Singapore’s myFirst Tech Holdings Pte Ltd’s (“myFirst”) has appointed SGX Mainboard-listed Fu Yu Corporation Limited (“Fu Yu”) as its exclusive contract manufacturer to propel a major North American expansion of its kid-safe digital platform. The two homegrown companies signed a S$15 million contract today for Fu Yu to commence mass production this month.
Fu Yu’s Group CEO Mr David Seow, with myFirst’s co-founder and CEO G-Jay Yong in front of myFirst’s retail store at Suntec City
The pioneer of the world’s first kids’ tech ecosystem, myFirst’s myFirst Circle app allows each child to build a unique digital community that is parentally secured to interactions with trusted family and close friends. Through this kid-safe network, children can socialise and share experiences using myFirst’s products, such as watchphones, cameras, earbuds, 3D pens and headphones. Parents will have classification capabilities and also be able to track a child’s whereabouts.
There is an increasing awareness among parents and educators about the importance of social media safety, as many children start to engage with such devices before the age of 5, while nearly one-in-five children under 12 have their own smartphone.[1] These technologies, while offering new learning and development opportunities, carry significant risks in terms of privacy, inappropriate content and safety.
myFirst addresses this gap by offering a unique ecosystem of child-centric tech products that marries the physical interactivity of hardware with real-world technology tailored for children, offering a holistic experience that meets the demands of a parent’s educational goals and a child’s curiosity.
Following a Pre-Series A funding round from Lynx Asia Partners and angel investors, myFirst is set to expand its presence in North America, increasing from 4,000 to over 20,000 locations, including major retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Best Buy. With 46.6 million children under 12[2] in the US, myFirst is well-positioned to meet the rising demand for kid-safe technology. The company, already operating in 40 countries, previously received investments from tech founders and executives from companies like PatSnap, Google, Rainforest, TNB Aura, and Zopim in 2022.
Singapore-headquartered Fu Yu is one of Asia’s largest manufacturers of high-precision plastic products. It will provide a full suite of solutions to manufacture and assemble myFirst’s products. Fu Yu will scale up production, supported by its Smart Factory in Tuas which includes new production introduction and rapid prototyping capabilities, metal 3D printing, liquid silicone rubber injection moulding and high- precision tool fabrication.
Depending on myFirst’s requirements, component production can be manufactured across Fu Yu’s six facilities located across Singapore, Malaysia and China, providing a high level of interoperability and flexibility. Fu Yu’s strategic geographical distribution also ensures a robust supply chain, facilitating efficient cross-border logistics and reducing turnaround times.
Prior to mass production of each of myFirst’s products, Fu Yu’s New Product Introduction (“NPI”) team will engage with myFirst to offer bespoke product design assistance, while optimising the production process to allow for shorter time-to-market while improving quality and high production yield. Both parties will also explore the use of bio-rated materials to manufacture certain components, further enhancing sustainability across the production line.
G-Jay Yong, Co-founder and CEO of myFirst, said, “myFirst is excited to partner with a fellow Singaporean homegrown company in our global expansion. Every time myFirst has expanded, we have faced a sudden surge in demand. We are globally available but the US is a big market and this partnership has given us the backing to be able to cater to this demand surge.
“Parents in the US have been asking us when they could get onto our kids tech ecosystem as they’re very concerned about their kids’ safety online and also in the real world, so now we can assure them we are ready.”
Mr David Seow, Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Fu Yu, said, “We are honoured to play such a key role as myFirst embarks on its most significant expansion since its inception. The partnership underscores our ability to meet the high-precision demands for new devices and potential product ramp-ups. Over the past year, Fu Yu has been tirelessly evolving, developing new NPI capabilities to provide early-stage engagement and enhancing our capabilities with cutting-edge manufacturing techniques.”
“Our business transformation led to us being appointed as myFirst’s exclusive contract manufacturer, marking our inaugural venture into box-building manufacturing of Internet of Things (IoT) enabled smart devices. We are now well-poised to meet the advanced manufacturing requirements of our customers, and will continue to build upon our strong record and maintain a healthy project pipeline.”
About Fu Yu Corporation Limited
Established in 1978, Fu Yu is Singapore’s oldest and one of Asia’s largest manufacturers of high-end precision plastic and metal components, and products.
