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OPPO Research Institute Calls for Innovative Proposals on Inclusion and Health with a Total Grant of up to USD $460,000

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach – 9 May 2022 – OPPO today announced the OPPO Research Institute Innovation Accelerator to empower technology professionals and entrepreneurs that inspiration matters to bring innovative solutions to life and create a better future together, based on the brand value proposition of “Inspiration Ahead”. The Innovation Accelerator is being held by the OPPO Research Institute and Microsoft for Startups as a strategic partner. The program aims to encourage all technology innovators to solve some of the most pressing issues facing humanity even amid times of uncertainty.

OPPO Research Institute Innovation Accelerator – Inspiration Matters

OPPO Research Institute Innovation Accelerator – Inspiration Matters

Centered on the theme of ‘Virtuous Innovation’, OPPO is looking to recruit proposals under two entry categories — Accessible Technology and Digital Health. Following the evaluation of proposals submitted by participating teams or individuals, up to ten proposals will be awarded grants of USD $46,000 each, as well as further opportunities for investment opportunities, technical support, research and commercial partnerships, and promotion at global events.

Event Schedule

Event Schedule

“OPPO believes deeply in the idea of ‘Virtuous Innovation’. As we continue to explore new technology, we remain dedicated to doing so in a way that puts people first. Through technology, we are attempting to solve some of the biggest issues facing humanity so that we can create a better world for all,” said Levin Liu, Vice President and Head of the OPPO Research Institute. “With the severity of global issues like aging populations, poor public health, and digital divide increasing day by day, we could not rely on our own efforts to provide solutions. We have therefore initiated the Innovation Accelerator to empower likeminded innovators to solve these big issues together with us using the power of technology.”

Grants and technical support aim to help promising entrepreneurs realize their visions

The 2022 Innovation Accelerator will open online applications beginning May 8, 2022, and winners will be announced after three months of preliminary evaluations and Demo Day roadshows[1]. OPPO will provide all winning teams or individuals with a financial grant, as well as support to help them further implement and promote their ideas. Each winning proposal will be entitled to the following incentives:

  • A pproximately USD $46,000 (300,000 RMB) in grants
  • Partnership and funding opportunities
  • Commercialization of the proposed via integration with OPPO products
  • Publicity and demo opportunities at global tech events
  • Support from OPPO’s R&D team including opportunities to meet and present ideas to industry professionals

Proposals will be evaluated under the supervision of a professional Judging Committee, where they will be assessed against their ability to meet four key criteria: Feasibility, Innovation & Originality, Social Value, and Long-term Potential. OPPO also invited a judging committee of experts, academics, and senior professionals in the field of technology and innovation to help identify and accelerate the development of high-potential proposals.

“Startups are home to a whole trove of innovative technologies that can provide innovative digital solutions to various industries,” said James Chou, CEO and Managing Director of Microsoft for Startups, Greater China Region, Japan, and Korea. “With a decade of experience in China, Microsoft for Startups is dedicated to building an open and collaborative platform for startups and established companies to innovate together. We look forward to working with leading smartphone brand OPPO to develop innovative solutions for a variety of industries, as well as helping research and commercial applications support each other.”

OPPO has also established a separate referral award to encourage members of the public to refer outstanding innovation cases for consideration by the Innovation Accelerator Judging Committee. Members of the public can submit referrals through the OPPO website during the application stage, with prizes available for every successful proposal that makes it through the preliminary evaluation, Demo Day, and finalist stages.

In addition, OPPO is planning three international roadshows in Hyderabad, India, Tel Aviv, Israel and the United States.

OPPO joins force with likeminded partners to deliver ‘Inspiration Ahead’ Spirit

Since its onset at the start of 2020, the global Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of billions of people around the world. At the same time, the fast development of technology is leaving certain disadvantage groups behind, creating new challenges for them as a result. As a company that takes its responsibility and commitments to society to heart through its brand mission of ‘Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World’, OPPO hopes to address these issues and others like them through technology, helping to bring greater happiness and wellbeing to more people.

