Author: TechNode Global Staff

Singapore e-commerce enabler Zaapi raises $4.5M seed investment led by GFC, Flourish Ventures, and Partech

Zaapi has raised a $4 million seed investment in the current round of funding. Prominent venture capital investors, including Global Founders Capital (GFC), Flourish Ventures, and Partech, led the investment. Other institutional investors in the round include 1982 Ventures, Kaya Founders, Iterative, XA Network, and Sketchnote Partners/Invertidos.

Malaysian finance platform Ethis Group launches Ethis Global platform for global expansion

Malaysia-based ethical investment and social finance platform operator Ethis Group said Monday it will be launching EthisX as part of its global expansion plan. Approved by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) – the Sultanate of Oman’s regulator and supervisor of the capital market and insurance sector – EthisX is managed by Ethis Investment Platform LLC…

Singtel’s NCS acquires Australian IT services firm The Dialog Group for $241M

NCS, the information technology (IT) and communications engineering arm of Singtel, announced Monday it has acquired Australia’s largest privately-owned IT services company The Dialog Group (Dialog) for A$325 million ($241 million). The acquisition of Dialog is geared to unlock new growth opportunities in the Australian market and accelerate NCS’…

Singapore investment management firm Transport Capital launches new venture capital arm TC Ventures

Transport Capital has launched its new venture capital arm named TC Ventures. TC Ventures will focus on startups offering compelling solutions for transportation’s two mega challenges: decarbonisation and digitalisation. It not only provides capital but makes a deep understanding of - and contact network in - maritime and aviation available to its investee…

Thai venture capital firm ORZON Ventures invests in SEA tech firms Pomelo, Carsome, Freshket, GoWabi and Protomate

Thai venture capital firm ORZON Ventures on Friday announced its investments in five fast-growing startups in Thailand and Southeast Asia (SEA) region, namely Pomelo, Carsome, Freshket, GoWabi and Protomate.

GrabBike, Grab, motorbikes, motorcycles, transportation, Indonesia

Grab reports $1.1B loss in 4Q as revenue falls on heavy incentive spending

Grab posted a loss of $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter 2011, as its revenue tumbled 44 percent year on year on heavy incentive spending. The revenue drop was due to the company preemptively invested to grow driver supply to support strong recovery in mobility demand. Consumer incentives for mobility and deliveries also increased as Grab invested in its…

Singapore document AI startup Docsumo raises $3.5M in seed fund, eyes expansion in North American market

Docsumo has raised $3.5 million in seed capital led by Common Ocean. The round also saw the participation from Fifth Wall, Arbor Realty Trust, and existing investor Better Capital. The startup plans to utilize the fresh funds to expand its client base in the North American market and grow the team.

Capital A e-wallet unit BigPay launches first fully digital personal loan product

BigPay announced Thursday the launch of its fully digital loans as part of the wider suite of financial services offerings. This makes BigPay the first product to have a full digital personal lending product as part of its offering in Malaysia.

Singapore FoodTech firm Umami Meats secures $2.4M pre-seed funding to advance cultivated seafood

Umami Meats has secured pre-seed funding of $2.4 million.The pre-seed funding round was co-led by Better Bite Ventures and Genedant. Further participants in the round include CULT Food Science, Impact Venture, Katapult Ocean, Plug and Play Ventures, Prithvi Ventures, The Yield Lab Asia Pacific, and Venture for America.

Australia’s New Forests announces first close of SE Asia-focused fund at $120M

New Forests announced Thursday the first close of its Tropical Asia Forest Fund 2 (TAFF2) with $120 million of capital commitments. Investors in the first close include Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Australian Government, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (SuMi TRUST), Temasek and TotalEnergies. New Forests will continue to…