Backed by more than 45 years of operating knowledge, Fu Yu provides vertically-integrated manufacturing services to a diversified and loyal customer base across segments and geographies. We operate 6 strategic manufacturing sites across Singapore, Malaysia, and China, and have more than 1.5 million square feet of production floor capacity.
Our Supply Chain Solutions arm was established in 2021 to provide commodity supply chain management services for our customers.
myFirst is the world’s first kids tech ecosystem connecting over 1 million families. Real tech for kids with fun devices, connected services and kid-safe social network to socialise, share and go anywhere, all safely connected with their friends and family.
Our fun devices are the gateway to our kids’ suitable social circle network, myFirst Circle, which is specially designed for kids, their friends, parents and grandparents, to interact within circles of trust with no ads, no strangers, only real, trusted connections.
The 3rd Annual Middle East Women Leaders’ Summit & Awards KSA 2024 is poised to be a transformative gathering, scheduled to take place on May 14-15, 2024, at the prestigious venue in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Organized by Verve Management, this groundbreaking event aims to celebrate the resilience and achievements of women leaders while championing a new era of empowerment and equality.
Under the theme of “Empowering Women: Kingdom’s Transformation Through Equality & Opportunity,” the summit promises to transcend conventional discussions on women’s empowerment. It seeks to create an ecosystem where women from diverse backgrounds can thrive together, moving beyond traditional paradigms to challenge and reshape societal norms.
The summit will feature insightful discussions, engaging workshops, and inspirational talks by prominent women achievers from various sectors. Attendees can expect to gain invaluable insights into the challenges faced by women in the workforce, exchange knowledge and best practices, and forge meaningful connections with fellow leaders committed to driving positive change.
Confirmed speakers for the summit include distinguished individuals such as Her Royal Highness Princess Abeer Al Saud, whose presence underscores the significance of the event in the region. Additionally, notable figures such as Maha Shirah, Founder and CEO of Sheworks, Julie Barbier-Leblan, CEO & Co-founder of Merit Incentives, andSouhair AlQaisi, CEO of Quantum Star, will share their insights and experiences, inspiring attendees with their journeys of success and empowerment.
The 3rd Annual Middle East Women Leaders’ Summit & Awards KSA 2024 promises to be a landmark event in the journey towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in the region. Join us as we celebrate women leaders who have shattered the glass ceiling and continue to inspire the next generation of leaders.
CleverTap, the all-in-one engagement platform, announced its selection by Umob, the Netherlands’ premier super-mobility platform; Umob combines all-electric e-mopeds, scooters, bikes, cabs and public transport within one app. Through CleverTap’s cutting-edge offerings, they will be able to harness the power of data-driven insights and personalised engagement. This will enhance user experiences, drive user retention, and optimise their overall business operations.
Umob’s innovative approach to sustainable urban mobility has positioned it as a prominent name in the Netherlands market. They have simplified how people navigate cities with a seamless app experience. Umob was looking for a platform to enhance customer engagement and retention strategies, provide data-driven decision-making, personalise experiences, and increase customer lifetime value.
CleverTap’s all-in-one platform, which includes advanced analytics, multi-channel communication capabilities, and seamless integration options, will play a pivotal role in helping Umob meet its requirements. With CleverTap, Umob can deliver highly targeted and personalised user experiences, driving increased engagement, loyalty, and lifetime value.
“As Umob continues on its high-growth trajectory, we must focus on maximising customer lifetime value early on. In a period of rapid expansion, retaining high-quality customers and driving return on investment are paramount to our business sustainability,” said Raymon Pouwels, Co-Founder of Umob. “CleverTap emerged as the ideal fit for us, offering an all-in-one platform that aligns perfectly with our objectives. With CleverTap’s suite of cutting-edge offerings, we are confident in our ability to deliver personalised experiences, foster strong customer relationships, and ultimately drive long-term business success.”
Pravin Laghate, Vice President, Europe, CleverTap, said, “Umob’s strides in the mobility-as-a-service space are nothing short of remarkable. This partnership signifies the fusion of two forward-thinking entities aiming to revolutionise the industry. As Umob embarks on a phase of exponential growth, CleverTap’s innovative solutions will play a pivotal role in empowering their journey. Together, we envision a future where mobility-as-a-service is redefined, offering unparalleled convenience, maximising the lifetime value of each user.”
