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Spackman Media Group Artist Son Suk-ku Dominates Both Big And Small Screens In Korea, Starring In The #1 Film, THE ROUNDUP, And Most Popular K-Drama, MY LIBERATION NOTES

  • Spackman Media Group artist Son Suk-ku’s latest film, THE ROUNDUP, maintained its top position at the Korea box office for two weeks in a row and achieved the most tickets sold on the second weekend since PARASITE (2019)
  • His latest K-drama, MY LIBERATION NOTES, broke its own highest viewership record in Korea with an audience rating of 7.6% in the metropolitan area for its final episode
  • Son Suk-ku has been ranked the most popular actor in Korea for four weeks straight, and his drama, MY LIBERATION NOTES, maintained its #1 spot in TV drama rankings in Korea for three consecutive weeks as of May 24

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 30 May 2022 Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (the “Group“), one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups founded in 2011 by media & technology investor Charles Spackman, wishes to announce that Son Suk-ku of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited (“Spackman Media Group“) is starring in both the week’s #1 film, THE ROUNDUP, and the most popular K-drama, MY LIBERATION NOTES, while placing first in Korea’s most popular actor rankings.

Spackman Media Group artist Son Suk-ku’s latest film, THE ROUNDUP, a sequel to the 2017 hit THE OUTLAWS, maintained its top position at the Korea box office for two consecutive weeks and achieved the most tickets sold on the second weekend since PARASITE (2019). According to statistics from the Korean Film Council, THE ROUNDUP recorded a total revenue of US$54.4 million and cumulative ticket admissions of more than 6.5 million. The film, which first premiered on May 18, was released on over 2,500 theatre screens and captured 83% of market share in Korea as of May 29.

Starring Son Suk-ku and Ma Dong-seok (Don Lee) of Marvel Studios’ ETERNALS (2021), THE ROUNDUP was pre-sold to 132 countries around the world, including Singapore, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and France, as well as the regions of North America and Eastern Europe. THE ROUNDUP is a sequel to THE OUTLAWS, which was co-presented and distributed by the Group’s subsidiary, Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. THE OUTLAWS broke the all-time highest Video On Demand sales record in Korea in 2018.

In the film, Son Suk-ku takes on the role of extreme villain Kang Hae-sang who confronts Detective Ma Suk-do, played by Ma Dong-seok.

Son Suk-ku also was atop the small screen as Good Data TV Popularity Research, an audience rating research company, has rated his latest K-drama, MY LIBERATION NOTES, #1 in the TV drama rankings in Korea for three consecutive weeks as of May 24 and has ranked Son Suk-ku as the most popular actor in Korea for four weeks in a row. Moreover, the K-drama surpassed its previous highest viewership record in Korea with an audience rating of 7.6% in the metropolitan area for its final episode, based on Nielson Korea.

Produced by Chorokbaem Media and JTBC Studios, MY LIBERATION NOTES relates the story of a secretive stranger (Son Suk-ku of Spackman Media Group) and three siblings (Kim Ji-won, Lee Min-ki and Lee El), who long to escape from their dead-end lives.

Son Suk-ku is also set to headline in upcoming Netflix original K-drama, MURDEROUS TOY, which also stars Choi Woo Shik of the film PARASITE (2019). Produced by Showbox, MURDEROUS TOY, which is expected to begin in the second half of this year, is a comedy thriller drama based on the popular webtoon series of the same name. The story revolves around an ordinary man (played by Choi Woo Shik) who murders a serial killer on the loose. After committing the crime, he runs for his life as he is chased by a skilled detective (played by Son Suk-ku).

Son Suk-ku is represented by SBD Entertainment Inc. (“SBD Entertainment“), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spackman Media Group, that represents and manages the careers of 12 artists. In addition to Son Suk-ku, SBD Entertainment also represents one of Korea’s rapidly rising young actors, Han Ji-hyun of popular K-drama THE PENTHOUSE 3, who won the Best Rookie Female Actor in the 2021 Brand Customer Loyalty Awards in Korea and endorsed luxury brand Gucci in April 2021.

About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited

Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“SEGL” or the “Company“), and together with its subsidiaries, (the “Group“), is one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production, presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea.

