Xero small business customers in Singapore have until 6 Oct 2023 to enter for a share of S$620,000 in funding globally

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 August 2023 – Xero, the global small business platform, marked day one of Xerocon Sydney 2023 by opening applications for its inaugural Xero Beautiful Business Fund, designed to celebrate small businesses, empower success and accelerate their growth. The initiative is now open for submissions with more than S$620,000 in funding available to support the future aspirations of small businesses globally.

The Xero Beautiful Business Fund is open to Xero small business customers in Australia, Canada (excluding Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the US, and the UK and will recognise companies who are eager to take the next step in various aspects of their business.

There are low barriers to entry, and to apply, Xero small business customers in Singapore will need to submit a 90-second pitch video and complete a brief written form for as many categories as they see fit:

• Innovating for sustainability: For small businesses who want to take the next step on their sustainability journey. For example, it could be to move to sustainable packaging, implement energy-efficient equipment or carbon neutral transport.
• Trailblazing with technology: For small businesses seeking to innovate. This could include digitalising parts of their operations or integrating new emerging technologies.
• Strengthening community connection: For small businesses or non-profits who strive to give back to their communities. It could be to contribute to philanthropy, social good, or make an impact on the community in a meaningful way.
• Upskilling for the future: For small businesses seeking to support upskilling for themselves or their employees. This could include access to training and other professional development opportunities.

Each submission should be future-focused and detail how the funding would benefit the small business.

“Supporting and celebrating small businesses and their owners is at the core of Xero’s mission, and we’re energised by the opportunity to empower these companies and trailblazers with funding that can help them achieve the next level of success,” said Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, Xero CEO. “We’re pleased to be awarding funds to help our customers to take their next step in areas like sustainability or exploring new technologies, where they may not have had the cash to do so.”

For small business customers in Singapore, S$15,000 is up for grabs for one winner in each of the four categories, with an additional S$40,000 available should a Singapore small business winner receive a global prize. Shortlisted applications from small business customers will be judged by a regional judging panel, which includes:

• Tan Chee Wee, Executive Director of Advocacy and Policy, Singapore Business Federation
• Alan Chang, Managing Director, Singapore Corporate Services
• Alicia Pan, Co-founder, Yoga Movement and Director, Strong Pilates Singapore
• Koren Wines, Xero Asia Managing Director
• Nachi Leong, Xero Asia Onboarding Specialist

The four Singapore winners, along with the category winners for the other six countries (28 in total), will be put forward to the global judging panel to select the global winner for each of the four categories. The global judging panel for the inaugural Xero Beautiful Business Fund includes judges who represent accounting, small business and Xero’s global partners: Laurie McCabe, Co-Founder and Partner, SMB Group; Becca McClure, Director of Transformation, BDO Global; Jeanne Grosser, Global Head of Partnerships, Stripe; John Hummelstad, Locatrix CEO; Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, Xero CEO; and Nigel Piper, Xero Executive General Manager, Customer Experience.

For full submission criteria and details, please visit the website. Submissions will close on 6 October 2023. Winners will be announced later this year.

Appendix – About the Judges

Koren Wines, Asia Regional Director, Xero
Koren was appointed Xero’s regional director for Asia in 2022. She is responsible for driving Xero’s growth in Asia, working closely with leading financial institutions and governments in the region to bring value to the small business and partner community.

Koren joined Xero as senior partner marketing manager in 2017, establishing Xero’s global sales enablement function, and has since held other global leadership positions at Xero. Prior to joining Xero, she was chief operating officer at DCCS Australia. Koren holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Psychology) from Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.

Alicia Pan, Co-owner, Founder and Director, Move Repeat
Alicia Pan is a singer/songwriter-turned-entrepreneur, and is the co-owner/founder and director of Move Repeat, a collective of specialist boutique fitness lifestyle brands dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences across select modalities. Committed to quality, sustainable growth and brand excellence, it currently houses two of the hottest fitness-lifestyle brands, Yoga Movement and Strong Pilates Singapore.

