FRESNOFORECLOSURE

As we step into Spring 2025, the latest Criteo Travel Pulse report reveals a travel sector brimming with resilience and reinvention.

Despite economic headwinds and global uncertainties, travellers remain undeterred—opting for adventure, flexibility, and smart planning over inertia. In fact, travel bookings have outpaced retail sales across most regions, with Asia Pacific delivering a particularly strong showing.

This appetite for exploration is accompanied by a noticeable shift in mindset. Travellers are browsing longer, consulting AI tools for inspiration, and demonstrating a growing appetite for value and bespoke experiences.

Ground travel and diverse accommodations are gaining traction, and long-haul dreams are firmly back on the map.

Even as financial anxieties persist, travellers are making conscious trade-offs to keep their journeys alive—prioritising flexibility, early bookings, and off-peak bargains.

For marketers and platforms in the travel space, the message is clear: the modern traveller demands agility, personalisation, and value at every touchpoint. Whether it’s Gen Z hopping on a train or Boomers driving cross-country, staying visible throughout the longer booking window and embracing AI-enabled engagement will be critical to winning hearts—and wallets—in 2025’s dynamic travel ecosystem.

REGIONAL

VFlowTech bags US$20.5M to supercharge global expansion of long-duration energy storage
The investors include Granite Asia, EDBI, Wavemaker Partners, and SEEDS Capital | The Singaporean deep tech startup plans to scale vanadium battery production, enhance AI energy platform, and expand global clean energy reach.

Gnosis forays into Asia with US$14.95M acquisition of Headquarters
Headquarters enables firms to manage their treasury and make payments using stablecoins while maintaining full control of their assets through self-custody.

Singapore’s Alternō raises Series A funding
The investors include UntroD Capital Asia and ADB Ventures | Alternō plans to accelerate the deployment of its sustainable heat technology and support its mission to eliminate 100M tons of CO₂ emissions annually by 2030.

SG digibank Anext Bank reports 83.5% revenue jump in 2024
The Ant International-owned digital wholesale bank reported revenue of US$34.58M for 2024 | Customer deposits surged by 207% to US$697.73M, while loans rose 280% to US$652.29M, reflecting strong demand from MSMEs.

BrioHR nets US$6.5M to advance all-in-one HR tech platform
The investors include Openspace Ventures and Taiwania Hive Ventures |
BrioHR’s immediate strategic focus will be on further developing the integration of AI capabilities and expanding its footprint in Singapore.

Thailand’s MUU secures strategic funding to scale animal-free dairy across Asia
The investors include A2D Ventures, Leave a Nest Capital, and Brinc |
Leveraging precision fermentation, MUU produces bioidentical milk proteins designed to replicate cow’s milk’s taste and nutritional value.

Citics lands US$2.1M to digitise mortgage lending, real estate transactions
The investors include TVS, Ai Viet Ventures, and Vulpes Ventures | The startup has developed an automated valuation model, Citics Valuation, to enable banks to assess property values quickly and accurately.

Singapore independent booksellers team up to launch Bookshop.sg
The newly launched Bookshop.sg project aims to bring renewed energy to Singapore’s independent bookselling scene.

REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

2025 travel trends: Long-haul flights and AI planning take off in APAC
Travel demand remains strong in Spring 2025, with smarter, value-driven, AI-assisted planning reshaping global and Asia Pacific booking trends.

The Binary Holdings wants to Web3-enable a billion users without them even realising it
CEO Manit Parikh shares how The Binary Holdings is driving Web3 adoption via telcos, loyalty innovation, and seamless user experiences.

Cards stay the course amid digital payments surge, Worldpay finds
While the dominance of digital wallets and A2A systems is growing, especially in Asia Pacific, cards for payments are far from obsolete.

Local content, natural products, and BNPL: Understanding Cambodia’s new digital habits
While Cambodia still faces infrastructure and regulatory challenges, the report underscores the country’s increasing digital maturity.

BioArk’s growth strategy plants seeds for a greener agricultural future
Key to BioArk’s development philosophy is the view that plant health cannot be separated from environmental health.

How Validus overcame market turbulence to lead SME financing in Southeast Asia
Amidst volatile markets and rising expectations, Validus has continued its mission of empowering SMEs with more innovation.

INTERNATIONAL

Google backs Saudi VC firm’s new AI fund for MENA startups
STV’s new AI Fund focuses on backing early-stage AI startups in the MENA | The fund targets localised AI applications and infrastructure to boost the regional AI ecosystem.

