Jae Lee

In Thailand, consumer excitement about AI is high, but businesses are lagging in adoption. What key steps can Thai companies take to integrate AI holistically across their organizations? Head of BCG Thailand Isada Hiranwiwatkul recently spoke to the Bangkok Post, discussing how AI can add value to businesses, and the common challenges that need to be overcome for successful adoption. He shared his thoughts on the critical need for companies to have an AI strategy, the importance of investing in upskilling and change management, and more.

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Deal activity by private equity groups in Southeast Asia enjoyed a strong rebound in the second quarter of 2024, up 10-fold in deal value and 1.6 times in deal volume, according to research from EY. In Q2 2024, Southeast Asia saw a total of 28 deals closed by financial sponsors, up from 17 deals the previous quarter, and up from 9 in the same period in 2023. Notably, deal value grew strongly to $5.6 billion. Singapore and Malaysia contributed to the majority of deals in Q2 2024, representing some 92% of the total private equity deal value and about 57% in private equity deal volume. #PrivateEquity #PE #MandA #MergersandAcquisitions #SEA

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I was asked about the most exciting Gen AI use cases and Accenture's role in supporting clients in this area. The arrival of Gen AI/ChatGPT not only marks a new era of artificial intelligence, it is also the "iPhone moment" that fundamentally alters consumer expectations, transitioning interactions from a traditional 'librarian' model to an 'advisor' model. Instead of searching for and curating information, people now anticipate 'ChatGPT-like' capabilities for obtaining answers." Thanks Nicholas Gordon and Fortune for the interview! #BrainstormAI Accenture Southeast Asia

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📉 Singapore's IPO Market Sees Major Decline in 2024 📉 Singapore's IPO market has witnessed a steep drop in the first nine months of 2024 (9M24), with a 67% YoY decline. Only one IPO was recorded, raising a modest US$19.5 million. EY's Global IPO Trends Q3 report also revealed a dip in IPO proceeds, falling below US$100 million, marking an 8% YoY decrease. While the local IPO scene remains subdued, it's worth noting that Singapore still saw 13 cross-border IPOs in 9M24. As businesses reassess, could this be a pivotal moment for future opportunities? 🌏💡 #IPOMarket #SingaporeBusiness #InvestmentTrends #GlobalFinance #2024IPO #CrossBorderGrowth #BusinessOpportunities

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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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ASEAN Generative AI market is strong and getting stronger. We are changing the way business is conducted in drastic ways, and the best value is not even the massive cost savings. Check out this article about how GenAI is breaking new ground in the way brands engage with their customers through truly Conversational Commerce: https://lnkd.in/gTtwUZrf

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In 2023, Southeast Asian private equity faced a tough exit environment. Deal value dropped 60% to $2.8B and exits fell by 70% from 2022. Although #Singapore remained an active market, high interest rates and macroeconomic challenges hindered returns. Despite a 39% drop in overall deal value to $9B, creative strategies are helping navigate the tough market. Firms are turning to secondary deals and operational improvements to seek liquidity. Local stock exchanges are also increasingly becoming an attractive source for future exit potential. Article by Pimfha Chan for DealStreetAsia. Read more at the link below. Follow Origin Capital Singapore now for more curated insights! https://lnkd.in/gWYMGd-v

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Coming up next Monday in the Philippines. If you want to know about the Gen AI landscape in ASEAN, check out the Gen AI Startup Report roadshow in Manila on Monday.

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(obligatory congratulations post incoming) delighted to share that Paper.id, the Indonesian B2B fintech firm has secured a solid Series B funding round led by Square Peg, joined by new investor SMBC Asia Rising Fund, along with continued support from existing backer Argor Capital. as an early investor, I've witnessed firsthand the stereotypically intense founder journey of Yosia Sugialam, Jeremy Limman, and the entire Paper.id team. From their beginnings focused on invoice management, they've continuously innovated and expanded into reconciliation, payments, and more - positioning themselves as the leading B2B payments platform in Indonesia. what impresses me most about this team is their unwavering determination. there were many, MANY times when these guys could have called it quits, or moved onto the easier thing, or yos and jeremy could have taken a very long, very well-deserved sabbatical, but they kept chugging along. being in the industry as long as I have, this level of unflagging persistence was a rarity, and it helped them plow through countless obstacles and wins to get them to where they are today. to this day, i still reference them as the prime example of what single-minded founders are capable of. they are genuinely unique in this regard. Paper.id processed a staggering $2 billion in annual payment volume in 2023, with year-over-year TPV growth of over 30x compared to 2021. they serve over 600k clients across Indo, from SMEs to large enterprises, establishing themselves as a trusted partner for efficient transaction management. with this new funding, Paper.id will introduce more innovative services like B2B pay later options, integrated bank account payments, and cross-border B2B payments – further solidifying their position as the go-to platform for Indonesian businesses. i'm extremely bullish on Paper.id's potential to revolutionise the B2B payments landscape, not just in Indonesia but across Southeast Asia. The team's deep understanding of their customers' needs, continuous innovation, and most importantly, their indefatigable drive will get them there. congratulations to Yosia Sugialam, Jeremy Limman, and the entire Paper.id squad on this well-deserved milestone. you guys deserve every bit of success.

