32.5 C
Vientiane
Thursday, September 11, 2025
spot_img
Home Blog Page 367

Aspire Announces Return of Founders Night, Singapore’s Largest Event for Startup Founders

Back this September with a bold new theme — The Champions Arena — and over 200 founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders.


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 August 2025 – Aspire, leading all in one finance platform for modern businesses, today announced the return of Founders Night, its annual flagship event and Singapore’s largest gathering for startup founders. Happening on September 4, 2025, the invite-only event will bring together over 200+ funded founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders.

Founders Night: The champions arena
Founders Night: The champions arena

This year’s theme, The Champions Arena, draws inspiration from elite athletes — a nod to the stamina, resilience, and sharp execution required to build something from scratch. Held in central Singapore, the experience is designed to take founders out of the boardroom and into an arena of connection, storytelling, and recognition.

Visa joins this year as the event’s platinum sponsor, underscoring its shared mission to back the next generation of business leaders. In previous years, Founders Night has been proudly supported by leading ecosystem partners including Amazon Web Services, Remote, Carta, Singapore Global Network and many more.

“Founders Night was born as a tribute to the builders behind the most innovative companies,” said Andrea Baronchelli, Co-founder and CEO of Aspire. “It’s not a typical networking event or a panel. It’s a moment for founders to come together, celebrate each other, and acknowledge the challenges and triumphs that come with building something from the ground up.”

The event is an extension of FoundersXchange, Aspire’s growing global community of 700+ startup founders. Through curated events, startup perks, and direct VC connections, FoundersXchange continues to support entrepreneurs from day one through scale. Founders Night has grown to become a key fixture on the region’s startup calendar, known for its founder-first ethos, immersive themes, and high-calibre attendee base.

Event Details
Date: September 4, 2025
Location: Central Singapore
Registration: https://lu.ma/uupsajtv?utm_source=Media

Hashtag: #Aspire

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

Aspire

is the all-in-one finance platform for modern businesses globally, helping over 50,000 companies save time and money with international payments, treasury, expense, payable, and receivable management solutions – accessible via a single, user-friendly account.

Headquartered in Singapore, Aspire has 600+ employees across nine countries, clients in 30+ markets and is backed by global top tier VCs, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Y-Combinator, Tencent and Paypal. In 2023, Aspire closed an oversubscribed US$100M Series C round and announced that it has achieved profitability.

AsiaInfo Technologies Expects to Achieve Accelerated Growth from the Three Core Growth Engines in 2025H2, with Full Year Profit Exceeding Last Year[1]

In 2025H1, AI large model application and delivery business achieves explosive growth with revenue and order amount up 76 times and 78 times yoy respectively, demonstrating strong market demand


Future prospects in 2025H2:

  • The results for 2025H2 is expected to improve significantly compared to the 2025H1, and the Group is determined to achieve its full-year targets.
  • The annual performance is expected to remain stable. In 2025H2, the three core growth engines are projected to achieve accelerated growth, while the revenue decline in the ICT support business is anticipated to narrow significantly. Profit for the year is expected to exceed that of the previous year (excluding the impact of one-off severance compensation due to personnel restructuring optimisation).
  • The Group will adhere to a steady and progressive development strategy, continue to consolidate the foundation of its core telecommunications business to promote a steady recovery of its fundamental operations in ICT support business, and continue to focus on cultivating three core growth engines, including AI large model application and delivery, 5G private network and application, and digital intelligence-driven operation. The Group will also accelerate the pace of signing contracts, to maintain a stable and healthy annual performance.
  • The Board has attached great importance to the shareholders’ interests and returns, and after giving due consideration to the Group’s business development, profitability, and cash flow level, the Board has recommended the guideline of the final dividend for the year 2025 is 40% of the annual net profit attributable to shareholders.

Results highlights & business review:

  • In 2025H1, the Group’s overall revenue and profit declined due to the effects brought by the ongoing cost-reduction and efficiency-enhancement within the telecommunications sector. The Group managed to effectively control costs through its mature cost control mechanism and optimised personnel restructuring optimisation.
  • – Revenue[2] amounted to approximately RMB2,598 million.

    – Gross profit was approximately RMB783 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.1%, with a gross profit margin of 30.1%, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.4 percentage points. Net operating cash outflow improved by 35.3% year-on-year.
    – Net loss was approximately RMB202 million compared to a loss of approximately RMB70 million in the same period of the previous year. Excluding the impact of one-off severance compensation due to personnel restructuring optimisation, net loss was approximately RMB48 million.
  • AI large model application and delivery business achieved explosive growth, with revenue of approximately RMB 26 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 76 times; the order amount for 2025H1 was approximately RMB 70 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 78 times, demonstrating strong market demand.
  • Through collaborations with Alibaba Cloud, Baidu Intelligent Cloud, NVIDIA, AsiaInfo Security and others, the Group has constructed end-to-end industrial large model solutions.
  • Revenue from the 5G private network and application business was approximately RMB47 million; the order amount for 2025H1 was approximately RMB82 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 51.7%, which reflects growth potential in the market.
  • Revenue from the ICT support business was approximately RMB2,118 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 14.7%. Revenue from the digital intelligence-driven operation business was approximately RMB408 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 8.8% which was mainly driven by cost reductions from operators, but with continued growth in the non-telecommunications industry.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 August 2025 – AsiaInfo Technologies Limited (“AsiaInfo Technologies” or the “Company”, which together with its subsidiaries, is referred to as the “Group”; HKEX stock code: 01675), is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2025 (the “Period”).