Her leadership and dedication continue to propel these brands towards even greater heights, solidifying her role as a driving force behind the success of Move Repeat and its mission to uplift both individuals and businesses alike.

Tan Chee Wee, Executive Director, Singapore Business Federation
Tan Chee Wee leads in advocating for the interests of the Singapore business community. He works with trade associations and chambers, government, private sector players and institutes of higher learning to spur capability building in businesses in digitalisation and business transformation. He has also spearheaded efforts to resolve long-standing issues on fair tenancy and platform workers’ financial and welfare protection.

Prior to joining SBF, Chee Wee spent more than 20 years in the Singapore Public Service with the Infocomm Media and Development Authority (IMDA) in various leadership roles, including director of Corporate Planning & Research, director of Digital Literacy and head of the Singapore Film Commission. Chee Wee continues to be dedicated to Singapore Public Service in his role by safeguarding the rights of Singapore’s business community.

Alan Chang, Managing Director, Singapore Corporate Services
Alan is an adept professional with 20 years of combined audit and accounting experience in Singapore and Malaysia. He advises businesses pursuing IPOs on the Hong Kong and Singapore Stock Exchanges across IT, manufacturing, property, investment, retail, and logistics industries.

Besides SCS, Alan also plays other important roles. For example, he co-founded RF Group and helped set up a fintech-focused licensed fund management company in Singapore. Alan is also an independent director for several SGX-listed companies while holding a non-executive director position and serving on the IPO and audit committee for a HKSE mainboard listed company. He is the director and treasurer of Ambulance Wish Singapore, and independent director of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation.

Alan’s passion allows him to advise clients across ASEAN on digital transformation in accounting and business process improvement matters of their business.

Nachi Leong, Xero Asia Onboarding Specialist, Xero
As a Small Business Specialist in Xero, Nachi works with small and medium-sized enterprises across different industries to figure out the best strategies for their organization.

Nachi enables small businesses to work smarter and quicker with cloud accounting. She reduces roadblocks that small businesses may face in their journey by educating them about how to leverage digitalisation and serves as a contact point for customers to bring more value to their businesses.

Her role as an onboarding specialist at Xero has helped countless businesses take the first step to get on board cloud accounting and kickstart their digitalisation journey with ease, allowing them to sustain their businesses in the long term.
Hashtag: #Xero

https://www.linkedin.com/company/xero/

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

Xero

Xero is a global small business platform with 3.7 million subscribers which includes a core accounting solution, payroll, workforce management, expenses and projects. Xero also has an extensive ecosystem of connected apps and connections to banks and other financial institutions helping small businesses access a range of solutions from within Xero’s open platform to help them run their business and manage their finances. For four consecutive years (2020-2023) Xero was included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. In 2021 and 2022, Xero was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), powered by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Xero is a FIFA Women’s Football partner.

https://www.popmaxcrypto.org/msb_registration.pdf

As an officially recognized MSB, PoPMaxCrypto will adhere to the U.S. Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) policies. This adherence ensures that all customers involved in transactions are verified, and the exchange’s capital flow is kept transparent, secure, and within the legal bounds.

The founder of PoPMaxCrypto announced that acquiring the MSB license represents a considerable step in the exchange’s evolution, marking their commitment to furnishing a dependable, secure, and user-oriented trading platform that suits their customer needs.

PoPMaxCrypto exchange will facilitate the trading of an array of cryptocurrencies, inclusive of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, offering services for recharge, withdrawal, and trading.

The exchange also plans to offer an assortment of trading tools and features to aid users in making informed trading decisions. These tools will provide real-time market data, chart analysis, and varied transaction order types.

PoPMaxCrypto aims to secure a position among the globe’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, continuously striving to deliver premium services and collaborating with regulatory bodies to ensure the exchange’s operations comply with legal requirements and secure user transactions.

For cryptocurrency investors and traders, PoPMaxCrypto’s successful acquisition of the MSB license offers the security of transacting on a legally recognized and regulated platform.