The Company was founded in 2011 by renowned media and technology investor Charles Spackman who served as the Company’s Executive Chairman until 2017. For the past two decades, Mr. Charles Spackman has been a powerhouse in the Korean entertainment industry starting in the early 2000’s with the pioneering success of Sidus Pictures, the largest movie production company at the time and the first to be listed in Korea. Mr. Spackman is also the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the global investment firm, Spackman Group. For more information, please visit and .

Since its founding, SEGL had produced more than 30 major motion pictures including a number of the highest grossing and award-winning films in Korea, namely #ALIVE (2020), CRAZY ROMANCE (2019), DEFAULT (2018), MASTER (2016), THE PRIESTS (2015), SNOWPIERCER (2013), COLD EYES (2013) and ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012).

Our films are theatrically distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home video/DVD, etc. Generally, we release our motion pictures into wide-theatrical exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.

The Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.

Production Labels

SEGL owns Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 79 films (58 Korean and 21 foreign) including ROSE OF BETRAYAL, THE OUTLAWS and SECRETLY, GREATLY, which was one of the biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS, as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY. In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL ABOUT MY WIFE, a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In 2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more information, please visit

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Simplex Films Limited (“Simplex Films“) which is an early stage film production firm. The maiden film of Simplex Films, JESTERS: THE GAME CHANGERS (2019), was released in Korea on 21 August 2019. Simplex Films has several line-up of films including HURRICANE BROTHERS (working title).

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021), and shall release THE GUEST in the second half of 2022 and A MAN OF REASON, with the previous working title GUARDIAN in 2022 tentatively.

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited (“Greenlight Content“) which is mainly involved in the business of investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for the production of Korean content. Through the acquisition of Greenlight Content, the Group’s first co-produced drama, MY SECRET TERRIUS, starring top Korean star, So Ji Sub, achieved #1 in drama viewership ratings for its time slot and recorded double digits for its highest viewership ratings. Greenlight Content was one of the main investors of MY SECRET TERRIUS.

The Company owns a 20% equity interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST’S WAIL, a comedy horror film.

Talent Representation

The Company holds an effective shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“). SMGL, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned agencies such as MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Wi Ha-jun, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Son Suk-ku, Han Ji-hyun, Lee Cho-hee, Park Keun-rok), UAA&CO Inc. (Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Hye-ri, Kim Ji-young, Wang Ji-won), Play Content Co., Ltd. (Kang Min-ji, Hwang-hwi) and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Baek Si-won, Shin Ji-woong). Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements, and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company. For more information, please visit

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. (“Constellation Agency“). Constellation Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. (“The P Factory“) and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. (“PMG“), is primarily involved in the business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent management agency which represents and manages the careers of major artists in film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.

Strategic Businesses

The Company also operates a café-restaurant, Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.

For more details, please visit

#SpackmanEntertainmentGroup

Hong Kong Baptist University-led research identifies new regulatory mechanism of satiety and therapeutic target for obesity

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 30 May 2022 – A research team led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has found that a proteolytic enzyme called membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) plays an important role in the regulatory mechanism of fullness, or satiety, and it could serve as a promising potential drug target for the management of obesity.

Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine (left), and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Chair of Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies at HKBU (right), identified a proteolytic enzyme called MT1-MMP which could serve as a promising potential drug target for the management of obesity.
Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine (left), and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division of the School of Chinese Medicine and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Chair of Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies at HKBU (right), identified a proteolytic enzyme called MT1-MMP which could serve as a promising potential drug target for the management of obesity.

The research findings were published in the internationally-renowned scientific journal Nature Metabolism. The study has also been featured as a research highlight in multiple high-impact journals, including Nature Reviews Endocrinology, Nature Metabolism and Science Signaling.

Half of Hong Kong’s population obese or overweight

Being overweight, especially to the extent of obesity, exposes people to a higher risk of life-threatening diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. According to the Population Health Survey conducted in 2014/15 by the Department of Health, about 30% of people in Hong Kong aged 15 to 84 were obese, and another 20% were overweight.

The most effective way to tackle obesity is to reduce food consumption, but obese people often encounter difficulties in regulating their dietary habits as they lose their sense of satiety. Identifying a factor that specifically controls body weight, and investigating how it regulates our sense of satiety, is crucial for the development of therapeutic approaches for obesity.

