Startups

Axie Infinity is one of the most popular applications of cryptocurrency to date, with over 2 million daily active users playing the game. (Screenshot from Axie Infinity website)
Cryptocurrencies

Crypto exchanges promise help to find hackers behind Axie Infinity heist

Unknown criminals stole $600m from blockchain network tied to popular game

30 March 2022
Nreal says its latest fundraising will be earmarked for boosting research and development and accelerating its global expansion.
Startups

Alibaba leads $60m funding round for smart glasses maker Nreal

Chinese tech group has invested at least $1bn in AR and VR startups in recent years

30 March 2022
India's Netcore services over 5,000 clients in 18 countries. (Screenshot from Netcore and Unbxd websites) 
DealStreetAsia

Indian startup Netcore Cloud buys U.S. software company for $100m

Purchase of Unbxd to help IPO-bound firm expand footprint in developed markets

25 March 2022
A cab bearing an Uber taxi logo in Tokyo in July 2020: Japan only recently allowed Uber to work through taxi companies. (Photo by Masashi Isawa)
Opinion

Ride-hailing insanity shows Japan is right to shun startups

Investors are starting to notice that losses show no sign of easing

25 March 2022
MioTech helps clients manage and report their ESG -- environmental, social and governance -- data using algorithms derived from scanning databases, social media posts and news media.  (Screenshot from MioTech's website)
Companies

Startup MioTech hires Pinduoduo finance head to get 'IPO ready'

Company aims to double staff count amid Singapore expansion

23 March 2022
Stream article image
Datawatch

Over 20% of Japan's 'open dataset' contains unavailable info

Poor management and nervous officials hinder digitization drive

23 March 2022
Only about 40 cryptocurrencies are listed on Japanese exchanges. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Cryptocurrencies

Japanese crypto exchanges to speed up cryptocurrency listings

Industry body creates 'green list' in bid to catch up with rest of world

22 March 2022
Singapore has grown in importance as a fintech hub, thanks to its development of innovative technologies and services for smartphones. (Photo by Fumito Akiyama)
Startups

Singapore fintech startups take off amid financial sector boom

City-state a magnet for innovative new companies, talent, money

22 March 2022
Chinese startup P.E.T. Plastic Ecological Transformation provides solutions for the recycled polyethylene terephthalate industry. (Photo courtesy of the company)
36Kr/KrASIA

Bottles to beds: Chinese startup changes plastics into linen

Company, called P.E.T., uses blockchain to track whole recycling process

20 March 2022
Second Life inventor Philip Rosedale says current technology is not able yet to handle large gatherings well in the metaverse. (Photo courtesy of Philip Rosedale and Linden Lab)
Interview

Second Life creator sees disaster in Facebook-like metaverse

Philip Rosedale says technology is not yet ready for 3D immersive VR

18 March 2022
GoTo is hoping that by listing in Indonesia its shares can escape the undertow that has dragged away value from other newly listed super app providers. (Source photos by  GoTo Group and AFP/Jiji) 
Business Spotlight

Indonesia holds key to GoTo's 'aggressive' IPO valuation

Super apps burn through cash in fight for Southeast Asia's biggest digital market

18 March 2022
According to Deloitte, 21% of Thai consumers would like at least part of their next vehicle purchase to be done online. (Screenshot from  CAR24, Carro, and Carsome webstite)
Automobiles

Thai used-car market heats up as foreign startups jump in

Online dealers hope to attract more consumers amid rising demand

17 March 2022
The Japanese government plans to make inspection drones eligible for subsidies designed to boost infrastructure exports. (Photo by Wataru Ito) 
Startups

Japan to boost startup subsidies for infrastructure orders abroad

Drones and telemedicine among those seen as promising growth areas

15 March 2022
Chinese tech giant Baidu released XiRang in December as China's first fully-accessible metaverse. (Photo by Takashi Kawakami)
China tech

China's frenzied metaverse poised to balloon into $50bn business

Regulators react to growing pains of fast-moving and overheating market

15 March 2022
AIForceTech develops unmanned farm equipment and farming robots. (Photo courtesy of AIForceTech)
36Kr/KrASIA

Chinese smart farming startup secures $15m in new funding

AIForceTech's unmanned tractors improve productivity, ease labor crunch

14 March 2022
Infostellar sees growth opportunities for its ground station service as geopolitical tensions lift demand for satellite imagery. (Photo courtesy of Infostellar)
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Japan startup helps satellites send data in geopolitical crises

Ground station service Infostellar aims to tap growth of constellations

14 March 2022
Loco backer Hashed believes its investment in the Indian game streamer will help it solidify its dominant position. (Screenshot from Loco website)
DealStreetAsia

Indian game streamer Loco raises $42m from South Korean VC

Company to bolster platform, product development, backed by fresh capital

13 March 2022
Tech companies with engineers in Ukraine face a new, harsh reality: major delays in product development if Russia's invasion doesn't end soon. (Source photo by Getty Images) 
Ukraine war

Startups brace for talent crunch as Ukraine war rages

Israel tech companies have ramped up hiring during pandemic

13 March 2022
India's Cars24 recently launched an online portal in Thailand.
Startups

Cars24's smart pricing puts India's used car market in fast lane

$3bn unicorn takes AI-powered platform to UAE, Thailand

12 March 2022
A shelf-stacking avatar robot from Japan's Telexistence. Keidanren is urging the government to lower hurdles for new startups and step up investment.
Startups

Japan's top business lobby wants to see 100 unicorns by 2027

Keidanren calls for new agency dedicated to promoting startups

12 March 2022
MUFG Bank is investing in Southeast Asian and Indian companies to build a web of business ties. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Startups

MUFG Bank devotes $300m to direct stakes in Indian startups

Japanese megabank aims to tap technology from thriving fintech sector

11 March 2022
Josh, an Indian short video app operated by content startup VerSe Innovation, is one of the top short-format video apps in the country, with 115 million monthly active users.  (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Startups

India's Josh close to raising $500m to win video app fight

VerSe to bolster short video business as competition heats up

10 March 2022
Silicon Valley venture capital firm Accel earned its spurs through investments in startups such as India's Flipkart and Swiggy. (Source photos by screenshot from Accel's website, Getty Images and Reuters)
Startups

Accel ups game in Southeast Asia and India with $650m fund

U.S. venture capitalist plans more deals in region despite IPO market volatility

4 March 2022
A GrabFood rider in Kuala Lumpur. Grab aims to start a digital banking business in Singapore and continue pursuing opportunities in on-demand delivery.
Startups

Grab reports $1bn loss in Q4 on heavy incentive spending

Singapore tech group's first results since U.S. listing come as shares slump

4 March 2022
India reportedly banned Sea's Free Fire app, one of the most downloaded smartphone games in the world. (Photo courtesy of Sea) 
Startups

Singapore's Sea expects 'headwind' after COVID-driven boom

New York-listed group reports wider loss in Q4

2 March 2022