In the first half of 2025 (“2025H1”), the Group’s current overall operating scale is under pressure due to the ongoing cost-reduction and efficiency-enhancement in the telecommunications sector. Revenue was approximately RMB2,598 million, representing a decrease of 13.2% year-on-year. However, amid the wave of new AI technologies, the Group’s AI large model application and delivery business has achieved explosive growth, while the 5G private network and application business has continued to gain momentum, and it has kept optimising the business structure of digital intelligence-driven operation. Meanwhile, the Group has strengthened internal cost management to support sustainable development, and its business fundamentals will continue to be sound in the long term.

To cope with challenges of the ICT support business transformation, the Group implemented a series of cost-reduction and efficiency-enhancing measures proactively, such as personnel restructuring optimisation, applying AI tools to enhance efficiency, strengthening centralised procurement, and the one-stop official consumption platforms, which have achieved significant results in cost control. In 2025H1, gross profit was approximately RMB783 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.1%, with a gross profit margin of 30.1%, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.4 percentage points. Net operating cash outflow improved by 35.3% year-on-year. Excluding the impact of one-off severance compensation due to personnel restructuring optimisation, net loss for the period was approximately RMB48 million, and the Group expected that net profit will continue to rebound in the second half of the year (“2025H2”), with full-year profit better than last year.

The Board has attached great importance to the shareholders’ interests and returns, and after giving due consideration to the Group’s business development, profitability, and cash flow level, the Board has recommended the guideline of the final dividend for the year 2025 is 40% of the annual net profit attributable to shareholders.

AI Large Model Application and Delivery Business Achieves Explosive Growth

In 2025, the industrial application of AI large models witnessed explosive growth. In 2025H1, the Group secured orders worth approximately RMB70 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 78 times. In addition, the Company entered into a framework agreement that accounted for more than RMB40 million with a company. Revenue from the AI large model application and delivery business reached approximately RMB26 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 76 times.

Through collaborations with Alibaba Cloud, Baidu Intelligent Cloud, NVIDIA, AsiaInfo Security and others, the Group has constructed end-to-end industrial large model solutions covering energy and power, industrial manufacturing, transportation, smart retail, and other large enterprises. The Group has become a partner in Alibaba Cloud’s AI Large Model Galaxy Program, jointly developed nearly 100 projects and created numerous benchmark cases for large model delivery. With a robust pipeline of business opportunities, the Group is driving the industrialisation of large models.

5G Private Network and Application Business Continues to Gain Momentum

The Group’s 5G private network and application business provides an important emerging telecommunications network for energy industries such as the power and mining industries. By providing customised 5G private network products and advanced industry solutions, as well as offering professional one-stop services and turnkey projects, the Group created differentiation in its competitive advantage and became a leading company in the field of 5G private network. In 2025H1, the Group signed orders for the 5G private network and application business amounted to approximately RMB82 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 51.7%, while revenue amounted to approximately RMB47 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 26.3%, which was mainly attributable to the delay in some nuclear power orders and the delay in revenue recognition. In 2025H2, the Group will expedite order conversion, which is expected to drive rapid performance growth.

In terms of nuclear power, in 2025H1, on the basis of maintaining the continued market leadership of CNNC, the Group has successfully achieved a breakthrough in Huaneng Group and signed a contract for the 5G private network project for units 3 and 4 of the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Hainan. Up to this point, the Group’s nuclear power 5G private network projects have covered 29 units in seven national nuclear power bases, further consolidating its top one position in the market share of nuclear power 5G private network. In 2025H1, the country’s investment in the new nuclear power sector exceeded RMB200 billion, and the Group’s 5G private network in nuclear power business is expected to grow continuously.

In the field of new energy, the Group continues to make efforts in wind power and photovoltaic markets, and has currently covered more than 210 new energy stations and achieved project breakthroughs for a number of energy group customers.

In the field of mining, the Group established an associated company with Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Company Limited to explore the new model of “digital and intelligent operation of mines and equipment manufacturing”. In 2025H1, the Group acquired projects such as Zhengzhou Coal Smart Supervision Platform, China Coal AI Management and Control Platform, China Coal Pingshuo Open-pit Mining Smart Transportation and others. In addition, the Group’s launch of intrinsically safe 5G private network base stations has obtained network access authorisation, and the Group has entered into cooperation with multiple 5G intrinsically safe certifiers, including CCTEG Changzhou Research Institute and China Coal. Meanwhile, the Group signed a framework procurement agreement with Hangzhou Jiaoyang Communications Technology Ltd. for intrinsically safe 5G private network base stations.