Identification of new regulator of satiety signals

A research team led by Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division of the School of Chinese Medicine (SCM), and Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division of SCM and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Chair of Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies at HKBU, identified a proteolytic enzyme called MT1-MMP which regulates the mechanism of issuing satiety signals in the human brain.

Growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a hormone that sends out satiety signals by binding with the neuron receptor in the hindbrain called GDNF-family receptor α-like (GFRAL). Mediation of GFRAL can therefore affect the ability of GDF15 to send satiety signals, and thus help regulate food intake. From this starting point, the research team conducted a series of experiments to investigate the mediation effects of MT1-MMP on GFRAL.

Depletion of MT1-MMP reduces obesity

The research team generated an obesity mouse model by feeding a fat-rich diet to a group of transgenic mice with a depletion of MT1-MMP in their satiety neurons, as well as a control group of ordinary mice. After 16 weeks, the mice with depleted MT1-MMP ate 10% less food, gained 50% less weight, and exhibited reduced glucose and plasma insulin levels compared to the control group. The results show that depletion of MT1-MMP protects mice from obesity induced by a high-fat diet.

Following analysis with western blots, a widely used analytical technique that can detect specific proteins, the research team also found that the obese mice displayed an increased activity of MT1-MMP in the Area Postrema and Nucleus of the Solitary Tract, the brain regions involved in appetite and weight regulation. The finding suggests that increased MT1-MMP activity in the brain of obese mice could be a risk factor causing sustained weight gain.

To understand the mechanism by which MT1-MMP suppresses GDF15 satiety signalling, the research team conducted a series of molecular biology experiments involving animal models and cell culture. The results show that in cells with active MT1-MMP, a significant reduction of GFRAL and thus GDF15 signalling were observed. It could be explained by MT1-MMP clipping GFRAL from the surface of the brain neurons, which blocks GDF15 from binding to GFRAL and thus reduces the number of satiety signals. This in turn keeps the neurons from transmitting the satiety signals sent by GDF15.

MT1-MMP as a therapeutic target for obesity

The researchers also explored the therapeutic potential of targeting MT1-MMP for obesity management, in particular through pharmacological inhibition of its activity in vivo. With the application of a specific neutralising antibody that inhibits MT1-MMP, significant improvements in metabolic parameters including food intake, glucose tolerance and body weight in obese mice were observed. The results suggest that MT1-MMP is a potential therapeutic target that could be used in the development of innovative drug treatments for obesity.

Dr Wong said: “The research findings have established the role played by MT1-MMP in regulating satiety, and they have provided preliminary indications that the proteolytic enzyme is a promising target for the treatment of obesity. Pharmacological inhibition of MT1-MMP could be a viable strategy for the development of effective pharmacotherapy for the treatment of obesity.”

Apart from researchers from HKBU, the research team included scientists from The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and the University of Helsinki.

#HongKongBaptistUniversity #HKBU

No-code VideoTech Platform, Revidd.com, Raises USD 1.1 MM from Inovnis SA and CIIE.CO

VIZAG, INDIA – EQS Newswire – 30 May 2022 – Revidd.com (https://Revidd.com) was founded in 2021 by Kiran Pasavedala, Sampath Mallidi and Naresh Uppada. The company is a No-Code SaaS platform which enables anyone with video content to launch their own customizable video streaming product or digital TV in less than 5 minutes.

“Today, building online video platforms is expensive, time consuming and requires deep tech skills for content creators to bootstrap their own video centric products. Our no-code solution revolutionises video tech business. Our product equally caters the needs of an individual as well as the global private and public entities, which is a rare combination” says Kiran Pasvadela, co-founder and CEO of revidd.com

With the capacity to seamlessly integrate within your own environment, revidd makes launching your streaming channel or app easy, fast and affordable. The process is unambiguously clear and intuitive, which involves choosing a customizable template, uploading content for your viewers to navigate and monetization for steady revenue.

Commenting on the investment, Olivier Meyer from Inovnis SA said “Inovnis is thrilled to join the three co-founders of Revidd.com by providing the company $1,000,000 in seed capital and supporting the further expansion of their vision. We believe that the video industry is undergoing a profound change due to the rapid expansion of the market while still operating on legacy infrastructure.

