Startups

DUE DILIGENCE

South-east Asia has never produced an enterprise software giant. AI might change that.

The region’s patchwork of regulations and cultures puts home-grown engineers ahead – if they start work now

The timing of DeepSeek’s announcement gives Beijing fresh confidence entering trade talks that US export controls on Nvidia chips have not derailed China’s AI development.

Chinese AI firms push beyond Nvidia as DeepSeek turns to Huawei

The Chinese tech giant has said that it plans to release a chip for training this year

Supachai “Dr Kid” Parchariyanon, co-founder of Bangkok-based RISE Innovation Hub, says the firm has been profitable since inception.

One gateway to Thailand? Singapore startups tap Bangkok’s Rise to reach corporates    

Rise positions itself as the intermediary between large corporations and startups

Returning five years after his departure from Hmlet, Yoan Kamalski wants to do things differently.

‘No more WeWork-style growth’: Hmlet CEO Yoan Kamalski on his comeback and lessons learnt

‘Unfinished desires’ fuel his return and the pivot to sustainable growth under Mitsubishi Estate

The move against the Meta-Manus deal highlights the growing barriers between the tech sectors of China and the US.
THE BOTTOM LINE

Beijing’s blunt message to its tech sector

China’s ban on Meta-Manus deal is a warning to keep AI innovations at home

Entrepreneurs, financiers and companies are scrambling to avoid becoming another Manus, whose Chinese founders moved their business to Singapore to tap global capital.

China’s Meta backlash renders Manus model ‘officially dead’

Beijing is piling on the pressure just as startups grapple with escalating geopolitical tensions

MiroMind – founded by Chen Tianqiao, a pioneer of China’s online gaming industry.

Billionaire founder overhauls MiroMind after warning on Manus

AI startup’s approach may now offer a formula for domestic firms hoping to set up global businesses

Gibran Huzaifah, founder of eFishery, allegedly engaged in financial misconduct, causing losses to the company and its investors.

Indonesia’s eFishery founder faces verdict in fraud case over alleged 70 billion rupiah losses

Prosecutors have sought a 10-year prison term and fine of 1 billion rupiah for Gibran Huzaifah

The Manus decision comes just weeks before US President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet at a high-profile summit.
NEWS ANALYSIS

Xi tests China’s reach by blocking Meta’s already-done acquisition of Singapore-based Manus

The country’s regulators have long wielded power far beyond their counterparts in most other countries

Meta's acquisition of Manus has drawn fire in China for the leakage of technology to the US.

China blocks Meta’s US$2 billion acquisition of Singapore-based AI startup Manus

Beijing has tightened scrutiny of key industry firms in the wake of the deal, which has been largely completed