space.

“It’s a pure-play SaaS business,” Sahai said. “We sit with customers to co-create solutions configured for their specific needs.”

Whether through inbound leads or outbound outreach, the company insists on conducting two- to three-day workshops with potential clients to ensure the product fits their needs perfectly. This collaborative model has helped GoComet build trust with major multinational clients and grow rapidly in both mature and emerging markets.

The company hosted the seventh edition of its supply chain innovation summit, Odyssey 2025, in late July at the Shangri-La Singapore. The invite-only event gathered over 100 supply chain leaders from companies such as Schneider Electric, Intel, Sanofi, Kenvue, Olam Agri, and Yokohama.

The summit’s highlight was the unveiling of Agentic AI, GoComet’s latest innovation aimed at enabling truly autonomous supply chains. During his live demonstration, Sahai showcased how the system could understand intent, extract data from emails or PDFs, recommend next actions, identify risks, trigger workflows in SAP or TMS systems, and complete tasks automatically with full contextual logging.

“Agentic AI isn’t just a smarter interface – it’s a smarter system,” Sahai said during the event. “We’re showing the world how autonomous logistics can be practical, scalable, and transformative – today, not five years from now.”

Two new solutions support this breakthrough: Incident Lens, a predictive intelligence engine that analyses historical shipment data and real-time geopolitical disruptions to forecast risks; and GoVista, an Outlook-integrated assistant that summarises shipment updates and suggests the best actions.

Also Read: How the logistics partner can make or break the online shopping experience

“The future of logistics isn’t about faster tools – it’s about systems that think, act, and adapt on their own,” Sahai reflected. “That’s the leap we’re making.”

Looking ahead, GoComet is investing heavily in its go-to-market expansion and product development. While the company already maintains a significant presence across South Asia, the US has emerged as its fastest-growing market, with more than 70 customers and counting.

“We are planning to have boots on the ground in the US market,” Sahai said. “We have a small satellite office there now, but want a fully functional office in the next few months.”

In parallel, GoComet is working to evolve into an AI-first product, where intelligent agents can execute logistics workflows autonomously. The company is also doubling on team growth, feature development, and capital investment to sustain its rapid momentum.

“We’re doubling our revenues every year,” Sahai noted. “A lot of effort goes into maintaining and scaling the existing team while continuing to innovate.”

When asked about industries he hopes to explore next, Sahai’s curiosity extends beyond traditional logistics.

“One industry that I would love to try is these high-end brands like Gucci or Hermès,” he said.

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Image Credit: GoComet

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Vietnam’s startup ecosystem is burgeoning, making it an exciting place for budding professionals and students eager to dive into the entrepreneurial world. With the rise of innovative platforms, there’s never been a better time to explore opportunities in this dynamic landscape. 

The startup journey is filled with ups and downs, and success often comes to those who are resilient and persistent. Be prepared to face challenges, learn from failures, and keep pushing forward. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate through.

Embrace the learning curve

Entering the startup world means stepping into an environment that is fast-paced and constantly evolving. Be prepared to learn and adapt quickly. Whether it’s acquiring new skills, understanding market trends, or getting hands-on experience in different roles, your ability to learn and evolve will be your greatest asset. Here are some tips to help you embrace the learning curve:

• Online courses and workshops: Take advantage of the vast array of online courses available on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning. Workshops and boot camps are also great for gaining practical skills in a short time.
• Mentorship programs: Engage with mentorship programmes that can provide guidance and support. Having an experienced mentor can significantly shorten your learning curve.
• Local tech communities: Join local tech communities and participate in their events. These communities offer valuable resources and networking opportunities. Examples include the Saigon Innovation Hub and the Hanoi Founder’s Hub.
• Stay updated: Keep up with industry news and trends. Subscribe to tech blogs, follow industry leaders on social media, and attend webinars to stay informed about the latest developments.

Take advantage of local resources

Vietnam has a wealth of resources for startups, from incubators and accelerators to co-working spaces and government support programs. These resources can provide mentorship, funding, and exposure. Here are some key resources to consider:

• Incubators and accelerators: Programs such as Vietnam Silicon Valley (VSV), Topica Founder Institute, Antler Vietnam, and Saigon Innovation Hub offer support to early-stage startups through mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities.
• Co-working spaces: Co-working spaces like Toong, Dreamplex, and CirCO provide a conducive environment for startups to work, collaborate, and grow.
• Government support programs: The Vietnamese government has various initiatives to support startups, including funding, tax incentives, and training programmes. Research and apply to these programmes to benefit from government support.
• Funding opportunities: Explore different funding options, such as venture capital, angel investors, and crowdfunding platforms. Attend pitch events and competitions to showcase your startup and attract potential investors.