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Microsoft announces US$1.7 billion investment to advance Indonesia’s cloud and AI ambitions Main Points: Microsoft announces a historic #investment of US$1.7 billion over four years in #Indonesia's #cloud and AI #infrastructure, the largest in its 29-year history in the country. The investment aims to support Indonesia's Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision, transforming it into a global #economic powerhouse. Initiatives include #cloudcomputing services, #AI skilling opportunities for 840,000 people, and support for Indonesia's #developer #community. AI skilling will benefit 2.5 million people across ASEAN member states by 2025. Microsoft commits to providing technical #education, #cybersecurity career opportunities for women, AI fluency training for youth, and nonprofit employee upskilling. Development initiatives like AI Odyssey aim to train 10,000 Indonesian developers in AI expertise. Indonesia boasts the third-largest #GitHub developer community in the Asia-Pacific region, set to be top five globally by 2026. Various Indonesian organizations are leveraging Microsoft's AI solutions for enhanced productivity and innovation. Microsoft collaborates with the Indonesian government and stakeholders to ensure AI is ethically implemented and serves as a force for good. via Microsoft to read the article: https://lnkd.in/dU4vVXjv

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At athena.vc Founders Program, we (Imanul & Me) were given the task to research and identify a real-life problem. Reading Rob Liu 🐸’s blog has been an eye-opener for us. His systematic approach to identifying startup opportunities: • Pick an Industry: Choose a field with a large market size. • Study 100 Companies: Analyze their products, marketing, and sales processes. • Engage with Experts and Users: Speak to former employees, founders, industry experts, and users. • Become an Expert: Gain deep knowledge to create a superior solution. The post also recommends following venture capital insights, attending startup demo days, and leveraging podcasts and social media for inspiration. Through his guidance, we discovered a significant issue in India: Long Queues for Service Authentication. 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ Did you know that in urban areas, the average wait time for service authentication can exceed 30 minutes? This leads to a massive productivity loss and frustration for many. Rob's advice on becoming an industry expert and leveraging deep insights has inspired me to tackle this problem head-on. We are now deeply invested in researching and ideating ways to streamline the authentication process and improve the experience for millions of people. Thank you, Rob, for sharing your expertise and helping entrepreneurs like us think outside the box! Your blog has truly been a game-changer. Read here: https://lnkd.in/gcMc3MCY #StartupIdeas #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #CustomerService #athenavc #India

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🚀 Exciting Growth in Data Analytics Field in Vietnam! 📊 Data Analytics has emerged as a dynamic industry in Vietnam, experiencing significant growth since its inception around the early 2010s, with a notable surge in 2015. According to recent studies: 📈 CBRE's research in 2023 reveals that over 50% of businesses in Vietnam have begun implementing data analytics. 📊 IDC reports that 90% of enterprises leveraging data analytics have witnessed substantial value addition in their business operations by 2023. 💼 Langmaster predicts a robust 19% growth in demand for Data Analyst professionals in 2024. So, why is Data Analytics booming in Vietnam? - Businesses recognize the critical importance of data. - Enterprises are applying data analytics to enhance operational efficiency. - Vietnam is evolving into a leading hub for information technology. - The Vietnamese government is actively encouraging businesses to adopt data analytics. Wondering how to jump into the Data Analytics field? - Equip yourself with knowledge in data analytics. - Stay updated on emerging technology trends. - Master analytical tools like Power BI, SQL, Python, etc. - Enhance your data analysis skills. - Expand your network by connecting with industry experts and peers. Join the Data Analytics revolution and unlock endless possibilities in Vietnam's dynamic tech landscape! 💡 #DataAnalytics #TechInVietnam #CareerGrowth #NetworkingOpportunity Source: Careers.smartosc

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The fund is anticipated to bring in over 150 billion baht into the capital market and should drive up the Thai Stock Market. Some quick facts: - It is a government-initiated fund aimed at promoting long-term investments among the Thai public while accelerating the development of the Thai capital market which has been dormant for a long period. - The fund currently holds net assets exceeding 300 billion baht, with the majority invested in listed equities and some in short-term bonds. - It is managed by Krungthai Asset Management and MFC Asset Management. - The public subscription is expected to open from September 16-20 for retail investors and September 18-20 for institutions. - Minimum returns will be 3-9% per year.

