e27

17/11/2025

Couldn’t make it to our AI Co-Pilot in Action webinar? We’ve got you. 🚀

Learn how Lenovo, AMD, and Microsoft experts are helping SMB teams turn AI into tangible results—better workflows, smarter security, and productivity that scales.

🎥 Watch the replay by filling out the form:
👉 https://loom.ly/lQ10fXM

Perfect for SMB owners, tech leads, and teams ready to make AI work today.

17/11/2025

We’re excited to begin featuring insights from RETVRN Research through their newest report, State of Exits 2025: From Alpha to Omega. This in-depth research examines how liquidity is shifting in global venture markets and why traditional exit pathways such as IPOs and M&A are no longer carrying the weight they used to. The first article in the series, “The new exit reality: How secondary deals became the lifeblood of venture capital,” breaks down the structural reset taking place and what it means for founders, investors, and ecosystems across Southeast Asia.

Read the full article here: https://e27.co/the-new-exit-reality-how-secondary-deals-became-the-lifeblood-of-venture-capital-20251113/

10 key highlights from the article:

1. Secondary transactions reached US$152B in 2024, accounting for 71% of all exit dollars.

2. Venture funding totalled US$180B, while exits generated only US$89B, creating a 2:1 funding-to-exit gap.

3. Secondary markets grew from 10% of exit share in 2020 to 48% in 2024, indicating a long-term shift.

4. Traditional M&A activity declined from 65% to 42% of exit volume.

5. A multi-tier secondary market has formed, with late-stage unicorns trading at a 15% premium.

6. Standard secondaries often trade at a 20% discount, while distressed companies face 35% or more in discounts.

7. Landmark 2024 deals highlight scale: Databricks (US$10B), Stripe (US$1.6B), OpenAI (US$1.5B).

8. Secondary markets are increasingly providing public market style liquidity inside private markets.

9. Founders in Southeast Asia need to prioritise cap table hygiene to achieve premium pricing in secondary events.

10. With limited IPO and M&A windows, secondaries now serve as the pressure release valve preventing deeper liquidity strain across the ecosystem.

More insights from the report will follow as we continue the series.

Secondaries hit US$152B in 2024, accounting for 71 per cent of exit dollars and redefining how venture-backed companies achieve liquidity

17/11/2025

Forecasting just got smarter! Ant International’s open-sourced Falcon TST helps industries predict everything from FX volatility to weather trends. 🌦️

🔗 Discover how: https://loom.ly/jRDxaGw

Ant International has open-sourced its Falcon TST AI model, a 2.5-billion-parameter time-series transformer designed to help businesses improve forecasting accuracy and reduce FX costs.

17/11/2025

We just wrapped our Philippine Blockchain 2025 article series, based on the report authored by ​Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra | GorricetaLaw, the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, Gobi Partners, Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, and Tether.io. The report explores how the Philippines became one of ASEAN’s most active blockchain markets and what needs to happen next for sustainable growth. Here are the six stories in case you missed them:

1. Inside ASEAN’s blockchain map- https://e27.co/inside-aseans-blockchain-map-why-the-philippines-is-a-crypto-powerhouse-20251103/

2. Play to earn and the rise of grassroots adoption- https://e27.co/play-to-earn-and-beyond-how-the-philippines-became-a-global-crypto-hub-20251104/

3. How government is approaching blockchain- https://e27.co/how-the-philippine-government-is-modernising-public-services-with-blockchain-20251105/

4. Why mass adoption needs better infrastructure- https://e27.co/why-the-philippines-needs-stronger-blockchain-infrastructure-to-scale-20251106/

5. What industry leaders expect next- https://e27.co/what-industry-leaders-think-about-the-philippines-future-in-blockchain-20251109/

6. High adoption but low understanding- https://e27.co/high-adoption-low-understanding-the-philippiness-blockchain-knowledge-gap-20251110/

Top insights from the full series:

1. The Philippines leads ASEAN in grassroots crypto use driven by gaming and remittances.

2. Regulation is improving but still needs clearer frameworks for consumer protection.

3. Web3 awareness remains low despite high usage.

4. Government pilots are small but show strong potential.

5. Infrastructure gaps limit enterprise-level adoption.

6. Founders believe the next wave of growth will come from real utility, not hype.

7. Security and education remain the biggest barriers.

8. The country’s young digital-first population is a major advantage.

9. Partnerships between private sector and government will shape long-term adoption.

10. Sustainable growth will require responsible onboarding, not just rapid user acquisition.

The Philippines leads ASEAN in grassroots blockchain adoption, driven by crypto enthusiasm and play-to-earn gaming, distinguishing it from fintech-focused regional peers

14/11/2025

The Philippine Blockchain Report 2025 examines how blockchain is shaping the country’s economy, governance, and digital innovation. Authored by ​Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra | GorricetaLaw, the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, Gobi Partners, Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, and Tether.io, the report highlights both the opportunities and challenges of blockchain adoption in the Philippines.