About CleverTap CleverTap is the all-in-one engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value by helping them create personalised experiences to retain their most valuable customers. The platform empowers businesses to orchestrate experiences for individuals across their lifecycles and design personalised journeys that span a lifetime. It offers analytics encompassing every aspect of the lifecycle, enabling businesses to measure and optimise each experience in real-time. Its unique AI capability is insightful, empathetic, and prescriptive, facilitating smarter and faster decisions. The all-in-one platform unifies experiences from every touchpoint, paving the way for a new era of customer engagement.
The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.
CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TiltingPoint, Gamebasics, Big Fish, MobilityWare, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John’s, and Tesco.
Backed by leading investors such as Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Accel, CDPQ, and 360 One, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore, and Jakarta.
Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap’s belief in connection with future events. They may be forward-looking statements or future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.
Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, the impact of a pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.
For more information: SONY SHETTY Director, Public Relations, CleverTap +91 9820900036 sony@clevertap.com
Venturi Partners (“Venturi”), a prominent growth equity firm specialising in consumer investments across India and Southeast Asia, today announced its recent investment in DALI Discount (“DALI”), a rapidly expanding hard discount chain operating in the Philippines. The investment will further accelerate DALI’s ambitious expansion plans to fulfill its mission to sell high-quality, affordable groceries of everyday consumption at lowest possible price in its local neighborhood stores.
Founded in 2020, DALI has quickly established itself as #1 discounter in the Philippines’ retail landscape offering a core range of the 400 most needed consumer goods – food and non-food. Known for its commitment to everyday low prices for its carefully curated selection of quality essentials, DALI offers significant value to customers seeking to stretch their grocery budgets without sacrificing quality but also to those just buying smarter. DALI vision is to improve daily lives of all Filipino households by providing good quality product at lowest possible price next door.
Venturi Partners’ $25 million investment in DALI underscores the firm’s confidence in the company’s hard discounter business model, strong management team, and the large market opportunity to disrupt the retail landscape in the Philippines. Leveraging its deep consumer industry expertise and extensive network, Venturi is well-positioned to support DALI in accelerating its expansion initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency, and further strengthening its market presence across the Philippines.
Investing out of its $180 million maiden fund, Venturi joins Navegar, Creador, the Asian Development Bank and other institutional investors and family offices on DALI’s cap table. “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with DALI, a company that is democratising access to high quality groceries in the Philippines,” said Nicholas Cator, Founding Partner at Venturi. “DALI’s commitment to maximising value for its customers aligns seamlessly with our consumer-first investment philosophy, and we see tremendous potential for the company to expand its reach and improve the lives of even more households across the Philippines.”
The transaction represents Venturi’s second investment in the Philippines, following its investment in Pickup Coffee last year, a fast-growing grab-and-go coffee chain that provides high-quality coffee at disruptively low-price points.
DALI will join Venturi Partners’ portfolio of consumer-focused investments in India and Southeast Asia which includes Livspace, Country Delight, Believe, and Pickup Coffee.
About Venturi Partners
Founded in 2019 by veteran consumer investor Nicholas Cator, Venturi Partners is an Asia-focused investment platform that enables consumer-facing business startups to build disruptive brands in India and Southeast Asia. The firm provides growth funding to customer-centric, purpose-driven brands in India and Southeast Asia, with a focus on education, healthcare, and fast-moving consumer goods, which have a shared desire to create a positive impact on the world. Venturi has built a unique investment platform for families wanting to participate in the long-term consumer growth trends in Asia. The platform is built around shared values and long-term partnerships and aims to bring operational value-add to entrepreneurs building tomorrow’s leading brands in Asia.
Inaugural Smart Lighting Expo joins three other major technology fairs in April, highlighting Hong Kong’s advantages as an international I&T hub
Four major HKTDC-organised technology exhibitions will be held in April: HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), HKTDC Smart Lighting Expo, InnoEX, and HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition)
The events will bring together about 4,300 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and regions
The inaugural Smart Lighting Expo will showcase innovative smart lighting products, solutions and interconnected lighting technologies
InnoEX will display I&T achievements related to smart living, explore innovation and technology prospects and promote cross-sector cooperation
The second edition of InnoEX, co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will return to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre next month. This year’s exhibition, themed Innovations for A Smarter World, will gather global next-generation smart solutions and disruptive innovative technologies to promote innovation and foster cross-disciplinary cooperation, showcasing Hong Kong’s strengths as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub.