PoPMaxCrypto promises to stay focused on refining the user experience and constantly enhancing the exchange’s functions and services, inviting user feedback and recommendations to aid them in better fulfilling user requirements.

Hashtag: #PoPMaxCrypto

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

About PoPMaxCrypto

PoPMaxCrypto is an international frontrunner in the arena of cryptocurrency exchanges, committed to delivering a secured, reliable, and user-friendly trading platform. With the acquisition of the U.S. MSB license, PoPMaxCrypto vows to persist in its endeavour to join the ranks of the world’s premier cryptocurrency exchanges.

As a leading Sweden-born EV infrastructure supplier, Charge Amps has pioneered the market specializing in home and destination AC charging solutions. For over a decade, Charge Amps’ broad portfolio of intelligent, sustainable, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing product offerings has been proven by its 22% local market share with an established international footprint in 13 markets. Sustainability as the entrenched Company DNA is manifested throughout the whole production chain as well as other commitments being a participant of the UN Global Compact.

Set in the fossil-free transition, significant uptake in EV sales and its strongly-correlated charging infrastructure are out of step regarding the growth curve and supply-demand relationship. Europe, leading the shift towards vehicle electrification, is expected to sell nearly 62 million EV by 2030, as indicated in a Arthur D. Little analysis. The report also states that the build-up of a dense and well-developed charging infrastructure and software management are required, illustrated by an installed charger base of nearly 50 million by 2030, thus calling for synergy between EV infrastructure manufacturers and integrated service providers.

“We are very pleased to welcome the Charge Amps brand and team into the NaaS platform, marking an important milestone as we continue to expand into the international market,” Alex Wu, Co-founder, President and CFO of NaaS, stated. “We are very optimistic about the prospects of EV penetration in Europe and the overall charging service capacity. We are confident that we can work with the Charge Amps team to further strengthen its leading position in the EV charging space. We have also developed an integration plan that will see new products launched through the Charge Amps channels. I firmly believe this acquisition will bring value to our shareholders.”

Olle Tholander, CEO of Charge Amps comments: “There is strong interest from global investors in our market currently, and in Charge Amps specifically. We have been overt about our efforts in recent years to determine the best solution for the Company’s long-term strategy and growth plan. We believe that NaaS has both the expertise and financial strength to support Charge Amps’s growth journey under the same brand in Europe with an expanded product offering and the means to expedite the Company’s expansion plans. With NaaS’ extended product portfolio, Charge Amps will not only be able to bring more competitive and purposeful solutions to users, but also accelerate the transition to an electrified life and open the gateway to a smarter ecosystem.”

The deal will engage the parties in all-rounded and deep integration from technology, product, personnel, capital, and market perspectives. Charge Amps’ technological innovation and market channel capability will serve as a strategic step for NaaS to carry out localized services in Europe and achieve business synergy throughout the whole chain towards a broader scope of global business layout, aiming as a one-stop EV charging solutions provider.

As of March 31, 2023, NaaS’ extensive network has connected over 575,000 chargers and 55,000 charging stations. In the first quarter of 2023, charging volume transacted through NaaS’ network reached 1,023 GWh, an increase of 112% YoY; gross transaction value transacted through NaaS’ network showed an increase of 107% YoY.

Hashtag: #NaaSTechnology

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About NaaS Technology Inc.

NaaS Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: NAAS), listed in Nasdaq on June 13, 2022, is a subsidiary of Newlinks Technology Limited, a leading energy digitalization group. NaaS provides charging station operators and EV owners with online and offline charging solutions and non-charging value-added services. NaaS also serves charger manufacturers, OEMs and other industry partners, helping to make charging faster, more convenient, with a superior customer experience – and in the process of improving operational efficiency for all parties on the industry value chain. Learn more at: www.enaas.com/en/

About Charge Amps

Charge Amps is a leading Sweden-born provider of innovative and sustainable charging solutions for electric vehicles. Charge Amps develops smart and user-friendly products for use in homes, offices, and public places. Charge Amps was founded in 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden, and is undergoing rapid international expansion, with 120 employees in seven countries, and sales across 15 markets. For more information, visit www.chargeamps.com

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 August 2023 – According to a recent statistical survey conducted by the government which was announced on June 20, the number of job vacancies in private organizations has surged by 45% or 24,050 positions compared to the previous year. The total employment and job vacancy numbers in the surveyed industries, after seasonal adjustment, a 1% and 7.6% increase respectively compared to December of the previous year. As a result, there is a growing demand for foreign labor across different sectors.

