MANILA, Philippines, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tonik, the first digital bank in the Philippines, has been named a 2025 Endeavor Outlier — placing the company among the top 10% of global high-growth scale-ups in Endeavor’s 2,500+ company portfolio across 42 markets.
The recognition affirms Tonik’s position as the #1 digital bank in the Philippines for lending monetization, and places it in the company of global neobank unicorns like Nubank, Ualá and Cora — all trailblazers in reimagining financial access in emerging markets.
“This recognition underscores the power of building a lending-first neobank model in a $40B underserved market,” said Greg Krasnov, Founder and CEO of Tonik. “We’re not just scaling fast — we’re scaling with profitability, resilience, and purpose.”
Tonik’s recognition follows its achievement of outstanding performance milestones:
Annualized Revenue Run Rate (ARR) reached $30M, with 83% of revenue from lending
Lending Risk-Adjusted Gross Margin (RAROC) at world-class 23%
Loan portfolio scaled 6x in 24 months, now reaching $50M
“Tonik’s selection is a milestone not just for Endeavor, but for Philippine fintech,” said Manny Ayala, Managing Director of Endeavor Philippines. “They’re building one of the most profitable and scalable neobanks in the region — with global relevance.”
Tonik’s banking license and proprietary AI-powered risk and ops engines give it a massive edge in a 4x underpenetrated consumer lending market. Tonik’s lending-first model drives 5–10x ARPU compared to payments-led competitors and delivers 16x LTV/CAC.
With a capital-efficient path to profitability, a defensible B2B2C moat, and a massive TAM, Tonik is primed for the next phase of breakout growth — and poised to reshape the future of credit in the Philippines.
About Tonik
Tonik is the first digital-only neobank in the Philippines, operating under a full banking license from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Tonik offers loans, deposits, and embedded finance via a mobile-first experience. The company is backed by leading global investors including Mizuho Bank, Insignia Ventures, Peak XV (formerly Sequoia India), and Point72 Ventures.
About Endeavor
Founded in 1997, Endeavor is a global network supporting high-impact entrepreneurs in 40+ markets. Its portfolio companies have generated over $50B in revenues and created more than 4M jobs. The Endeavor Outliers program recognizes the top 10% of this network — companies defining the future of industry and innovation.
HONG KONG, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Entertainment experience curator INCUBASE Studio announced a strategic partnership with K11 Concepts Management Limited to jointly promote global anime culture. K11 Experience serving as K11 Concepts Management Limited’s IP incubation platform for anime, culture and imagination, aims to develop anime-driven cultural and entertainment experiences; and customise journeys of imagination for customers. Through this collaboration, INCUBASE Studio will leverage K11 Experience’s extensive customer base, ticketing platform, CRM system and supporting ecosystem to introduce INCUBASE Studio’s exhibition projects, creating immersive ACGN cultural experiences for next-generation consumers, local and worldwide.
INCUBASE Studio announced today a strategic partnership with K11 Concepts Management Limited to jointly promote global anime culture.
Since its establishment in Hong Kong in 2021, INCUBASE Studio has been dedicated to promoting anime culture and unprecedented entertainment experiences across the world as a curator and producer of experiential entertainment. The startup takes pride in its portfolio of renowned IP-based experiences in Hong Kong and across Asia, which can be categorised into two types of exhibitions. The first type consists of brand-new experiences designed and curated by INCUBASE Studio, including the immersive ‘One Piece The Great Era of Piracy Exhibition Asia Tour’, ‘The Conjuring Universe Tour’ inspired by the blockbuster horror franchise, and ‘The Peppa Pig Treasure Hunt Family Interactive Exhibition’ debuted in summer 2024.
The second type involves INCUBASE Studio bringing exhibitions from Japan to Hong KongSAR and other regions, adding region-specific elements to enhance connections and interactions with local fans. Notable exhibitions include the ‘Fullmetal Alchemist Exhibition’, ‘DETECTIVE CONAN THE MOVIE Exhibition – A Silver Screen Retrospective’, ‘Kamen Rider 50th Anniversary Exhibition’ and ‘Chainsaw Man Animation Exhibition’, all of which have received widespread acclaim and created a buzz in the local community.
INCUBASE Studio owns the online ticketing platform INCUTix and opened its first anime cultural experience hub INCUBASE Arena in Hong Kong in 2024, along with the brick-and-mortar INCUShop. These offerings provide a holistic and diverse range of anime-based cultural and entertainment experiences encompassing exhibitions, events, F&B and merchandise. INCUBASE Arena expanded with a branch in Malaysia in January 2025 and is set to further extend its presence into other Southeast Asian countries, Mainland China, Taiwanregion, as well as the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, as part of its effort to carve a vibrant community out of the anime fandom worldwide and promote anime culture and experiences.
