Category: Enterprise IT

New Report Reveals Brazilians Face 252 Scam Encounters Annually Despite High Confidence in Spotting Fraud

  • State of Scam Brazil Report Shows R$99 billion Lost; Cross-Sector Webinar to Address Growing Crisis

The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) will release its State of Scam Brazil Report 2025 on November 13, revealing an alarming disconnect between confidence and vulnerability: while 75% of Brazilians believe they can recognize scams, 70% have fallen victim to at least one within the past year. The report estimates total losses at R$99 billion, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action across sectors.

State of Scams in Brazil

State of Scams in Brazil

Part of a landmark global study covering 42 markets and interviewing 46,000 people worldwide, the Brazilian findings from 1,000 adults paint a troubling picture of daily vulnerability. Brazilians encounter scams on average once every day and a half – totaling 252 encounters per person annually. These encounters occur most frequently through phone calls (65%), text messages (55%), and email (55%), with shopping scams emerging as the most common type of fraud.

“Scams have become part of everyday life in Brazil. The fact that most people feel confident spotting scams, yet continue to fall for them, shows how sophisticated and convincing these schemes have become,” said Renata Salvini, GASA Chapter Director Brazil. “Education, prevention, collaboration, and accountability must go hand in hand if we want to stop this cycle.”

The Human Cost Beyond Financial Loss
The report reveals that 86% of scam victims felt very or somewhat stressed by their experience, while 59% reported significant or moderate impacts on their mental wellbeing. On average, each victim has been scammed 1.9 times in the past year, demonstrating how repeat victimization compounds both financial and psychological harm.

Despite the prevalence of scams, reporting remains disappointingly low. While just over two-thirds of those exposed have reported an incident, 60% of those who did report said either no action was taken (44%) or they were unsure of the outcome (16%). Among those who never reported, 44% cited the belief that reporting wouldn’t make a difference – reflecting a troubling perception that the problem is unmanageable.

Taking Action: Cross-Sector Solutions
In response to these findings, GASA will host a webinar on November 13, 2025, at 11:00 AM (Brasília Time) titled “State of Scams in Brazil: Turning the Tide on Scams.” The session will explore concrete strategies and coordinated actions to combat the growing scam epidemic in Brazil, featuring a distinguished panel of experts sharing insights from the legal, technology, and financial sectors.

Register for the webinar: https://streamyard.com/watch/wGnWNAayknPD

Read the report:
Read the full report
November 13 webinar
Read the full release, including methodology & boilerplate

Contact Information
Metje van der Meer
Marketing Director
metje.vandermeer@gasa.org

SOURCE: Global Anti-Scam Alliance

Adama Builds With GoDaddy Airo

For Adama Fall, football is more than a sport — it’s a platform. With roots in Senegal and a master’s degree in Cybersecurity underway at Arizona State University (ASU), Adama brings a global perspective and relentless drive to everything he does.

Through the ASU Student-Athlete Venture Studio, in collaboration with GoDaddy Empower, Adama is learning how to apply that same energy to his entrepreneurial journey. With GoDaddy Airo®, he’s exploring how AI-powered experiences can help him build a digital presence that reflects both his athletic career and his ambitions beyond the field.

This program is about more than name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. It’s about giving athletes like Adama the ability to own their story and create a lasting legacy. Adama hopes to use technology and storytelling to empower other student athletes to build their legacy beyond the game.

Get started today at studentathlete.godaddy/APAC.

Watch Adama’s story here:

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services, and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

GoDaddy Empower Spotlight Series

By partnering with diverse community organizations, schools, and education institutions, GoDaddy Empower helps emerging entrepreneurs of all ages and backgrounds build and grow their businesses online with free digital tools, training, and community. This article is part of the GoDaddy Empower spotlight series that shines a light on the individuals who make this unique initiative possible.

Issued on behalf of GoDaddy.

For more information, contact:
Fekra Communications
info@fekracomms.com

Scam Encounters Every Four Days: Mexico’s Financial Toll

This study of 1,000 Mexican adults reveals that over three-quarters have encountered a scam, with an average of one scam encounter happening every four days, equating to 86 scam encounters on average per person per year in Mexico.

Additionally, nearly 3/5 of Mexican adults claim to have experienced a scam in the last year, with each scam victim being scammed on average 1.8 times.

With widespread financial losses
Shopping scams (55%), investment scams (48%) and unexpected money scams (47%) are the most common types of scams in Mexico, with some having money stolen via email while others received kidnapping threats. Additionally, over 1/3 of Mexican adults claim to have lost money to scams in the last year. Wire or bank transfers (55%) and debitcard payments (21%) are the most common methods used by scammers to receive payment. Of those who have experienced being scammed, 2/3 have reported the scam to the payment service, and half of those were not able to recover any money lost.