Through its continued pursuit of ‘Virtuous Innovation’, OPPO has accumulated rich experience and expertise in accessible technology and digital health, including extensive user insights and applications. Among these are its work into accessible design and adaptation for elderly users, for example its Color Vision Enhancement technology on the Find X3 series, which assists users with color vision deficiencies. With ColorOS operating system and other products, OPPO has also introduced user interfaces adapted specifically for elderly users, enabling them to enjoy the benefits and convenience of technology.

In order to facilitate health management among global users, OPPO has also founded the OPPO Health Lab, partnering with professional medical institutions and sports academies to develop innovative digital health products in both hardware and software. Through its research and development, OPPO hopes to help people improve their health through preventive healthcare.

OPPO knows that its power to change to world as single organization is limited. Through the Innovation Accelerator, OPPO hopes to connect with other likeminded individuals, teams, and organizations to identify and develop high-potential solutions so that they can benefit those who most need them. OPPO intends to build the Innovation Accelerator into a long-term platform that addresses the most pressing public issues by attracting the best solutions from the brightest minds around the world, ultimately enabling more people to benefit from Virtuous Innovation.

Applications for the OPPO Innovation Accelerator will be open from May 8 to June 30, 2022. To submit a proposal, refer a proposal, or learn more about the program, please visit the official OPPO Innovation Accelerator website at oppo.com/en/proposal/


[1] All times are China Standard Time (UTC +8).

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone – “Smiley Face” – in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO provides its users with the ColorOS operating system and internet services like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 50 countries and regions with more than 40,000 of OPPO’s employees are dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

#OPPO

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Appier records the first profitable quarter and delivers a record revenue of 4.2 billion yen with a year-over-year growth rate of 53%

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 9 May 2022 –

Highlights and achievements for the first quarter of 2022

  • Revenue grew by 53% year-over-year (YoY) to a historical high of 4.2 billion yen, growth rate reaching a three-year high
  • Gross profit significantly grew by 60% YoY with an improved gross margin of 50%
  • Operating profit turned positive since it entered the scaling phase of the business
  • EBITDA margin achieved 6.2% with a record high EBITDA profit of 262 million yen
  • Operating margin improved by 20 percentage points YoY and EBITDA margin improved by 10 percentage points YoY
  • Continuous substantial growth from the US market with YoY revenue increasing over 14X, QoQ revenue increasing over 180% and reaching to 9% of total revenue
  • Achieved 32% YoY growth in customer numbers with the lowest churn rate in the company history of 0.67%

Stellar growth momentum closed out Q1 FY22


Appier Group Inc (TSE: 4180), henceforth referred to as Appier, today announced its earnings results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022. This quarter, Appier’s continuously improved sales productivity, increased product synergy for a higher cross-sell rate and strong customer traction in the US helped its revenue grow by 53% YoY to a historical high of 4.2 billion yen. Operating profit turned positive, Appier’s first record of profitability since it entered the scaling phase of the business. Reflecting the acceleration of revenue growth, its Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) climbed 49% YoY to a record high of 15.8 billion yen, and gross profit growth rate has outpaced top-line growth and reached 60% YoY with an improved gross margin of 50%.

Appier’s AI technology is a key factor in the strong business expansion as the market turns to AI solutions to address current data privacy concerns and trends. The company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin rose 6.2% to 262 million yen, a record high EBITDA profit with a 10 percentage points YoY improvement, while operating margin improved by 20 percentage points YoY.

Appier is growing alongside its customers. A historical high uplift of the Net Revenue Retention (NRR) at 126.5% places Appier in a strong position entering 2022. The number of customers grew by 281 to 1,158 with 32% YoY growth, a record level of organic incremental increase of customers with the lowest churn rate of 0.67%. New customers were mainly from the e-commerce and consumer brands & BFSI[1] industries (31% and 23% of total new customers, respectively), driven by post-COVID demand for digital transformation.

Customers in Northeast Asia continued to account for the largest share of global revenue at 63%, followed by Greater China (23%), US and EMEA (10%) and Southeast Asia (4%). The US market growth further accelerated to over 180% QoQ in FY22 Q1, marking an over 14X YoY revenue increase and accounting for 9% of total revenue. The trend towards prioritizing first-party data and a strong understanding of Appier’s core competencies in AI technology for such marketing purposes have generated strong customer traction and higher Average Revenue per Customer (ARPC) in the US.