Dr. Adrian Cheng, founder of K11, has been actively promoting the development of cultural industry. Richard Cheung, Group CEO at K11 Concepts Management Limited, describes the strategic collaboration with INCUBASE Studio as a significant step to create fertile ground for the development of anime culture sector. ‘We have been committed to the business model that combines culture and commerce to create value. In face of the massive opportunities in anime and ACGN culture sector, we have decided to invest in INCUBASE Studio to support the development of local creative industry and promote anime culture. INCUBASE Studio has strong capabilities in IP acquisition and integration, especially Japanese IP. Through this strategic partnership, we will pave the way for anime, culture and entertainment industry to grow, with a view to curating richer and more diverse cultural environs while achieving economic benefits.’
Sion Yip, Founder and CEO of INCUBASE Studio, expresses hope that the partnership will open audience’s eyes to innovations in anime culture. ‘We are honoured to partner with K11 Concepts Management Limited, bringing significant development opportunities for anime entertainment experiences across the world. The collaboration adds momentum to the future endeavours set out in our development blueprint. Looking ahead, we will introduce more world-class IPs on their IP incubation platform K11 Experience, and explore deeper forms of collaboration, providing innovative entertainment experiences to fans worldwide and establish Hong Kong as a hub for the anime industry in Asia.’
Sion revealed that INCUBASE Studio has ambitious plans to host major exhibitions designed and curated by the team featuring iconic IPs like ‘Crayon Shin-chan’, ‘Dragon Ball’ and ‘Monster Hunter’ this year across Asia. They are also working to bring a variety of highly anticipated exhibitions and themed pop-up stores, including ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’, ‘DAN DA DAN’, ‘The Idolmaster’ and ‘Oshi no Ko’, to regions beyond Japan.
Coliwoo is a leading co-living space provider in Singapore, offering flexible rental solutions with fully furnished units, communal facilities, and a community-focused living experience for professionals, students, and short- or long-term residents.
Coliwoo organises exclusive upskilling events focused on skill-building, wellness, and networking. It also engages in CSR initiatives, including a three-year partnership with Food from the Heart (FFTH), where members participate in food packing events to support underprivileged individuals.
Coliwoo is expanding with three new properties at Arab Street, Balestier Road, and Upper Bukit Timah Road, adding over 130 keys. These include a hotel, residence, and serviced apartment, providing more short- and long-term stay options in conservation, heritage, and city-centre locations.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2025 –Coliwoo, a co-living subsidiary brand under real estate management services group, LHN Limited (“LHN, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”), has introduced a series of exclusive upskilling events to support personal and professional development of its residents, referred to as members. Aligned with Coliwoo’s focus on community engagement and lifestyle enhancement, these events provide members with opportunities to acquire new skills, expand their networks, and participate in structured learning experiences.
Coliwoo Strengthens Community Engagement Through Exclusive Upskilling Workshops for Members
Enhancing the Co-Living Experience Through Learning and Engagement
Coliwoo supports self-enrichment through exclusive upskilling events, skill-building sessions, cultural activities, and wellness programmes. These initiatives provide members with opportunities to enhance their personal and professional growth, catering to a diverse demographic, including students, working professionals, and expatriates.
By hosting these events at various Coliwoo locations, members can develop new skills and stay updated with industry trends. This approach aligns with Coliwoo’s commitment to integrating lifestyle experiences with flexible accommodation options, including studio apartment rentals, to support continuous learning and development.
“Coliwoo’s upcoming workshops provide our members with practical learning experiences led by industry experts. These events reflect our commitment to fostering a connected and engaging co-living environment,” shared Darren Loh, Chief Strategy Officer at Coliwoo.
Community Engagement and Future Initiatives
Coliwoo provides outdoor activities such as hiking and cycling, allowing members to explore new interests while complementing their living experience.
Coliwoo also engages in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, including a three-year partnership with Food from the Heart (FFTH), where members participate in food packing events to support underprivileged individuals. Looking ahead, Coliwoo plans to expand its efforts by introducing new themes and strengthening partnerships with external facilitators. These initiatives will evolve based on member feedback, aligning with Coliwoo’s commitment to continuous learning and engagement.
