Singapore-based Pand.ai, an AI startup developing smart chatbots for financial institutions, has secured US$1 million in seed funding from a sole angel investor. According to a statement, the unnamed backer is a barrister based in Hong Kong who has invested in more than 10 ventures across China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Founded in 2016, Pand.ai develops multiplatform-capable chatbots that…
Not long ago, the economic community and policymakers in Singapore were complaining about the scarcity of businesses, so much so that the leaders of large companies shook hands to find the next a Sim Wong Hoo for Singapore. Sim Wong Hoo is the founder and chairman of Creative Technology. He is regarded as a hero by Singaporeans. In 2002, the…
Food & AgTech investors are most excited about the potential for Asia’s agri-foodtech startup scene, according to a new report AgFunder just released with Idea2Scale. We conducted a survey of 50 global venture capital firms that invest in foodtech and agtech and asked them about the categories and geographies they were most excited about as well as the key challenges…
With digital transformation going deeper and wider in the education sector, several edtech startups are launching innovative teaching and learning technologies that create positive student outcomes. Recently, three Indian startups—Eckovation, Kings Learning and PlayAblo —have joined Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) startup programme which assists entrepreneurs with building the next generation of online learning, analytics, and campus management solutions on the…
Child Health Imprints (CHIL), a neo-natal focused tech startup from Singapore, recently announced it has raised $2.3 million in its pre-Series A funding round led by healthcare investor HealthXCapital, which focuses on healthcare tech investments in South and South-east Asia. Other participants of the round include Enterprise Singapore’s (a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry) investment arm…
Singapore-based consumer data and analytics firm Milieu Insight has raised US$2.4 million in a pre-series A round led by MassMutual Ventures Southeast Asia. Established in 2016, Milieu offers businesses a wide range of tools for accessing and analyzing high-value consumer opinion data through its platform. Its product portfolio includes two key offerings that both launched earlier this year: dynamic consumer…
Some of Jungle's investments in India include Livspace, Moglix, PaySense, Engineer.Ai, Tookitaki, Klinify Jungle Ventures, one of Southeast Asia’s largest early-stage venture capital firms, has announced that it closed its third fund, Jungle Ventures III. Some of Jungle's investments in India include Livspace, Moglix, PaySense, Engineer.Ai, Tookitaki, Klinify. The firm raised a total of $240 million, which includes $40 million…
US quantum computing startup IonQ said on Tuesday (Oct 22) it raised US$55 million in a funding round that was led by venture funds backed by Samsung Electronics and the government of the United Arab Emirates. With the investments from Samsung Catalyst Fund and Mubadala Capital, Maryland-based IonQ said its total funds raised to date reached US$77 million. The company…
Gold loan financier Muthoot Finance Ltd has raised $450 million through its maiden offshore bond issue from investors across the US, Asia and Europe, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. The bonds will mature in three years and have a coupon rate of 6.125%. “The proceeds will be used for permitted purposes including onward lending in accordance with…
Sydney-based Investa Commercial Property Fund (ICPF) is preparing to launch a roadshow to raise A$500m (€308m) to finance new acquisitions and its development projects. ICPF, which owns some of Australia’s best office buildings, predominantly in Sydney and Melbourne, will look to Asia, the UK, Europe and North America for fresh equity. Although the planned raising will be launched next week,…