Investments

The funding round came as Malaysia is in a so-called "full lockdown" with traveling restrictions to contain the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants and eateries are allowed to operate but no dine-ins are allowed and they are required to follow standard operating procedures set by the government.

Besides increasing the company’s manpower, the new funding will be used to bring Kamereo to Hanoi next year, to build a new warehouse management system, among others.

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.”

The company was established amid the pandemic by its founder Bela Gupta D’Souza, who saw the pain points of mothers as consumers when purchasing online. She said that it is common for mothers to spend many hours in search of the best products for their children only to end up with inferior quality products from untrusted sources.

The funds raised will be used to expand into new markets in Asia, invest in top talent and develop more high-quality investment products and services. Syfe has also pledged that everyone in the firm will become a shareholder, allowing all employees to benefit from future growth in the company.

Allozymes plans to use its seed fund to establish its roots in Singapore and establish its manufacturing and business infrastructure in order to meet its projected demand in the APAC region.

Since its launch in September 2016, GREDU has grown its platform, which is currently being used by over 400 schools, bringing its total user base to roughly 400,000. The startup provides its users (students, parents, teachers, and administrators) with a single platform to communicate with each other and keep track of any important details.

Pickupp Malaysia plans to expand coverage of more territories in Malaysia, grow its workforce of delivery agents, and continue investing in technology to further improve its offerings in the market.

Led by CR-CP Life Science Fund, this new capital will support MiRXES’s growth as a global leader in cancer early detection tests and preventive healthcare.

Locad currently runs seven fulfillment centers: four in the Philippines and one warehouse each in Singapore, Hong Kong, and New South Wales. The company plans to use part of its seed fund to further expand its warehouse network in the Philippines and across the APAC region.