Also Read: Amidst funding slowdown in Vietnam, these 5 tech startups inspire hope for the rest of the year

Network, network, network

Building a strong professional network is crucial in the startup ecosystem. Attend industry events, meetups, and conferences to connect with potential investors, mentors, and collaborators. Here are some tips for effective networking:

• Attend events: Participate in industry events such as the Tech In Asia Saigon Summit, Product Hunt meetups, and other local startup events. These gatherings are excellent opportunities to meet like-minded individuals and potential business partners.
• Informational interviews: Do not hesitate to reach out for informational interviews or coffee chats. Many experienced professionals are willing to share their insights and experiences.
• Online networking: Utilise professional networking platforms like LinkedIn to connect with industry leaders and join relevant groups. Engage in discussions and share your knowledge to build your online presence.
• Follow-up: After meeting someone at an event or online, follow up with a thank-you note or a request to stay in touch. Building and maintaining relationships is key to expanding your network.

Understand the cultural landscape

Vietnam’s culture and business environment can be unique. Understanding local customs, business etiquette, and consumer behaviour is vital for building relationships and creating products that meet market needs. Here are some cultural aspects to consider:

• Respect hierarchy: Vietnamese culture places a high value on hierarchy and respect for authority. Show respect to senior members in business meetings and negotiations.
• Build trust: Establishing trust is crucial in Vietnamese business culture. Take the time to build personal relationships before diving into business discussions.
• Communication style: Vietnamese people often communicate indirectly to avoid confrontation. Pay attention to non-verbal cues and be patient in understanding their perspectives.
• Consumer behaviour: Understanding local consumer preferences and behaviours can help tailor your products or services to meet market demands. Conduct market research and gather feedback from local users.

Also Read: Startup funding down 53% in Vietnam in H1; transportation, logistics-tech, edutech buck the trend

Final thoughts

Navigating the startup world in Vietnam can be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. By embracing the learning curve, leveraging local resources, building a strong network, understanding the cultural landscape, and overcoming the language barrier, budding professionals and students can thrive in this dynamic ecosystem. With resilience, persistence, and a willingness to learn, you can turn your startup dreams into reality in Vietnam’s vibrant startup landscape.

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Taiwan has built one of Asia’s most dynamic and trusted capital markets. As of August 2025, its market capitalization reached US$2.6 trillion (Global #11) with an average daily trading value of US$11.6 billion (Global #13). Earlier, in 2024, Taiwan led Asia with a 28.5% rise in the TAIEX index, a clear signal of investor confidence and corporate strength.

With strong valuations (PER 20.05, PBR 2.74) that outpace Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and foreign investors holding 45 percent of total market capitalization, Taiwan offers a globally engaged yet stable ecosystem.

This foundation is now fueling new opportunities for Southeast Asia’s startups, providing access to growth capital, credible listing pathways, and meaningful investor connections. Through the Taiwan Innovation Board (TIB) and the Southeast Asia Innovation Capital Platform, Taiwan is inviting the region’s innovators to tap into one of Asia’s most collaborative financial and technology hubs.

To continue strengthening these connections, the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) and Startup Island TAIWAN will join SWITCH 2025 in Singapore, from 29 to 31 October at Booth Q01, to showcase how Taiwan’s capital market is opening new doors for Southeast Asia’s startup community.

The TIB: Where bold ideas meet early access to capital

At the heart of TWSE’s innovation strategy is the TIB. It is a parallel platform to the General Board built for high-growth companies looking to enter the capital market earlier and more flexibly.

The TIB operates on market-value-based criteria, welcoming a diverse range of innovators. This includes small-cap firms with revenue, biotech and medical companies without revenue, and even large-cap ventures that are still in development — all subject to working-capital sufficiency requirements.

The process is streamlined and transparent, supported by third-party innovation reviews. To further enhance liquidity, market-making incentives are provided. This ensures fair valuation and active trading once listed.

For Southeast Asian startups planning long-term growth or exit strategies, the TIB presents a realistic, credible, and innovation-friendly route to the public markets.

Also read: Taiwan’s AI ecosystem shines at SuperAI 2025: From Silicon to storytelling

What makes Taiwan’s listing experience seamless and founder-friendly

Beyond capital access, what sets Taiwan apart is the efficiency and predictability of its listing process. Most foreign issuers complete their listings within a year, with 6–8 weeks for review and 1–2 months for underwriting. Overall costs remain competitive compared to other Asian markets.