The HKTDC’s four major technology exhibitions in April – the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), HKTDC Smart Lighting Expo, InnoEX and HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) – will bring together about 4,300 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and regions. The inaugural Smart Lighting Expo and 15th edition of the International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) will be held from 6 to 9 April (Saturday to Tuesday), showcasing a wide range of cutting-edge smart lighting solutions and innovative products. InnoEX and the Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) will then run from 13 to 16 April (Saturday to Tuesday), presenting creative technology ideas and demonstrations.
Jenny Koo, Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “Through our four technology exhibitions, the HKTDC aims to help promote solutions and develop Hong Kong as an international I&T hub. The development of new quality productive forces, as the national priority, will provide a huge market for Hong Kong’s development in innovation and technology, and the digital economy in Hong Kong. InnoEX not only showcases various innovative achievements but also brings together representatives from the governments of Hong Kong, Mainland China and ASEAN, as well as experts from different technological fields, to discuss important issues related to technology and smart city development. Through this approach, InnoEX promotes comprehensive cross-regional and cross-industry cooperation, aiming to enhance local I&T capabilities. The inaugural Smart Lighting Expo showcases smart lighting products, solutions and interconnected lighting technologies, contributing to the development of smart living in synergy with other technology exhibitions.”
International institutions join InnoEX to exhibit innovative solutions As a founding event of the Business of Innovation and Technology Week (BITWeek), driven by the Hong Kong SAR Government and HKTDC, this year’s InnoEX will bring together exhibitors from 13 countries and regions, doubling the number from last year. Participating exhibitors will come from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Canada, France, India, Poland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and other locations. The pavilion from France, So French So Innovative, will feature renowned cutting edge companies such as STMicroelectronics, Veolia, Thales and Dragages. The Canadian Consulate General will also set up a pavilion. The 20 pavilions from Mainland China nearly double last year’s tally. They come from 16 provinces and cities, including Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shandong, Shanxi, Zhejiang and their respective cities.
The Smart Hong Kong Pavilion, organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), drew crowds at the previous InnoEX and returns this year. It will focus on AI and showcase over 100 I&T solutions that are closely related to people’s daily lives. These include innovative solutions adopted by government departments, and a series of winning entries from local innovators and students. The Hong Kong SAR Government’s Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) is once again joining InnoEX to showcase the remarkable innovations and technological advancements achieved by 16 research centres under InnoHK, a platform fostering collaboration among esteemed researchers from the local, mainland and overseas communities. The showcased centres will present of AI-driven data analytic applications, AI chips, robots for diverse industries, and more.
Other participating units include the five research and development centres under the ITC, local universities, leading-edge tech firms such as PTF AreaTech Company Ltd, NEC Corporation, Yonyou (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd., Goldpac Group Limited, as well as several local pavilions such as the B4B Challenge, Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Smart City Consortium. Meanwhile, government representatives, relevant industry sectors, academia and research sectors from around the world have been invited to attend and learn about the exhibitors’ solutions and discuss collaboration opportunities.
In view of the rapid development of ASEAN countries and their increasing demand for smart city solutions, InnoEX will host an ASEAN Roundtable on its opening day (13 April). Government representatives from Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries will share their experiences in developing smart cities, discuss collaboration across various sectors and explore sustainable development practices. Exhibitors will also have an opportunity to establish connections with officials from these regions and seek potential collaboration.
Spectrum of activities analyse I&T trends and empower talents Talent is a crucial asset for the development of the I&T sector. In this year’s InnoEX and Electronics Fair, the HKTDC is collaborating with major recruitment platform Jobsdb, and the Hong Kong Top Talent Services Association to facilitate talent-matching activities, helping exhibitors recruit talents. Job seekers can attend the event on the second day (14 April) and engage with actively recruiting exhibitors to apply for desired positions. The event will also host multiple seminars where human resource experts and industry professionals will share insights on entering Hong Kong’s I&T sector.
InnoEX will also feature thematic activities to support start-up development. These include the Hong Kong Value Creation for Technology: Pitching Competition, Meet the Mentors, Investment Matchmaking, and Start-up Smart Launch sessions, allowing entrepreneurs to promote products and ideas to potential buyers and investors.
