![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Singapore_tariiff.png\")
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Singapore\u2019s deep reliance on global trade has always been a strength, but it also leaves the city-state vulnerable when geopolitical tides shift.<\/p>\n
The Monetary Authority of Singapore\u2019s (MAS) warning that US tariffs will trigger a “broader negative income and demand shock” is sobering, if not surprising. With 11 per cent of Singapore\u2019s exports headed to the US, and over half now exposed to a baseline 10 per cent\u00a0tariff, the implications are immediate: weaker corporate earnings, tighter household budgets, and a dampened growth outlook.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just the direct hit to exports that matters. As MAS notes, the secondary effects \u2014 higher production costs, constrained global demand \u2014 will ripple through Singapore\u2019s open economy.<\/p>\n
The risk is especially acute given that key sectors like semiconductors and pharma, currently spared, could soon face new scrutiny under US national security reviews.<\/p>\n
The backdrop could not be more delicate. With GDP forecasts downgraded to 0-2% growth and a general election looming on May 03, rising cost-of-living pressures are front and centre for voters.<\/p>\n
Singapore\u2019s government is right to push hard for concessions on critical sectors like pharmaceuticals and AI chips, but ultimately, resilience will require deeper economic diversification in an increasingly fractured world.<\/p>\n
Check out below for the latest updates on Southeast Asia’s fast-growing startup ecosystem:<\/p>\n
US tariffs will cause demand shock to the Singapore economy: Central bank<\/a> Thunes nets US$150M Series D to expand in US<\/a> AnyMind enters Vietnam with acquisition of social commerce agency Vibula<\/a> Women-led MSEs in Jakarta face growing risks: Report<\/a> Bukalapak injects US$44M into 10 subsidiaries<\/a> SG home decor startup Livspace raises US$50M ahead of IPO<\/a> Meet the 2 SEA finalists selected for PepsiCo\u2019s Greenhouse Accelerator<\/a> Malaysian state Negeri Sembilan emerges as new data centre hub<\/a> TikTok\u2019s US leadership restructures due to regulatory pressure<\/a> Cradlewise: The smart crib that caught Sam Altman\u2019s eye<\/a> The fast and the scalable: Southeast Asia\u2019s 30 SaaS rocketships you should know<\/a> Travel redefined: Virtual tourism and social travel take centre stage<\/a> Musk\u2019s xAI Holdings in talks to raise US$20B<\/a> VinFast sees 296% surge in global deliveries in Q1<\/a> DeepSeek returns to South Korea after suspension<\/a> Temu shoppers now pay Trump tariffs, prices double<\/a> MIDA, Bintang Capital launch new semiconductor fund in Malaysia<\/a> Japan, Vietnam sign agreements on semiconductors, clean energy<\/a> Why leading companies are prioritising human-centric AI in 2025 and beyond<\/a> Navigating the AI revolution: An APAC perspective on workforce transformation<\/a> Unlocking your creativity and productivity with AI content tools<\/a> How to use Gen AI-enabled chatbots for workplace safety?<\/a> A new hip, a new era: Meticuly, a Thai startup, is rewriting the rules of surgery with on-site 3D printing<\/a> Market wrap: A week of cautious optimism amid shifting global sentiments<\/a> The future isn\u2019t people or machine \u2014 It\u2019s people with machine<\/a> Why immigrant entrepreneurs hold the key to Asia\u2019s startup future<\/a> Cultivating an honest culture: Why leaders should be transparent<\/a> How to scale talent in Southeast Asia during unprecedented times<\/a> Employee burnout is real and it needs to be taken seriously<\/a> From classroom to boardroom: How Singapore\u2019s universities nurture future investment leaders<\/a> Why it\u2019s time to hit \u2018refresh\u2019 when it comes to addressing the gender diversity gap in the IT sector<\/a> OKR is a startup lifesaver. Here is how to craft them<\/a> What are the benefits of a culture-based leadership style?<\/a> How to kill a startup in one move<\/a> —<\/p>\n The image was generated using ChatGPT.<\/p>\n The post Ecosystem Roundup: MAS warns of tariff shock | Thunes raises US$150M | 30 SEA SaaS rocketships to watch<\/a> appeared first on e27<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Singapore\u2019s deep reliance on global trade has always been a strength, but it also leaves the city-state vulnerable when geopolitical tides shift. The Monetary Authority of Singapore\u2019s (MAS) warning that US tariffs will trigger a “broader negative income and demand shock” is sobering, if not surprising. With 11 per cent of Singapore\u2019s exports headed to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1294,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1292"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1295,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1292\/revisions\/1295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe central bank, MAS, said the tariffs were a production tax on producers and exporters that would impact corporate incomes and profits and constrain aggregate demand in the city-state.<\/p>\n
\nThe cross-border payments firm also plans to invest in its global payment network, which operates in over 130 countries, supports more than 80 currencies, and connects with 550 payment systems.<\/p>\n