But the TWSE’s role doesn’t end at the IPO. Through pre-IPO advisory, ESG and investor relations platforms, and tools for post-listing financing or M&A, the Exchange provides continuous support that helps founders sustain their growth stories well after they go public.

How Taiwan and Southeast Asia are growing together

Since 2023, Startup Island TAIWAN and TWSE have been working together to deepen regional connections across Southeast and Northeast Asia. Together, they host forums, investor meetings, and exchange programs that bridge startup ecosystems.

A key example is the Southeast Asia Innovation Capital Platform, launched in partnership with KPMG. The initiative’s flagship event in Singapore, the Taiwan Capital Market & Innovation Networking Event, brought together founders, VCs, and corporates to explore how Taiwan’s capital market can power regional growth.

Following that success, roadshows across Singapore and Malaysia have continued to highlight Taiwan’s advantages as a listing destination and its openness to cross-border collaboration.

Through these efforts, TWSE and Startup Island TAIWAN are not just promoting listings. In fact, they’re building trust and alignment between markets. This ensures that Southeast Asia’s brightest companies have a global stage for their innovation.

Where deep tech meets opportunity

Taiwan’s global reputation as a technology and manufacturing powerhouse gives startups access to resources that few markets can match.

From semiconductors and AI to advanced manufacturing, companies listing on the Taiwan Innovation Board gain proximity to industry partners, R&D networks, and supply chain collaborations that accelerate growth.

TWSE complements this ecosystem with programs that enhance investor visibility, ESG engagement, and secondary fundraising opportunities. As a result, innovators turn IPO momentum into long-term success.

Also read: Taiwan and Malaysia forge innovation bridge to advance AI, sustainability, and digital transformation

What’s next: A shared vision for innovation and capital

As TWSE expands its regional outreach through the Southeast Asia Innovation Capital Platform, its collaboration with Startup Island TAIWAN continues to unlock new possibilities for cross-border growth.

For startups in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and across the region, Taiwan represents a market that values innovation as much as investment. It is a place where founders can scale globally, engage with deep-tech partners, and access a strong, liquid market.

Together, TWSE and Startup Island TAIWAN are redefining what it means to go public in Asia: not just a financial milestone, but a partnership-driven journey where innovation meets capital and ecosystems grow stronger together.

Meet them at SWITCH 2025 in Singapore from 29 to 31 October at Booth Q01, and explore how Taiwan’s capital market and innovation platforms are creating new opportunities for Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem.

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As we stand at the precipice of the most significant technological transformation in human history, the question isn’t whether Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) will arrive—it’s how quickly we can adapt our business models to thrive in this new paradigm.

At DigiEx Group, we’ve spent years building AI-driven software solutions and talent ecosystems across global Startups, and we’ve witnessed firsthand how rapidly the landscape is changing. The convergence of accelerating AI capabilities and shrinking AGI timelines demands that software development companies fundamentally reimagine their value proposition.

The AGI timeline: Closer than we think

The latest predictions from industry leaders paint a striking picture. Sam Altman expects AGI by 2025, Dario Amodei by 2026-2027, and Elon Musk by 2026. Metaculus forecasters now average a 25 per cent chance of AGI by 2027 and 50 per cent by 2031—a dramatic acceleration from just a few years ago when the median estimate was 50 years away.

What makes these predictions particularly sobering for our industry is that 79 per cent of conversations on specialised coding agents like Claude Code already involve automation rather than augmentation. We’re not talking about a distant future—we’re witnessing the early stages of this transformation today.

The current reality: AI’s growing footprint in development

The data tells a compelling story. By 2027, 50 per cent of software engineering organisations will utilise AI-powered platforms to measure and increase developer productivity, up from just five per cent in 2024. Generative AI is already capable of automating 60-70 per cent of coding tasks, and more than 97 per cent of developers across four countries report using AI coding tools at work.

However, this isn’t simply about job displacement. While AI can automate many programming tasks, up to 80 per cent of programming jobs will remain human-centric. The key insight is that roles are evolving, not disappearing—at least not yet.

Five business model transformations for the AGI era

• From code factories to intelligence orchestrators

Traditional software development companies that operate as “code factories”—taking specifications and converting them to working software—face existential risk. AGI will excel at this linear transformation. Instead, successful companies must become intelligence orchestrators, focusing on:

• Problem architecture: Breaking down complex business challenges into solvable components
• AI system design: Orchestrating multiple AI agents to work together effectively
• Human-AI workflow optimisation: Designing processes where human creativity amplifies AI capabilities
• Quality assurance and validation: Ensuring AI-generated solutions meet business and ethical standards

At DigiEx Group, we have begun to see this shift in our work as well. Our most successful projects now involve designing AI ecosystems rather than writing individual applications.