The event will present a range of seminars with speakers from the So French So Innovative pavilion, the OGCIO, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, and various innovative technology companies, who will delve into the latest I&T trends. The Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities will also organise the inaugural Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference, bringing together top innovation and technology talents and renowned scientists, including Nobel Prize and ACM A.M. Turing Award winning scholars, to discuss important issues in such fields as big data, AI, quantum computing, biotech, and new materials. The conference aims to help industries seize opportunities brought by the latest wave of industrial transformation.
Entering its 20th edition, the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) adopts the theme World’s Leading Electronics Marketplace. The exhibition features three special theme zones – Hall of Fame, Startup Zone and Tech Hall, showcasing innovative electronic products and technological solutions from renowned international brands and innovative technology companies. Many electronic products cater to the silver market by incorporating health-management features.
This year the Energy Storage Zone features products that provide power for outdoor activities and electric vehicles. EV industry leader Tesla will exhibit environmentally friendly electric vehicles at the event. A Digital Entertainment Experiential Zone will offer electronic gaming and interactive experiences from game developers and creative enterprises specialising in extended reality and AI.
On 15 April, the Tech Trends Symposium will be held, discussing The Future of Spatial Computing & Generative AI. Industry experts will be invited to discuss the latest developments in related technologies and equipment.
The 15th HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) and the inaugural HKTDC Smart Lighting Expo will run earlier in April, under the theme Bright Lighting • Smart Living. The Smart Lighting Expo’s highlighted zone, the Smart Ecosystem and IoT Supply Chain Area, in collaboration with the Shanghai Pudong Intelligent Lighting Association, will feature the latest solutions from well-known brands such as Midea, Sunricher, MicRadar and DALI Alliance. Other international brands, such as Helvar and Valta, will showcase lighting innovations. The concurrent Spring Lighting Fair will continue to serve as a one-stop trading platform. Its highlighted zone, the Hall of Aurora, will gather over 260 renowned brands and showcase innovative lighting products and technologies. Other product zones include commercial lighting, decorative lighting, residential lighting, technical lighting and lighting accessories.
The four technology exhibitions will continue to adopt the HKTDC’s EXHIBITION+ model, merging online and offline elements. Exhibitors and buyers can continue to use the Click2Match smart business matching platform for up to seven days after the exhibition. The event also introduces the Scan2Match service, allowing buyers to continue online discussions with exhibitors by scanning QR codes at the physical fairs using the HKTDC Marketplace App.
BITWeek brings exciting I&T events BITWeek founding events include InnoEX, the Digital Economy Summit co-organised by the HKSAR Government and Cyberport, and the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition). BITWeek also features partner events including HKSTP’s Elevator Pitch Competition, HKTDC Smart Lighting Expo and the Hong Kong Web3 Festival, all of which are not-to-be-missed technology events in the industry.
Jenny Koo (centre), Assistant Executive Director of the HKTDC, Tony Wong (right), Government Chief Information Officer and Steve Chuang (left), Chairman, Electronics/Electrical Appliances Industries Advisory Committee of the HKTDC and Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries attended today’s press conference to introduce highlights and details of the four major technology exhibitions
InnoEX exhibitor PTF AreaTech Company Ltd is promoting application of the Beidou satellite navigation system in Hong Kong. This solution enables precise positioning in remote areas without ground-based signal coverage. The Short Message function allows for the transmission of rescue messages in situations without network connectivity, aiding in emergency rescue operations
The Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) presents the Impact Dissipating Bollard for Road Safety, which significantly enhances safety for vehicle occupants and pedestrians during collisions
Hong Kong Centre for Logistics Robotics developed the Tumbler Inspection Robot with Embodied Intelligence for Smart City. The robot improves inspection efficiency and safety while reducing the number of times humans need to enter the tunnels
Veolia’s smart recycling bin incorporates a data management system and offers features such as pest repellent and auto-deodorisation
Kin Technology Limited introduces an automatic pill dispenser that accurately issues the correct dosage of medication with no pre-sorting. It also has remote monitoring and medication management functionalities
AT-Vibe Technology Limited uses handheld 3D laser radar device XGRIDS – Lixel L1 to rapidly construct digital 3D models of public spaces such as architectural features, roads, and parks, providing solutions for tree-collapse prevention and elderly safety monitoring
United Wealth Holdings Limited presents the S52 Carbon Fiber Smart Watch, made from exceptionally durable carbon fibre, which is five times stronger than steel. The watch is equipped with Huawei’s smart module and is water resistant up to 50 metres
Smart Lighting Expo exhibitor Mindstec Asia Limited showcases the Helvar 950 DALI-2 Multi-master Application controller. It supports four DALI-2 networks and can be connected to multiple controllers, enabling automation control, dimming, colour temperature adjustment and compatibility with third-party control devices and BMS building management systems. It can be easily expanded and applied to large and complex projects
KTE Electrical Limited, a Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) exhibitor, introduces the Arco Series, a Flexible Track Light System. With just one track, it can be installed across ceilings, walls and hanging positions, illuminating every corner. Additionally, it seamlessly integrates with other lighting systems, offering customers a comprehensive and convenient lighting solution
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. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn
Choosing a domain name for a small business requires careful consideration, as it is often the first thing people see about your business. The domain name of a business is often considered a piece of real estate on the internet, or your business home on the web. It is core to the digital presence of your business.
