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2023 has been a challenging year for some startups, but there are also companies that made it through and secured funding. To kick off our Daily Digest preview today, we have a listicle from our editor, Sainul Abudheen K, featuring the 30 top-funded Southeast Asian startups. 💵 In 2023, Southeast Asia witnessed a funding boom, propelling startups like Kredivo Group, Investree, and CARSOME to new heights. These ventures, from fintech to health-tech, are redefining the region's landscape and attracting record-breaking investments. From Indonesia to Singapore and Malaysia, they lead the charge in Southeast Asia's digital transformation. Meet these startups in an article shared in the comments section. Next up, our friends from nVentures invited us to the recently held SouthXChange event, bringing together startups from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Our editor, Anisa Menur A. Maulani, has more. 🌏 Google Singapore hosted SouthXChange, a collaborative event by Google Cloud, nVentures, and Aspire, showcasing diverse startups from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The event highlighted the rich entrepreneurial landscape, providing investment opportunities in fintech, proptech, e-commerce, and more. The dynamic ecosystems of these South Asian countries present a promising market. Next, we have a deep dive into the recent event that e27 hosted with Vonage on AI’s role in navigating customer experience. 🎤 Vonage and e27's collaboration explores AI's pivotal role in enhancing omnichannel touchpoints, fostering dynamic customer experiences. Revealing AI's impact through case studies, it unveils strategies to optimize workforce efficiency and customer engagement. With insights from industry leaders, the article emphasizes AI's seamless integration, empowering businesses to elevate customer satisfaction, streamline operations, and fortify long-term success. Lastly, let’s explore how influencer culture is shaping the digital landscape globally. 🤳 Influencer culture has undergone explosive growth, reshaping digital landscapes globally. Influencers utilize social media, collaborations with brands, and monetization strategies to turn fame into profit. Leveraging technology, they expand across borders, diversify content localization, and employ SEO and trending hashtags for a worldwide impact, reflecting an entrepreneurial spirit shaping our digital world. Read all these articles from the links shared in the comments section. Looking for more articles like this? Subscribe to Daily Digest and receive the latest in tech and startups straight to your inbox for free in an easy-to-digest format. Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/diZgjwbE

Hey there! 👋 For today's Daily Digest preview, we have a feature on Fintech Nation, an interview with Umami Bioworks CEO Mihir Pershad, and an update on Animoca Brands' recent investment in a gaming infrastructure startup based in the UAE. First up, our editor Anisa Menur A. Maulani interviews Fintech Nation Co-Founder Vanessa Ho about their initiatives in supporting startups. Read the interview in the article link shared in the comments section. 🎤 Fintech Nation, integrating thought leadership and community, doubles its investment initiative this year. Partnering with Mediacorp's business reality show, they evaluate startups for potential investments, enhancing founders' media presence. Founded by Varun Mittal 海王-米塔尔, it supports talent, capital, and policy development in Singapore's fintech ecosystem, emphasizing investments, community building, and thought leadership. Next up, Umami Bioworks CEO Mihir Pershad spoke with e27 and shared the rationale behind the deal and how it will impact the alt-seafood industry in Southeast Asia. Our editor Sainul Abudheen K has more in the article link shared in the comments section. 🍤 Umami Bioworks, a Singapore-based cultivated seafood startup, merges with Shiok Meats to pioneer the alt-protein market. CEO Mihir Pershad emphasizes the strategic move to establish a leading platform for sustainable seafood production, focusing on regulatory challenges and market targets. Key initiatives include species development, market entry, and regulatory approval strategies. Lastly, we have a feature on Animoca Brands' recent investment in Param Labs Inc, a gaming infrastructure startup based in the UAE. 💰 Animoca Brands expands into MENA through investment in Param Labs, a UAE-based Web3 startup. Param Labs's flagship game, Kiraverse, enables players to compete and trade digital assets. The collaboration aims to scale Web3 infrastructure, enhancing gaming experiences and fostering community involvement. Animoca Brands strengthens its MENA presence, aligning with its open metaverse vision. Read the full articles via the link in the comments section. 📧 Want more tech and startup content? Subscribe to Daily Digest for the latest updates straight to your inbox. It's free and easy! Join us today: https://lnkd.in/diZgjwbE