Optimisation of Digital Intelligence-driven Operation Business Structure and Continued Growth in the Non-Telecommunications Industry

Leveraging over 30 years of practical experience in business support and data governance in the telecommunications sector, along with an extensive network of industry experts, the Group has expanded its offerings to major industries with large end-user bases, such as finance, automobile and consumer sectors. It provides data operation services based on “data aggregation + scenario insights + AI empowerment”, continuously creating and enhancing value for clients. This approach has further strengthened the Group’s leading position in the results-based charging commerce models. In the non-telecommunications industry, the Group achieved an overall year-on-year order growth of 18.2% in 2025H1. Among them, orders in the finance sector increased significantly by 48.3% year-on-year, orders in the automobile sector increased by 5.3% year-on-year, and orders in the consumer sector increased by 4.4% year-on-year.

In the telecommunications sector, the Group leveraged a “scenario + AI Agent” strategy to enhance operational efficiency of clients and drive business revenue growth. Firstly, through joint innovation with operators, the Group supported clients in implementing value-based operations at scale, securing projects such as an intelligent marketing service assistant agent for operators’ household customers, an AI solution advisor for government and enterprise clients, and a frontline AI sales assistant. Secondly, the Group actively integrated the rights resources and technical capabilities of leading internet enterprises, and united with operator customers to develop operational innovations in areas such as households and business enterprise customers, and help customers to generate revenue by obtaining projects such as AI intelligent marketing, AI intelligent recommendation, and the introduction of rights to cooperative operations with a carrier.

In 2025H1, revenue from digital intelligence-driven operation business reached approximately RMB408 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 8.8%, primarily driven by increased cost control efforts by operators. However, the business structure continued to improve, with revenue from results-based and commission-based charging models accounting for 33.4%, up by 6.7 percentage points year-on-year. The Group will accelerate order conversion and revenue realisation in 2025H2 to ensure the achievement of full-year targets.

ICT Support Business Proactively Responds to Industry Transformation and Accelerates Expansion in New Customers and Projects

The Group has clearly positioned itself as a software service provider, acknowledging the structural adjustments occurring in the traditional operator industry while basing itself on its operator’s base of business, stabilising the ICT support business in the telecommunications sector, and laying a solid foundation for the Group’s overall business enhancement and transformation. In 2025H1, the Group’s ICT support business maintained a leading market share, with revenue reaching approximately RMB2,118 million. However, due to factors such as reduced overall investment by operators, revenue declined by 14.7% year-on-year. To offset the downward pressure in the BSS business, the Group implemented a series of measures, including AI empowerment, expansion into new services for existing customers, expansion of new clients, and joint market development in the government and enterprise sector. Meanwhile, the Group continued to restructure its organisational model from an “olive-shaped” to a “pyramid-shaped” structure to reduce delivery costs. The Group also leveraged AI large models and other new tools to empower internal operations to achieve cost reductions and enhance operational efficiency in order to significantly narrow the decline in full-year revenue of the ICT support business.

In 2025H1, the Group accelerated the application of AI in the BSS and OSS businesses, and 48 new projects were signed, including the R&D project of an operator’s intelligent platform and the project of technological innovation platform, etc. The deployment of AI tool platform exceeded 10 provinces, and more than 10 metahuman projects have been implemented, including product sales and assisted acceptance. In addition, the Group has been steadily sourcing new customers and projects, the first phase of the HKT project has been successfully launched.

In terms of joint market development in the government and enterprise sectors, the Group focused on data governance, trusted data space, public services, low altitude economy and other areas, and collaborated with operators to open up the market and break the ceiling of traditional business. Several projects have been successfully delivered, including data governance of an energy central enterprise, digital network of a province’s energy bureau, a province’s construction supervision and public service platform, a city’s health service platform, a province’s Forestry and Grassland Bureau’s digital forestry platform, and a city’s intelligent tourism service platform, among others.

Strengthening the Technological Leadership of Products such as Cloud Network and Digital Intelligence

In 2025H1, AsiaInfo Technologies continued to focus on the three major product systems of “Cloud Network”, “Digital Intelligence” and “IT”, comprehensively promoting the evolution and innovation of the product system towards AI Native, and continuously strengthening its technological leadership to provide strong support for the Group’s three growth engines. In 2025H1, the Group’s R&D investment amounted to approximately RMB415 million, with continued efforts to strengthen technological leadership in cloud and digital-intelligent products.

