Digest
Southeast Asia’s startup map is shifting. The Philippines edges past Indonesia in funding, Sea proves profitability is possible, and AI still draws outsized bets. Here are the power moves and undercurrents shaping the region’s next growth cycle.
Technology
How Southeast Asia's super apps turned financial data into the new collateral — and what it means for millions caught in an invisible web of digital dependency
BNPL
No credit card? No problem. In the Philippines, millions buy phones, groceries—even tuition—through Buy Now, Pay Later apps. For some it’s financial inclusion, for others a debt trap. BNPL is reshaping how Filipinos borrow and spend.
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia’s is starting a revolution towards API-first design. From open banking to serverless computing, the region’s companies are rebuilding their tech stacks from the ground up. Infrastructure is shaping the next decade of growth.
News
BSP’s e-wallet gambling controls signal regulatory maturity in ASEAN fintech. By requiring separate gambling accounts & ₱300M capital minimums rather than blanket bans, Philippines creates template for balancing innovation with social harm prevention.
How To
Hiring remote teams in Southeast Asia offers access to diverse talent and cost advantages, but success hinges on navigating cultural nuances, legal compliance, and onboarding best practices to build productive, cross-border teams.
Digest
Southeast Asia’s startup funding hit $2B in H1 2025, up 7% YoY, but capital flows have shifted. Late-stage deals surged 140% as seed funding halved, with Singapore taking 92% of the pie. Fintech, AI, and climate tech dominate—profitability and capital efficiency now lead investor priorities.
How Southeast Asia's super apps turned financial data into the new collateral — and what it means for millions caught in an invisible web of digital dependency
No credit card? No problem. In the Philippines, millions buy phones, groceries—even tuition—through Buy Now, Pay Later apps. For some it’s financial inclusion, for others a debt trap. BNPL is reshaping how Filipinos borrow and spend.
Southeast Asia’s is starting a revolution towards API-first design. From open banking to serverless computing, the region’s companies are rebuilding their tech stacks from the ground up. Infrastructure is shaping the next decade of growth.
Late-stage funding in SEA surged 140% in H1 2025 while seed deals collapsed, signaling a new investor playbook: fund scalable, regulation-aligned infrastructure, not unproven ideas. The region’s capital is no longer chasing hype—it’s backing execution.
Forward tech commentary for startup thinkers, operators, and the future of work.
Late-stage funding in SEA surged 140% in H1 2025 while seed deals collapsed, signaling a new investor playbook: fund scalable, regulation-aligned infrastructure, not unproven ideas. The region’s capital is no longer chasing hype—it’s backing execution.
Despite allocating over ₱556 billion since 2022, the Philippines remains critically unprepared for floods. This investigation uncovers why one of the world’s highest flood control budgets still fails to protect millions.
Southeast Asia’s biggest platforms are becoming fintech companies—without the licenses. Thanks to BaaS and embedded finance APIs, financial services are now being built directly into rides, checkouts, and SaaS tools across the region.
Southeast Asia is building the world’s most advanced cross-border payment network—using QR codes. Real-time, local-currency settlement is already live across 5 countries, quietly redefining how money moves in the region.
Fintech in Southeast Asia can’t scale without trust—and that starts with digital identity. From Singapore’s SGFinDex to Indonesia’s eKYC evolution, here’s how the region is racing to build fast, secure, and interoperable ID infrastructure.
Thailand’s digital banks go live, Airwallex hits $6.2B, and Davao stuns with record startup growth. We break down the week’s biggest moves reshaping Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem.
Superapps raise war chests. Regulators move fast. And founders pivot to survive. Here’s what actually mattered from July 7–14 across SEA’s tech scene.
Burned out but not broken, Southeast Asia is rewriting the rules of work and tech—on its own terms.
The next wave of fintech in Southeast Asia won’t come from super apps—it’ll come from the APIs, rails, and middleware powering them. Here’s why infrastructure is where the real growth, scale, and defensibility now live.
Sovereign AI hubs, licensed crypto rails, and cross-border fintech plays defined SEA’s tech landscape this week. While VC funding stays cautious, the region is doubling down on regulation-aligned infrastructure that’s built to scale with national growth.