Category: Financial Services
-
Salutat – AI-powered CRM
As Kuznets (of “Kuznets’ Curve”) would put it, “growth is a rising tide that lifts all boats” – in emerging markets, almost all industries get to benefit from the growth of the economy, enabled through opening up to trade and investments, socio-political reforms, greater transparency and efficiency in the capital markets. A key factor is…
-
StoreHub – PoS Solutions
The demise of brick-and-mortar (b&m) retail stores have been so acute and rapid in recent times, a phenomenon that is most common in, and perhaps even originated from, the U.S. that it has been a frequently talked-about topic recently. A testament to how relatable it is, and the potential impact it has on, peoples’ everyday…
-
Vietnam Internet Ecosystem
Vietnam is a country that I am extremely excited about, especially for its developments in technology and, in particular, FinTech (i.e. payments, lending, insurance). Most articles I have come across speak optimistically of the technology industry and what the future holds, albeit with the caveat that challenges like government support, the ability to attract talent,…
-
Akulaku – Buy Now Pay Later SEA
Venture capital has been growing in relevance in Indonesia and in symbiotic fashion, the number of Indonesian startups has been mushrooming, especially with the elevation of multiple startups into “unicorn” status and the population increasingly being optimistic about the future of the country, spurring the business-minded to take hold of the bountiful opportunities there, create both…
-
ASEAN FinTech – Development and Trends to look out for in 2019
I had the privilege of attending a talk on ASEAN Fintech organized by technode and Kaishi partners, with below my notes from it. In all, I thought that it was an insightful, objective discussion that covered many of the key trends in FinTech today – payments, lending, insurance and wealth management. In particular, I was…
-
Singapore Life – Insurtech
Insurance is a significant part of Singaporean’s lives. From the government-mandated MediShield Life to the more comprehensive Integrated Shield Plan (IP), Life Insurance, Disability Income Insurance and more complex products like Investment-linked policies (which, in my opinion, one should stay far away from), it is a topic that comes up from time to time in…
-
Validus – Marketplace Lending
It was not long ago that the Chinese P2P/P2B lending market was praised as a disruptor in the lending space and potential challenger to the traditional banks / lending model. Just as how it rose rapidly into the spotlight, its (potential) downfall could be just as quick, given how the sector has been brought into…
-
Klarna – A Model Fit For SEA?
Klarna – dubbed one of Sweden’s fintech unicorns and praised to the skies by many for disrupting the payments landscape was in the news recently for an acquisition of the consumer financing arm of Close Brothers to strengthen its financing arm in the U.K., further advancing co-founder / CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski’s global ambition. In my opinion, they…