Future Prospects

Dr. TIAN Suning, Chairman and Executive Director of AsiaInfo Technologies, said, “We expect the results for 2025H2 to improve significantly compared to 2025H1, and we are determined to achieve our full-year targets by optimising the rhythm of signing contracts. In this regard, the Group will adhere to a steady and progressive development strategy. On one hand, we will continue to consolidate the foundation of our core telecommunications business to promote a steady recovery of our fundamental operations in ICT support business. On the other hand, we will continue to focus on cultivating three core growth engines, including AI large model application and delivery, 5G private network and application, and digital intelligence-driven operation. We will also accelerate our pace of signing contracts, to maintain a stable and healthy annual performance. Meanwhile, we will accelerate the commercialisation of AI large model application and delivery, 5G private network and application business orders, to achieve high performance growth for the year. Combining digital intelligence-driven operation business with AI and intelligent agent technology, we will continue to promote the innovative results-based charging commerce models, and optimise the business structure.”


[1] Excluding the impact of one-off severance compensation due to personnel restructuring optimisation.
[2] Revenue includes revenue from the ICT support business, the AI large model application and delivery business, the 5G private network and application business and the digital intelligence-driven operation business.

Hashtag: #AsiaInfo

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

BHIRAJ BURI GROUP Selects Yardi Platform to Unify Operations Across Real Estate Portfolio

Bangkok-based property company to leverage cloud technology for improved efficiency and scalability

BANGKOK, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BHIRAJ BURI GROUP, a leading property developer and asset management company in Thailand, has selected Yardi® to modernise and streamline operations across its diverse portfolio of Grade-A office buildings, coworking and serviced office spaces, exhibition and convention venues, and lifestyle retail properties throughout Thailand.

Bangkok-based property company, BHIRAJ BURI GROUP, to leverage Yardi cloud technology for improved efficiency and scalability
Bangkok-based property company, BHIRAJ BURI GROUP, to leverage Yardi cloud technology for improved efficiency and scalability

With Yardi’s cloud-based real estate platform, BHIRAJ BURI GROUP will streamline operations, automate processes, and have better visibility into projects with real-time data. The integrated solution will modernise leasing and finance processes, enhance reporting, and support smarter, data-driven decisions. These improvements will deliver a faster and more responsive experience for tenants and stakeholders, while supporting long-term growth with scalable, future-ready technology.

“Partnering with Yardi is a major step forward in our commitment to innovation,” said Pitiphatr Buri, CEO of BHIRAJ BURI GROUP. “We were looking for a platform that could provide full visibility across our operations while supporting long-term growth. Yardi’s integrated, scalable technology gives us the tools we need to stay ahead in a competitive market.”

“BHIRAJ BURI GROUP’s adoption of Yardi’s real estate technology will unlock new levels of efficiency and insight into its portfolio,” said Bernie Devine, senior director for Yardi. “We look forward to supporting their digital transformation journey and helping to streamline operations and provide the flexibility to scale and adapt as the market evolves.”

See how Yardi can help your digital transformation with a cloud-based platform.

About BHIRAJ BURI GROUP

BHIRAJ BURI GROUP (BBG) is a leading Thai asset development and management company with over 40 years of experience in the commercial real estate sector. With more than 790,000 sqm of gross floor area across Bangkok’s strategic locations, BBG is dedicated to transforming spaces into places through its Work–Live–Play–F&B business principle. Work: A diverse portfolio of thoughtfully designed workplaces and venues created to enhance well-being, productivity and long-term value. Live & Play: Inclusive, lifestyle-driven places that promote wellness, creativity and community for all ages. F&B: Curated food and beverage experiences across BBG developments that encourage connection, relaxation and a strong sense of community. BBG remains committed to delivering high-quality commercial developments and integrated solutions that generate long-term value for all stakeholders, while enhancing the urban experience through inclusiveness and sustainability. Learn more at bhirajburi.co.th.

About Yardi

Yardi® develops industry-leading software for all types and sizes of real estate companies across the world. With over 9,500 employees, Yardi is working with our clients to drive significant innovation in the real estate industry. For more information on how Yardi is Energised for Tomorrow, visit yardi.asia.

 

SatSure and KALRO Partner to Leverage Satellite Data for Agricultural Transformation in Kenya

BANGALORE, India, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SatSure Analytics India Pvt. Ltd., one of the leading Earth Observation (EO) data refinery platforms, has partnered with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) to revolutionize agricultural productivity and resilience in Kenya through the use of advanced satellite data and analytics.

SatSure partners with Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization to transform the agricultural landscape with Earth Intelligence.
SatSure partners with Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization to transform the agricultural landscape with Earth Intelligence.

This strategic collaboration aims to integrate SatSure’s expertise in Earth observation and artificial intelligence with KALRO’s extensive research capabilities to drive data-driven decision-making in the agriculture sector. The partnership will focus on leveraging satellite imagery, remote sensing, and advanced analytics to provide actionable insights for crop monitoring, yield forecasting, soil health assessment, and climate resilience strategies.

