Singapore-based insurtech bolttech has partnered with Harmony Auto, a Chinese automotive distributor, to launch an insurance solutions designed exclusively for BYD electric vehicle (EV) owners through Harmony Auto’s distribution channels in Indonesia. Bolttech said in statement on Wednesday that the launch in Indonesia marks an expansion of Harmony Auto and bolttech’s ongoing collaboration, building on their successful partnerships in Singapore and Hong Kong. This initiative...

AI can transform nearly every industry, including the health care sector. It can be used to enhance diagnostics, personalize treatment plans, aid in drug discovery, and provide patient support. These things are especially critical in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, where AI has the potential to revolutionize health care delivery, disease management, and medication development. Despite its promise, AI faces several challenges regarding its use in APAC health care systems. Barriers exist in...

Malaysia-headquartered Wellous Sdn Bhd, owner of health brand Wellous, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Korea Ginseng Corporation (KGC) to explore joint commercial models and market development for the Jung Kwan Jang brand across selected Asian markets. Jung Kwan Jang, South Korea’s No. 1 red ginseng brand under KGC, is a century-old label that combines heritage cultivation with modern innovation. In a statement, Wellous said the collaboration covers consumer...

Waterhub, an Indonesian startup providing clean, affordable drinking water through filtration systems, has secured an undisclosed amount in funding to scale its operations across Indonesia. The round was led by Archipelago VC, with participation from The Radical Fund, Waterhub said in a statement on Monday. The funds raised will be used to ramp up machine production, expand the team, and fuel research and development (R&D), especially in further refining its filtration technology and...

Markets in Asia Pacific (APAC) are rapidly gaining ground as credible innovation hubs amid the reshaping of global biotech strategies, driven by geopolitical tensions and significant US research funding cuts, a new report revealed on Thursday. According to the report from Bain & Company, developed in partnership with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), J.P. Morgan and SG Growth Capital, several APAC governments have...

New data released by global verification provider Sumsub, revealed that healthtech and fintech sectors are the most exposed to the new wave of artificial intelligence (AI)- powered fraud in Asia Pacific (APAC). The firm said in a statement on Thursday that APAC digital ecosystems continue to undergo explosive growth, some of the fastest-growing sectors are becoming prime targets for increasingly sophisticated fraud. According to the statement, healthtech recorded the sharpest year-on-year...

ClavystBio, a life sciences investor and venture builder established by Temasek, and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore’s lead public sector research and development (R&D) agency, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create and grow MedTech ventures in Singapore. ClavystBio said in a statement on Tuesday that this partnership will support venture creation, product development, and commercialization by bringing together ClavystBio and...

Allay Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced last Thursday the completion of a $57.5 million Series D financing round with leading global investors. The firm said in a statement that Lightstone Ventures and Temasek-backed ClavystBio co-led the Series D financing with participation by existing investors NEA, Arboretum Ventures, Vertex Growth, Vertex Ventures Healthcare, and Brandon Capital. New investors joining the round were IPD Capital, EDBI and SGInnovate, and...

Temasek-based investment firm SeaTown Holdings International announced Wednesday its investment via SeaTown Private Capital Master Fund (SeaTown PCap Fund) in AddVita, a Singapore headquartered healthcare and life sciences distribution company. With a capital commitment of up to S$115 million ($89.09 million) from SeaTown PCap Fund, this investment positions AddVita as an enduring home for small and medium-sized healthcare and life sciences distribution businesses across Asia, providing them...

PHASE Scientific International Limited, a Hong Kong-based biotechnology company, announced Tuesday the successful completion of a $34 million Series A funding round. The firm said in a statement that this represents the largest Series A raise in Asia’s diagnostic technology sector since 2019, reflecting robust investor conviction in PHASE Scientific’s innovative PHASIFY™ technology and ambitious growth strategy. The funding round is led by a private equity fund managed by...

Betamek Berhad, a Malaysia-based original design manufacturer (ODM), has partnered with SiGenex Global Holdings Pte. Ltd. (SiGenex), a Singapore-based technology firm, for artificial intelligence (AI) genomics diagnostic and sequencing solution. Betamek said in a statement that the firm, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Betamek Research Sdn. Bhd. (BRSB) has entered into a memorandum of collaboration (MoC) with SiGenex for the partnership. The collaboration aims to jointly explore a...

Southeast Asia’s biotech and healthtech sectors are gaining momentum, driven by government-led initiatives like Singapore’s National Precision Medicine Strategy and Thailand’s “Thailand 4.0” plan. These efforts aim to drive R&D and deliver more personalized, data-driven healthcare solutions. Artificial intelligence sits at the heart of this transformation, promising faster drug discovery, improved diagnostics, and more targeted treatments. Yet despite its...