And limited confidence in reporting
Scam encounters are frequent in Mexico, with 12% of Mexican adults encountering a scam multiple times a week. Over the past 12 months, over half of those who have encountered a scam have reported it at least once. However, those who reported the scam encounter said that either no action was taken (37%) or they are not sure what the outcome was (15%). Half of those who have never reported a scam encounter said they did not report it because they were unsure who to report the scam to, while over 1/3 did not think it would make a difference/no action would be taken.

Leading to increased vigilance
97% of Mexican adults claim to take at least one step to check if an offer is legitimate or a scam. The most common step taken is searching for reviews on other websites (36%), reflecting high effectiveness against scams.

And rising calls for accountability
1/3 of Mexican adults believe full repayment to the victim should be the top penalty for scammers, however, 19% believe in more severe punishment such as jail time of 6 to 10 or more years. Scams in Mexico continue to take a heavy toll, causing financial losses, emotional strain and prompting calls for greater protections and stricter consequences.

“These findings show both the scale of the challenge and the resilience of the Mexican people. Despite facing scams every few days, most adults are taking steps to verify information and protect themselves. Now it is time for organizations, regulators, and companies to match that vigilance with concrete measures to make Mexico a safer place online,” said Sissi de la Peña, Director of GASA Chapter Mexico.

Read the report & join our webinar:

Contact Information
Metje van der Meer
Marketing Director
metje.vandermeer@gasa.org

SOURCE: Global Anti-Scam Alliance

JG Summit Expands Partnership with Darwinbox to Elevate Employee Experience

JG Summit Holdings, Inc., one of the Philippines’ largest and more diversified conglomerates, has expanded its partnership with Darwinbox, the AI-powered, mobile-first Human Capital Management (HCM) platform, marking a major milestone in its digital transformation journey. Building on their successful four-year collaboration since 2021, the conglomerate will now unify its people strategy and employee experience—laying the groundwork for a future-ready workforce empowered by AI-driven insights and efficiencies.

“At JG Summit, we recognize that our people are at the heart of everything we do,” said Lance Y. Gokongwei, President and CEO of JG Summit Holdings, Inc. “Their contributions are vital to our continued success, and we are committed to equipping them with the best tools to help them thrive. Our expanded partnership with Darwinbox empowers us to harness AI-driven automation and insights, enabling greater efficiency and effectiveness as we accelerate our business objectives and transform the way we support and grow our talent.”

For JG Summit, this partnership will further unlock workforce potential and sustain competitiveness in a fast-changing business environment. The conglomerate believes that partnering with Darwinbox is a decisive step toward creating cohesion across its ecosystem.

Darwinbox provides a unified platform across the conglomerate, offering centralized talent visibility while empowering the organization to attract, develop, and retain top talent. It aligns workforce capabilities with business goals, driving organizational success.

According to Gulliver Go, Chief Human Resources Officer of JG Summit, the partnership with Darwinbox further streamlines the companies’ HR data, transactions, and systems to enhance employee experience and improve organizational decision-making.

“This also supports our talent agenda by empowering our HR teams with AI-powered insights that provide customized approaches to develop and retain talent. It will significantly reduce the administrative workload of our HR teams through automation and smart workflows,” said Go.

“JG Summit has been one of our first champions in the Philippines and a cornerstone of our expansion in this vibrant market,” said Rohit Chennamaneni, Co-founder of Darwinbox. “While our product is built for the world, we’ve made significant investments to localize it for the Philippines — solving for unique policies and processes here. Continuing our partnership with the group, one of the most agile and forward-thinking conglomerates globally, is truly exciting for us.”

The continued trust of JG Summit underscores Darwinbox’s growing reputation in the region, combining global product innovation with deep local contextualization. This sets a benchmark for how large enterprises in the Philippines can leverage new technology to elevate employee experience.

Trusted by more than 1000+ enterprises globally, Darwinbox was recognized as a Challenger in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites for enterprises, making it the youngest and only Asian company to receive the accolade. Darwinbox’s recent wave of product rollouts include multi-country payroll solution for the Philippines, 45+ embedded Gen-AI features and the launch of its MCP (model-context-protocol) server making it the first agentic-AI-friendly HR tech platform globally.

“For JG Summit, the benefits go beyond digitization. We are glad to step into the next chapter of our journey with Darwinbox and excited to harness AI-powered capabilities to elevate people management to new heights. This transformation will help us support our workforce better, empower leaders with sharper decisions, and prepare our organization for the future,” Gokongwei added.

