TNGlobal Q&A and Interviews

Pandemic has served as a catalyst for accelerating ESG innovation in Southeast Asia, says Ee Ling Lim of 500 Startups [Q&A]

In this TechNode Global Q&A with Ee Ling Lim, Head of APAC Business Development, 500 Startups, we learn how the pandemic has served as a catalyst for companies in the region to accelerate their ESG initiatives. We also learn about the nuances in incorporating and implementing such criteria, which may include the need for a shift in corporate culture, as…

BigPay banks on AirAsia’s ecosystem, consortium’s banking expertise to vie for digital banking license in Malaysia [Q&A]

In the interview, Dhanani also shared BigPay’s plans and strategy on how to serve the “underserved and unserved” segment in Malaysia.

Service-as-a-solution applications enhance collaboration, productivity, and go-to-market agility, says Cloud4C Founder Sridhar Pinnapureddy [Q&A]

Service-as-a-solution applications, such as video conferencing tools, are becoming more popular because they can enhance collaboration and productivity. Digitalization is nearly synonymous with business survival and the commoditization of services and technologies can help enterprises address significant challenges.

Private exchanges give investors a choice on product fit, investment goals, and risk tolerance, says Willie Chang of HGX [Q&A]

With this RMO license, HGX can now fully operate as Asia’s first member-driven private exchange to support the issuance and trading of both digital and non-digital capital market products.

Warung Pintar

Digital transformation has accelerated the warung ecosystem in Indonesia, says Warung Pintar’s Agung Bezharie Hadinegoro [Q&A]

Agung discusses how the pandemic accelerated digital transformation in Indonesia, and how MSMEs–or warungs in particular–are able to benefit with the aim to “accelerate Indonesia’s growth in the midst of a post-pandemic economic boom by empowering micro-retail businesses.”

VC industry benefits from having diverse perspectives, says Amra Naidoo of Accelerating Asia [ORIGIN Innovation Awards Q&A]

In the TechNode Global Q&A, Amra Naidoo shared her story of how she started the early stage VC firm Accelerating Asia and her journey working in the male-dominated VC industry. She also shared the challenges she met working with startups and how Accelerating Asia is positioning itself to tap into opportunities that are overlooked by others.

Without legacy infrastructure, cloud-native digital banks are faster & more innovative than traditional banks, says UNObank CEO Manish Bhai [Q&A]

Singapore-based FinTech UNObank was granted the first new digital banking license under the Digital Banking License framework of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Manish Bhai shares insights on how digital-native banks can provide faster and more innovative services to address the needs of the underbanked and unbanked.

Gender diversity gap is ‘definitely stark’ in VC industry, says Quest Ventures’ Goh Yiping [ORIGIN Innovation Awards Q&A]

Goh said she enjoys setting an example that a female VC can be as logical, as non-emotional, as strong in dealmaking, as battle-tested, if not more than her male counterparts.

Val Yap, Founder & CEO, PolicyPal

InsurTech startup PolicyPal addresses pain points faced by policyholders [ORIGIN Innovation Awards Q&A]

PolicyPal Founder and CEO Val Yap shares her story of how personal challenges led her to start a company that digitalizes insurance comparison and management. She also offers advice to fellow female entrepreneurs on the importance of mentorship and finding the right support groups.

Fintech Angel Operators to fund and bring on-the-ground expertise to early-stage FinTech startups [Q&A]

TechNode Global interviewed key members of the Fintech Angel Operators to seek their insights on the growing market for FinTech services in the Southeast Asia region with a particular focus on how the model of an angel investor network can accelerate growth in this space.