Zul Azman

‘Financing Leaders Panel: Accessing Capital in Digital Infrastructure’ is the final session of the day. Moderator Jake Robson is joined by Sam Lawn, Chih-Yao Alex Teo, Johan Batubara, Kok-Chye Ong and Kevork Sahagian to assess challenges such as rising interest rates, shifting valuations and high multiples, and opportunities in the current environment. #TMTForumAPAC #Financing #Leaders #Digitalinfrastructure #DealStructures

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Thanks BFM for featuring Capsphere. Checkout the podcast where we discussed how we help SMEs leverage assets to get financing. Tune in to the podcast to catch our insights and discussion at ((🎙️)) https://bit.ly/3Wx1xS5 Key takeaways  1. Capsphere origin 2. How we help SMEs and Investors 3. Growth story #Capsphere #BFM #loan #smes #p2p

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Taking effect in October 2024 are some of the amendments to the Payment Services Act 2019 published in April 2024. Since April 2024, the scope of payment services regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has been expanded, while ongoing compliance requirements have been amended. Requirements to enhance user protection and financial stability of digital payment token service providers have also been implemented. Wei Yun Teo and I expect more legal and compliance mandates in this space as fintech and digital payment firms boost their legal and compliance bench https://lnkd.in/gUMEfV-i #Governance #compliance Wei Yun Teo Ruth Ma Raiza E

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Exciting news from the crypto world as BlonkFi completes its pre-seed funding to enhance liquidity solutions on the Solana blockchain. Key investors including UOB and Signum Capital are driving forward initiatives that aim to allow volatile assets like meme coins to function as collateral. This development not only supports the Solana platform's growth but also taps into the untapped potential of meme coin markets, showcasing innovation in crypto liquidity solutions. https://lnkd.in/e3a8kmJe #Crypto #Cryptocurrencies #Cryptocurrency #Blockchain

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As an exit-focused fund, Betatron is always keen to talk to potential acquirers. In this episode, we hear from Caesar Sengupta, who was part of multiple acquisitions while at Google. He is now the CEO of Arta Finance, which emerged from stealth in 2022, announcing $90 million in funding to build a next-generation private bank. In this far-ranging conversation, he shares insights on acquisitions, digital payments in Asia, Arta’s offering, and why they raised as much as they did. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gGXxWD8Z

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Payment Facilitators (payfacs) like Stripe and Airwallex in SEA play a critical and often misunderstood role in the internet and fintech ecosystem. This week’s discussion is led by Clement Tan on the business model of Payfac and its future. – Payment facilitators (payfacs) aggregate merchants under their Sub-Merchant Accounts (SMAs) and take more responsibility for merchant underwriting and risk from Merchant Acquirers (MA) like traditional banks – The Payfac-as-a-Service (PFaaS) model allow Independent Software Vendors (ISV) like Shopify and Carousell Group to offer payment acceptance to their end users, with the payfac managing much of the onboarding, risk – The future of PayFacs and ISVs will tend towards an evolving landscape of coexistence and interoperability as preferred solutions for different scales of software companies The Payfac and PFaaS trends exemplify the effect of software on financial services, pushing the service closer to the end user in a user-friendly and cost-effective way and building on networking effects in marketplaces for growth and innovation. #fintech #growth https://lnkd.in/g2P5iV2p

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💡🖋 We had an enlightening time digging into Southeast Asia's cross-border revolution at a panel hosted by Vincent Fong of Fintech News Singapore last week! 🚀 Our Head of SME & Growth for Singapore, Cher Hao Low, dives into the latest B2B cross-border payment trends and innovations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the unique nuances across our region. Missed the event? Catch the engaging discussion featuring other experts including Kah Kit Yip, Ed Metzger, and Samarth Bansal below 👇 #FinTech #Innovation #CrossBorderPayments

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How do businesses do FX / exchange currencies in Singapore? 1. Use cases - Most startups would receive funding in USD, and spend in SGD/local ccy, and thus the main FX needs would be converting USD to SGD/local ccy. - Some SMEs receive payments in USD, and spend in SGD/local ccy, same as above. - Some SMEs need to pay for services in USD (eg. Software subscriptions etc) 2. Tactical approach - The easiest way to do this would be to do it with your bank. Most businesses have a local bank account (DBS Bank/OCBC/UOB), or for the bigger ones, HSBC/Citi/Standard Chartered. Most banks, especially the local ones, offer a very seamless FX conversion on your corporate mobile banking app. - Another way to do it, is to transfer your USD to a Wise/Aspire/Revolut/YouTrip, do the conversion from USD to SGD and then send the SGD back to your bank account. The bank method is perceived as the most "expensive", with the "worst" FX rates, as a "cost" to the convenience. However.. is this true? I tried to convert US$50,000 to SGD, and here is what I see: 1. Wise: 1.3044 (but have to include the cost of transfers) 2. Local bank: 1.296642 3. Aspire: 1.295671 (but have to include the cost of transfers) That Wise is the cheapest is expected, though one has to factor the cost and the manual work of transferring. What is surprising is that the local bank rates (with all of the convenience) is better than Aspires. Any tips / thoughts on what is the best workflow for FX? Follow Acme Technology as we dive into all things money movement, payments and bank integrations related in Singapore/SEA!

