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ORIGIN: Sizzling innovations in FoodTech are enhancing taste, nutrition, and sustainability
In this TechNode Global feature on the winners at the ORIGIN Innovation Awards -- Startup Awards in Food Tech, we caught up with the founders of Sesamilk and HERO Protein to find out how their innovations are contributing to better food and improved sustainability in Asia and globally.
The land of unicorns: The rise of startups in Indonesia
What will it take to realize Indonesia’s potential as the land of unicorns? In a nutshell, it entails a paradigm shift within Indonesia’s startup ecosystem. Instead of fast returns and quick gains, startups, traditional businesses and investors alike should focus on long-term sustainability.
Hobby lifestyle e-commerce platform Mercular raises $3M Series A led by Kairous Capital
The fresh capital will help fuel Mercular’s goal to build a fully integrated value chain and community around the hobby lifestyle category, particularly through building its hobby lifestyle ecosystem.
Indie game dev platform Jambox secures $1.1M Seed funding to foster next-gen competitive game publishing in India and SEA
The Seed fund will be used to fuel the startup’s next-generation competitive game publishing platform for indie game developers specifically in India and Southeast Asia. Jambox plans to launch the platform and establish roots in Vietnam, India, and Indonesia before moving towards launching in Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Indonesia e-commerce unicorn Bukalapak receives backing from state-owned banks in a $234M venture round
The company plans to use its fresh capital to increase its user base of warungs (mom and pop stores), micro, and small businesses in Indonesia. The company’s strategic partnerships with both state-owned banks will also give its user base access to more products and services that the banks offer.
Philippines ‘buy now, pay later’ platform Plentina raises $2.2M in Seed funding round to accelerate credit access to the underbanked
The FinTech startup plans to use its fresh capital to grow its data science, business development, and customer operations teams.
Vietnam’s Touchstone Partners announces first close of inaugural $50M VC fund to invest in local startups
Touchstone Partners has announced the first close of its inaugural $50 million venture capital fund. The fund is backed by New York-based Pavilion Capital, Vulcan Capital, and several other investors and family offices.
Why should businesses track their social impact?
Impact-driven businesses should invest resources in measuring and managing their social impact. It can provide them a lot of benefits in the end which can also affect their relevance in the market and their sustainability.
Exploring opportunities in the Philippine tech landscape
With the economy improving, and an internet and mobile-savvy market, the Philippines is also showing initiatives to encourage and advance the innovation space.