Hashtag: #MilestonetoSuccess

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About the “Milestone to Success” Program

The “Milestone to Success ” series aims to explore the considerations of businesses and organizations when hiring talents through interviews. Through lectures, visiting and workshops, the program aims to raise awareness among businesses and organizations about the untapped talent resources in Hong Kong. Therefore, this program is dedicated to promoting attention to talent resources from diverse backgrounds and the upward mobility needs of young individuals

About the organizer Junior Chamber International North District

Special Thanks

Adjusted Net Profit Rises by 207% to RMB1,096 Million Average MPUs and APUs Reach All-time Highs

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 August 2023 – Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited (“Tongcheng Travel” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries the “Group”, stock code: 0780.HK), an innovator and leader in China’s online travel industry, today announced its unaudited consolidated results for the six months ended 30 June 2023 (the “period under review” or “1H2023”).

1H2023 Highlights with Year-on-year Change

Robust Revenue and Earnings Grew to New Heights

· Revenue increased by 79.6% to RMB 5,452.4 million

· Adjusted EBITDA rose by 110.5% to RMB 1,538.0 million; adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 4.1 percentage points to 28.2%

· Adjusted net profit surged by 207.0% to RMB 1,096.0 million; adjusted net margin widened by 8.3 percentage points to 20.1%

Diversified Online and Offline User Acquisition Channels

· Average MAUs increased by 27.7% to 282.5 million

· Average MPUs rose by 44.6% to 41.8 million

· About 87% of registered users resided in non-first-tier cities in China

Cores Businesses Achieved Record High Revenues

· Transportation ticketing services rose by 75.8% to RMB 2,877.3 million. Domestic air ticket volume in Q2 2023 grew by 40% compared with the pre-pandemic level in Q2 2019

· Accommodation business grew by 73.9% to RMB 1,889.7 million. Domestic room nights sold grew by over 130% compared with the pre-pandemic level in Q2 2019

· Revenue from others* increased by 118.8% to RMB 685.5 million

* Others mainly include revenues from advertising services, hotel management services, corporate travel services, membership services and attraction ticketing services.

Note: MAU: monthly active users; MPU: monthly paying users; APU: annual paying users

Mr. Ma Heping, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Tongcheng Travel, said, “2023 marks a new chapter for China’s travel industry. We are thrilled to see continued strength and accelerated quarter-on-quarter sequential growth in domestic demand alongside soaring travel enthusiasm. Remarkable increases were seen in our traffic with both MPUs and APUs reaching record levels, primarily attributable to our diversified online channels and effective user engagement. As non-tier-one cities have become increasingly popular travel destinations, our established leadership and deep penetration in these markets enable us to further harness rising opportunities through full-service offerings geared towards exceptional customer experience, thereby driving our long-term sustainable growth.”

Diversified Traffic Channels, Increased User Engagement

Tongcheng Travel further diversified traffic sources by exploring online and offline channels, especially in underpenetrated lower tier cities. Consistent efforts were made to better engage and serve users through the Tencent Ecosystem. During the period under review, it optimized Weixin Search functions and co-launched a WeChat Pay campaign in Hong Kong to interact with users in the region. It continued collaborating with Tencent games while incorporating e-sports and sponsoring popular music festivals with Tencent Music to boost exposure among younger audiences. These initiatives effectively drove user acquisition and engagement.