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Investment interest in APAC markets is rising, making it essential for fund managers to keep up with the latest trends in fundraising and exits. At a recent EY Wavespace Singapore event ‘Forward Momentum: Emerging trends for Asian managed funds on fund raising and exits', experts gathered to discuss the growing importance of private capital trends and key legal, tax, and commercial factors. Thank you to the valued clients and speakers who joined us in conversation. Please contact us should you wish to learn about how EY teams can support your firm’s growth ambitions: [email protected]

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Client Updates - Fintech Regulatory 2025 In its 2025 blueprint, Indonesia's Central Bank outlines a dynamic roadmap for digital and integrated payment systems, recognizing the role of fintech and technological innovation in shaping the future. The blueprint covers five key initiatives: open banking, retail payment systems, financial markets, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. With a vision to enhance financial inclusion and security, the Central Bank is fostering collaboration between fintech and traditional banks while ensuring consumer protection and system stability. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gSf2bgjr #MNP #Murzallawfirm #Murzalgroup #Murzalasia #Murzalsolutions #murzal #Fintech #DigitalTransformation #PaymentSystems #OpenBanking #FinancialInclusion #RegulatoryFrameworks #IndonesiaBank

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"Fintech Meetup 2024 reset the bar for what a valuable event should be." Feedback from Fintech Meetup 2024 is still rolling in. Thanks Joedy Tran for the kind words. We hope to see you at FM25!

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Leading Fintech M-KOPA Reaches 5 Million Customers, Unlocking $1.5Bn in Credit Across 5 Markets According to M-KOPA co-founder and CEO, Jesse Moore: “We are thrilled to welcome our 5 millionth customer to M-KOPA this month. The scale of our operations and our positive impact on customers is what keeps us working hard to go even further. We’re just getting started; the opportunity for much larger impact and scale is right in front of us.” https://lnkd.in/gtm6TB9K Nena Sanderson Jacquiline Nakhabi Mayur Patel Keith Davies Reatile Tekateka MBA Cameron Kyle Perumal #fintech #finance #banking #paytech #payments #fintechnews #paymentsnews

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Philippines-based Mynt, the parent company of GCash and FUSE Lending, just reached a staggering $5 billion valuation after securing a $786 million investment from MUFG and Ayala Corporation. What This Means for the Market: > Validation of Southeast Asia's Fintech Potential: Mynt's success underscores the immense growth and investment opportunities within the region's fintech landscape. With a rapidly expanding middle class and increasing smartphone penetration, Southeast Asia is primed for digital financial services. > Rising Competition: MUFG's strategic investment in Mynt, following its earlier investment in Thailand's Ascend Money, signals intensified competition among major financial institutions to capture market share in this burgeoning sector. Expect to see more partnerships, acquisitions, and innovation. > Focus on Financial Inclusion: Mynt's GCash has been instrumental in providing financial services to the unbanked and underbanked population of the Philippines. This investment could further accelerate financial inclusion efforts across Southeast Asia. > Increased Investor Confidence: Mynt's funding round could inspire greater investor confidence in Southeast Asian fintech startups, potentially leading to a surge in funding activity in the near future. Opportunities for VCs: > Untapped Markets: While the Philippines and Thailand are major players, countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia also offer promising investment opportunities in various fintech subsectors such as lending, payments, and wealth management. > Innovative Solutions: Look for startups addressing unique local challenges, such as those focused on cross-border payments, micro-investing, or financial services tailored for the agricultural sector. > Strategic Partnerships: Explore collaborations with established players like Mynt, GCash, Fuse Lending, MUFG, Ayala Corporation, and Ascend Money to leverage their expertise and market reach. #fintech #SoutheastAsia #Mynt #GCash #FuseLending #MUFG #AyalaCorporation #AscendMoney #venturecapital #investment #financialinclusion

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“The way it is architected today, for most traditional banks, that operating model will not survive the next ten years,” declares Backbase CEO and Founder Jouk Pleiter - drawing attention to how siloed bank technology has been for 4 decades. https://lnkd.in/e_CXJvCU #fintech #digitalbanking #innovation #digitaltransformation

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Digital lending platform Lendingkart recently announced that Fullerton Financial Holdings (FFH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore’s Temasek, will acquire a controlling stake in the company. As per TheKredible’s estimates, Temasek already controls 38% of stakes in the company. While Bertelsmann holds 11.22% shares. Founder Harshvardhan Lunia commands a 5.80% stake. The company has raised close to Rs 3000 crore in funding, including debt financing across multiple rounds. Lendingkart is Non-banking finance company (NBFC) and lending tech startup, provides personal loans, working capital loans and business loans to SMEs across India. Read more at- https://lnkd.in/g-mvMupb #fintech #lendingkart #shareholding #acquisition #nbfc #temasek #debt

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💥 OKX Triumphs in Singapore with Major Payment License Acquisition Crypto exchange giant, OKX, has successfully secured a pivotal Payment Service Provider license in Singapore. This milestone is set to fortify OKX's presence and offerings in the Asian financial hub, signaling a bright future for crypto enthusiasts in the region. 🔑 Key Highlights: 1. ✅ Securing the Payment Service Provider license positions OKX at the forefront of crypto financial services, enabling them to operate legally and offer a broader range of services. 2. 📈 Singapore's strategic position as a financial hub amplifies OKX's potential to attract more users and investors, bolstering regional crypto adoption. 3. ⚖️ This move also emphasizes the importance of regulatory compliance in fostering trust and stability within the crypto ecosystem. 💬 This achievement signifies a stronger foothold for OKX in a region renowned for its progressive stance on digital assets and blockchain technology. Are you as excited as we are about this development? What are your thoughts on the future of crypto regulation and adoption in Asia? Let's discuss! #Crypto #Blockchain #OKX #Singapore #Fintech #Payments #CryptoRegulation Read More:

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