Victor Chua of Vynn Capital on investment opportunities, finding fundable teams, and unicorn startups [Podcast Q&A]
This article is part of TechNode Global’s partnership with CEO Roundtable Podcast and Asian Investors Podcast hosted by David Kim wherein we publish the revised transcripts from the podcast’s interviews with inspiring entrepreneurs and experienced VCs. This edited Q&A is based on the show’s original transcript. For the full interview, listen to the podcast here.
Victor Chua is a…
Ant-backed Ascend Money hits $1.5B valuation with $150M new funding, becomes Thailand’s first tech unicorn
Thailand-based FinTech firm Ascend Money has hit $1.5 billion valuation following its latest $150 million funding, making it Thailand’s first FinTech unicorn.
The funds will be used to grow the user base of its e-wallet application--TrueMoney Wallet--and to expand digital financial services, including digital lending, digital investment, and cross-border remittances across Southeast Asia.…
Ninja Van bags $578M in Series E, ropes in Alibaba as investor
Singapore-based logistics startup Ninja Van announced on Sunday that it has secured $578 million in a Series E funding round.
This latest round of funding involves participation from existing investors Geopost/DPDgroup, B Capital Group, Monk’s Hill Ventures, and Zamrud, an entity linked to a Southeast Asian sovereign wealth fund.
China-based e-commerce tech giant Alibaba Group, which is…
Indonesia social commerce platform KitaBeli bags Series A extension from Meesho founders, Kopi Kenanga Capital & others
Indonesia-based social commerce platform KitaBeli announced on Friday the raising of an undisclosed amount in a Series A extension, participated by Vidit Aatrey and Sanjeev Barnwal, founders of India-based social commerce platform Meesho, Kopi Kenangan Capital, and Turner Novak’s Banana Capital, a US-based consumer-focused venture capital firm.
The extension comes less than six months after…
Sea’s Shopee launches food delivery service in Malaysia rivalling GrabFood, Foodpanda
Singapore-headquartered tech conglomerate Sea Ltd's e-commerce arm Shopee has officially launched food delivery services ShopeeFood in Malaysia.
The service, which will be rolled out in batches, will be made available to over 8 million Malaysians living in the Klang Valley starting Friday (Sept 24) offering access to a variety of eateries from popular joints such as A&W, Burger King,…
UOB Venture Management leads $30M Series B in Indonesia ‘halal’ social commerce platform Evermos
Editor's note: updated with more information on MDI Ventures
Indonesia social commerce platform Evermos announced on Wednesday an oversubscribed Series B funding round of over $30 million led by a new investor, UOB Venture Management’s Asia Impact Investment Fund II.
Other participants in the round included IFC, MDI Ventures (through its KB-MDI Centauri Fund), Telkomsel Mitra Innovation…
Fave partners Google Pay to offer cashback to Singaporean users
Malaysia-based loyalty and cashback platform Fave has announced a partnership with Google Pay, the US-based tech giant Google's digital payments app that supports online and in-store purchases.
Through the partnership with Fave, users of Google Pay can now scan any FavePay SGQR, and earn up to 20 percent cashback across 15,000 F&B outlets and retailers which include Subway, Food Republic,…
Malaysia finance minister says Indonesian FinTech unicorn Xendit to relocate financial hub to Malaysia – report
Indonesia-based FinTech firm Xendit, which has reached unicorn status last week, is said to be relocating its financial hub to Malaysia.
The announcement was made by Malaysia Finance Minister Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Reuters reported on Tuesday. He said the government’s venture capital investment fund has invested in Xendit, following an investment in used-car marketplace Carsome, the country's…
Singapore-based online spiritual wellness firm Emerging Vision raises $4M in Series A funding
Singapore-based online spiritual wellness company Emerging Vision raised $4 million from its Series A funding round led by Lightspeed.
Having reached $5 million in total funding, Emerging Vision will utilize the resources for enhancing its Guruji and Teller live streaming wellness platforms, as well as scaling the company’s operations, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Although…
Digital payments are no longer just ‘nice-to-have’ but are now ‘must-have’ in business strategy, says 2C2P’s Aung Kyaw Moe [Q&A]
The growth of e-commerce, digital transformation, and value-added services have made digital payments among the fastest-growing sectors to date. In a policy brief cited by the Asian Development Bank states that "this trend is pushing countries in the region to upgrade their payment systems infrastructures and update their supervision and regulatory frameworks."
Transaction value in Southeast…