J. Angelo Racoma

ORIGIN: AI as a game changer in retail, finance, and customer engagement amid increased digitalization

Given the accelerated demand for digital services including e-payments, digital fund transfers, e-commerce purchases, and customer engagement, it will be too burdensome for traditional or manual systems to manage. Thus, innovations in AI are also being tapped in order to optimize how digital transactions and engagements are carried out.

GrabBike, Grab, motorbikes, motorcycles, transportation, Indonesia

Grab secures $2B 5-year term loan facility as industry heats up in SEA

Grab plans to use the loan to strengthen its position as the leading super app in Southeast Asia, through stronger liquidity and diversified financing.

Design and delivery should be the main drivers of EdTech, say learning experts at Amdon Consulting Group

“In general, EdTech developers think too much as programmers rather than educators. At its core, the main drivers of success in an education platform are design and delivery.”

Global Sadaqah

Social finance platform Global Sadaqah’s flash-funding provides insights into Shariah-compliant crowdfunding

Global Sadaqah aims to provide high-tech solutions for corporate financial institutions, charitable organizations and other government entities involved and to be the nucleus of the Islamic social finance ecosystem.

IdeaSpace 2021 Program

Philippines startup accelerator IdeaSpace opens 2021 program with focus on agriculture, workplace, and sustainability technologies

IdeaSpace will be accepting new applicants for its 2021 program. It is currently considering local startups in HealthTech, MedTech, AgriTech, FoodTech, EdTech FinTech, e-commerce and logistics, media and entertainment, and business-to-business operations. 

Digital ledger startup CrediBook secures $1.5M pre-Series A fund

Indonesia digital ledger solution CrediBook secures $1.5M pre-Series A fund to grow SME base

CrediBook is a digital ledger that allows business owners to manage and track their expenses, accounts receivables, and receipts through a mobile platform. It mainly offers solutions for SMEs to better track their financials

Brinc and Future Health Asia launch accelerator program for MedTech startups

Brinc’s partnership with Future Health Asia will bolster the value that is provided to selected MedTech startups through the integration of both their networks, expertise and jointly created educational content.

IMMedia Series A

[Updated] IMMedia secures Series A funding to scale its data-driven content marketing platform

The platform creates new audience engagement metrics with actionable recommendations and predictions to increase the effectiveness of content across multiple complex markets, enabling IMMediate to deliver maximum audience engagement, conversions, leads and long-term ROI.

Lendela $2M Pre Series A

Personal loan platform Lendela gets $2M in pre-Series A financing to support business expansion

With this capital infusion, Lendela intends to fund expansion activities. Operating in Singapore and Hong Kong, the FinTech’s growth plan focuses on gaining more customers and broadening its reach in its existing markets.