Also Read: SaaS revolutionises finance: From streamlining to AI integration

• Platform-centric value creation

The future belongs to companies that build platforms enabling AI integration rather than point solutions. We’re approaching a transition to “Services-as-Software” where AI-driven solutions offer the capabilities of traditional service providers but operate entirely through software.

This means shifting from:

• Custom development contracts → Platform subscription models
• Project-based revenue → Outcome-based revenue sharing
• Technical implementation → Business transformation consulting

• The rise of hybrid intelligence ventures

By 2030, AGI is projected to contribute significantly to digital economies, with companies needing sustained engagement with specialised AGI startups through corporate venture capital and innovation hubs. The winning model combines:

• Human intuition and creativity for strategic direction
• AI processing power for execution and optimisation
• Continuous learning loops where human feedback improves AI performance
• Ethical oversight ensuring responsible AI deployment

• Vertical AI specialisation

European opportunities lie in developing smaller, specialised models that can be curated with proprietary data sets, including Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), edge implementations, and AI agents tailored for specific industry needs.

The same principle applies globally. Rather than competing with AGI on general capabilities, software companies must become domain experts, offering:

• Industry-specific AI solutions with deep vertical knowledge
• Proprietary data advantages that AGI cannot replicate
• Regulatory and compliance expertise for highly regulated industries
• Cultural and regional customisation that global AGI solutions cannot provide

• The talent ecosystem model

Vietnam produces 50,000 IT and engineering graduates annually, providing a strong talent pool for the AI industry, but the nature of required skills is rapidly evolving. Companies must transform from talent utilisers to talent developers, creating:

• AI-Human collaboration training programs
• Continuous upskilling ecosystems
• Cross-functional teams combining domain expertise with AI capabilities
• Innovation labs where human creativity meets AI processing power

Also Read: From 5 to 50: How agentic AI lets startups operate like enterprises

Regional advantages: The Vietnam opportunity

AI adoption could add an additional US$79.3 billion to Vietnam’s GDP by 2030, representing around 12 per cent of current economic output. Vietnam ranks second in Southeast Asia for AI startups, with Vietnamese AI startups receiving US$80 million in private funding in 2024—an eight-fold jump from 2023.

This creates unique opportunities for firms in the region:

• Cost arbitrage remains relevant even in an AGI world, particularly for human oversight and creative problem-solving
• Cultural and linguistic specialisation becomes more valuable as AGI struggles with nuanced, context-dependent solutions
• Government support for AI development creates favorable business conditions
• Talent density in technical fields provides competitive advantages in human-AI collaboration

Investment implications

In Q3 2024, half of all venture capital investment in the US went to AI, up from 15 per cent in 2017. AI and machine learning deals captured 46.4 per cent of US venture capital funding in 2024, up from 36.0 per cent the previous year.

For investors evaluating software development companies, the key questions are:

• How are they preparing for AGI-assisted development?
• What proprietary advantages will remain relevant?
• How are they transitioning from labor-intensive to intelligence-intensive models?
• What platform capabilities are they building?
• How are they developing human-AI collaboration expertise?

Also Read: From automation to Agentic AI: Trust starts at the data layer

The strategic imperative: Act now

By 2027, the effects of AI on the world really start to compound, with AI-accelerated AI R&D causing exponential improvements. Companies that wait for AGI to arrive before adapting their business models will find themselves obsolete.

The transformation requires:

• Immediate investment in AI-augmented development capabilities
• Strategic partnerships with AI research organisations and startups
• Workforce retraining programs focusing on human-AI collaboration
• Business model experimentation before market pressure forces change
• Platform development that can scale with AI capabilities

Conclusion: Embracing the intelligence revolution

The arrival of AGI will mark the end of software development as we know it—but it also represents the beginning of something far more powerful. Companies that successfully navigate this transition will not just survive; they will unlock unprecedented value creation opportunities.

At DigiEx Group, we’re focusing on building the infrastructure, partnerships, and capabilities needed for this next era—while sharing what we learn with the wider ecosystem. The question for every software company is not whether to adapt, but how quickly they can evolve from code creators to intelligence orchestrators.

The AGI revolution is coming. The only question is whether you’ll be ready to lead it or be left behind by it.

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Hong Kong has long been Asia’s gateway for business, built on strong financial foundations, world-class infrastructure, and exceptional connectivity. Its transport network reflects that same pace of progress, with the Metro moving over 4.5 million commuters every day. With such scale, every part of the network represents valuable space for communication and engagement.