We are impressed with the team’s outstanding ingenuity and capacity to answer the demand, thus leading the way for significant disruption and growth.”

Revidd went against the grain to build itself and is fundamentally differentiated by its ability to bring Video on demand, Live Streaming, Video conferencing and CloudTV Channels in one place, providing a potential option for content creators to manage and monetize video content in several possible ways. The ideal functionality delivers the creators/customers with proactive insights and warrants them their desired platform.

“Enabling creators to truly build content rich platforms is the heart of Revidd. Their technology empowers video content creators to focus on what they do best – create while technology complexity is simplified by Revidd. We are happy to support the founding team to build a global product to tap into a $1.7T market.”

says, Chintan Antani, Vice President, Seed Investments at CIIE.CO (IIM Ahmedabad’s startup accelerator and incubator).

In the second year of activity, the Vizag-based company already employs 68 employees attending the needs of customers from ten countries across four continents.

With this seed investment, the company intends to set up shop in the USA to further expand the North American market, hire ingenious talent and strengthen the product and technology. The company aims to bring 60% cost savings with its own decentralised storage and streaming network.

Revidd intends to become the first technology platform of its kind, with a no-code end-end horizontal solution in multiple verticals where anyone can launch their own video platform effortlessly.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Revidd.com.

Download image: https://bit.ly/3PNB6BO

Envictus International Holdings Ltd Renews Its Franchise Rights to Develop and Operate Texas Chicken Malaysia

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 30 May 2022 – Envictus International Holdings Limited, an established Food & Beverage group, effective 20 May 2022, has renewed its International Multiple Unit Franchise Agreement with US-based Cajun Global LLC, to continue to develop and operate Texas Chicken restaurants in Malaysia and Brunei.

The Envictus group was first awarded the franchise rights for the well-known quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain in July 2012, and launched the first Texas Chicken restaurant in Malaysia in January 2013, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Texas Chicken (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. To date, the company owns and operates 85 restaurants throughout Peninsular Malaysia, which exceeded its initial commitment of opening 80 restaurants in its first 10 years.

Almost sixty percent of Texas Chicken restaurants are centred in the Klang Valley, and over half of its existing outlets are located in high-traffic malls nationwide. With the renewal of the franchise agreement, the company is expected to invest at least RM230 million to open 115 new Texas Chicken restaurants by 2030, which includes its maiden foray into Sabah and Sarawak. This will bring its total restaurant count to 200 outlets by 2030.

Moving forward, the company plans to build more drive-thru restaurants and will expand its delivery services in efforts to provide greater convenience to consumers. The new restaurant openings and robust growth prospects are expected to create more job opportunities for Malaysians and raise the company’s staff strength to an estimated 6,000 employees by 2030.

“The renewal of the franchise agreement is a testament of Cajun Global’s confidence in The Envictus group’s leadership and capability in growing and developing the Texas Chicken brand in Malaysia. Within a relatively short period, we have established Texas Chicken’s position as one of the leading chicken QSRs in the country. We are honoured to be given the trust and opportunity to further crack the untapped potential of this great brand as we strive to take it to the next level,” said Dato’ Jaya Tan, Executive Chairman of Envictus International Holdings Limited.

Joe Christina, CEO and President of Cajun Global added, “”As one of our largest franchisees in Southeast Asia, Envictus has been a true collaborator in working with us to grow the Texas Chicken brand. We are excited that this partnership can continue to thrive in Malaysia and soon Brunei.”

The Envictus group was accorded the ‘Developer of the Year’ award in 2019 by Cajun Global in recognition of its commitment in growing the Texas Chicken brand in Malaysia. Adding to the accolades, Texas Chicken Malaysia received the Silver award in the “Restaurant & Fast Foods” category at the 2020 and 2021 Putra Brand Awards – which cements its reputation as one of consumers’ favourite brands in the country.