About JG Summit:

JG Summit Holdings, Inc. (JGS), a publicly listed company, is one of the largest and more diversified Filipino conglomerates. It is the holding company for a group of companies with substantial business interests in food manufacturing and agro-industrial and commodities (Universal Robina Corp.); real estate and hotel (Robinsons Land Corp.); air transportation (Cebu Pacific Air); digital banking (GoTyme Bank); and petrochemicals (JG Summit Olefins Corporation). The Company also has core investments in telecommunications (PLDT), power generation and distribution (Meralco), banking (Bank of the Philippine Islands) and real estate (Singapore Land Group Limited).

About Darwinbox:

Darwinbox is a new-age, AI-powered HCM platform built for large and agile enterprises. With 1000+ global customers and a presence across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and India, Darwinbox enables end-to-end employee lifecycle management with modern employee experiences, embedded AI, deep configurability, and region-specific compliance for brands such as Bank of the Philippine Islands, Security Bank, Shakey’s Pizza, Kenangan, Sembcorp, and Banyan Group. Recognized by Gartner, and backed by Salesforce Ventures, TCV, and Sequoia, the company is redefining how people work and grow.

For media inquiries, please contact: 
Rishita.chiranewala@darwinbox.in

GoDaddy Brings AI-Powered Digital Ads to Entrepreneurs, Empowering Faster Online Growth

GoDaddy, a global leader in empowering entrepreneurs, announced the expansion of its new Digital Ads feature with GoDaddy Airo® to nine new English-language markets including Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

This AI-powered tool enables small business owners and entrepreneurs to create, launch, and manage professional Google Ad campaigns in minutes, without prior advertising expertise, directly addressing a key barrier to online visibility and customer acquisition.

“Reaching new customers online is critical for growth, but creating effective ads has traditionally required significant time or resources many small businesses simply don’t have,” said Selina Bieber, Vice President of International Markets at GoDaddy.

“Airo Digital Ads now empowers entrepreneurs in these markets to compete more effectively. Our AI handles the technical complexities, like writing compelling ad copy and selecting high-performing search keywords, so they can focus on running their business and connecting with customers.”

Why Simplifying Digital Ads Matters

GoDaddy’s 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Survey highlights the hurdles faced by entrepreneurs, with over one in three (37%) facing financial constraints limiting marketing investments, 23% struggling with technology complexity, and 40% citing work-life balance challenges from operational demands.

Digital Ads leverages Airo’s advanced AI to transform ad creation from a daunting task into an effortless streamlined process.

* Instant Campaign Setup: Generate complete, professional Google Ad campaigns in minutes. Airo drafts persuasive ad copy, selects relevant keywords based on the business offering, and structures the campaign using industry best practices, eliminating the “blank page” problem.

* Zero Experience Required: Tailored specifically for those new to digital advertising, the intuitive dashboard guides users through the process without requiring a dedicated marketing team.

* Full Control & Customization: Users review, edit, and perfect every element before launch – headlines, descriptions, keywords, target audience, and budget. The AI provides a powerful starting point, but the business owner makes the final decisions.

* Integrated Management & Analytics: Launch campaigns and track detailed performance metrics (like clicks, impressions, and costs) all within the GoDaddy Digital Ads dashboard. No need to juggle multiple platforms or logins.

* Risk-Free Testing: Preview the complete ad exactly as it will appear on Google. Make unlimited adjustments. Campaigns only go live when the user is completely satisfied.

AI Benefits for All Entrepreneurs

Digital Ads effectively works as a plug-and-play solution to key challenges faced by various entrepreneurial segments. Small business owners new to digital ads gain a streamlined, cost-efficient entry point without agency overhead; busy entrepreneurs benefit from rapid campaign launch to drive traffic while juggling multiple priorities; and budget-conscious businesses garner professional results without the need to hire specialists to manage ads.

Get started today at getstarted.godaddy/APAC.

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services, and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

Issued on behalf of GoDaddy.

For more information, contact:
Fekra Communications
info@fekracomms.com

Use of AI in cybersecurity surges in Singapore

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept in cybersecurity but is now the frontline. Fortinet, a global leader in cybersecurity, has unveiled findings from a 2025 IDC survey that show a dramatic surge in AI adoption across Singapore’s enterprises, with 82% of organisations already integrating AI into their security operations.

The IDC study, commissioned by Fortinet, highlights how AI is now central to threat detection, incident response and even recruitment and investment strategies. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, AI is being deployed not just to keep pace, but to get ahead.

AI: A double-edged sword

AI is transforming cybersecurity on both sides of the battlefield. While defenders use it to automate detection and scale threat intelligence, attackers are also leveraging AI to launch faster, stealthier and more adaptive campaigns.

The survey found that some 56% of Singapore organisations encountered AI-powered threats in the past year. Among them, 52% saw a two-fold increase in threat volume, while 42% reported a three-fold surge. These attacks often exploit gaps in visibility and governance, making them harder to detect and contain.

