e27

15/12/2025

We’re continuing our e27 Report Series with insights from the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company, focusing on what it will take for Southeast Asia to move from being AI-ready to truly AI-proof. This article examines the region’s urgent need to close skills gaps, scale AI infrastructure, and move beyond pilot-led experimentation toward enterprise-wide transformation that delivers real economic value.

Full article here: https://e27.co/ai-ready-but-not-ai-proof-the-skills-gap-southeast-asia-must-close-20251214/

10 insights from the article:

1. AI is one of the most powerful catalysts for Southeast Asia’s next phase of economic growth.

2. The region leads APAC in planned data centre expansion, with 4,620 MW of new capacity announced as of H1 2025.

3. SEA’s total data centre capacity is projected to grow by ~180%, outpacing the rest of APAC.

4. As Singapore nears energy limits, cloud providers are shifting expansion to neighbouring markets, especially Malaysia.

5. Workforce readiness is high: 79% of workers have already learned to use AI tools.

6. 53% of workers plan to deepen their AI skills, while 43% actively use AI in work and daily life.

7. Enrollment in generative AI training has surged 2.1X to 5.2X YoY across multiple job functions.

8. Sustainable AI value requires moving beyond pilots to enterprise-wide AI programmes with clear ROI.

9. Foundational infrastructure—digital identity, secure data exchange, and open APIs—is critical to scaling AI adoption.

10. Long-term winners will balance profitability and growth while using AI to unlock breakthroughs in healthcare, education, and other impact sectors.

The region is rapidly adopting AI, but lasting growth depends on closing skills gaps and scaling infrastructure beyond pilot-led experimentation

15/12/2025

From traffic systems to city sensors, AIRA is proving smart-city tech can respect privacy. Dive into the future here 👉 https://loom.ly/77BFPaI

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Through Taipei’s Global Pass programme, AIRA is unlocking smart-city growth by upgrading existing CCTV systems with lightweight, hardware-light AI.

13/12/2025

We’re continuing our e27 Report Series with new insights from the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company, this time exploring how Southeast Asia is embracing AI on its own terms. The region’s massive, digitally engaged population is ready for AI transformation—but success will depend on trust, affordability, hyper-localisation, and navigating fragmented regulations rather than relying on imported Silicon Valley playbooks.

Full article: https://e27.co/southeast-asia-is-ready-for-ai-but-not-on-silicon-valleys-terms-20251212/

10 valuable insights from the article:

1. SEA’s 500M internet users—10% of the global online population—make the region primed for AI adoption.

2. Consumer interest in AI and multimodal AI is higher in SEA than the global average.

3. Five SEA markets rank among the global top 20 for multimodal AI interest.

4. Consumers show net positivity toward AI, focusing on benefits more than risks.

5. Trust remains a major gap: users hesitate to rely on AI for high-stakes decisions like finance and healthcare.

6. SEA’s uniquely low labour costs (weighted average = 5% of US wages) reshape the ROI equation for AI adoption.

7. Businesses must choose AI investments carefully, prioritising ROI over labour replacement.

8. Hyper-localisation is essential: the region’s 1,200+ languages and deep cultural diversity demand tailored AI solutions.

9. Fragmented, evolving AI regulations across SEA create uncertainty—future regulatory choices will be a major “wild card.”

10. AI is already reshaping consumer journeys, shifting from linear search to dynamic, AI-assisted discovery.

Southeast Asia’s AI future hinges on trust, affordability, localisation, and regulation -- demanding strategies built for regional realities, not imported playbooks

12/12/2025

We’re continuing our e27 Report Series with fresh insights from the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company, which explores how Southeast Asia’s digital economy is entering its “age of discipline.” This latest article unpacks the region’s shift toward profitability, the rise of late-stage funding, and how investors are recalibrating their strategies to favour sustainable growth and realistic valuations.

Full article here: https://e27.co/southeast-asias-digital-economy-enters-its-age-of-discipline-20251210/

10 valuable insights from the article:
1. Investor appetite is rebounding cautiously, with capital flowing to companies showing clear paths to profitability.
2. Private funding in H1 2025 reached US$3B, signalling a modest but steady recovery.
3. Late-stage deals dominate, representing 37% of total funding value in H1.
4. Digital financial services remain the top magnet for capital, attracting 41% of total funding.
5. Profitability is now a priority: 80% of early-stage investors say most of their portfolio companies are already profitable.
6. Startups are shifting toward proven monetisation models and more transparent profitability milestones.
7. The region’s IPO market saw a 21% drop in volume, but global and APAC exchanges show encouraging signs of recovery.
8. A strong IPO pipeline of 150+ candidates is emerging across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
9. Indonesia and Malaysia are leading IPO activity, targeting 66 and 60 listings, representing ~70% of regional volume.
10. Investors see long-term opportunities in Singapore (software, AI/deep tech), Vietnam, and Malaysia, signalling where future capital is likely to concentrate.

Late-stage deals dominate 2025 funding, as 80 per cent of early-stage investors report profitable portfolios amid a region-wide pivot towards sustainability

12/12/2025

💳 As platforms scale worldwide, the real challenge sits behind the scenes. WorldFirst’s latest AI-driven solution, backed by Ant International, aims to make global payments, treasury and onboarding far more seamless.