\nThe acquisition will allow Vibula customers to utilise a human-AI hybrid live commerce model, paving the way for a 24\/7 sales channel.<\/p>\n
\nAs digital technology continues to penetrate the Indonesian capital city’s economy, exposure to consumer protection risks grows.<\/p>\n
\nThis transaction involves the issuance of new shares | According to Bukalapak\u2019s Corporate Secretary, Cut Fika Lutfi, this capital increase is part of the company\u2019s broader business strategy.<\/p>\n
\nThe funding was achieved through a rights issue | This capital infusion is part of Livspace\u2019s plan to move its domicile back to India as it prepares for an IPO.<\/p>\n
\nEach finalist of Greenhouse Accelerator will receive a US$20K grant and the winner will bag US$100K for scaling its business.<\/p>\n
\nTwo data centres are under development in the state | One will be a green data centre funded by US investors, while the other data centre will be an AI centre by Malaysian firm Gamuda Bhd.<\/p>\n
\nNicole Le Bourgeois, who leads TikTok Shop\u2019s US operations, no longer directly reports to TikTok e-commerce head Bob Kang Zeyu.<\/p>\nREPORTS AND FEATURES<\/h2>\n
\nAt the heart of Cradlewise is intelligent technology | The crib uses a contactless monitor to detect subtle early signs of a baby stirring and proactively soothes them with gentle motions and sounds.<\/p>\n
\nSoutheast Asia’s SaaS sector is booming, driven by SME demand, investor confidence, and growing cloud infrastructure across key markets.<\/p>\n
\nPeople are increasingly seeking more fulfilment in richer experiences, prompting an increased desire for remote and exclusive destinations.<\/p>\nINTERNATIONAL<\/h2>\n
\nThe funding could help alleviate X\u2019s substantial debt burden, which is costing the company a whopping US$200M monthly in servicing fees, with annual interest expenses exceeding US$1.3B by the end of last year.<\/p>\n
\nThe company delivered 36,330 EVs globally in Q1 2025 | VF 3 (mini-SUV) and VF 5 accounted for 67% of total deliveries during the quarter, indicating strong market acceptance for VinFast\u2019s compact and agile urban vehicle lines.<\/p>\n
\nThe app was pulled from download platforms in February 2025, but has now updated its privacy policy to comply with South Korea\u2019s Personal Information Protection Act.<\/p>\n
\nStarting May 2, items shipped from China will incur either a 120% ad-valorem tax or a minimum fee of US$100 per item | Customers are required to pay these taxes in addition to the original prices of the products.<\/p>\nSEMICONDUCTOR<\/h2>\n
\nThe Bintang Semiconductor Impact Fund I is designed to support the local semiconductor industry while promoting sustainable practices and social impact | It targets firms within & adjacent to the semiconductor value chain, with sustainable practices.<\/p>\n
\nJapan\u2019s Ishiba strengthens ties with Vietnam, focusing on the semiconductor industry and clean energy cooperation amid US tariff tensions.<\/p>\nARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE<\/h2>\n
\nPrioritising human-centric AI means building a sustainable, innovative, and customer-focused business, not just following tech trends.<\/p>\n
\nAPAC is poised to lead the global AI-driven workforce shift by aligning technology with culture, strategy, and talent development.<\/p>\n
\nThe secret is to recognise the obstacles to productivity and use cutting-edge technologies to overcome them.<\/p>\n
\nBy using the power of Gen AI, industries can not only meet but exceed current safety standards, setting a new benchmark for the future.<\/p>\nTHOUGHT LEADERSHIP<\/h2>\n
\nMeticuly and Siriraj Hospital pioneer world\u2019s first on-site 3D-printed hip implant, redefining personalised surgical care.<\/p>\n
\nGlobal markets show cautious optimism as easing US-China trade tensions boost equities, while inflation fears and Bitcoin’s resurgence add complexity.<\/p>\n
\nHumans will excel at planning, decision-making, and creative thinking, while AI handles data processing, automation, and routine tasks.<\/p>\n
\nImmigrant founders thrive by prioritising resilience, adaptability, and profitability, offering key lessons for Asia\u2019s startup ecosystem.<\/p>\n
\nTransparent leadership is the key to creating a culture of trust; here\u2019s how we’re seeing future-forward leaders put money where their mouth is.<\/p>\n
\nEven with the challenges in the market, the predicted ICT market growth rate of 1.4x-1.8x will increase the demand for digital talent.<\/p>\n
\nAs we navigate the new normal, we are constantly faced with burnout and mental health roadblocks, but how do we navigate them?<\/p>\n
\nSingapore’s universities actively foster entrepreneurship and innovation skills among students, enabling them to thrive in dynamic business landscapes.<\/p>\n
\nThere needs to be a concerted effort to make tech professions more enticing to young women and girls to help address the gender balance.<\/p>\n
\nOKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is a powerful framework. Here is how to make it an essential part of your workflow.<\/p>\n
\nOrganisations with a people-first culture often see improvements in customer satisfaction, sales, profitability, and workplace survey results.<\/p>\n
\nStartup founders should own the sales process early to stay connected to customer insights and drive growth before scaling.<\/p>\n