From detection to prediction

AI’s role in cybersecurity is advancing rapidly. Beyond basic detection, organisations are now deploying AI for automated response, predictive threat modelling and behavioural analytics.

Generative AI (GenAI) is gaining traction for tasks like updating rules, detecting social engineering, and guiding investigations. However, trust in full autonomy remains low. Auto-remediation is still rare, indicating that most teams are in the “co-pilot” phase of AI adoption.

Building AI-first teams

The rise of AI is reshaping the cybersecurity workforce. The top five roles in demand across Singapore include security data scientists, AI security engineers and AI-specific incident response professionals.

Organisations are no longer just buying AI tools but building teams around them. This reflects a broader trend of aligning talent with technology to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Strategic spending and smarter investments

Cybersecurity budgets are increasing, but cautiously. While 86% of organisations reported budget growth, 68% saw increases of less than 5%.

Spending is being directed toward high-impact areas like identity security, Zero Trust frameworks, and cloud-native protection. This marks a shift from infrastructure-heavy investments to more targeted, risk-centric strategies.

Understaffed and overwhelmed

Despite growing executive attention, many cybersecurity teams remain stretched thin. Only 6% of the total workforce is allocated to internal IT, and just 13% of that focuses on cybersecurity. Less than 15% of organisations have a dedicated Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and only 6% have purpose-built threat hunting teams.

This lack of specialisation is contributing to burnout and reduced effectiveness.

Convergence and consolidation take centre stage

To combat complexity, organisations are embracing unified cybersecurity frameworks. A staggering 96% are either converging security and networking or actively evaluating it. Additionally, 70% are considering vendor consolidation – not just for cost savings, but for better integration, faster support and improved security posture.

Simon Piff, Research Vice-President at IDC Asia-Pacific, noted: “Organisations are no longer experimenting with AI, they are embedding it across threat detection, incident response and team design. This signals a new era of security operations that is smarter, faster and more adaptive to the evolving risk landscape. AI is fundamentally reshaping how threats are identified, prioritised and acted upon. This evolution demands a parallel shift in strategy and talent.”

Jess Ng, Country Manager, Singapore and Brunei, Fortinet, added: “CISOs across Singapore are entering a more advanced phase of cybersecurity planning – one where AI is not just augmenting defences but influencing how organisations structure teams, allocate budgets and prioritise threats. At Fortinet, we are helping customers embrace this shift by embedding AI across the platform, enabling faster detection, smarter responses, and more resilient operations as cyber risks become more complex and distributed.”

About Fortinet

Fortinet is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere our customers need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including Computer Emergency Response Teams (“CERTS”), government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs.

Media Contact:
Leonard Low
leonard.low@priorityconsultants.com 

Asia Unicorn Forum Releases 2024 Report: China, India, Israel Top Asian Unicorn Rankings

The Asia Unicorn Forum (AUF), a future-shaping organisation dedicated to advancing technological innovation and sustainable growth among Asia’s unicorn companies, had published its 2024 Asia Unicorn Development Report in May 2025.

The report identifies China, India, and Israel as Asia’s top three nations by unicorn count, with China holding a commanding lead.

“While unicorns have long been a focus in investment circles, we now recognise them as a distinct economic phenomenon,” said Mr Liu Yanlong (刘彦龙), Executive Chairman of AUF, emphasising the report’s groundbreaking approach and methodology.

“For the first time, we define unicorns as part of a standalone unicorn economy. Unlike other reports, we analysed 59 metrics across six categories—entrepreneurship, business model innovation, technological edge, capital strength, and more—to uncover the unique drivers of Asian unicorns.

“We’ve identified a replicable strategic pattern: the Creating Neo-Market Strategy (CNM). Unicorns aren’t just great companies; they pioneer entirely new market categories and become transformative forces.”

Key Findings

1. Landscape for Unicorns

– Asia is home to 646 unicorns (startups valued at more than US$1.0 billion) with a combined valuation of US$2.4 trillion (average US$37.0 billion per company), spanning 16 countries and 11 industries.

– China dominates with 454 unicorns (70% of Asia’s total), followed by India (12%) and Israel. Only five countries — China, India, Israel, Singapore, and South Korea — have over 10 unicorns each (see Chart 1).

2. 2024 Asia Top 100 Unicorns

– China claims 75 spots, India 11, and Israel 6, collectively representing 92% of the list.

3. Valuation Insights

– Total Valuation: China’s unicorns account for US$1.74 trillion (73% of Asia’s total), while India’s total is US$281.8 billion (12%).

– Average Valuation: China, Singapore, the UAE, and Vietnam exceed Asia’s average of US$37 billion (see Chart 2).