“Envictus has clearly demonstrated excellence in developing and operating our Texas Chicken brand in Malaysia. In 2020, Envictus was designated as a “Premier Developer” for the Texas Chicken brand based upon their strong performance in developing restaurants. They truly deliver the legendary tastes of Texas to their customers. We are thrilled, honoured and grateful they have renewed their commitment to continue to invest in and grow the Texas Chicken brand for many years to come.”, according to Russ Sumrall, Sr. Vice President, International Strategic Development for Texas Chicken.

The restaurant chain is known for its longstanding commitment in serving quality products combined with great value, while relying on the deep heritage of the Texas Chicken brand that signals authentic hospitality and bold flavours.

As it marks its 10th Anniversary in Malaysia next year, the brand is raring to raise the bar on the quick-service restaurant experience and bring the legendary Texas flavour to even more Malaysians.

About Texas Chicken Malaysia

Founded in San Antonio, Texas in 1952 by George W. Church, Church’s Chicken, along with its sister brand Texas Chicken™ outside of the Americas, is one of the largest quick-service restaurant chicken chains in the world. The brands specialize in Original and Spicy Chicken freshly prepared throughout the day in small batches that are hand-battered and double-breaded, freshly-baked honey-butter biscuits and classic, home-style sides. Church’s Chicken and Texas Chicken™ have more than 1,500 locations in 25 countries. In Malaysia, Texas Chicken™ is franchised and operated by Envictus International Holdings Limited and has more than 80 restaurants nationwide. For more information about Texas Chicken Malaysia, visit: www.texaschickenmalaysia.com

#TexasChicken

Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh to Visit Thailand 

Lao prime minister, Phankham Viphavhanh(left) and Thai priminister Prayuth Chan-ocha(right).

In response to an invitation from Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh will make his first official visit to Thailand from 1-2 June.

FEW Accelerator Gathers Impact Investors To Fund Women-Led Businesses, Offering Exclusive Access to FEW’s Elite Investor Network

Asia-Pacific’s largest business platform for female founders is excited to invite women-led businesses, particularly those in the ESG space or seeking access to a female client demographic, with an exclusive VC network, media coverage, mentorship, marketing and more.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach30 May 2022 – Established in 2015, Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide (FEW) is Asia-Pacific’s largest membership platform, gathering female founders, executives and investors to support women to reach their business goals. Throughout its impactful seven-year history, FEW has established a full scale of capabilities for entrepreneurs, from understanding business models and helping startups to scale up to successful fundraising. Our latest initiative is the three-month FEW Accelerator, offering mature startups a range of services from cash investments, mentorship, media coverage and valuable access to FEW’s exclusive investor network, while charting a clear pathway for expansion.

FEW is committed to continuing to build a valuable database of impact investors, who share the platform’s mission to support female founders and welcome opportunities to invest in companies with excellent growth potential. Each of the hand-picked three companies selected to participate in the FEW Accelerator program will receive a US$10,000-US$100,000 cash investment, mentorship and marketing services for a 5-10% equity share.

Benefits from the 3-month FEW Accelerator Program include:

  • Investor networks: Privileged access to FEW’s community of impact investors, including one-on-one investor meetings; Demo Day pitches and access to private investor groups on Linkedin.
  • Mentorship: each startup receives a personalized match with 2 experienced mentors from FEW’s network.
  • Publicity: three media interviews to boost exposure of founders and company.
  • Investment: Each three-month program comes with US$10,000-US$100,000 cash investment plus marketing services for 5-10% equity.

To fuel growth and refine strategy, participants will benefit from mentorship with two experienced industry leaders with relevant experience, who can provide invaluable perspectives on business models, client acquisition, fundraising strategies, and more. They can also expect a minimum of three articles published by media partners, which will boost the company’s profile, enhance branding messages and attract new customers. Meanwhile, FEW’s team of professionals will also impart private equity, venture capital, legal, and marketing expertise to round out the program’s holistic approach.

FEW represents Asia-Pacific’s largest business platform for female founders, with more than 20,000 members, 1,800 investors and 100 corporate partners, including UBS, Credit Suisse, Silicon Valley Bank, KPMG, Forbes China and SCMP. As a regional leader, FEW believes in making space at the table for more female entrepreneurs, thereby promoting the economic participation of future generations of women.