Alibaba revenue up 7% as free cash flow dives 76%
The group’s revenue grew 7% to US$32.58B | The company reported a 93% increase in operating income, reaching US$3.92B. This growth is attributed to adjusted EBITA growth and lower share-based compensation expenses.

Ant Group profit drops 31% on AI, business spending
The company contributed US$244M in profit to Alibaba Group Holding, which owns one-third of Ant | This translates to an estimated profit of US$742M for the three months ending December 31.

Group that opposed OpenAI’s restructuring raises concerns about new revamp plan
The group wrote in a letter this week that the startup’s new organisational plan still does not go far enough to safeguard the ChatGPT creator from generating dangerous AI technology.

SEMICONDUCTOR

AMD plans US$6B stock buyback
This increases the company’s total share buyback authorisation to ~US$10B | The Santa Clara-based chip designer confirmed that the buyback program does not have a set expiration date.

Taiwanese chipmaker sees cautious revenue outlook due to tariff
ChipMOS said customers are adopting a conservative approach because of the upcoming end of the 90-day pause on US tariffs, leading to an unclear industry outlook.

ASM to pass on tariff costs to buyers, says no disadvantage against peers
ASM makes wafer fab processing equipment which is a key to chipmakers like Intel as they adopt a leading-edge transistor design called Gate-All-Around.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Asia’s multi-billion dollar opportunity in AI efficiency
AI’s rising energy use is a growing crisis and a billion-dollar opportunity for Asia to lead in efficiency innovation.

The critical role of AI in CX: How it can meet the ever-increasing customer service expectations
Rapid advances have brought humans and conversational AI closer together than before. However, harmony requires time, attention and nurturing.

Succeeding in e-commerce in China: Building AI-powered chatbots that know how to close a sale
Customer service chatbots, often powered by AI, have emerged as a game-changer in the world of customer experience at all stages of a sales funnel.

AI in baseball: How Sportradar aims to improve players development with tech
Baseball, long known for its reliance on statistics, has historically evolved in tandem with advances in data analysis.

Why the terminal could become the AI workbench product
Warp reimagines the terminal with AI, letting developers use natural language instead of commands to build, test, and deploy code.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Startups’ next risk isn’t a competitor – it’s the supply chain
In 2025, Southeast Asian startups must navigate geopolitics, climate change, and AI disruptions to unlock supply chain growth.

Wall street soars, crypto surges: 2025 market trends explained
Markets in May 2025 balance optimism and risk, driven by trade deals, tech rallies, and caution across commodities and crypto.

Future of fintech, healthtech, edutech in the context of the new economy
Healthtech is reshaping global healthcare by driving access, efficiency, and growth, with AI and digital tools leading a US$665B market surge.

How payments businesses can conquer 2025’s growing risks
Payments firms must balance speed, fraud control, and compliance in 2025 to grow amid rising risks and operational complexity.

Navigating the impact of Trump’s new tariffs on SEA: A VC perspective
Trump’s steep tariffs disrupt Southeast Asia’s export-led growth, forcing startups to adapt to shifting global trade dynamics.

6 green employee benefits that boost business success
Startups can drive sustainability by offering green employee benefits that align environmental goals with workplace culture.

Tai Pham’s mission to put Thai-Vietnamese digital innovation on the global map
Vietnamese-American tech veteran Tai Pham leads Bangkok Silicon to bridge Thai ambition with Vietnamese tech talent.

How blockchain is transforming supply chains and trade in SEA amid global tariffs
As trade shifts under tariff pressure, Southeast Asia is turning to blockchain to build smarter, more transparent supply chains.

Tessera: Because ticketing shouldn’t be this hard
Tessera reimagines ticketing with AI, blockchain, and simplicity, boosting sales, speeding payments, and cutting fraud for event organisers.

How startups can thrive at the crossroads of geopolitics and supply chains
From MVP testing to cross-border automation, this story shows how systems and feedback loops drive resilient startup growth.

NaaS is here to create resilient networks, are you game?
As companies continue to transition out of lockdowns, NaaS is offering flexibility to scale networks based on business needs.

How M&A can supercharge your startup’s success
M&A is a good exit strategy for deep-tech or tech-based ICT service companies and trend-sensitive B2C consumer goods companies.

​​The hidden secrets of building a successful e-commerce brand in Singapore
By crafting a strong brand identity and prioritising customer satisfaction, founders can navigate e-commerce effectively.

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The post Ecosystem Roundup: APAC embraces long-haul & AI | VFlow Tech raises US$20.5M | Gnosis acquires Headquarters appeared first on e27.