4. Industry Breakdown:

– China’s unicorns lead in software, transportation, key and core technology, consumer, fintech, and media/entertainment, each surpassing US$100 billion in total valuation. India’s software sector is its sole industry crossing this threshold.

– Israel (software) and Singapore (consumer) show notable valuations (see Chart 3).

5. Emerging Unicorns:

– 73 new unicorns emerged in 2024, including 10 companies that achieved unicorn status within one year—far outpacing the traditional 10-year trajectory. Eight of these are Chinese companies.

6. Business Models:

– Platform-based (43%) and technology-driven (42%) models dominate Asia’s unicorn ecosystem.

Future Trends

 – Tech Convergence: IT and biotech will increasingly merge, with growth extending into new energy and advanced materials.

– Regionalisation: Amid global fragmentation, Asian unicorns will face intensified regional competition and collaboration.

– AI & Energy: Unicorns in these sectors are poised to surge, reshaping Asia’s energy landscape.

Report Availability

The 300-page 2024 Asia Unicorn Development Report offers in-depth analysis of success patterns and regional drivers. For details, visit AUF’s official WeChat channel (Asia Unicorn AUF) or email auf@auforum.org.

Charts Referenced

1. Chart 1: Geographic Distribution of Unicorns in Asia (by Country Count)

2. Chart 2: Total and Average Valuation of Asian Unicorns by Country



3. Chart 3: Bubble Chart of Total Valuation Distribution by Country and Industry

For media and any queries, please contact:
AUF Secretariat
Email: auf@auforum.org

TechInnovation 2025 Returns with 3 Days of Game-Changing Innovation

TechInnovation® 2025, Singapore’s preeminent platform for innovation and business transformation, returns for its 13th edition from 29–31 October 2025 at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Level 3 Heliconia and Hibiscus Ballroom, Singapore. Organised by IPI Singapore, the three-day event will bring together over 40 expert speakers, more than 100 breakthrough technologies and curated programmes designed to accelerate real-world innovation and cross-border collaboration.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/4zEfS86GXBY

Building on last year’s momentum, which brought together more than 100 exhibitors from 8 countries, attracted attendees from 42 markets, and resulted in over 30 projects supported by IPI Singapore after the event, TechInnovation 2025 will once again convene innovators, startups, corporates, and government agencies across Asia to showcase emerging technology solutions and forge strategic partnerships. In 2024, notably, 46 percent of visitors were senior management decision-makers, underscoring the event’s position as a high-value marketplace for business and technology leaders.

The event focuses on sectors including smart buildings, urban solutions, engineering, digital health, sustainability, advanced manufacturing and AI, ensuring businesses can find solutions tailored to their growth ambitions while engaging directly with innovation leaders, potential collaborators and funding partners. Anchored on the theme Discover, Connect and Collaborate, TechInnovation 2025 offers exhibitors and visitors a platform to showcase ready-to-market technologies, connect with potential partners across borders, and co-create solutions to address real-world challenges faced by businesses.

Innovation in Action: Interactive Booths

Debuting this year, TechInnovation 2025 will feature experiential technology showcases, giving select exhibitors the chance to showcase their ready-to-market technologies in a hands-on, interactive format. These interactive spaces are designed to spark conversations, encourage engagements and foster meaningful connections across the show floor. For SMEs, the booths offer a unique opportunity to showcase innovations, build credibility and connect directly with potential partners and customers. The launch responds to strong demand for immersive, real-world demonstrations that make technology tangible and memorable.

Call for ExhibitorsTechInnovation 2025 invites technology providers, research institutions, startups and solution developers to participate as exhibitors. Exhibitors will benefit from exposure to thousands of decision-makers and industry leaders, targeted business matching opportunities and media visibility through IPI Singapore’s pre-event publicity and digital campaigns.

“TechInnovation brings together enterprises and partners to explore new ideas,” said Michael Goh, Chief Operating Officer of IPI Singapore. “We look forward to welcoming exhibitors whose innovations can support practical business applications and contribute to a more sustainable and competitive future.”

About TechInnovation 2025

Returning for its 13th edition, TechInnovation 2025 is the flagship event of IPI Singapore, connecting technology seekers and providers across Asia. The event serves as a dynamic marketplace for co-innovation and tech adoption, drawing participation from startups, SMEs, corporates, universities and government agencies.

This year’s theme, “Discover, Connect, Collaborate” underscores TechInnovation’s mission to drive growth through discovery, global connection and collaboration. The event will feature over 40 speakers, more than 100 technologies and 3 days of programming designed to scale real-world business innovation. TechInnovation is organised by IPI Singapore, a subsidiary of Enterprise Singapore and catalyst of Singapore’s open innovation ecosystem.

TechInnovation® is a registered trademark of IPI Singapore.

Learn more at www.techinnovation.com.sg.