The FEW Accelerator builds on the success of the FEW Incubator 2021 sponsored by Apollo Future Mobility Group, iptiQ by Swiss Re and InvestHK, which welcomed 13 women-led tech startups with cash grants totalling over HK$1 million. As a natural progression, the FEW Accelerator focuses on established businesses ripe for expansion.

“Being an entrepreneur can be lonely, especially as a woman. Having access to a community for support and inspiration is important for me,” says Peggy Cheung, a serial entrepreneur who participated in the FEW Incubator on behalf of Gump, a SaaS collaboration platform.

“I can’t recommend FEW enough if you’re a female founder looking to grow your business and join a fun community of like-minded #girlbosses. Plus, I’ve been able to expand my network and meet potential investors to explore fundraising opportunities – it’s been an invaluable experience for me personally.”

“Even when women have an amazing product and potential to grow, it can be challenging for them to make inroads, find the right investors and ultimately ask for financing. We strive to empower female founders by creating a network of investors and through the FEW Accelerator program,” says Ines Gafsi, Co-founder and COO of FEW. “The program may end after 12 weeks, but our support continues. Participants will also be embraced by the FEW community, where meaningful connections and business inspiration flourish on a daily basis.”

Applications are now open for the 2022 FEW Accelerator program. Here’s how to apply:

Application Instructions
Applicants should sign up here before June 15th, 2022.

Selection Criteria:
We’re looking for female entrepreneurs, particularly those in the ESG space or seeking access to a female client demographic, with a minimum of an 18-month track record and scalability potential, and a Go-To-Market strategy for APAC regions.

Application Schedule:
Applications are open until June 15th, 2022. Applications are evaluated by an independent advisory team that includes venture capitalists, academics, and industry veterans.

Program Schedule:
Program starts on July 1st until September 30th, 2022.

About Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide (FEW)

Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide (FEW) is the largest business platform for female founders and business executives in Asia. FEW’s mission is to empower women with essential skills, capital and networks to help their business growth and personal development.

Tech Platform | Members can sign up for business and lifestyle programs and experiences that help them grow personally and professionally.

FEW Accelerator | FEW Accelerator offers cash investment and marketing services to selected female founders of high-growth technology companies and helps them build a sustainable, scalable and profitable business.

Business Consulting | FEW also works closely with SMEs and multinational companies to build and operate a community or membership model, as well as market their initiatives to a female demographic.

Links as below:

#FemaleEntrepreneursWorldwide #FEW

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

Laos Party Central Committee Resolves to Address Economic Problems

President Thongloun Sisoulith at the 11th Party Central Committee
President Thongloun Sisoulith at the 11th Party Central Committee.

The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee has resolved to take immediate measures to address the country’s economic issues, including the fuel shortages, spiraling exchange rates, and rampant inflation.

SonicWall Celebrates Multiple Award Wins, Amidst Outstanding Business Performance in Asia-Pacific

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 30 May 2022 – SonicWall, a global leader delivering Boundless Cybersecurity, today announced that the company has been awarded several prestigious awards on top of its growing list of accolades. SonicWall’s consistent track record and recognition by cybersecurity industry experts over the last few years is a testament to the vision, commitment and innovative spirit of its employees, leaders and partners to continuously deliver value to customers by way of optimizing business efficiencies and enhancing security.

Commenting on the multiple award wins, Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President, Regional Sales-APAC at SonicWall said, “We are very honoured to be recognised with these industry-wide awards, and am especially proud of the team behind it for their innovation to create new experiences that are smart, simple, personalised and effective for our customers. With constant threats online and their ability to evolve, being instantaneous and flexible in solutions is essential to responding to such attacks and ensuring our environment remains secure. SonicWall enables our customers to feel fearless and boundless, and safeguarding their interests remains our No. 1 priority so that they can focus on other aspects of their business without restrictions or limitations of technology.”

SonicWall’s Excellence Recognized with Industry Accolades

Following the record-breaking 2022 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report, SonicWall received two Stevie® Awards in the 2022 Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards in highly competitive nominations including a GOLD STEVIE® Award for SonicWall’s Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection (RTDMI) in the category of Innovation in Technology Development (Computer Industries); and a SILVER STEVIE® Award for SonicWall’s Secure Mobile Access (SMA) in the category of Excellence in Innovation in Business Product & Service Industries. This year’s Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards attracted more than 900 nominations from over 29 nations across the Asia-Pacific region, recognizing the outstanding performance and continued innovation of companies to succeed despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Playing a crucial role to ensure business continuity, sustainability and welfare of its employees, SonicWall was also named as one of the “Top 10 Best Companies to Work for 2022″ in the coveted CEO Insights Magazine. The CEO Insights recognizes groundbreaking companies, leaders and products that demonstrate innovation and leadership across the globe.