Appier’s strong product portfolios and cross-platform network effects led its top-line and bottom-line to surpass projections, demonstrating the company’s substantial growth and outperforming track record. The company’s full-year forecast has been revised to reflect our outperformance this quarter. Revenue has been revised to 17.8 billion yen with 41% YoY growth rate. Gross profit has outpaced top-line growth to 9.2 billion yen with 48% YoY growth rate. Operating loss has been revised to 288 million yen with significant improvement compared to our initial forecast and getting closer to breaking even, and full-year positive EBITDA profit has been revised to 0.8 billion yen with a 1,799% YoY growth rate. Appier’s expansion in the US market, higher sales productivity and better product synergy are key drivers for this guidance revision in 2022.

“We are extremely proud of our achievements starting from Q1 2022, especially with the operating profit turning positive for the first time since Appier invested for growth. Our strong growth momentum enabled us to continuously improve our profit margin and eventually lead to a profitable quarter, underscoring how AI-powered marketing technologies and first-party data-centric solutions continue to lead the digital transformation with the industry tailwind. In the meantime, our international expansion strategy has allowed us to turn our initial investment into fruitful results,” said Dr. Chih-Han Yu, Appier’s CEO and co-founder. “Looking ahead, we will preserve a high-performance culture to maintain efficient sales productivity. Our customer-oriented mindset and focus on products’ key differentiators that move the needle will also accelerate our pace on product innovations and support Appier to stand out in the market,” he further elaborated.

Appier also announced its comprehensive collaboration with PXMart, the largest supermarket chain in Taiwan, with products including AIQUA, AIXON and BotBonnie. Leveraging its AI technologies to unify and enrich PX Mart’s data assets across multiple platforms, including PX Mart (company website), PX Pay (mobile payment), PXGo! (online store) and POS (offline data) to deliver personalized customer experience and optimize its operational efficiency.

Comprehensive capabilities for long-term growth

Appier’s AI-empowered engine combines algorithm processing capabilities, fundamental Auto-Machine Learning models, first-party data solutions and cross-product synergies, allowing us to uncover new customers and boost existing customer revenue expansion. As AI algorithms can learn and become more precise, higher usage drives better adherence to the model and enables a more personalized experience and more accurate predictions. First-party data solutions across web and apps and increasing product synergies also guarantee Appier’s ability to move fast to seize market opportunities and make swift progress on product iteration.


[1] Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) is the industry’s umbrella term for companies that provide a range of such financial products or services.

About Appier

Appier (TSE: 4180) is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that uses artificial intelligence to power business decision-making. Founded in 2012 with a vision of democratizing AI, Appier now has 17 offices across APAC, Europe and US, and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Visit for more company information and visit for more IR information.

#Appier

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

SEA Games: Laos Draws 2-2 with Singapore in Impressive Match

Laos draws 2-2 with Singapore at SEA Games in Hanoi
Laos draws 2-2 with Singapore at SEA Games in Hanoi.

Laos finished up with a 2-2 draw against rival Singapore at the SEA Games Group B U-23 match in Hanoi, Vietnam.

National Assembly Passes Resolution On Fuel Price Stabilization Measures

Fuel crisis in Vientiane Capital
Motorists queue for fuel at a petrol station in Vientiane Capital.

The National Assembly of Laos has passed a resolution to reduce the excise tax on fuels in order to attempt to avert a fuel crisis in the country.

Body Found Burned Inside Car in Vientiane Capital 

The damaged car.

The burned remains of an unidentified individual were found Saturday in the back of a vehicle in Pak Ngum District, Vientiane Capital.

Unprecedented Metaverse Mobile Game MetaCity M’s Second Wave of NFT Land Sales Announced Today

TAIPEI , TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 9 May 2022 – The Gamamobi world-first open world metaverse game MetaCity M, announced the timing and pricing of its second wave of NFT virtual land sales.

《MetaCity M》's second wave of NFT land will go on sale on 5/10 at 12:00 PM (GMT +8)
MetaCity M》’s second wave of NFT land will go on sale on 5/10 at 12:00 PM (GMT +8)

The Era of the Metaverse is Coming – Second Land Release, Land Investor Certificates Announced

The second wave of land NFT pre-sale will officially start at 12:00 PM (GMT +8) on May 10th. A total of 60,000 Planet Titan lots will be released worldwide. Land can be purchased for 0.17 WETH, or 499 USD if paying by credit card.