About IPI Singapore

IPI Singapore is an innovation catalyst that creates opportunities for enterprises to grow beyond boundaries. As a subsidiary of Enterprise Singapore, IPI Singapore accelerates the innovation process of enterprises through access to its global innovation ecosystem and advisory services.

With a strong belief that innovation is key to enterprise growth, IPI Singapore provides enterprises with access to innovative ideas and technologies. IPI Singapore also facilitates and supports enterprises’ innovation processes, including commercialisation and go-to-market strategies.

Learn more at https://www.ipi-singapore.org/

Media Contact:

Sheree TanManager, Marketing & Communications, Partnerships
IPI Singapore 
ipi_comms@ipi-singapore.org

Theodore Woon
Director
PINPOINT PR Pte. Ltd.
theodore@pinpointpr.global

Kingsoft Announces 2025 Interim and Second Quarter Results

– WPS AI 3.0 Launches to Strengthen Office Software Business
– Online Games Demonstrate Vitality through Classic IP and New Genres Development

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Kingsoft Corporation Limited (Kingsoft or the Company; HKG: 03888), a leading Chinese software and Internet service company, has announced its unaudited 2025 interim results and its second quarter results for the period ended 30 June 2025.

For the first half of 2025, the revenue of Kingsoft increased by 1% year-on-year to RMB 4,645.4 million. Revenue from the office software and services represented 57% and online games and others represented 43% of total revenue. Gross profit reached RMB 3,772.2  million.

For the second quarter of 2025, the Company’s revenue reached RMB 2,307.4 million. Revenue from office software and services and online games and others represented 59% and 41%, respectively, of total revenue for the second quarter of 2025. Gross profit for the second quarter of 2025 was RMB 1,853.6 million.

Mr. Jun LEI, Chairman of the Company, commented: “In the second quarter, we advanced core businesses steadily in line with established strategy and firmly positioned for the future. Kingsoft Office  focused on ‘AI, collaboration, and internationalization’, continued to strengthen the allocation of R&D resources in related fields, and developed solutions deeply aligned with user scenario needs to sustain competitiveness in the field of intelligent office. The online games business continued advancing content innovation and global expansion, achieving the development of flagship IPs and new game genres.”

Mr. Tao ZOU, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, added: “The total revenue for the second quarter amounted to RMB 2,307.4 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 7%, among which the revenue from the office software and services business was RMB 1,355.7 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 14%. Revenue from the online games and others business was RMB 951.8 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 26%, primarily due to the high base in the same period last year.”

BUSINESS REVIEW
Office Software and Services
For the first half of 2025, revenue from the office software and services business increased by 10% year-on-year to RMB 2,657.1 million. The increase was mainly attributable to the growth of WPS individual and WPS 365 businesses of Kingsoft Office. Revenue in the second quarter increased by14% year-on-year to RMB 1,355.7 million.

In the second quarter, the office software and services business continued its healthy development. For WPS AI, Kingsoft Office released WPS AI 3.0 and launched the native Office intelligent agent ‘WPS Lingxi’ — the core capability module of WPS AI 3.0. WPS AI 3.0 drove deep integration between AI and office software through bidirectional transformation, achieving native embedding of AI capabilities and deep involvement in office workflows. WPS Lingxi integrated multiple AI functions, marking the transition from tool-based AI applications to collaborative intelligent agents. We also implemented intelligent upgrades to WPS 365 components, and launched messaging, meeting, and email assistants to boost office efficiency.

For WPS individual business, Kingsoft Office expanded AI benefits and rolled out new AI products. In overseas markets, we initiated the development of the new WPS International Edition to gradually migrate domestic high-value features. For WPS 365 business, we continuously deepened penetration into industries and scenarios, actively promoted the implementation of AI projects, and engaged in co-creation with key clients to replicate and scale up typical solutions. For WPS software business, we actively participated in the bidding for domestic office software of central and local governments and enterprises. Our products maintained a leading share in both flow layout and fixed layout document software market.

Online Games and others
For the first half of 2025, revenue from online games and others business reached RMB 1,988.3 million, and revenue for the second quarter of 2025 was RMB 951.8 million. In the second quarter, the online games business continued to enrich the brand value of classic JX series and expand into new game genres.

During the second quarter, JX3 Online, the flagship IP, maintained engaged player base through consistent content updates and technical optimization. The Fate of Sword: Zero was launched, building upon the core gameplay of the classic JX series IP while introducing innovative explorations. The anime shooter game Snowbreak: Containment Zone sustained its long-term operation, keeping stable user base. The self-developed sci-fi mech game Mecha BREAK commenced its global public beta in July. On its launch day, it topped Steam’s lists for both “Most Played” and “Trending Games,” and earned high scores from several international authoritative gaming outlets like IGN.

