Startups

Vietnam's informal lenders often advertise their services on walls and street poles in Ho Chi Minh City, giving rise to the term “electricity pole banks.”  
Technology

Indonesia's FinAccel expands to Vietnam ahead of planned US listing

Kredivo platform to offer 'buy now, pay later' services in market hit by COVID

27 August 2021
Razer Pay will be shut down at the end of September as e-wallet competition heats up in Southeast Asia.
Startups

Singapore's Razer gives up costly ASEAN e-wallet battle

More consolidation expected as big players invest heavily in user acquisition

26 August 2021
MarCoPay grants sailors freedom to spend their money in ways not afforded by cash. (Photo courtesy of MarCoPay)
Startups

Fintech hits high seas with Philippine e-money app for sailors

Japanese-backed MarCoPay aims to link crews to loans and insurance in $8bn market

25 August 2021
The Belchatow coal-fired power plant in Poland: MioTech's platform helps client companies manage and report their ESG data.
Companies

Singapore's GIC takes stake in Hong Kong data company MioTech

China's Guotai Junan joins funding as startup develops ESG management platform

24 August 2021
Beijing based DEEPEXI has more than 100 clients in retailing, financial services, manufacturing and government affairs.
DealStreetAsia

Chinese digital support company raises $100m in Series B round

DEEPEXI expects further demand surge, accelerated by COVID

22 August 2021
One of Ninecosmos' platforms analyzes air pollution sources and diffusion. The company expects its annual sales to double in 2021. (Photo courtesy of the company)
36Kr/KrASIA

China weather tech startup Ninecosmos secures $7.7m war chest

Computer simulations generate accurate air pollution forecasts

21 August 2021
myTVS aims to become the largest business-to-consumer player in India's crowded automotive aftermarket.
DealStreetAsia

Indian car service company raises $50m from Italy's Exor

myTVS to expand online-to-offline platform for automotive aftermarket

19 August 2021
India's Supreme Court recently upheld a Singapore-based arbitration tribunal's ruling in favor of Amazon in a dispute with Future Group.
Comment

On Amazon and taxes, India shows willingness to heed arbitration

New Delhi seeks to balance sovereignty with openness to foreign capital

19 August 2021
The Singapore office of Shopee, an e-commerce arm of Sea: Online services are booming in pandemic-hit Southeast Asia. 
Startups

NYSE-listed Sea's revenue soars 160% on ASEAN lockdowns

Singapore tech group's Q2 loss widens to $433m on aggressive marketing

17 August 2021
A student wearing a protective mask writes notes from an online lecture on a mobile phone, amid the spread of COVID-19 in Mumbai, India.
DealStreetAsia

Indian edtech startup Eruditus now a $3.2bn unicorn

Funding round nets $650m from SoftBank Vision Fund II, Accel US and others

15 August 2021
Shenzhen Daoxiang Electrical Technology develops ultrasonic sensors used in robots. (Photo Courtesy of Shenzhen Daoxiang Electrical Technology)
36Kr/KrASIA

Ultrasonic sensor startup boasts over 3,000 corporate customers

Accuracy and cost advantage turns devices into eyes of robots

14 August 2021
The parent company of the Indian payments startup Paytm is heading for a $2.2 billion initial public offering.
IPO

Paytm eyes revenue increase to $1bn as fintech grows in India

Digital payment unicorn banks on expansion and lower costs to turn profitable

11 August 2021
Bulakapak became the first Indonesian unicorn to list on the local stock exchange.
DealStreetAsia

Singapore's GIC acquires additional stake in Bukalapak for $95m

The sovereign wealth fund grabs 11% in Indonesian e-commerce giant

11 August 2021
A Star Quantum announced in February that it started trials with Japan Airlines to "develop next-generation services." (Source photos by Kei Higuchi and screenshot from A Star Quantum's website)
Startups

Japanese quantum startup aims to ease logistics strains

A Star Quantum tests tech with JAL and others to solve thorny problems

11 August 2021
Bukalapak, an e-commerce company whose shares have risen 56% from their IPO price, is the first Indonesian unicorn to go public.
Startups

Bukalapak shares surge, again hitting upper movement limit

Investor appetite on second day of trading remains strong

9 August 2021
Vietnam has witnessed an explosion of digital wallets, such as MoMo, Grab's Moca, ZaloPay and VNPAY, used at businesses like this convenience store in Ho Chi Minh City. (Source photos by Lien Hoang and Ken Kobayashi) 
Business Spotlight

Vietnam emerges as Southeast Asia's next fintech battleground

E-wallet app MoMo looks to maintain its lead against deep-pocketed rivals

6 August 2021
Grab drivers in Jakarta: The company's gross merchandise value increased for the quarter ended March on rising demand for food and grocery delivery services. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Startups

Grab says 'on track' to close SPAC deal by end of 2021

Singapore tech group reports $652m loss for Q1 ahead of US listing

2 August 2021
SVOLT during the next four years plans to spend more than $4 billion building more factories around the world.
DealStreetAsia

China's SVOLT EV battery maker wins $1.6b in Series B funds

Bank of China's investment arm supports development of crucial EV component

2 August 2021
Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, is stepping up investment in artificial intelligence-related startups.
Startups

SoftBank zeroes in on Southeast Asia in search of next Grab

Tech group aims to replicate success of investment in Singapore ride-hailer

2 August 2021
Nature's Fynd's products are made by fermenting a fungi first discovered in the geothermal springs of Yellowstone National Park in the US. (Screenshot from Nature's Fynd's website)
DealStreetAsia

US alt protein maker Nature's Fynd plans facility in Singapore by 2023

With first Asia plant company has set sights on the biggest markets in China and India

1 August 2021
Vietnam's VNLife offers software for banks that want to provide mobile payment apps and other digital services. (Photo courtesy of VNLife) 
Startups

Vietnam's fintech VNLife says valuation now 'well over $1bn'

Payments system provider raises $250 million in deal led by US investors

30 July 2021
Employees work at Mediatrac, a data analytics startup in Jakarta: Southeast Asia has seen a strong rebound in deals as investors adjust to the setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Startups

ASEAN startups surpass pre-COVID total funding deal values

Philippines among countries recording big pickup in H1 2021

30 July 2021
The Indian branch of Sequoia Capital wants to get woman company founders up and running with generous incentives.
DealStreetAsia

Sequoia launches fellowship for women founders in ASEAN and India

Company to give $100,000 to 15 promising female entrepreneurs annually

28 July 2021
A Bird Rides scooter zips along a test track in Tachikawa, near central Tokyo. (Photo by Tadayoshi Ichimaru)
Startups

Helmets optional: US e-scooter rentals to roll into Japan

Bird Rides to conduct trials under a deregulatory program for new businesses

26 July 2021
The low-cost Ebo SE can move from room to room and notify the user through a smartphone app when it detects suspicious activity. (Photo courtesy of Enabot)
36Kr/KrASIA

Smarter robots offer new home-security option

Chinese startup’s latest lineup move around freely to monitor family, pets

25 July 2021