Speaking on the partnership, Dhruva Rajan, Chief Revenue Officer at SatSure, stated,

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with KALRO in bringing cutting-edge geospatial intelligence to Kenya’s agricultural landscape. This strategic partnership marks a significant step toward enabling data-driven policymaking, strengthening food security, and empowering smallholder farmers with near real-time insights into crop health, weather variability, and sustainable practices.”

KALRO, a premier institution in agricultural research, is committed to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability in Kenya. Salim Kinyimu, ICT Director at KALRO, commented, “Our partnership with SatSure aligns with our vision of integrating technology into agricultural research and extension services. By harnessing satellite-based analytics, we can better understand climate impacts, optimize resource utilization, and empower farmers with precise, timely information.”

Paving the Way for Innovation

The MoU between SatSure and KALRO will pave the way for pilot projects, joint research initiatives, and the development of digital tools that support agricultural stakeholders, including government agencies, agribusinesses, and farmers.

By combining SatSure’s geospatial intelligence capabilities with KALRO’s on-ground expertise, the collaboration is set to enhance Kenya’s agricultural resilience and contribute to the country’s food security goals.

About SatSure
SatSure is one of the world’s leading Earth Intelligence companies, delivering analytics-ready data products that enable contextual, industry-specific Earth Observation (EO) solutions at a global scale.

It is an end-to-end EO data refinery platform—transforming EO data into decision intelligence—designed to address global challenges across sectors such as Agriculture, Banking, Aviation, Utilities and Critical Infrastructure, and Natural Resources, including Water and Forestry.

About KALRO
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) is a premier research institution dedicated to enhancing agricultural productivity and rural development in Kenya. KALRO conducts cutting-edge research in crop sciences, livestock management, and sustainable farming practices to support the country’s agricultural sector.

Photo: https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/karlo_x_satsure.jpg
Logo: https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/satsure_logo.jpg

 

Kamet Capital Leads Exclusive Series A Investment in AI Avatar Pioneer TopView

Kamet Capital backs industry-first AI avatar platform enabling digital humans to physically interact with products

SINGAPORE, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kamet Capital, a leading multi-single-family office headquartered in Singapore, has announced the completion of its exclusive Series A investment of USD 8.5 million into TopView.ai (“TopView”). The fast-rising AI-powered product content creation platform is transforming how brands produce immersive and conversion-driven e-commerce content through breakthrough AI avatar technology.

Launched in Singapore in 2024, TopView is a next-generation content creation platform that harnesses proprietary AI and digital human technology to revolutionise how businesses produce high-quality video content. Its platform empowers brands to create immersive, UGC-style videos and product photos at scale without the need for filming, editing, actors, or KOLs. With its industry-first capabilities, including lifelike AI avatars that can physically interact with products on screen, TopView transforms conventional product showcases into dynamic, conversion-driven experiences.

TopView’s latest Product Avatar and Product AnyShoot version 2.0 solutions require only one product image to generate hyper-realistic content featuring AI avatars that look and behave like real-life presenters. These avatars can “physically” catch, hold, and demonstrate products onscreen, and unlock a whole new level of avatar-product interaction for brands looking to create engaging and scalable product content for e-commerce, livestreaming, and social media marketing.

Driven by its breakthrough technology, TopView has achieved exceptional commercial momentum, recording over 50% month-over-month growth in recurring revenue since the release of V2.0. Its growing roster of enterprise clients includes major regional and international brands such as L’Oréal, ANTA, and Anker.

TopView’s rise is further bolstered by Kamet Capital’s strategic support. In addition to leading the Series A funding, Kamet provided comprehensive incubation support, offered workspace at its offices in the company’s early days, guided the setup of its global headquarters in Singapore, and facilitated business development across Southeast Asia. Kamet also connected TopView to a broader network of families and founders through its proprietary Founders Network.

“At Kamet, we seek out visionary founders with disruptive ideas capable of reshaping industries,” said Kerry Goh, Founder and CEO of Kamet Capital. “TopView represents not only a rare AI investment opportunity from Asia but also exemplifies our ability to leverage Kamet’s deep Founders Network to source, support, and scale emerging leaders in high-growth sectors.”

TopView was co-founded by Jensen Wu and Albert Chen, whose careers span years at one of Asia’s top 5 tech giants. Within one year of setting up in Singapore, the company caught the attention of the prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), which featured TopView in its investment thesis on AI avatars.

Singapore’s emergence as Asia’s Palo Alto made it the natural choice for TopView’s headquarters. With its deep tech talent pool, the presence of regional or international headquarters of major tech firms, and the support of forward-looking venture capital, such as Kamet’s Founders Network, Singapore offered an ideal environment for TopView’s next phase of growth. TopView has strong potential to transform sectors and build capabilities in Singapore. It was selected for Singapore’s IMDA Spark programme, and its founder, Jensen Wu, is also part of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)’s Global Founder Programme, a support initiative for experienced founders to scale global ventures in Singapore.