Coliwoo’s Expansion and Upcoming Properties
Coliwoo continues to expand its co-living portfolio, introducing new properties to accommodate a growing demand for flexible and community-driven living solutions. In the coming months, Coliwoo will launch three new properties at Arab Street, Balestier Road, and Upper Bukit Timah Road, adding over 130 keys to its operations. These projects will include a hotel, a residence, and a serviced apartment, catering to various lifestyle needs.
Located in conservation, heritage, and city-centre areas, these properties will provide fully furnished units with modern amenities, offering both short- and long-term stay options. As Coliwoo expands, it remains committed to enhancing the co-living experience by integrating convenience, community engagement, and lifestyle-focused living across its properties.
For more information, visitColiwoo’s website or follow its official social media channels below:
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Coliwoo
Coliwoo is a co-living subsidiary brand under the real estate management services group LHN Limited, offering flexible living solutions through thoughtfully designed and retrofitted spaces. As Singapore’s largest co-living operator, Coliwoo provides a range of accommodations, including co-living spaces, hotels, and long-term serviced apartments in Singapore, catering to professionals, students, and both short- and long-term members.
Strategically located near business hubs, educational institutions, and transport links, Coliwoo’s properties feature fully furnished units with communal amenities such as kitchenettes, lounges, and gyms. High-speed internet and dedicated workstations support remote work and study needs, while transparent pricing with no agent fees ensures a seamless rental experience. Coliwoo also welcomes short-term guests, including concertgoers, holiday travellers, and staycationers. With upcoming properties in Arab Street, Balestier Road, and Upper Bukit Timah Road, Coliwoo continues to expand its well-connected and practical co-living offerings.
– Achieving constant high power input and output while maintaining battery life –
TOKYO, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Toshiba Corporation has launched a new SCiB™ module, a lithium-ion battery designed for use in EV buses, electric ships, and stationary applications. The new product features an aluminum baseplate that dissipates approximately twice the heat of current modules. It will be available from mid-April 2025, in Japan and internationally.
Toshiba’s New SCiB™ Module with Double the Heat Dissipation Performance
Use of lithium-ion batteries is increasing and diversifying, and there is growing demand for batteries that can support constant rapid charging and discharging in applications as diverse as electric buses and power load leveling in stationary applications. However, constant input and output at high power levels in a short time generates lifeshortening heat in the batteries. The challenge for battery developers is to manage heat dissipation and maintain battery life while realizing high power input and output in a short time.
Toshiba’s SCiB™ rechargeable batteries have a lithium titanate negative electrode that realizes safe operation, a long life, low temperature performance, fast charging, high input and output, and a wide effective state of charge (SOC*1). They are widely used in hybrid vehicles and industrial applications, including electric buses, cranes, trains, and automated guided vehicles in logistics centers. In addition to battery packs and cells, Toshiba also offers battery modules that can be connected in series or in parallel connnections to meet required voltages and capacities.
Users of module products want a balance between constant high input and output in a short time and battery life. Toshiba has met this increasing demand with a new module that is the first to feature an aluminum baseplate. Aluminum is an excellent conductor, and the new module dissipates heat at approximately twice the rate of current battery modules.
Aluminum has a lower the thermal resistance than the resin materials usually used in baseplates. However, as it is a conductor, the baseplate must be insulated from the battery cells. Toshiba has developed a novel structure that achieves the required voltage resistance, allowing commercialization. When used with the same cooling system normally applied by customers, and under typical operating conditions, heat dissipation performance is approximately double that of current modules, significantly extending battery life.
Current module vs. New products
Adding new products to its module lineup allows Toshiba to respond flexibly to customer demands and application requirements. Toshiba will continue to offer products that leverage the unique features of its SCiBTM lithium-ion battery, while fully considering customer lifecycle costs, from installation to maintenance and disposal.
Product Specifications of Toshiba’s New SCiB™ Module
Product specification and Instruction manual can be downloaded from the following link. Please note that user registration is required to access the documents. Data Download | SCiB™ Rechargeable battery | Toshiba
Note 1: SOC range refers to the range of states of charge over which a battery can actually be used, with 100% SOC indicating a fully charged state and 0% SOC indicating a fully discharged state.
Note 2: Function to equalize the voltage differences among cells connected in series.
TAIPEI, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Techman Robot has announced a strategic collaboration with Panasonic Connect’s Welding Systems Division, aiming to accelerate the development of welding automation solutions.
Techman Robot Partners with Panasonic Connect’s Welding Systems Division to Advance Welding Automation in Japan
By combining Techman Robot’s advanced collaborative robot technology with Panasonic’s extensive experience in the welding field, the two companies are opening new opportunities in the automation of welding processes. Since establishing their partnership in 2023, both parties have been working closely to meet market demands and will now strengthen their activities in the Japanese market.