《MetaCity M》 Land Blind Box buyers get the opportunity to own both a virtual and real-life premium electric cars
MetaCity M》 Land Blind Box buyers get the opportunity to own both a virtual and real-life premium electric cars

In “MetaCity M”, each game-owned land is divided into 5 parts. With 12,000 game-owned land, 60,000 Land Investor Certificate NFTs will be sold in blind boxes, for player investment opportunities. Players can purchase these NFTs for 0.04 WETH, or credit card for 99 USD (No gas fee). With a Land Investor Certificate NFT, players can earn in-game ‘Meta Coins’ by profiting from a portion of rent paid on game-retained land and it can also be transferred freely on secondary markets.

The most powerful NFT out, “E-FLASH NFT” features both a real and metaverse car.

In conjunction with the second wave of 60,000 land blind box sales, Gamamobi released a limited number of 20 “E-FLASH NFT”. All players who participate in the second wave of land purchases by picking up a land box will have a chance to win the “E-FLASH NFT”. Winners get to take home an E-FLASH metaverse electric car and a real-life Tesla Model 3.

Purchase land in the second wave to be join the whitelist of players due to receive limited-edition in-game model props

After purchasing land during the second wave of pre-sales, players have the opportunity to become the neighbor of MetaCity M global model. The best part is, by buying land in the second wave of MetaCity M’s land pre-sales, you will get a chance to receive two limited edition model themed items in two months! The purchase right of the limited-edition item ‘Global model’s Holographic Music Decoration’– and an exclusive ‘indoor poster’ will be given to players free by airdrop.

《MetaCity M》Website:https://metacitym.com/
《MetaCity M》NFT Land Sales:https://www.metacitym.com/landevent
《MetaCity M》Discord:https://discord.gg/JEFGR2FRt9
《MetaCity M》Twitter:https://twitter.com/MetaCity_M
《MetaCity M》Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/mcm.gamamobi/
《MetaCity M》instagram:https://www.instagram.com/metacitym/

#Gamamobi

‘Tailored for Your Smile’ — Colgate’s latest electric toothbrush launches first on Shopee

Colgate is meeting the oral care needs of Gen Z and Millennial consumers and offering exclusive deals with its Super Brand Day campaign on Shopee Mall

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 9 May 2022 – Colgate, the global leader in oral care, collaborates with Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, to launch their new electric toothbrush that is ‘Tailored for Your Smile’. The electric toothbrush was developed based on the brand’s research into category and cultural trends to create product innovations that suit the lifestyle of modern consumers. It is only available online and in five markets — Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines, and shoppers can look forward to special launch deals only on Colgate’s official store on Shopee Mall.

The new electric toothbrush lets users personalise their brushing experience with 10 levels of vibration intensities and 4 different cleaning modes — squeaky clean, sparkle, gum care and night spa. With a total of 33 combinations, users can customise their brushing experience for just what they need.

It comes packed with smart features that provide real-time “coaching” for the best brushing experience, including its smart pressure sensor to remind users to apply less pressure when brushing their teeth, a quad pacer that pulses when it is time to change the brushing area, and a built-in timer of two minutes for optimal efficiency.

Yves Briantais, Vice President Marketing, Asia Pacific, Colgate-Palmolive said: “We are extremely happy and excited to launch Colgate’s first smart electric toothbrush on Shopee to help people in Malaysia noticeably improve their oral health. With a large and fast-growing base of digital consumers in this region, we decided to adopt a digital-first approach aimed at reaching and serving them with an engaging and tailored online shopping experience. We hope to encourage consumers to upgrade from their trusty manual toothbrushes to one that can bring them a personalised brushing experience.”

Pavan Challa, Director, Regional Brand Partnerships, Shopee said, “In the past year, we are seeing more consumers shopping online for essential products, with 8 times more users shopping online at least once a month on Shopee Mall. We have been working with brands such as Colgate to expand our product variety to meet this increasing demand. With Oral Care as our fastest-growing subcategory, we are glad to be the exclusive e-commerce platform to bring Colgate’s innovative smart electric toothbrush to our shoppers. We will continue partnering with brands to offer shoppers access to greater convenience, variety and value all-year-round through Shopee Mall.”