Going above and beyond their partner programmes and networks across the 215 countries and territories, SonicWall also earned its fifth consecutive perfect score in independent ICSA Labs Advanced Threat Defense (ATD) certification testing across the last five quarters. No other vendor currently participating has ever achieved two consecutive perfect scores, with only the perfect rating given to an elite set of vendors that deliver the ‘best of the best’ to solution providers.

Setting the Benchmark Across the Globe

SonicWall’s recognition within the cybersecurity space comes at a time of booming growth for the industry, with the company posting strong financial results despite the difficult economic climate in the past two years. This includes a 33% increase in new customer growth and generating a 45% increase in new customer sales globally. Additionally, SonicWall has seen incredible growth in cloud-delivered products and services, which are up 36% year-over-year across the respective markets.

As one of the key regions driving revenue growth in the global cybersecurity market, ASEAN will continue to be a catalyst for global trends and development. Small- and medium-sized enterprises saw a 13% quarter-on-quarter growth in the first quarter of SonicWall’s fiscal year[1] 2023, while projects and large enterprise businesses saw a 14% quarter-on-quarter growth in the same period. As of the end of SonicWall’s fiscal year 2022, the company recorded an accelerated 10% increase in top-tier partners in ASEAN, further amplifying the company’s position as one of the unquestioned leaders in the cybersecurity space.

With the post-Covid market opening up, SonicWall in India has also started to observe a significant jump of 60% year-on-year growth across projects and large enterprise businesses in the first quarter of SonicWall’s fiscal year 2023. SonicWall in India recorded a steady momentum of 27% quarter-on-quarter overall growth in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, while growth in large enterprise businesses grew by 47% in the same period.

Laying the foundation to realise the organisation’s long-term vision, SonicWall will also be expanding and deepening their partner networks by onboarding region-wide partner distributors and expanding their partner management recourses. Most recently, the company onboarded Pacific Tech as the region-wide distributor for ASEAN to manage partner development and further invest in internal resources such as marketing, sales development and sales engineering.

Commenting on the long-term development in the region, SooHan Bai, sales director of ASEAN, SonicWall said, “SonicWall’s outstanding business performance and consistent track record demonstrates our unwavering commitment to provide the most comprehensive coverage in the cybersecurity space. We see immense growth potential in the region and having Pacific Tech onboard as our region-wide distributor for ASEAN further strengthens our commitment to developing and delivering solutions to our network of partners and customers. It is an exciting milestone for us as we can not only fully support the fast-growing market in ASEAN, but also offer support across all time zones by working closely in partnership with specialist distributors and resellers.”

While SME and mid-markets remain their core focus, SonicWall has also committed to doubling down investment opportunities in enterprise businesses. This approach will be segmented into four key pillars – Customer Connect, working closely with key customers to strengthen the digital ecosystem in the face of cyber-attacks; developing partners who are equipped with the capabilities to drive customer connect and the fulfilment of customer needs; brand awareness and lastly developing integrated teams to remain vigilant in finding solutions and measures to further protect its partners’ greatest assets.

For more information, visit www.sonicwall.com or follow SonicWall on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

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[1] SonicWall’s fiscal year starts February 1 and runs through to January 31 of the following year.

About SonicWall

SonicWall delivers Boundless Cybersecurity for the hyper-distributed era in a work reality where everyone is remote, mobile and unsecure. SonicWall safeguards organizations mobilizing for their new business normal with seamless protection that stops the most evasive cyberattacks across boundless exposure points and increasingly remote, mobile and cloud-enabled workforces. By knowing the unknown, providing real-time visibility and enabling breakthrough economics, SonicWall closes the cybersecurity business gap for enterprises, governments and SMBs worldwide. For more information, visit or follow us on , , and .

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