To simplify robot welding setup, Techman Robot has developed the “Welding Node” module. This new solution integrates seamlessly with Panasonic’s fully digital welding machines, helping to address the growing labor shortage in the welding industry by streamlining automation.
Techman Robot’s built-in vision system and AI functionality also contribute to intuitive, simple, and flexible operation. These features are expected to further enhance automation on welding lines.
By combining their technologies, Techman Robot and Panasonic aim not only to accelerate automation but also to expand applications through evolving AI capabilities.
SINGAPORE, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Hydra X, a leading provider of end-to-end market infrastructure for digital and traditional financial markets for financial institutions, has announced the successful launch of the Sigma Value Token on the Canton Network—marking the first tokenized structured product to go live on the institutional-grade blockchain.
This milestone follows a strategic partnership between Hydra X and Canton Network, a purpose-built Layer 1 protocol designed to meet the compliance, privacy, and scalability needs of financial institutions.
“These types of structured investment opportunities are a great addition to the Canton Network ecosystem. Investors are looking for innovative ways to optimize yield and diversify their portfolios at the same time,” said Georg Schneider, Head of Financial Products at Digital Asset. “Hydra X’s Sigma Value Token showcases how institutions can leverage the Canton Network to deliver compliant, scalable, and privacy-preserving financial innovations to the market.”
The Sigma Value Token, developed by Sigma Value in partnership with Hydra X, is a market-neutral, high-yield note designed for institutional and accredited investors, and offers steady returns independent of ETH price movements.
“The Sigma Value Token is just the beginning,” said Mark Tang, VP of Client Solutions at Hydra X. “We’re excited to deepen our collaboration with the Canton Network and introduce more tokenized products that reshape how capital markets operate.”
About Hydra X
Hydra X is a leading provider of end-to-end market infrastructure for both digital and traditional financial markets. It offers a fully compliant digital asset ecosystem, designed to ensure seamless integration with traditional financial systems. With a strong focus on the tokenization of real-world assets, Hydra X enables institutions to unlock liquidity and efficiency in capital markets through secure, scalable, and interoperable infrastructure.
Regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and other jurisdictions, the Hydra X group operates as a licensed broker for the distribution of securities, an exchange for secondary trading, and a custodian for secure safekeeping and settlement.
The Canton Network is the financial industry’s first and only public chain that can achieve on-chain privacy, control, and interoperability, making it the most suitable network for institutional assets. The Network launched for testing with the participation of a group of leading financial institutions, infrastructure providers, technology firms, and consultants in August 2023. Initially built upon Digital Asset’s technology, the Network’s controls, governance, and app development have been open-sourced and decentralized to be managed by all participants, with the goal of fostering greater innovation and Network utility. The Canton Network’s design overcomes the shortfalls of existing blockchain networks by enabling previously siloed systems in finance to become interoperable and synchronized in ways that had been impossible before. Offering the privacy and controls required for highly regulated organizations, the Canton Network creates a safe environment in which assets, data, and cash can move freely across applications in real-time, unlocking new efficiencies and powering innovation.
This marks the first-ever collaboration between Engine Biosciences and Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), Singapore’s national platform for drug discovery and development.
The partnership will advance the development of first-in-class precision therapeutics for multiple cancer types that are highly prevalent in Singapore and globally, including breast, liver, kidney and prostate cancers.
SINGAPORE, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Engine Biosciences (Engine), a Singapore– and Silicon Valley-based biotechnology company pioneering precision medicine for cancer, announced a new partnership with the Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), Singapore’s national platform for drug discovery and development hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
This first-of-its-kind collaboration unites Engine’s NetMAPPR platform and proprietary oncology intellectual property with EDDC’s drug discovery and development expertise to create first-in-class precision cancer treatments.
The first project under this partnership focuses on ENB-871, a novel pairing of a drug target and patient selection biomarkers discovered through Engine’s NetMAPPR platform. This platform combines AI, computation, biology, and chemistry to identify, validate, and prioritise drug targets with strong clinical and commercial potential, driving the development of new therapies that exploit specific vulnerabilities in tumours.
This program shows significant promise for treating tumours with particular genetic mutations that predict sensitivity to the ENB-871 targeted therapy, including breast, liver, kidney and prostate cancers – diseases afflicting large and growing patient populations in Singapore and worldwide. In total, the potential addressable population exceeds 500,000 patients per year.