Additionally, we actively strengthened our collaboration with high-quality overseas IPs, deepening the localized operational capabilities in domestic market. The social deduction game Goose Goose Duck obtained the license approval in June and was expected to launch in the second half of the year. The number of pre-registrations exceeded 5 million, demonstrating its popularity. Cats & Soup: Magic Recipe, the sequel to Cats & Soup, secured its license in May. For the latter half of the year, we will focus on refining the operations of our core titles and continuously optimizing the gaming experience based on players’ feedback.

Mr. Jun LEI concluded, “In the coming quarters, Kingsoft Office will continue to increase its R&D investments in AI and collaboration, and promote the implementation of its products and services across a wider range of office scenarios in various industries. The online games business will remain focused on premium games, continue to cultivate its IP franchise, steadily advance its global expansion and achieve long-term operations. We believe that these efforts will strengthen the Group’s core competitiveness and lay a solid foundation to achieve long-term high-quality growth.”

About Kingsoft Corporation Limited
Kingsoft (HKG: 3888) is a leading Chinese software and internet service company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. It has three main subsidiaries: Kingsoft Office, Seasun Holdings and Kingsoft Shiyou. With the implementation of the “transformation toward mobile internet” strategy, Kingsoft has completed a comprehensive transformation in its overall business and management model. The Company has established a strategic layout with office software and interactive entertainment as its pillars, and cloud services and artificial intelligence as its new starting points. Kingsoft has more than 8,000 employees worldwide and holds a significant market share domestically. For more details, please refer to http://www.kingsoft.com.

Kingsoft Investor Relations:
Li YinanTel: +86 10 6292 7777Email: ir@kingsoft.com
For further queries, please contact Hill and Knowlton:
Ovina ZhuTel: +852 2894 6315    Email: kingsofthk@hkstrategies.com

Asian Financial Forum returns as Region’s First Major International Financial Assembly in 2025

– Bringing together scholars, financial officials and business leaders for discussions on the theme ‘Powering the Next Growth Engine’

  • Themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine”, the 18th Asian Financial Forum 2025 (AFF), will be the region’s first major international financial and business event of the year.
  • Heavyweight speakers include Prof Justin Lin Yifu, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank (2008-2012); Prof Stuart Russell, Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum’s Council on AI; Dr Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman of Sinovation Ventures; and Joe Tsai, Chairman of the Alibaba Group.
  • The event brings together scholars, financial officials and business leaders from Mainland China, ASEAN, the Middle East, Europe and the United States to share invaluable insights.

The 18th Asian Financial Forum 2025 (AFF), co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on 13 and 14 January (Monday and Tuesday). Themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine”, AFF will be the first major financial and business event in the region in the new year, bringing together more than 100 global policymakers, business leaders, financial experts and investors, entrepreneurs, tech giants and economists to share their views on issues related to political leadership, geopolitical tensions, monetary policy shifts, macroeconomic challenges and more. These industry heavyweights will discuss the latest developments in financial markets and investment opportunities and explore how Hong Kong can leverage its strengths as an international financial centre to seek breakthroughs in a period of change.

Harnessing Hong Kong’s unique advantages to demonstrate financial excellence
Launched in 2007, the AFF has become a flagship financial event for Hong Kong and the broader region, showcasing the city’s status as an international financial centre and its role as a connector in spearheading regional financial activities. Against the backdrop of a constantly shifting global economic landscape, Hong Kong has been leveraging its unique geographical position, professional services and global perspective to continue fostering collaboration and ensuring mutual success between Asia and the world.

Luanne Lim, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong, of HSBC, said: “The geopolitical and economic landscape of 2025 is set to be fraught with challenges, underscoring the importance of international collaboration. The Forum adopts the theme ‘Powering the Next Growth Engine’, bringing together influential speakers and thought leaders to share insights, dissect the evolving global landscape and spotlight emerging investment opportunities. Key areas of focus include the growth potential of emerging markets such as Mainland China, ASEAN and the Middle East, as well as advancements in sectors like artificial intelligence, fintech, sustainability, philanthropy and family offices. The Forum continues to provide a premier platform for renowned global investors and fundraisers to collaborate and ignite new engines for growth with its strong international influence and diverse perspectives.”

Impactful sessions spotlight global issues
The Forum will feature a distinguished line-up of speakers, with a two-day programme featuring various panels and workshops, including plenary sessions, policy dialogues, keynote luncheons, breakfast panels and fireside chats, as well as thematic workshops focusing on development and innovation across different industries. It will continue to stage well-received sessions such as Global Economic Outlook, China Opportunities and CIO Insights. Global Economic Outlook will analyse international economic trends and provide insights into business opportunities and wealth accumulation in emerging industries and regions in 2025. China Opportunities will focus on examining the investment outlook in Mainland China under the acceleration of technological innovation and its impact on global businesses. CIO Insights will explore new opportunities for cross-regional cooperation from macroeconomic and asset allocation perspectives, offering participants insights and strategies that can help realise long-term growth. 