“We’re entering a new era where AI avatars can now act, present, and connect like real humans on behalf of brands,” said Jensen Wu, Co-Founder and CEO of TopView. “Our technology aims to reshape the boundaries of digital commerce by turning product pages into rich, interactive experiences. Kamet’s backing accelerates our ability to scale globally, while anchoring our innovation in Singapore – a world-class launchpad for the next generation of AI-powered storytelling.”

“AI avatars represent one of the most exciting frontiers in next-generation digital commerce,” added Kerry. “With TopView, Singapore is well-positioned to play a leadership role in this emerging space.”

Kamet continues to explore new investment opportunities in the most innovative areas and welcomes more families and investors to join its Founders Network and co-participate in such deals.

About Kamet Capital

Kamet Capital is a leading wealth management firm headquartered in Singapore, pioneering the multi-single-family office model in Asia. Founded in 2017, Kamet Capital is dedicated to serving ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals with a comprehensive suite of services that include investment management, wealth planning, international mobility solutions, household management, administrative support, and philanthropy. Its innovative approach combines the personalised attention of a single-family office with the robust capabilities and efficiencies of a multi-family office to cater to the dynamic needs of affluent families and founders across Asia. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, Kamet Capital continues to shape the future of the family office sector, providing unparalleled support and strategic solutions to ensure the prosperity and growth of our clients’ legacies.

 

 

DFI Teams Up with Technology Partners to Deliver ESG-Driven AI Solutions and Rugged Edge Systems for Mission-Critical Applications at Automation Expo 2025

TAIPEI, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DFI, a global leader in embedded motherboards and industrial computers, will present its latest AI-powered and application-driven embedded platforms at Automation Expo 2025 from August 11–14 at Booth E16-E17, Hall 6, Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. Engineered for mission-critical tasks and extreme environments, these innovations are tailored to the evolving needs of automation, transportation, medical, and defense industries.

According to a research report, India’s industrial PC market is projected to grow at a 10.1% CAGR (2020–2026), driven by automation, robotics, medical, transportation, and other Industry 4.0 applications. Aligned with India’s growing automation market, DFI offers Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-approved industrial systems built to meet strict requirements for quality, reliability, and safety. For harsh environments, the ECX700-ADP meets IP67/69K and MIL-STD-810G standards, offering advanced connectivity and low-latency 5G—ideal for AMR deployments in Industry 4.0 environments.

DFI’s collaboration with industrial AI partner LivNSense takes center stage with ESG-ready, AI-powered solutions. These solutions integrate DFI’s EC600-series, EC700-ASL, in-vehicle systems, and the newly launched Edge AI server with LivNSense’s VICAS AI engine for real-time safety detection at the edge. Coupled with the GreenOps platform, the solutions enable smarter, safer, more sustainable operations in mining, factory safety, and beyond.

DFI will also deliver high-performance platforms for tightly regulated sectors such as transportation, defense and medical. For transportation, DFI will showcase the EN50155-compliant UPS-IP300 for efficient and reliable railway operations, alongside rugged in-vehicle systems like the VC700-ASL—built to meet E-mark and ITxPT standards, and tested to MIL-STD-810G for vibration and shock resilience.

Within the defense sector, DFI highlights the ultra-compact QRB812 OSM with a live scouting drone demo for commercial UAVs applications, along with the COM-HPC RPS9HC, designed for extreme field use. Across medical applications, DFI introduces IEC 60601-compliant AI servers and medical-grade panel PCs for diagnostics, monitoring, and edge-based imaging.

To support diverse AI workloads, DFI will also present the EC700-ADN with DEEPX NPU for low-latency inference and hybrid x86- and ARM-based platforms X6-MTH-ORN / X6-ORN—also featured at the Taiwan Excellence Pavilion (Hall 6, I2-J2).

For press release materials, photos, and videos, please download them from the cloud:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RyNnxsQiIQ56hLKG0gOaXihtLe06D5jp/view?usp=sharing

About DFI

Founded in 1981, DFI is a global leading provider of high-performance computing technology across multiple embedded industries. With its innovative design and premium quality management system, DFI’s industrial-grade solutions enable customers to optimize their equipment and ensure high reliability, long-term life cycle, and 24/7 durability in a breadth of markets including Industrial Automation, Medical, Gaming, Transportation, Energy, Mission-Critical, and Intelligent Retail.

Vietnam Tops APAC in Ambition, Sustainability, and Global Career Outlook, Reeracoen × Rakuten Insight Study Shows

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Vietnam’s workforce leads the Asia-Pacific region in career ambition, values-driven job decisions, and openness to working abroad, according to a new white paper from recruitment firm Reeracoen and market research agency Rakuten Insight Global.

The  Reeracoen × Rakuten Insight APAC Workforce Whitepaper 2025, which surveyed more than 12,000 workers across 12 APAC markets, reveals that Vietnam ranks highest in three key categories: 58% of Vietnamese professionals strongly aspire to leadership roles, 82% say corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability influence their job decisions, and 62% are open to relocating internationally.