Read the full story here: https://loom.ly/-2wZJuk

WorldFirst launches an AI-driven enterprise API to streamline global payments, treasury and compliance for fast-growing platforms.

12/12/2025

Nearly 10K customers, investors & decision makers with budget authority will be at Echelon Tech Conference from 3-4 June 2026 at Suntec City! Get in front of them now. 50% off startup booths until 31 Dec → https://e27co.e27.co/ig50

12/12/2025

🇵🇭 Startup of the Week: LenderLink — Bringing Eagle-Eye Clarity to Philippine Lending

Meet LenderLink on e27: https://e27.co/startups/lenderlink/

Meet Christo Georgiev, Founder & CEO of LenderLink, a startup tackling one of the toughest challenges in Philippine lending: approving the right borrowers with confidence. Christo and his team are building a real-time credit data exchange that helps lenders see what they previously couldn’t — and in doing so, they’re opening the door to fairer credit access for millions of Filipinos.

In the Philippines, over 30% of first-time borrowers end up in default, while approval rates sit below 25%. Not because people can’t repay — but because lenders simply don’t have enough information. Private credit bureaus struggle with thin files and outdated data, leaving both lenders and deserving borrowers at a disadvantage.

LenderLink flips this reality on its head by letting lenders securely share and access real-time borrower data from peer lenders in their own segment. The result? Lower risk, higher approvals, and a more inclusive lending ecosystem.

And here’s a fun twist: this nationwide platform was built by a lean team of fewer than 20 people across five time zones — and they launched it in under a year. Think global hustle, local impact.

If LenderLink were an animal, Christo says it would be the Philippine eagle — sharp, precise, and able to navigate complex terrain with clarity. That same energy is fueling their big wins, including recently taking home the KMC Startup of the Year Gold Award.

LenderLink is definitely one to watch — and one pushing the ecosystem forward.

12/12/2025

We’re back with another edition of our e27 Report Series, this time diving into the fast-evolving world of digital wealth in Southeast Asia. Drawing from the latest insights in the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company, this article shows how digital wealth platforms are finally hitting scale — and how foreign investing apps are racing ahead by capturing the region’s most affluent, self-directed investors.

Full story here: https://e27.co/digital-wealth-platforms-hit-scale-in-sea-as-foreign-investing-apps-outgrow-local-rivals-20251210/

Here are 10 insights that stood out:

1. SEA’s young, digital-native consumers are turning the region into a hotbed for innovative financial products.

2. Multiple digital wealth platforms have now crossed US$1B AUM, a milestone that signals real maturity.

3. AUM for digital wealth in ASEAN-10 is projected to hit US$90B by 2025, growing at a strong 21% CAGR.

4. Users are drawn to digital wealth apps for three things: lower fees, seamless onboarding, and simple products.

5. A smart playbook emerges: attract users with high-yield cash products, then guide them into higher-risk portfolios.

6. Competition is heating up across investing, budgeting, and crypto categories.

7. Foreign apps see SEA as prime territory — young, risk-ready consumers = massive opportunity.

8. And it shows: foreign apps are growing 3.2X faster, with 10% YoY active user growth vs 3% for local apps.

9. Digital insurance is on the rise too, with projected premiums reaching US$2.7B by 2025 and US$6.2B by 2030.

10. Micro-lenders and digital banks continue to push financial access forward through smarter, data-driven underwriting.

As regional platforms surpass US$1B AUM, foreign investment apps gain 3.2X user growth, capturing affluent, self-directed SEA investors

12/12/2025

🤖 What if factories could modernise without rebuilding everything? IsCoolLab and Taipei’s Global Pass are making that real. Full story: https://loom.ly/2xWEAzI

IsCoolLab leverages Taipei’s Global Pass to advance computer vision automation across Southeast Asia’s manufacturing sector.

11/12/2025

🚀 Calling all builders & SMEs!
We’ve just opened the regional call for the AI Workflow Competition: SME Digital Leap, a programme designed to create practical AI workflows that solve real business challenges. If you’re building with AI, supporting SMEs, or driving digital transformation, this is your chance to get involved.

👀 Read the full story:
https://loom.ly/H4O3e6k

Help us spread the word — tag a builder, SME, or partner who should join!

AI Workflow Competition is happening at Echelon Singapore 2026 by e27, 3-4 June 2026 at Suntec Singapore CEC Level 4. Echelon is Southeast Asia’s premier business technology conference, where decision-makers from established companies connect with implementation-ready solutions to drive growth, efficiency, and transformation.

11/12/2025

Last September, Validus Group partnered with global banking giant HSBC to raise US$50 million in a debt facility.

The funding will be used to scale up operations as Validus aims to double its loan book across Indonesia and Thailand

11/12/2025

🌍 Real time cross border settlement is moving closer as Ant Group and the Monetary Authority of Singapore progress tokenisation pilots that support SME trade.

Learn more: https://loom.ly/ez-OtAY

Eric Jing highlights how AI agents and tokenised settlement are helping SMEs access virtual CFO and COO capabilities and real-time cross-border payments.