This article focuses on the knowledge gap in the Philippines’s blockchain landscape. While adoption is high, driven by crypto trading and play-to-earn gaming, understanding of the underlying technology remains limited. Education, regulation, and transparency will be key to turning enthusiasm into sustainable growth.

Read the full article here: https://e27.co/high-adoption-low-understanding-the-philippiness-blockchain-knowledge-gap-20251110/

10 Highlights from the article
1. The Philippines ranks high in global crypto adoption, mostly driven by speculation and gaming.
2. 70% of Filipinos surveyed reported being unfamiliar with blockchain technology.
3. 85% have no direct connection to blockchain in daily life.
4. While 96% are aware of cryptocurrencies, only 46% truly understand them.
5. Knowledge of Web3 is even lower, at just 28%.
6. Cryptocurrency use is mostly for trading, payments, remittances, and gaming.
7. 74% of those aware of blockchain trust it for transactions and data protection.
8. Security, cost-effectiveness, and transparency are the top priorities for potential users.
9. 55% of respondents are open to using blockchain in the future if security measures improve.
10. Filipinos want blockchain innovations that enhance privacy, secure AI applications, and allow verifiable transactions without revealing sensitive data.

Philippine blockchain adoption is driven by speculation, not comprehension — education, regulation, and transparency are key to long-term progress

14/11/2025

🧠 Small sensors, big impact:

At SWITCH 2025, HYBO’s AI-infused LiDAR is redefining automation and worker safety — while Studio Galilei proves mobility innovation can start in rural Korea and scale across Southeast Asia.

Discover how KISED is powering this new chapter in tech collaboration: https://loom.ly/XpOzYrI

At SWITCH 2025, KISED led 31 South Korean startups, including Studio Galilei Co,. Ltd. and HYBO Inc., highlighting a new wave of Korean innovation entering Southeast Asia.

14/11/2025

📣 STARTUP OF THE WEEK

Wookco: Turning Travel Into Impact Through Purpose, Community, and Conscious Choices

Meet Wookco on e27: https://e27.co/startups/wookco/

Wookco, led by Founder and CEO Nattarat Klinkanha, is reshaping how people travel by connecting every trip with real social and environmental impact. While most online travel platforms focus only on bookings, Wookco addresses three growing issues in tourism: the lack of incentives for responsible travel, limited transparency around sustainability, and the rising threat of unsustainable tourism in emerging destinations across Asia and Latin America.

Through its core strategy called the Wookco Impact Loop, travelers earn Impact Points when they choose slow travel, zero-waste stays, or local community experiences. These points transform ordinary spending into meaningful investment and encourage small businesses to adopt sustainable practices. Wookco is shifting the OTA model from simple transactions toward shared value and long-term community growth.

The team behind Wookco also lives the mission they promote. They treat every trip as an “impact exploration mission” guided by an Impact Checklist that includes volunteering, digital detox homestays, and meeting local entrepreneurs. Many team members once worked in finance and tech, and now use those skills to assess sustainability across small businesses. A fun detail from the founder: Nattarat refuses to rely on Google Maps because getting lost often leads to discovering authentic local gems, including one that became an Impact Loop partner.

If Wookco were an animal, it would be the Philippine Eagle, a symbol of vision, resilience, and environmental stewardship. The eagle’s sharp sight reflects Wookco’s ability to spot overlooked opportunities in emerging markets, while its strength and purpose mirror the startup’s mission to balance profit and planet.

A recent milestone the team is celebrating is joining the EquityPilot program of FasterCapital, a global venture capital firm that will help strengthen Wookco’s platform, from faster bookings to stronger supplier integration. They also launched the Impact Loop Program, which turns loyalty points into a tool for real-world sustainability efforts. This milestone shows how Wookco is combining technology, community impact, and responsible tourism in one powerful ecosystem.

Get featured like Wookco. Create your startup profile at https://e27.co/startupprofile and start sharing your updates at https://e27.co/milestone/post/

14/11/2025

Iris-based security, AR shopping and AI-powered verification — Ant International just pushed smart-glasses commerce closer to reality 🚀

Dive in: https://loom.ly/_wJSCI0

Ant International launches iris-based payments for smart glasses, using AI and AR to enable secure, seamless, zero-contact transactions.

13/11/2025

The Philippine Blockchain Report 2025 explores how blockchain is shaping the country’s innovation landscape, from finance and governance to public sector transformation. Authored by ​Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra | GorricetaLaw, the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, Gobi Partners, Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, and Tether.io, the report highlights how the technology is evolving from crypto-focused beginnings into a driver of transparency, efficiency, and inclusion.

In this story, we look at how the Philippine government is applying blockchain to modernise public services and strengthen digital governance. From securing budget documents to tokenised treasury bonds, blockchain is now part of the country’s effort to make systems more transparent and accessible.