The teams will collaborate to develop small molecule degraders targeting ENB-871, including demonstration of in vivo efficacy. By bringing together Engine’s proprietary technology and deep translational insights with EDDC’s strengths in designing and developing therapies, this partnership aims to create targeted cancer treatments tailored to patients’ specific profiles, improving treatment effectiveness and outcomes. Engine and EDDC may also identify additional drug targets and research programs for collaboration during the partnership.
“We’re excited by the synergies created by bringing together our two platforms, leveraging first-in-class Singapore research and innovation to advance transformative cancer therapies. This marks another key step in Engine’s mission to develop more effective, targeted and safer drugs for cancer patients.” said Jeffrey Lu, CEO and Co-Founder of Engine Biosciences.
“The future of drug development lies in precision-driven innovation. Our partnership with Engine enables us to develop therapies tailored to specific patient populations through Engine’s biomarker-driven patient selection approaches. We are particularly excited to launch our first collaborative project around monovalent small molecule degraders, building on EDDC’s expanding capabilities in this field. Beyond this, we look forward to strengthening our partnership by advancing more precision therapies that have the potential to transform the lives of cancer patients in need,” shared Damian O’Connell, CEO of EDDC.
About Engine Biosciences Engine Biosciences (Engine) is a venture-backed Singapore and Silicon Valley based company discovering and developing impactful precision medicines by deciphering complex biology with integrated computation and experimentation, with particular depth in oncology gained over several years of substantial investment and focus. Having pinpointed many promising drug targets and predictive biomarkers for patients most likely to benefit, Engine is advancing its pipeline of oncology therapeutics towards the clinic internally and with collaborators, and in other disease areas through partnerships. Engine’s team is motivated by opportunities to address significant unmet needs with more selective and effective precision medicines. For more information, please visit www.enginebio.com, and follow Engine on LinkedIn.
About EDDC The Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC) is Singapore’s national platform for drug discovery and development, formed from the integration of the Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC), Drug, Discovery and Development (D3), and Experimental Biotherapeutics Centre (EBC) in 2019. EDDC aims to develop therapeutics and diagnostics that save and improve the lives of patients in Singapore, Asia and around the world. Hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), EDDC works collaboratively with public sector and industry partners to translate the great science arising from Singapore’s biomedical and clinical sciences R&D into innovative healthcare solutions. For more information about EDDC, please visit http://www.eddc.sg/
TOKYO, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Orbray Co., Ltd., has successfully developed a radiation detector utilizing its proprietary high-quality, large-diameter single-crystal diamond technology. The exceptional physical properties of diamond, including radiation hardness, allow Orbray’s diamond-based radiation detector to function in high-radiation environments where conventional detectors made from other materials would degrade. In addition, the composition of diamonds is closely equivalent to that of biological tissue, making it particularly well-suited for medical applications such as radiation diagnostics and therapy. Orbray has demonstrated that its diamond-based detector can achieve high-precision measurements across a wide range of radiation types—from low-energy diagnostic X-rays to high-energy therapeutic X-rays.
Fig.1 4mm square diamond radiation detector
Fig.2 20mm square diamond radiation detector
Diamonds have ideal physical properties for radiation detection, including high thermal and chemical stability and fast response. Additionally, diamonds are composed of carbon, with an atomic number of six, and are particularly closely equivalent to biological tissue. Diamonds have, therefore, been extensively studied as radiation detectors in the fields of nuclear engineering, nuclear fusion, high-energy physics, and medical applications. Until the 1990s, research relied on selected natural diamonds. Since the 2000s, advancements in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology have enabled the synthesis of high-purity diamonds, significantly improving detector performance. Single-crystal CVD diamonds offer high sensitivity and excellent spectral characteristics. Polycrystalline CVD diamonds have been used to obtain high sensitivity by increasing the detection area. However, they exhibit lower sensitivity and inferior spectral characteristics compared to single-crystal diamonds.
Orbray announced that it had developed a 2-inch diameter high-quality (100) free-standing diamond substrate utilizing its proprietary step-flow growth method in 2021. Based on the diamond, radiation detectors (Fig. 1) have been developed in collaboration with Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tohoku University, Tohoku Institute of Technology, and Osaka University. These radiation detectors have exhibited high sensitivity and excellent spectroscopic characteristics in X-ray systems in medical settings. The detector can be scaled to the large area configuration (Fig. 2), enabling ultra-high sensitivity. Orbray will continue to develop products while conducting user evaluations.
At the Japan Radiology Congress 2025 in Yokohama Japan from April 10th to 13th, the diamond manufacturing methods and evaluation results of the detectors will be presented. The developed actual radiation detectors will be exhibited at the Exhibition held alongside there.
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