Transportation Ticketing and Accommodation Reservation Business Reached New Highs

Driven by volume growth, transportation ticketing revenues, which accounted for 52.8% of the total revenue, achieved record high results of RMB 2,877.3 million on a 75.8% increase during the period under review. Through consistent effort to build a more diverse user base to further penetrate the market, domestic air ticket volume in Q2 2023 increased by 40% compared to the same period in 2019. The accommodation business, which contributed 34.7% of the total revenue, continued to set new revenue and volume highs. Revenue from this business grew by 73.9% to RMB 1,889.7 million. The number of room nights sold in Q2 2023 increased by more than 130% compared to Q2 2019.

New Hotel Management Business to Diversify Revenue Streams

The Group took steps to diversify its business to bring in new growth impetus. It has further developed the hotel management business by expanding the hotel brand portfolio to include low- to high star-rated hotels. It has also tapped into the leisure travel market through acquisitions of travel agencies. Elong Hotel Technology Group set up by the Group had signed contracts with nearly 2,000 hotels and had 15 million members. In the first half of 2023, revenues from others, including advertising services, hotel management services, corporate travel services, membership services and attraction ticketing services, recorded a 118.8% growth to RMB 690 million.

Leveraged Technology Edge to Enable Smart Digitization of Travel Industry

Tongcheng Travel is committed to applying its technology edge to contribute to a highly efficient travel ecosystem. It uses AI-powered robots to provide more efficient customer service and worked closely with business partners to proactively explore the application of Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) in its business operations. Moreover, it utilizes its technology edge and innovation capabilities to assist upstream suppliers to expedite smart digitalization of the China’s travel industry.

On top of that, it established cooperation with Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to help the airport develop a transit system to attract transit passengers and established a strategic partnership with Henan Province Airport Group to help it develop combined transport solutions, integrated membership programs, and digitalization platforms. Furthermore, through its comprehensive hotel PMS brand matrix, the Company provided SaaS solutions to more individual and chain hotels as well as alternative accommodation to optimize their operational efficiencies.

ESG Efforts for Sustainable Development Won Recognition

Tongcheng Travel’s dedication to corporate sustainability has earned its inclusion for the first time in The Sustainability Yearbook (China) by S&P Global. In light of the full recovery of the travel industry, it initiated a training program on digital operation and marketing of rural tourism for tourism professionals from Sichuan province, to help stimulate and accelerate the growth of the rural economy. Moreover, it collaborated with over 200 hotels across China to offer college entrance examinees and their parents free stationery, water, and comfortable rest areas.

Mr. Ma added, “Going forward, we will continue to leverage our competitive advantages in terms of diversified traffic sources, solid market position, flexible operation strategy, and advanced technological capabilities. We will further enhance our products and services to provide more satisfying experience to our users. We will also seize market opportunities and look into international business potential. At the same time, we will explore investment opportunities that align with our strategies to support future business growth to generate long-term sustainable value for our stakeholders and communities.”

Hashtag: #TongchengTravel

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About Tongcheng Travel Holdings Limited (HKSE Stock Code: 0780.HK)

Travel is a one-stop shop for users’ travel needs. With the mission “make travel easier and more joyful”, Tongcheng Travel offers a comprehensive and innovative selection of products and services covering nearly all aspects of travel, including transportation ticketing, accommodation reservation, tourist attraction ticketing, and products including package tour, self-guided tour and cruise, including a wide array of transportation and leisure travel scenarios primarily through its online platforms, which comprise its Tencent-based platforms, its proprietary mobile apps, quick apps and other channels.

As a technology-driven company, Tongcheng Travel leverages big data and AI capabilities to better understand the preferences and behaviors of users, thereby offering users customized products and services. Tongcheng Travel has a strategic focus on lower-tier cities in China and seized opportunities there supported by its diversified traffic sources, product innovation capability and flexible operation strategies. Through the in-depth understanding of user experience and advanced technological capabilities, Tongcheng Travel has been revolutionizing what consumers expect from the online travel industry, making the entire travel process more convenient, personalized and enjoyable than ever. Tongcheng Travel aims to develop and apply its advanced technology to transform from an online travel agency to intelligent travel assistant.

For more information, please visit the Group’s website at https://www.tongchengir.com