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🚀 Bye Consulting, Hello AI 🚀 After leaving the comforts of a fulltime consulting job at McKinsey & Company, I decided to take a risk. A conversation with my NUS Business School Professor, Yen Teik Lee let me down the path of helping build (literal) State of the Art Artificial Intelligence solutions in Southeast Asia. 🇮🇩🇻🇳🇲🇲🇰🇭 Today, I'm thrilled to share that Quantum is attending the SuperAI Conference in Singapore this week, where we'll showcase our groundbreaking advancements in developing bespoke software with artificial intelligence! 🇸🇬 At Quantum Teknologi (Nusantara), we empower companies and governments with cutting-edge AI solutions. ✨✨✨We use our expertise to solve your problems, whatever they may be. Here’s a glimpse of what we do: 🔹 Generative AI App Builder: We build apps with our low/no-code Gen AI app builder in just 30 minutes. 🔹 Design AI: Our prompt-based image editor transforms architecture and product design with unparalleled scalability and precision. 🔹 NLP Solutions: We specialize in data collection from web, articles, videos, and audio—both structured and unstructured. Our clients include: •⁠ ⁠The Army 🪖 •⁠ ⁠Police Forces 🚨 •⁠ ⁠Government Ministries👨🏻‍⚖ •⁠ ⁠State-Owned Enterprises 🏢 •⁠ ⁠Startups worldwide 💼 🔍 Past Projects we have worked on: 1.⁠ Rain: Quantum utilizes autonomous Lockheed Martin helicopters with computer vision to combat forest fires in California. There is also a computer vision element in our solution, but let’s save that for another post. 🚁💦 2.⁠ ⁠POLRI SuperApp: The police force had way too many apps, one for each of their services. Now, with Quantum, everything is integrated into the Polri Presisi Superapp. 👮🚔 👀Do you have too many apps? With our AI magic, we’ll merge them into a single app for you. 😎 The stories that I could tell. So let’s meet up at the Super AI Conference to discover how Quantum is shaping the future of AI. 🤓 Reach out to me or Kevin DP at [email protected] , or drop us a note at https://lnkd.in/g6EV64si Let's unlock endless possibilities together with Quantum! 💡 P.S. we have cute AI-themed sticker packs for anyone who drops by to say hi. 😌😌😌 #QuantumAI #SuperAIConference #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Singapore

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I am quoted in PYMNTS.com: What's Next in Payments in the context of #Microsoft making a huge investment into AI prospects in #Indonesia as US is seeking to expand global reach, economic opportunities, and to counter #China in the new #technology race through innovation and with the help of private companies and #bigtech giants. #Indonesia is already one of the leaders in business and start-up world in #SouthEastAsia; over the next few years, the region is likely to become one of the major international tech and start-up hubs. #artificialintelligence #hitech #innovation #investments #cybersecurity #cyber #BigPowerCompetition #Singapore #Malaysia #economy #trade #military #security #defense #nationalsecurity #digitaltransformation #digitaleconomy #foreignpolicy #foreignaffairs #diplomacy #geopolitics #strategy

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Consolidations in energy and technology define the top deals for the week. The largest deal involves KKR’s plans to help Japanese developer Fuji Soft go private through a USD 3.8 billion management buyout arrangement. Meanwhile, a leading tech investor, Veritas Capital, is set to acquire NCR Voyix’s cloud-based digital banking business for USD 2.55 billion. Continuing the ongoing M&A race among energy companies, three of the top five deals involve large power players: 🔋The first transaction, between Quantum Energy Partners and Cogentrix for USD 3 billion, aligns with the surging demand for electricity driven by rapid growth in data centers and artificial intelligence. 🔋Next, LS Power is set to acquire Algonquin’s USD 2.5 billion renewables business consisting of wind and solar assets across the US and Canada. 🔋In another mega deal, global energy leader Woodside Energy Group is set to expand its portfolio further with the acquisition of OCI’s Clean Ammonia project for USD 2.35 billion In total, we monitored 570 deals totaling USD 38.85 billion during the week of August 5–11. Despite a 9% drop in number and a 26% decline in value compared to the previous week, there was still lively dealmaking activity. What industries will figure prominently in the next reports? Just keep on following to be in the know. Source: Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) #valuation #transactionsmonitoring #mergersandacquisitions

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