📢Big Shout-Out!! We are excited to spotlight an enlightening article on an important topic making waves in the #startup ecosystem: "Is Consumer Tech Insight the Future of Digitally Evolving Startup Ecosystem?" 🌐 This thought-provoking piece features the insights of The Miraq, a cutting-edge consumer technology platform, helping people make sense of tech and harness its power. 🚀 We thank founders Jane Doe and John Smith for sharing their expert opinions on this crucial matter and encouraging the startup world to keep abreast of changing digital trends. 🙌 Find out more about their vision and the future roadmap of the digital startup ecosystem. ⬇️ Don’t miss this read! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/epcffgAU Stay tuned for more such insights! #StartupBubble #StartupEcosystem #DigitalTrends #ConsumerTech #TechInsights The Miraq, Keep soaring!

We have an another lineup of star investors for MELT. Let me introduce 23 amazing VCs and Angels ! ☞ Stedde Capital Sector: Biotech, B2C, B2B ☞ The Collective Sector: Fintech ☞ Muivona Capital Sector: Healthtech, Legaltech, Retailtech, AI, E-commerce, B2B ☞ Touring Capital | AI SaaS Fund Sector: SaaS, B2B, AI ☞ Forum Ventures Sector: Fintech, Climate tech, Govtech, Legaltech, Cybersecurity, AI, B2B, SaaS ☞ Plain Sight Capital Sector: Fintech, Insurtech, Retailtech, Legaltech, Govtech, Adtech ☞ Fantastocker INC Sector: Fintech ☞ Biran Capital Sector: Fintech ☞ Lynx Ventures Sector: Fintech, Proptech, Legaltech, AI ☞ CLNM Capital Sector: Fintech ☞ Brilliant Minds Sector: AI, Fintech, Climate tech, Retailtech, Biotech, Neurotech ☞ Woodside Capital Partners Sector: Adtech, E-commerce, B2B, B2C, SaaS ☞ Generous Ventures Sector: Fintech, Healthtech, Climate tech, Edtech, Insurtech, Proptech, Agtech, Govtech, Legaltech, Retailtech, Biotech, Adtech, Mobility, Cybersecurity, AI, B2C, Gaming, Web3, Robotics, AR/VR, Neurotech, Spacetech, B2B, E-commerce, SaaS ☞ 615.vc Sector: Spacetech ☞ seedlabs co / Harvard Sector: AI ☞ Bullpen Capital Sector: Fintech, Healthtech, Climate tech, Edtech, Proptech, Insurtech, Agtech, Govtech, Legaltech, Retailtech, Adtech, Biotech, Spacetech, Gaming, Web3, Mobility, Robotics, Cybersecurity, AR/VR, Neurotech, AI, B2C, B2B, SaaS, E-commerce ☞ Connecticut Innovations Sector: SaaS, B2C, B2B ☞ Matr (Matter) Ventures Sector: Fintech, Cybersecurity, Healthtech, Climate tech ☞ Sanctor Capital Sector: Web3, AI, AR/VR, Gaming ☞ Clockwork // 171 Ventures Sector: Fintech, AI ☞ W Ventures Sector: Fintech ☞ BASE64 Capital Sector: B2B, SaaS, AI, Cybersecurity, Robotics ☞ Conscience VC Sector: Healthtech, AI, B2C Founders x Investors Dynamic Network 『MELT』 6/3 5pm https://lu.ma/ldbfgkez 【💎VIP Sponsored】 Bradley Kam ・Founded 2 companies Unstoppable Domains & Talkable ・Raised over $70M ・Unstoppable Domains recently raised $65M in a Series A round led by Pantera Capital, reaching a $1B valuation. Aquibur Rahman Founder of Mailmodo, has received funding from Sequoia and is an alum of Y Combinator S21 Nathan Stevenson CEO and Founder of ForwardLane Inc. has been featured by Forbes, the World Economic Forum, and American Banker Rene Anziani & Leevar Williams Founded by MIT alumni, APrime Technology Technology is an elite team of experienced engineers, product managers, and data experts intent on helping startups build innovative products that matter. Our customers operate in complex, data-driven, highly regulated industries such as quantitative finance, healthtech, fintech, and edtech. We have received 400+ registrations. ・76 VC and Angel Investors ・280+ Founders/CEOs 3 Series D companies 2 Series C companies 6 Series B companies 35 Series A companies 15 Pre-Series A companies 106 Seed companies 146 Pre-Seed companies 26 Bootstrap companies 50+ Executives Meet at us MELT!