As the city advances its Smart City Blueprint, the Metro is evolving from a transport network into a powerful digital communication platform that links Hong Kong’s people, data, and experiences in new ways. Supporting this transformation is onActivity, a Hong Kong-based company that has developed a programmatic digital-out-of-home (DOOH) platform enabling transit advertising to become more dynamic, data-driven, and responsive to real-world conditions.

This next-generation platform allows brands to adapt instantly to citywide activity, setting a new benchmark for intelligent urban media. The company will showcase its innovation at SWITCH 2025, booth M01, under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park pavilion.

From a single screen to a citywide network

The story began in 2008 with the launch of the first Digital Escalator Crown (DEC), an early experiment that turned static escalator panels into motion-rich digital displays. What started as a simple visual upgrade quickly became a new medium for storytelling, transforming everyday commutes into moments of connection.

That success paved the way for a full Digital Advertising System (DAS) across Hong Kong’s Metro network. Today, Digital Posters, Digital Motion, Panorama, and other screens line the busiest stations, all synchronized to deliver content with precision and scale.

The network now includes more than 1,100 digital screens across 91 stations, creating one of Asia’s most extensive transit advertising systems. With real-time management and a data-ready infrastructure, advertisers can operate with greater flexibility and immediacy, building a foundation for future smart city innovation.

Also read: Marketing in the AI era: Going fast isn’t going far enough

Smarter scheduling for smarter cities

After helping to build one of Asia’s most advanced digital transit media networks, the company introduced the Programmatic Scheduling Platform (PSP), a software solution that redefines how digital advertising content is managed, scheduled, and optimized across Hong Kong’s transport system.

The PSP brings automation and intelligence to digital-out-of-home advertising. It allows brands to deliver messages that align with the moment, whether during the morning rush, weekend leisure hours, or peak travel seasons. Each screen becomes a responsive point of contact powered by live data and automated decision-making.

Instead of static schedules and manual uploads, advertisers can now operate with speed and precision. The PSP supports real-time bidding, dynamic scheduling, and automatic inventory optimization, ensuring that every second of screen time is used effectively. Campaigns are guided by transparent performance data, giving marketers the insight to adjust strategies in real time.

For media owners and operators, the platform simplifies complex workflows. Thousands of digital displays can be controlled from a single interface connected to multiple data sources, making contextual targeting more accurate and efficient. The result is a smarter, more cohesive system that brings together creativity, technology, and measurable business outcomes.

Turning data into impact

The Programmatic Scheduling Platform represents a vision for advertising that is both intelligent and engaging. It merges automation with creativity, giving brands the tools to reach audiences with relevance and meaning.

For commuters, this means a more dynamic and personalized journey. Content changes throughout the day to reflect weather, time, and local events. Instead of repeating the same loops, digital screens come alive with visuals that feel timely and connected to the city’s rhythm.

Also read: Southeast Asia’s marketing renaissance: How up-and-coming marketers are leading the charge

For brands and agencies, the platform enables real-time control. Campaigns can adjust automatically based on audience flow, inventory availability, or market conditions. A coffee brand might highlight morning offers during rush hour, while a travel company can shift focus to airport screens when flight activity increases. The result is stronger engagement, sharper targeting, and better returns on investment.

Network operators also benefit from the system’s intelligence. The PSP dynamically fills unused display time with relevant content, maximizing screen utilization and ensuring every moment in Hong Kong’s transit network generates value.

Shaping the future of smart transit media

As one of Asia’s leaders in digital signage and interactive media, onActivity continues to advance the capabilities of its Programmatic Scheduling Platform. The next phase of development includes exploring artificial intelligence integration and deeper alignment with Hong Kong’s Smart City Blueprint.

By combining technology, data, and creativity, this model demonstrates how cities can modernize public media infrastructure while creating new opportunities for connection and growth. Hong Kong’s Metro network now stands as a blueprint for how intelligent systems can transform public spaces into vibrant digital ecosystems that benefit both commuters and brands.

Visitors can discover the next evolution of this programmatic media technology at SWITCH 2025, booth M01, under the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park pavilion.

Visit onactivity.com for more information.

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Pave Bank, a fully licensed commercial bank built for programmable and regulated digital finance, has raised over US$39 million in fresh funding led by Accel, bringing its total funding to over US$44 million.

Tether Investments, Quona Capital, Wintermute, Helios Digital Ventures, Financial Technology Partners, Yolo Investments, Kazea Fund, and GC&H Investments also joined the round.

Pave Bank will use the money to expand its regulatory coverage, accelerate product development, and deepen its institutional-grade infrastructure across global markets.

