News

Malaysia-listed payment firm GHL teams up with BNPL startup Atome to expand across ASEAN

In Malaysia and Singapore, merchants who opted for Atome’s BNPL experienced an average 17 percent increase in their ticket order size.

Malaysian government entities MaGIC & Penjana Kapital collaborate to offer seed stage startups better funding access

By bridging the funding gap, MaGIC and Penjana Kapital aspire to reorient private capital for innovative start-ups, attract global and regional VCs into Malaysia, as well as elevate knowledge transfer, talent development and creation in Malaysia ecosystem.

EY: Asia-Pacific M&A hit highest value on record, fuelled by technological innovation & ESG agendas

M&A targeting technology companies hit a record high in Asia-Pacific with tech, advanced manufacturing and mobility sectors topped regional deal activity.

Singapore’s Broctagon Fintech Group launches WorldBook, a global crypto liquidity movement

The WorldBook combines the orderbooks of all connected exchanges to create a unified orderbook that enables multilateral liquidity flow.

[Updated] Catcha Group’s Patrick Grove considers SPAC-listing in Singapore

The development came after Singapore unveiled new rules for blank-cheque vehicles.

Carsome

Carsome spots a gap in auto-financing for graduates, aims to introduce similar product in Indonesia, Thailand after Malaysia

Carsome plans to introduce auto-financing for graduates in Indonesia and Thailand, as it targets a loan size of at least MYR 100M ($24.17M) for its auto-financing business in 2022.

Thailand hobby-focused commerce startup Mercular extends Series A fundraise, ropes in Thai retail conglomerate Central Retail

The funding will be deployed to create an all-encompassing community-like shopping experience for the hobbyists.

Southeast Asia growing as investment destination, with $1.2B in exit value thus far

Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem saw $1.2 billion in exit value thus far this year, compared to $2 billion seen throughout the whole of 2020, according to Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India managing partner Ben Mathias.

Indonesia e-commerce firm SIRCLO bags $36M funding from East Ventures, Saratoga, Traveloka

The funding aims to further develop SIRCLO’s technological capabilities and accelerate the retail digitalization for various businesses all across Indonesia.

Singapore’s Neuroglee Therapeutics closes $10M Series A led by Openspace Ventures, EDBI

The funding injection will enable Neuroglee to launch virtual neurology clinics for patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment related to difficult-to-treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, while also advancing the company’s DTx pipeline.