“Vietnamese talent isn’t just looking for better jobs. They are actively preparing for them,” said Masato Sekine, Country Manager at Reeracoen Vietnam. “Ambition, adaptability, and a desire for meaningful work define this next generation of professionals.”

Mr. Masato Sekine, Country Manager at Reeracoen Vietnam
Mr. Masato Sekine, Country Manager at Reeracoen Vietnam

Key Findings from Vietnam:

  • Vietnamese Workers Lead in Ambition: Vietnamese workers have the highest level of career ambition across all 12 markets surveyed, with 58% expressing strong aspirations for leadership roles.
  • CSR and ESG Influence Job Choice: 82% deem CSR and sustainability commitments as critical criteria when evaluating employers. This is the highest response in the region, ahead of Singapore (79%) and the APAC average of 71%.
  • Mobility is Not a Showstopper: 62% are open to relocating abroad, with Japan, Singapore, and South Korea among the top preferred destinations.
  • Wage Expectations are Rising: 32% expect salary increases of more than 10% this year, compared to the regional average of 21%.
  • Growing “Flexibility Gap”: While 74% desire hybrid work, only 51% currently have access to it, creating one of the widest gaps between expectation and reality in the region.

These insights emerge as Vietnam experiences robust economic growth, rising foreign direct investment, and growing demand for digitally skilled and globally aware professionals. At the same time, many employers remain focused on short-term productivity, cautious hiring, and cost containment.

“This report sends a clear signal to Vietnam’s employers,” said Kosuke Soejima, General Director at Reeracoen Vietnam. “Workers are no longer just job seekers. They are evaluating companies based on values, leadership, and long-term opportunity. Businesses that align with these priorities will attract and retain the best talent.”

Mr. Kosuke Soejima, General Director at Reeracoen Vietnam
Mr. Kosuke Soejima, General Director at Reeracoen Vietnam

Why This Matters

Vietnam is emerging as a regional hub for manufacturing, green energy, and digital innovation. Its talent base, composed mainly of Gen Z and millennial professionals, is more globally minded and socially conscious than ever before. The report highlights how worker expectations are shifting and outlines the steps employers must take to remain competitive.

The findings also support Vietnam’s national agenda, including the Green Growth Strategy and Digital Transformation Roadmap, by spotlighting the importance of sustainable practices and skill development in the labour market.

About the Study

The whitepaper synthesises insights from over 12,000 respondents across the APAC region, including Vietnam. It provides both regional analysis and market-specific breakdowns to support workforce benchmarking and strategic planning.

About Reeracoen Vietnam

Reeracoen is an award-winning leader in Asia’s recruitment landscape, connecting top-tier talent with forward-thinking organisations across the region. With 9 offices across 6 major Asian countries, we combine deep local networks with cross-border hiring expertise to help businesses grow faster and stronger. Our excellence has been recognised with recent awards such as: 

  • Best Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency 2025
  • Best International Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency 2024
  • Best Executive Recruitment Agency 2024

We uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service quality, providing innovative and trusted recruitment solutions to help businesses and candidates succeed in an evolving digital economy. For more information, visit https://www.reeracoen.com.vn/ and follow us on social media.

About Rakuten Insight Global, Inc.

Rakuten Insight Global, Inc. (“Rakuten Insight”) is a wholly-owned online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., a global leader in internet services, headquartered in Tokyo. Rakuten Insight was established in 1997 as AIP Corporation and became part of the Rakuten Group in 2014. Rakuten Insight possesses a research panel focusing on 12 major Asian markets & the US and a panel network covering 60 countries and regions. With offices in 11 countries and regions, Rakuten Insight provides market research for over 500 leading companies around the world. Rakuten Insight Singapore serves as an off-shore market research hub to drive business development and provide multi-lingual and multi-functional operational support for clients based across Southeast Asia. For more information, visit https://insight.rakuten.com/  and follow us on social media.

METiS Technologies Closes RMB 400 Million Series D Financing to Power Beijing’s Biopharmaceutical Innovation Engine

BEIJING, China, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — METiS Technologies, a global leader in AI-driven nanodelivery innovation, today announced the successful completion of its RMB 400 million Series D financing round. The announcement was made at the Zhongguancun (Daxing) Cell and Gene Therapy Industrial Park, a key hub for Beijing’s life sciences sector.

Financing Co-led by Beijing Medical and Health Industry Investment Fund and Daxing Industrial Investment Fund

The Series D round was co-led by the Beijing Medical and Health Industry Investment Fund and the Daxing Industrial Investment Fund. The new capital will be used to accelerate METiS’ core strategic initiatives, including automation upgrades to its proprietary platform, in-house pipeline development, expansion of global partnerships, and recruitment of world-class talent.