🌍  𝐀𝐭 𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐩, 𝐰𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 Instead of encouraging your customers to buy new things, use your takeback to invite them back into your online store to give pre-loved items a second life. Let's focus on making a positive impact: 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 - 𝐑𝐞𝐮𝐬𝐞- 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 ♻️ Your takeback is a way to stay connected with your customers through shared values, guiding them back to your direct sales channels to revisit your brand and explore the latest collections of your production. At iceep, we build digital takeback solutions designed to ensure that brands, their customers and their products are endlessly loved and reloved. #blackfriday #takebackfriday #takeback #circularity #circulareconomy #tradein #dtc #reducereuserecycle Google for Startups, Microsoft for Startups

This is one of the reasons I turn to Lenny Rachitsky's Newsletter first when I need to understand something better in the world of startups and product. Preceding his many-part series on marketplaces, he offers a guide on how to consider & use the information he's about to give. Lenny cares not just about the information he's sharing, but how you might attempt to use it. It's a great example of why his content is on another level for people trying to figure out what to do next. Specifically points 2 & 3 are, in my opinion, universal lenses through with practitioners should view analyses like these. Here's a link to the series: https://lnkd.in/eA8sw2Ap

Disruption is a superpower of many startups. However, problems and industries that are ripe for disruption often have a crowded set of solutions. So how does a startup stand out from the competition, especially if that competition is a more established brand with deep pockets? Here's a story from my own experience: At a previous startup, we had an enviable position: an industry (enterprise retail) ripe for disruption, sexy technology that the media loved to write about and first mover's advantage. Then, Google entered the game and introduced their own solution. We were in trouble. Google's offering was free; our offer started at 6 figures. Google had instant name recognition; we were still building a brand. Google had incredibly deep pockets; we had to stretch every dollar. So what did we do? Instead of retreating, we embraced the competition head-on. Recognizing the market's keen interest in Google's move, we saw an opportunity to assert our expertise and leadership. We quickly organized a webinar to demystify Google's entry into the market for our target audience. This initiative wasn't just about defending our space; it was about educating our market and positioning ourselves as thought leaders. The result? We engaged with 25% of our target market of enterprise retailers through this single event. This experience taught us a crucial lesson: competition, even from a titan like Google, can serve as powerful validation of the problem your startup is solving. It underscores the importance of agility, deep market understanding, and the strategic use of thought leadership to distinguish your brand. For startups navigating similar challenges, the key is not just innovation but also how you position that innovation in a crowded marketplace. Embrace competition as a sign you're on the right path, and leverage your unique strengths to capture the attention of your target audience. #StartupStrategy #Innovation #Competition #B2BTech #BrandPositioning

TECHFEST 2023 | INTRODUCTION OF THE SILVER SUPPORT UNIT - DROPPII Droppii is a platform that connects retail partners with product suppliers. Droppii offers a diverse range of over 3,000 high-quality items spanning various fields, including beauty and health, household, personal utilities, fashion, and food. The company's focus is on advisory products. Droppii consistently strives to provide technological solutions to optimize the business operations of its retail partners through the Droppii for Business application. Retail partners can concentrate on advising and caring for customers. As a silver sponsor of the competition, Droppii plays a crucial role in contributing to the program's success by: ▸ Featuring products of startups from Techfest Vietnam on the Droppii platform, supporting the promotion of startup products within the ecosystem with over 110,000 business partners and product developers, helping startups expand their distribution network and create additional business opportunities. ▸ Building a robust communication system along with a team of experts to ensure that new startup products are introduced effectively and reach a wider audience. In addition to business activities, one of Droppii's concerns is social activities. Over time, Droppii has also connected with various organizations to support small and medium-sized enterprises, local businesses, and startups in finding outlets for their products. This model is well-suited for new, unique products, applying scientific and technological advancements in products, making it easy for products to reach the market through the support of business partners. ▸ Website: https://www.droppii.com/ The organizers trust that support from Droppii is not only a source of motivation but also a significant lever to stimulate creativity and supplement resources for innovative startup businesses. This will provide strong motivation, promoting the rapid development of startups and helping them shine in the international market. Learn about the next activities of the competition at: https://lnkd.in/giDB_y5Y ----------------------------------- Contact Information: Mr. Pham The Hung - Competition Organizer Representative Email: hung.pt@svf.org.vn Phone: (+84) 886 460 560 Mr. Nguyen Thai Sang - Competition Organizer Representative Email: sang.nt@svf.org.vn Phone: 0946494804 ----------------------------------- Initiated in 2015, The National Innovation Technopreneur Contest - TECHFEST Vietnam is one of the most highly regarded activities, organized within the framework of the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Festival - TECHFEST 2023 under the guidance of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). Fanpage: https://lnkd.in/g6SKP6XM Website: https://lnkd.in/giDB_y5Y #techfestvietnam #techfestvietnam2023 #techfest #competition #nationalinnovationandentrepreneurshiptalentsearchcompetition #startup #MOST #natec #ubnnvnvnonn #nssc #startupvietnamfoundation #svf