Last year, Shopee and Colgate-Palmolive signed their first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly drive e-commerce penetration for the Personal Care category on Shopee in the region. It marked a key milestone in deepening collaboration on multiple fronts to accelerate growth of Colgate-Palmolive’s digital commerce business across Southeast Asia and Taiwan by more than 20x by 2025. Oral Care is the fastest-growing subcategory on Shopee, driven by increasing consumer demand for trusted brands and innovative products.

Starting this year, Colgate-Palmolive became a strategic partner under Shopee’s Regional Champion Brands Programme[1], which will help to strengthen Colgate-Palmolive’s online presence and deliver more of their innovative and high-quality products to millions of households through Shopee’s extensive reach.

‘Tailored For Your Smile’ Super Brand Day on 12 May

During the campaign, Colgate will educate users about oral care routine and tips suited to Malaysians’ hectic lifestyle, on Shopee Live. Viewers will discover the unique features of Colgate’s latest electric toothbrush while having the chance to win exclusive 50% off no minimum spend vouchers capped at RM3 and even a unit of the new toothbrush itself. Check out the session on 12 May, 5pm on Shopee Live.

Also on 12 May, Colgate will roll out exclusive deals for its smartest electric toothbrush, providing shoppers with the best value and deals including:

  • Colgate Electric Toothbrush Deals: Buy 1 Gift 4, Buy 1 Colgate Electric Toothbrush and get four gifts worth up to RM250
  • Exclusive bundles for the Colgate Electric Toothbrush and Colgate Portable Water Flosser and enjoy 0% instalment for every purchase of Colgate Electric Toothbrush and Colgate Portable Water Flosser
  • Spend, Tap, and stand a chance to Win prizes worth up to RM25,670 including a brand new iPad 10.2-inch 64GB
  • Up To RM70 Off Voucher and 100% Coins Cashback Voucher
  • Amazing free gifts with purchase, such as Samu Giken 2-in-1 Hotpot and Grill worth RM250, and Samu Giken Aroma Diffuser and Humidifier worth RM60.90


Find out more about the Colgate Tailored For Your Smile campaign at https://shopee.com.my/m/colgate-sbd-may12-preview.

Download the Shopee app for free on the App Store or Google Play Store.

[1] Regional Champion Brands Programme is an exclusive, by-invite only program open to top brand partners, aimed to better support brands in accelerating their growth on the regional and local levels.

About Colgate-Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition, the Company sells its products in more than 200 countries and territories under brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, hello, meridol, Sorriso, Tom’s of Maine, EltaMD, Filorga, Irish Spring, PCA Skin, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Speed Stick, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. The Company is recognized for its leadership and innovation in promoting environmental sustainability and community well-being, including its achievements in saving water, reducing waste, promoting recyclability and improving children’s oral health through its Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, which has reached more than 1.3 billion children since 1991. For more information about Colgate’s global business and how the Company is building a future to smile about, visit .

About Shopee Mall

Shopee Mall
is the region’s leading online mall offering one-stop access to a wide range of international and local brands and retailers. Shoppers can enjoy three guarantees delivered by Shopee Mall — 100% authentic products, free returns and free shipping. With always-on deals, entertainment and a robust loyalty programme, Shopee Mall offers an unparalleled online shopping experience and best value all year round. Shopee Premium was introduced in 2020 to add greater variety to Shopee Mall. Users can shop from a curated selection of premium fashion, beauty and lifestyle products from renowned luxury brands.

#Colgate-Palmolive #Shopee

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Covid and Conflict Complicate Fruit Supply Across Southeast Asia

China's zero-covid policy and Russia's war in Ukraine have disrupted fruit supply in Asia
China's zero-covid policy and Russia's war in Ukraine have disrupted fruit supply in Asia (Photo: Reuters).

China’s zero-Covid policy for imports has disrupted the Thai exportation of durian crops, while coffee farmers in Vietnam have resorted to growing avocados and durians due to the high cost of fertilizer amidst the conflict in Ukraine.