Also Read: ‘Programmable bank’ Pave Bank launches with US$5.2M seed funding

It also plans to expand its licensing footprint, roll out programmable treasury products, and integrate more deeply with financial and digital asset ecosystems.

Pave Bank was started by banking executives-turned-fintech operators Salim Dhanani (CEO), Simon Vans-Colina (CTO), and Dmitry Bocharov (COO) with a US$5.2 million seed funding in 2023.

The fintech startup aims to reimagine how a bank is built, how it operates and how businesses interact with their bank. With the future of banking rooted in the convergence of traditional finance and digital assets, Pave Bank is building a new operating system or layer for how money or assets are linked globally.

Its unified platform offers commercial banking services—including deposit accounts, payments, FX liquidity, card issuance, and treasury management—alongside digital asset custody, instant settlement, and OTC trading under a single regulatory and compliance framework.

“The global financial system is moving towards regulated on-chain finance, and institutions need a trusted bridge between the old and the new,” said Salim Dhanani, co-founder and CEO of Pave Bank. “We have built a multi-asset bank that merges the stability and prudential oversight of traditional finance with the automation, speed, and intelligence of digital assets.”

A bank built for the new financial architecture

Pave Bank’s clients can manage fiat and digital assets in real time, automate treasury operations, and reduce dependency on intermediaries. For the corporate world, the platform enables the secure use of stablecoins and the integration of digital assets within their treasury systems, improving speed, control, and cost efficiency.

The company claims it has achieved profitability in seven of its first nine months of operation. With a workforce of just over fifty, Pave Bank credits its lean operating model to automation and AI-driven processes across engineering, compliance, and treasury functions.

“The companies we serve are large, sophisticated institutions operating across markets,” Dhanani added. “They expect their bank to be as fast and adaptive as the technology companies they partner with, but with the security and oversight of a regulated financial institution. That’s the gap we’re closing.”

“As digital assets become an integral part of the global financial ecosystem, there is a strong need for a well-regulated, full-reserve approach to banking at the intersection of fiat and digital assets,” said Rachit Parekh, Partner at Accel. “Pave Bank is at the forefront of this fundamental shift in how financial infrastructure operates.”

Also Read: Blurring the Lines: The convergence of traditional finance and crypto

Ganesh Rengaswamy of Quona Capital added: “By powering mainstream fintechs and digital platforms through its programmable banking infrastructure, Pave is leading the new age transformation in financial services. Its full-reserve, programmable model could catalyse wider adoption of stablecoins and deepen financial inclusion across markets.”

Pave Bank operates under a banking licence issued by the National Bank of Georgia. Its holding company is based in Singapore, and a representative office is in London. The firm is also expanding its presence to the UAE, the US, Hong Kong, and the European Economic Area.

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Vietnam has emerged as Southeast Asia’s most optimistic e-commerce market, even as it grapples with the region’s toughest regulatory landscape. A new report by Singapore-based Blackbox Research, “The Next Leap for E-Commerce in Southeast Asia,” reveals that 85 per cent of industry experts are confident in Vietnam’s long-term digital commerce prospects. This is despite 69 per cent citing compliance challenges, particularly tax reforms, as significant short-term hurdles.

This paradox of high optimism amid regulatory strain positions Vietnam not only as a resilient digital economy but also as a potential blueprint for broader ASEAN e-commerce integration.

According to the report, experts ranked Vietnam highest in logistics infrastructure (84 per cent), platform competitiveness (77 per cent), and buyer experience innovation (70 per cent). This performance is driven by tech-savvy sellers, agile entrepreneurs, and a maturing e-commerce platform landscape.

However, these strengths are undercut by regulatory rigidity. Only 39 per cent of experts view Vietnam’s regulatory environment as competitive, highlighting a gap between business innovation and policy adaptation. The report attributes much of the strain to the recent implementation of VAT withholding requirements, which disproportionately affect MSMEs that are unprepared for compliance complexity.

The country’s challenges are a microcosm of regional obstacles. Nearly half (48 per cent) of regional experts cite regulatory fragmentation—overlapping, inconsistent rules—as the most significant barrier to Southeast Asia’s e-commerce expansion. High logistics costs and limited MSME digital capacity also rank as significant concerns.

Also Read: AI adoption in SEA e-commerce: The clock is ticking for sellers

Vietnam’s urban-rural delivery gap, with 80 per cent of e-commerce revenues concentrated in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, exemplifies the broader inclusion challenge. Solving this requires extending infrastructure investment and digital capability-building across provinces. Experts call for multi-stakeholder collaboration, with 57 per cent deeming public-private co-investment as essential.