Our dedicated investor & mentor, Nicolaj Højer Nielsen gives his take on "Product market fit" - using Handyhand as an example 🚀 Takeaways: 🚀 The Journey to Product/Market Fit: It's More Complex Than You Think! The question "Have we attained product/market fit?" is a critical milestone for any startup, often seen as the green light for scaling the business. But the road to this pivotal moment is far from straightforward. 🕒 In my own experience, even a low-tech SaaS startup can take between 1-2 years to genuinely achieve product/market fit. 📈 Using his investment in Handyhand as an example. The company started in late 2020 with modest traction, which is pretty standard for a marketplace. But scaling such a business is a different ball game altogether, requiring a delicate balance between supply and demand. 🎯 Fast forward to today, 2.5 years later, and Handyhand has successfully achieved product/market fit, as evidenced by key metrics like Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Return on Advertising (ROA) showing significant improvement. 📊 Beware the Revenue Trap! One common mistake startups make is focusing solely on revenue as an indicator of product/market fit. While exponential growth is possible for almost any company, it's often more a function of capital invested in sales and marketing rather than a true sign of product/market fit. 🔍 Therefore, it's crucial to look beyond revenue and evaluate the efficiency of your sales and marketing efforts. For marketplaces like Handyhand, scrutinizing metrics like CAC and ROA is essential before deciding to scale. 📚 Further Reading For those interested in diving deeper into this topic, I can't recommend Thomas B. Kjølhede's articles enough. He offers invaluable insights into how various SaaS startups navigate the complex journey to product/market fit. #StartupJourney #ProductMarketFit #Scaling #MetricsMatter #Handyhand #InvestmentInsights Max Damgaard, Kenneth Andersen, Patrick Sahlgren, Krisztian Szabo

Slaying my next Dragon! OTH NETWORK www.othnetwork.io As some of you may have read, last week I stepped down from my role of 2+ years as Head of Product at OneOf/Superlogic and wrote a bit about that. This is for anyone wondering what is next for me. A few years back I cofounded a Fintech startup. At the time I had architected the entire product as CPO and we were in the middle of raising our initial seed. Given the opportunity presented to me at OneOf I decided to step back into an advisory role while the product was built and launched. It achieved a product market fit right out the door and in its first year of launching started gaining a lot of notoriety in Miami where it was founded, as well as driving real revenue. As many of you in the startup space know this is a rare occurrence these days. Many startups struggle for years finding a replicable PMF. Given the opportunity I had no choice but to leave my role at OneOf and get back on the rocket ship to scale it to the rest of the world! 🚀 What is OTH Network: On The House? At its heart it is a fintech platform that connects content creators to business' of all sorts in a barter system that exchanges services for content. Influential creators get given their own OTH credit card and when they turn up at a business and post content there their card is topped up for them to spend on their bill. The biggest vertical is currently hospitality but we also service health and wellness, beauty, fashion etc. The technology part is in our AI system that validates the content and the targeted spending tech that lets us restrict where and when the allowance is spent. My role is to scale the company to the next 50 cities and beyond. As such im looking for Launchers in all the major cities to help with this effort. MY ASK: If you think you or someone you know might be interested in being a Launcher reach out! We have roles for anyone who is connected with merchants and services in major cities who want to help on onboard them. We also have a very robust ambassador program for people who may be interested in driving connections without taking a full time commitment with us! If you don't live in Miami, you may not have heard of OTH yet, but I guarantee you, within the next 12 months unless you're living under a rock or don't use social media you wont be able to miss it. 🚀 🌝