Read it here: https://e27.co/blockchain-in-action-how-philippine-government-is-modernising-public-services-20251106/

Highlights:

1. The government is using blockchain for real-world applications beyond crypto regulation.

2. The DBM’s Project Marissa secures budget documents with blockchain.

3. Prismo, a working MVP, helps protect sensitive government data.

4. The DICT’s eGovChain connects blockchain with the National ID and eGovPH SuperApp.

5. The Bureau of the Treasury launched the first Tokenised Retail Treasury Bonds.

6. The BSP finished testing Project Agila, a wholesale CBDC pilot.

7. The AFAB introduced an Offshore Digital Asset Licence (ODAL) for blockchain firms.

8. CEZA updated its fintech and digital asset regulations.

9. MARINA rolled out a blockchain-enabled transaction system for maritime services.

10. These projects show growing institutional trust in blockchain to improve transparency and reduce corruption.

The Philippines embraces blockchain beyond crypto, launching DLT projects to improve transparency, public finance, and digital governance nationwide

13/11/2025

🚗 One night. Big ideas. Bigger conversations!

This Dec 4 at The Sentry C, Ho Chi Minh City, join HERE Technologies x e27 for Smart Moves: Driving Innovation in Vietnam’s Urban Mobility and Delivery Ecosystem — a night built for Vietnam’s movers, builders, and innovators.

Here’s how your evening’s about to roll 👇

🕠 5:30 PM – Arrive early for registration & networking. Grab a drink, meet fellow innovators, and set the tone for an inspiring night.

🎤 6:00 PM – A warm welcome from The Sentry, followed by opening insights from:
💬 Hung Nguyen, Director of Product & Revenue, e27 — on how collaboration fuels ecosystem growth.
🌍 Tanarat Mityodwong, Business Solutions Architect, HERE Technologies — on how data and location intelligence are powering smarter cities.

🚦 6:30 PM – The spotlight turns to our panel discussion: Smart Moves: Driving Innovation in Vietnam’s Urban Mobility and Delivery Ecosystem.
Hear from visionaries and founders reshaping how Vietnam moves, delivers, and connects.

❓ 7:15 PM – We open the floor for your questions. Get your thoughts in via Slido or jump into the discussion live.

🔍 7:30 PM – Closing insights from Jared Murray, Senior Director, Business Solutions Architect, APAC, HERE Technologies — wrapping up the night with key takeaways on collaboration and innovation.

🍽️ 7:35 PM onwards – Dinner, networking, and connections that last beyond the evening.

💬 Real conversations.
🤝 Real connections.
🍽️ Real good food.

👉 Register now before seats run out: https://loom.ly/EQXw0Tc

12/11/2025

A new era of forecasting has arrived: Ant International’s Falcon TST brings billion-parameter power to global businesses through open collaboration. ⚙️

🔗 Full article here: https://e27.co/ant-international-releases-falcon-tst-to-boost-global-ai-forecasting-20251111/

Ant International has open-sourced its Falcon TST AI model, a 2.5-billion-parameter time-series transformer designed to help businesses improve forecasting accuracy and reduce FX costs.

12/11/2025

We’re continuing our Philippine Blockchain 2025 series, a deep dive into how blockchain is shaping the country’s digital economy. The report, authored by ​Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra | GorricetaLaw, the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, Gobi Partners, Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, and Tether.io, explores how blockchain is creating real-world impact across finance, innovation, and everyday life in the Philippines.

Our latest article looks at how blockchain gaming gave rise to the Metaverse Filipino Worker (MFW), an unlikely economic hero that emerged during the pandemic. When traditional jobs disappeared, many Filipinos turned to play-to-earn games like Axie Infinity, creating new income streams and introducing millions to Web3 for the first time.

Read the full story here:

https://e27.co/the-rise-of-the-metaverse-filipino-worker-blockchains-unlikely-economic-hero-20251106/

10 Highlights from the article:

1. The Philippines saw mass blockchain adoption through play-to-earn (P2E) gaming during the pandemic.

2. Economic necessity, not speculation, drove this wave of adoption.

3. Axie Infinity players in the Philippines made up around 40% of its global user base.

4. Many P2E players earned more than the country’s minimum wage at the time.

5. The rise of the Metaverse Filipino Worker (MFW) turned gaming into a form of livelihood.

6. Yield Guild Games (YGG) pioneered the DAO-led “scholarship” model, enabling wider participation.

7. YGG attracted global attention, including US$4.6M in funding from A16z in 2021.

8. Sovrun (formerly BreederDAO) evolved from in-game asset provision to empowering true digital ownership.

9. For many Filipinos, gaming became the gateway to understanding blockchain and Web3.

10. The Philippines is now a global testbed for sustainable, community-driven Web3 models.

Economic hardship drove Filipinos to blockchain gaming, birthing the Metaverse Filipino Worker and redefining the nation’s digital economy