Smarter regulation is another lever. Suggestions include streamlining tax processes, piloting regulatory sandboxes, and embedding evidence-led policymaking to encourage innovation while maintaining trust.

The report underscores the opportunity to transform platforms into “e-Distributors” or intermediaries that provide sellers with access to consumers and tools for compliance, logistics, and payments. With 85 per cent of experts supporting this model, the onus is on platforms to evolve beyond marketplaces into full-service digital enablers.

David Black, CEO of Blackbox Research, described Vietnam’s situation as “remarkable resilience.” He notes, “This paradox—high optimism contrasted with significant regulatory friction—isn’t just happening in Vietnam but across Southeast Asia too. It proves the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in the region, but it needs a better framework to truly thrive.”

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Image Credit: Tran Phu on Unsplash

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The alarming statistic that approximately 90 per cent of startups fail is well-known in the entrepreneurial world.

While running out of cash is often cited as the immediate cause of death, a new white paper titled “The Corporate Venture Valley of Death,” co-authored by Wright Partners and MING Labs (WPML), argues that this financial shortfall is merely a symptom of deeper, systemic underlying issues. The report details the dangers lurking in flawed venture design, misaligned teams, and insufficient adaptability.

The true killer: Lack of market need

“Valley of Death” is defined as the critical gap where a venture runs out of early funding before achieving sustainable traction or securing follow-on investment. While three common definitions exist—the funding gap, the cash burn gap, and the research-to-commercialisation gap—they all point to a period of acute financial vulnerability.

Also Read: Why startups fail: Lessons from immigrant entrepreneurs who beat the odds

However, simply injecting more money is rarely the solution, as many failing ventures suffer from fundamental business flaws that cash cannot fix, such as weak product-market fit or unclear customer value.

Crucially, research indicates that the number one cause of startup failure is a lack of market need for the offering, accounting for 42 per cent of failures–a rate higher than running out of cash or internal team issues.

The WPML authors emphasise that many ventures are poorly conceived from the start, acting as a “solution in search of a problem” or relying on untested assumptions. This foundational error typically stems from a rushed or superficial design phase, where founders settle for a shallow “paper validation” without rigorously testing whether customers genuinely struggle with a problem and are willing to pay for a solution.

The authors, drawing on their hands-on experience, stress that a viable venture must solve an “acute” customer problem–one that unlocks significant tangible value–either by saving or earning the customer a substantial amount of money or time. They have seen numerous ideas with surface appeal, such as an ESG reporting tool for banks or a biomass trading marketplace, fail because deep analysis revealed the pain point was not significant enough to translate early interest into a scalable business model.

The trap of hype and easy money

The tendency for ventures to chase trends rather than pinpointing genuine customer pain exacerbates this issue. During periods of “easy money,” like the boom that preceded the 2022/2023 tech downturn, startups formed around hype cycles–whether it was crypto or generative AI--often obtaining initial funding easily because investors feared missing out on “the next big thing”. However, when the funding tide recedes, these hype-driven companies, lacking a sustainable business model beyond buzzwords, hit the Valley of Death hard.

To combat this, the white paper outlines a rigorous approach during the concept Design stage: actively seeking out potential failure points, attempting to disprove the concept, and finding holes, uninterested customers, or cheaper existing alternatives. The ultimate antidote to the Valley of Death is deemed to be early and consistent revenue generation.

The twin pitfalls: Wrong team and rigidity

Beyond flawed design, the report identifies the wrong founding team and insufficient adaptability as primary failure drivers. A great idea can falter without the right people and incentives. Moreover, even ventures with strong concepts and teams often fail because they lack the ability to pivot when the market inevitably shifts.

The venture landscape is constantly changing due to economic shifts, new competitors, and unexpected crises. Small ventures are particularly sensitive to these changes, as they lack large companies’ diversified business lines and financial reserves. A startup must be able to adjust its model quickly in response to new information or external shocks.

The recommended playbook for survival emphasises two core principles:

• Sell first, build later: Prioritise early revenue, using minimal solutions that customers will pay for, thereby proving the attainability of cash flow and extending the runway.
• Run pilots early and iterate fast: Allocate budget to testing assumptions in vivo and utilising the “scientific method of venture building” to gather real feedback on pricing, demand, and usability, quickly refining product-market fit.

Also Read: The business looked healthy – until I asked this one question

In conclusion, the 90 per cent failure rate is not a curse, but a reflection of preventable, foundational errors. For corporate executives and entrepreneurs alike, avoiding the Valley of Death means embracing a rigorous Design Phase and demanding honest validation before significant resources are committed.