Left: Dr. Chris LAI, Co-founder and CEO of METiS Technologies; Right: Mr. REN Peng, Chairman and General Manager, Shunxi Management Co., Ltd., a General Partner of the Beijing Medical and Health Industry Investment Fund
Left: Dr. Chris LAI, Co-founder and CEO of METiS Technologies; Right: Mr. REN Peng, Chairman and General Manager, Shunxi Management Co., Ltd., a General Partner of the Beijing Medical and Health Industry Investment Fund

The Beijing Medical and Health Industry Investment Fund (Limited Partnership) is one of eight major industrial funds established with support from the Beijing Municipal Government. It focuses on innovative pharmaceuticals, advanced medical devices, and emerging technologies such as cell and gene therapy (CGT) and digital health. The fund plays a key role in accelerating the city’s biotech innovation ecosystem.

Mr. REN Peng, Chairman and General Manager of Shunxi Management Co.,Ltd. commented: “Healthcare is a cornerstone of Beijing’s innovation-driven strategy and a vital engine of emerging productivity. With the launch of the city’s AI+Healthcare Innovation Action Plan, Beijing is strategically integrating AI with life sciences to lead the next phase of high-quality growth. Our RMB 20 billion fund reflects our commitment to advancing innovation in CGT. METiS fills a critical gap in advanced formulation and delivery systems, and we believe their technology will set new standards in AI-powered nanodelivery.”

Mr. LI Ming, Chairman of Beijing Daxing District Investment Group Co., Ltd., added:
“Daxing District is committed to making biopharma a core pillar of its economic growth strategy. The launch of the OpenCGT platform marks a major milestone that will accelerate the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies, while attracting top global talent, capital, and innovation to Daxing – enhancing our competitiveness in CGT on the world stage.”

Mr. HUANG Hantao, Deputy General Manager of CICC Capital, noted:
“We are grateful for the strong support from Beijing’s leadership, Shunxi Management, and Daxing District across policy, capital, talent, and infrastructure. METiS has made tremendous progress over the past two years. As a long-term investor, CICC Capital will continue to support the company in R&D collaborations with our portfolio companies, clinical development, talent acquisition, and capital markets—empowering the next wave of breakthroughs in AI-enabled drug delivery.”

Dr. Chris LAI, Co-founder and CEO of METiS Technologies, stated:
“We are deeply grateful for the trust and support from the Beijing municipal government, our investors, and our ecosystem partners. Solving the grand challenge of nanodelivery through AI innovation is not just METiS’ mission—it’s our commitment to the broader life sciences ecosystem. We will continue to develop homegrown, world-class delivery technologies to support the high-quality growth of China’s CGT industry.”

METiS Technologies Becomes a Pillar Enterprise of Beijing’s OpenCGT Platform

CGT represents the third major wave of pharmaceutical innovation, following small molecules and biologics. In 2024, five Beijing authorities—including the Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Zhongguancun Administrative Committee—jointly launched a Three-Year Action Plan aimed at accelerating CGT development. The plan sets out to foster over 20 cutting-edge CGT companies by 2027 and establish a globally recognized CGT innovation cluster.

As a cornerstone of this initiative, METiS launched the OpenCGT platform—designed to address key challenges in precision nanodelivery, reduce costs and complexity, and enable the clinical translation of next-generation CGT therapies. This platform is set to become a new engine driving Beijing’s life sciences growth.

Leveraging METiS’ proprietary AI nanodelivery technology, the OpenCGT platform bridges the gap between foundational research in leading academic institutions and major hospitals, and translational work by biotech firms. Its inaugural project is to enable AccurEdit Therapeutics to develop a liver-targeted CRISPR gene-editing therapy using mRNA-LNP delivery.

AccurEdit Therapeutics is a pioneering biotech company developing precise, safe, and effective in vivo gene editing therapies for hereditary and acquired diseases. The company has built a best-in-class, end-to-end platform for in vivo gene editing that integrates RNA synthesis, editing, and delivery technologies. In October 2023, AccurEdit became the first and only company in China to demonstrate systemic CRISPR gene editing in humans with confirmed safety and efficacy.

About METiS Technologies
Unlocking a healthier world through AI-driven nanotechnology
. METiS Technologies is a pioneering TechBio company at the intersection of artificial intelligence and nanomaterial science, focused on transforming the delivery and application of active agents across life forms.

Founded by a team of MIT-trained scientists with deep expertise in AI, quantum mechanics, nanomaterials, and advanced drug delivery, the company has developed three proprietary platform technologies, AiLNP – AI platform for nucleic acid delivery system design; AiRNA – AI platform for mRNA sequence optimization; and AiTEM – AI platform for small molecule formulation design.

METiS’ platforms simulate, predict, and interpret nanoscale interactions to enable rational design, optimization, and validation of next-generation nanomaterials and their payloads. By advancing AI-enabled nanotechnology, METiS strives to unlock new therapeutic possibilities across a wide range of diseases, including cancer, metabolic and autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions, and improve the health of lives.