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Japanese AI semiconductor firm EdgeCortix closes $20M in additional funding round

EdgeCortix Inc., a Japan-based edge artificial intelligence (AI) fabless semiconductor development and design company, has announced the closing of a $20 million funding round. The funding was led by Japan’s venture capital (VC) firm SBI Investment Co. Ltd. and Global Hands-On VC (GHOVC), a Japan-United States collaboration-focused venture capital with a…

Battery electric vehicles is clear winner when trying to reduce emissions, says Rystad Energy

Battery electric vehicles (BEV) are the clear winner when trying to reduce emissions in the transportation sector, according to Rystad Energy research. Despite incurring higher emissions in the manufacturing process of electric vehicles and an enduring reliance on fossil fuel power generation in many countries, it said the positive environmental impact of…

BMI sees Malaysia’s electric vehicle sales to quadruple in 2023

BMI, a FitchSolutions firm, has projected that Malaysia's total electric vehicle (EV) sales to quadruple in 2023, although the country’s EV penetration rate (EV sales as percent of total vehicle sales) will stay at just 1.8 percent. BMI estimates demand for EVs in Malaysia to far outstrip that of internal combustion engine cars within the 2023-2032…

Singapore’s 2C2P bolsters global growth with strategic executive appointments

2C2P, a Singapore-based global payments platform, has on Wednesday announced that it has appointed three new senior executives to drive further expansion and enhance its service delivery, solidifying its commitment to excellence in the ever-evolving payments landscape.

Skills for jobs to change by at least 65 percent by 2030 as AI accelerates workplace change, says LinkedIn

The skills needed for jobs globally are estimated to change by at least 65 percent by 2030 as rapid developments in artificial intelligence (AI) accelerate workplace change, according to LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network.

US crypto platform Ripple secures Singapore payments license

Ripple, the United States-based enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions provider, announced Tuesday that its Singapore subsidiary Ripple Markets APAC Pte Ltd has secured its Major Payments Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The issuance of Ripple’s MPI license for digital payment tokens (DPTs) follows the MAS’…

Grab, GrabFood

Antitrust approval could be biggest hurdle for Grab’s potential acquisition of Foodpanda’s business, analysts say

Momentum Works, a venture outfit, estimated Foodpanda's Southeast Asia GMV at $3.1 billion in 2022. According to the same report, Foodpanda ranked second by market share in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, and third in Thailand in 2022.

Filipino fintech startup Packworks seals partnership to provide unbanked mom-and-pop shops access to financing

Filipino fintech startup Packworks said Tuesday that the firm has sealed partnerships to provide unbanked mom-and-pop shops access to microfinancing, financial services to boost growth. The firm has recently penned partnerships with Cebuana Lhuillier and 1Sari Financing Corporation to provide sari-sari stores access to secure, reliable, and affordable…

Malaysian Fintech startup MADCash secures $1M in funding to empower women entrepreneurs

MADCash Sdn. Bhd., a fintech startup focused on providing zero-interest microfunds to women entrepreneurs, has announced the successful completion of its pre-series A funding round, securing MYR 5 million ($1.06 million) investment. The funding was led by Artem Ventures with strong support from MSW Ventures and ScaleUp Founders Fund.

Visa launches $100M generative AI ventures initiative

Visa, a global payment firm, has on Monday announced a new $100 million generative artificial intelligence (AI) ventures initiative to invest in the next generation of companies focused on developing generative AI technologies and applications that will impact the future of commerce and payments.