By focusing on a monetisable customer pain and pushing for early sales, ventures can build the resilience needed to survive the difficult early growth phase.

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The global landscape is shifting amid increased uncertainty that is influenced by geopolitical tensions, shifting trade policies and rapid advancements in technologies such as artificial intelligence.

It is important for Southeast Asia to understand these trends to navigate the uncertainty and discover opportunities in this rapidly evolving business environment. While there are challenges, there are also opportunities for the region to strengthen its position and drive sustainable growth.

Here are key global trends and their possible impact on the Southeast Asian ecosystem in 2025.

Trade-offs of Trump’s tariffs

Since returning to office, President Trump has introduced protectionist or “America First” trade policies that could disrupt global supply chains. For instance, President Trump signed executive orders on 1 February to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China which raised concerns over inflation and production costs.

This poses significant risk to Southeast Asia, a region that is heavily reliant on exports. U.S. goods exports to ASEAN reached US$124.6 billion in 2024, an increase of 16.6 per cent from 2023. While these measures could increase costs for businesses dependent on international supply chains, they may also drive production to Southeast Asia as companies seek alternatives due to tariffs on China.

Although some industries such as electronics and manufacturing might be impacted due to rising costs and fluctuating demands, the region can benefit from a reconfiguration of global supply chains.

Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia are focused on strengthening their manufacturing sectors with investor-friendly policies, and will likely benefit from new capital inflows and business relocations. This could further boost industrial growth and create new job opportunities in the region.

Also Read: Wall Street’s reckoning: How Trump’s words sparked a global sell-off

The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy and how it will shape the region

The US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy is another factor that could affect Southeast Asia. While interest rates have remained steady at 4.25 per cent to 4.50 per cent, there is increasing uncertainty due to concerns surrounding the Federal Reserve’s stance on future rate hikes or cuts as well as ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Higher interest rates could post a threat to both emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) in Southeast Asia. However, it does not specify which countries fall under each category. According to the World Bank, an increase in U.S.interest rates, especially driven by shifts by the Federal Reserve’s stance, will have an adverse impact on financial conditions in emerging markets and developing economies.

An extended period of high interest rates could slow down regional growth by limiting business expansion and reduce investors’ interest in riskier assets such as venture capital and private equity investments. These assets are sensitive to interest rate movements as higher borrowing costs make acquisitions and funding rounds more expensive and that leads to lower valuations and reduced potential returns.

Such movements may result in a slowdown in investment activities in the region. Conversely, if interest rates go down, Southeast Asia could see a return in investments which will enhance the region’s competitiveness and long-term economic resilience.

The movement in interest rates also impacts retail investors in addition to institutional investors.  Investors in Southeast Asia need to stay informed of shifting interest rates and the impact on their investment strategies as different equities react differently to interest rate movements.

Also Read: Global markets in flux: Trump’s tariff pause and bitcoin reserve shake sentiment

For instance, dividend stocks tend to be more attractive when rates are stable as they offer steady cash flow, while growth stocks benefit from less volatility in borrowing costs that allow companies to resume long-term investments. Growth stocks could see a rise if the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates later. However, if interest rates are sticky and rate hikes return, growth stocks could experience headwinds.

A shift in AI narrative

AI will continue to be a major trend in 2025, with new AI advancements transforming the industry. The  initial AI rally was led by hardware companies such as NVIDIA as companies relied on their high-performance chips to power advanced AI systems. However, as AI adoption continues to rise, the focus has started to pivot to software driven solutions.

Palantir exemplifies this trend and has emerged as a leader in operational AI decision-making tools. The company helps enterprises process their data and turn them into actionable insights to improve decision making and enhance operational efficiency.

The next phase of AI will focus on companies, like Palantir, Snowflake and Marvell, which are driving AI adoption through data utilisation, enterprise integration, and scalable revenue models.

Simultaneously, competition in the industry is ramping up and driving greater innovation as companies find ways to make AI more scalable in key areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, healthcare, and generative AI.

This presents new opportunities for companies in Southeast Asia to leverage AI to automate their processes, boost their operational efficiency and improve decision-making to fuel business growth. The shift from AI hardware to software underpins the growing realisation that AI’s true potential lies in its application across industries, not just in the hardware powering it.

These global trends will continue to shape Southeast Asia’s business landscape in 2025 and beyond. The region’s ability to navigate shifting trade policies and the pivot from AI hardware to software will be crucial in defining its trajectory and performance in the global economy. Southeast Asia can drive its next wave of growth by staying agile and intentionally capitalising on these trends.

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