Financial pioneers share insights on future economy
One of the keynote speakers at AFF will be Prof Justin Lin Yifu, a globally renowned economist and Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank (2008-2012). Prof Lin will deliver an in-depth analysis of the shifting global economic landscape and the impact on Mainland China and international markets, exploring strategies for achieving stable growth and driving rapid economic development amid a complex international environment.

The Forum will also bring together scholars, financial officials and business leaders from the mainland, ASEAN, the Middle East, Europe and the United States to shed light on a range of key topics, including macroeconomics, China opportunities, investment prospects, artificial intelligence (AI) and fintech as well as sustainability.

As the world’s second largest economy, the mainland’s economic and industrial development plays a significant role in driving global economic growth. Heavyweight speakers include Dr Fred Hu, Founder and Chairman of Primavera Capital Group; Jin Liqun, President and Chair of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; Li Yimei, Chief Executive Officer of China Asset Management, and Joe Tsai, Chairman of Alibaba Group, will take the stage at AFF to share their views.

Emerging markets such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Middle East will also be spotlighted. Speakers from ASEAN will include Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community of ASEAN while a new session will highlight the opportunities in financial cooperation and investment between the Middle East and Hong Kong, featuring speakers from the two places.

A stellar line-up of speakers and company representatives from Europe and the US will offer new impetus at various panel discussions. Featured speakers include Edward Dolman, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Phillips Auctioneers; J Christopher Donahue, President & Chief Executive Officer of Federated Hermes, Inc; Antoine Gosset-Grainville, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AXA; Dr Hou Yang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Greater China Region and Global Senior Vice President of Microsoft; Philip Lane, Chief Economist and Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank; Vincent Mortier, Group Chief Investment Officer of Amundi; and Dr Olli Rehn, Governor and Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Finland.

AI and fintech are having a profound impact as they become more broadly adopted in the financial services sector. Prof Stuart Russell, Co-chair of the World Economic Forum Council on AI; Dr Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman of Sinovation Ventures and Ken Wong, Executive Vice President of Lenovo and President of Lenovo Solutions & Services Group, will address the latest industry developments and prospects at the AFF. Prof Russell, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley and Co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Council on AI and the OECD’s Expert Group on AI Futures, will explore the prospects of AI becoming a new engine for global economic growth.

Sustainable development is another key topic at the AFF. In different sessions of the Forum, Sue Lloyd, Vice Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB); Martin Neubert, Partner and Group Chief Investment Officer of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, and Jiadi Yu, Chief Investment Officer of International Finance Corporation (IFC), will share views on how the adoption of the ISSB will contribute to market confidence in Hong Kong’s capital markets.

Diverse exhibition zones create opportunities, innovative technologies drive growth
The Fintech Showcase, InnoVenture Salon, FintechHK Start-up Salon and Global Investment Zone will be assembled at the AFF to help fintech companies, start-ups and international investment agencies from around the world to connect businesses, showcase the latest technological innovations and promote collaboration.

In addition to offering pitching and startup advisory sessions, the InnoVenture Salon features an exhibition of innovative technologies across various fields such as regtech, deep tech, green tech, health tech and food tech and agri-tech. This capacity-building support will connect entrepreneurs with potential clients, users and investors from different regions and industries, helping businesses refine their strategies, expand operations and thrive in the global market. Additionally, AFF Deal-making, a unique deal-sourcing and matching session, will build on the success of previous years to connect sources of funds and deals from around the world through one-on-one meetings.

AFF – Hong Kong’s major annual financial event
International large-scale events play a strategically important role for Hong Kong. As the first major financial event of the year, the AFF is designed to provide industry professionals with the latest insights and help them explore new opportunities. Early bird registration is now open for participants. The AFF is collaborating with various organisations to provide special travel, dining and shopping discounts and privileges for overseas participants, encouraging them to make the most of their stay and experience the vitality of Hong Kong. More details regarding the content, speaker lineup and media registration arrangements for the AFF will be announced at a press conference on 7 January 2025.

Websites
– Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/about-aff
– Programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/info-programme
– Speaker list: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speakers

Members of the media interested in interviewing speakers at the Asian Financial Forum should email ayiu@yuantung.com.hk or lsong@yuantung.com.hk by 8 January 2025.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3Bz8p9t

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Media enquiries

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Agnes Yiu Tel: (852) 3428 5690 Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
Louise Song Tel: (852) 3428 5691 Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hk

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw Tel: (852) 2584 4472 Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.