GoDaddy shares eight tips to help select a domain name that is right for your business and can serve you for years to come.
1. Keep it simple
The first rule of choosing a domain name is to keep it simple. If your domain name has an unusual spelling or is difficult to type, chances are people could mis-spell your domain name and not find you on the internet. Use proper spellings for words, instead for example of using ‘u’ for ‘you’ or ‘c’ for ‘see’. If you have to explain how to spell your domain name, then it might be too confusing.
2. Shorter is better
Consider aiming for six to fourteen characters to the left of the dot. The fewer characters your domain name has, the easier it will be to type, say and share. There is also less risk of losing visitors who might mistype or misspell it.
This also allows more of the URL address to show up in search engine list results, which can help customers quickly find your website.
3. Add keywords to your domain name
Using keywords that describe your business and the products or services you offer can make it easier to recognize the nature of your business.
For example, if you run a specialized cake business, you might want to register a domain name with the words “specialized” and “cakes” in it, depending on your business name. Try to Include keywords that people might enter when searching for your product or service can help improve your search engine results.
4. Mention your location
You may want to consider including your location in your domain name, by choosing a domain name extension for your location, like a .ph. or a .sg domain name, shows customers that you are a business located in the country. This can be important for customers who would like to do business with companies located in their country.
Whether you add your location before or after the dot, customers will be able to find you geographically more easily. They will know quickly they are dealing with someone based locally and supporting a local business.
5. Avoid numbers and hyphens
Numbers and hyphens can easily cause confusion. People who heard your domain spoken might not immediately known if you are using a number, or whether the number is spelled out as a word.
Likewise, if you used a hyphen, customers could forget the hyphen and mistype your URL. Or they would remember the hyphen but put it in the wrong place. Either way, the result is the same, a potential customer lost because they could not find your website.
6. Make it unforgettable
With so many businesses online, there is a lot of competition out there. So having a catchy and memorable domain name is essential. An easy-to-remember custom domain name will help to encourage word-of-mouth advertising and help spread your brand faster. If you cannot get your domain name down to one memorable word, you might want to think about joining two words together.
7. Consider all your domain name options
The internet’s been around for decades, but there’s still a strong bias towards choosing a .com domain name extension. So, if you can, you can try and register a .com domain address.
But if the .com domain name you want isn’t available, there are a variety of industry-specific domain extensions available, such as .co, .net, .org, .online and .news. There are also extensions that can clearly show the nature of the business such as .photography, .shop, .coffee and .club.
8. Safeguard your brand
To help further protect your brand, consider registering your domain name with various domain extensions, as well as misspelled versions of your domain name, if you think that might be helpful. This can help to prevent competitors from registering different versions of your domain name, and then using them to pull traffic away from your website.
Once you have found the perfect domain name(s) for your business, it is important to check that the name is not trademarked or copyrighted by another company. It can also help to check that the domain name you want is available on social media sites, by checking social media networks to make sure the name is not already taken, and helpful to have the same name across your website and social platforms for consistency.
And finally, be sure to keep your domain names current and registered, as you do not want the registrations to lapse. Providers, like GoDaddy, offer automatic renewals for domain names to help ensure they do not expire.
Take your time and do it right and your domain name will be a proud representation of your business for many years to come.
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help microbusiness owners manage everything in one place and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7. To learn more about the company, visit www.godaddy.com.
Issued on behalf of GoDaddy. For more information, contact: Fekra Communications info@fekracomms.com
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is proud to announce the launch of Tokyo Innovation Base. Combining the facilities of the startup campus and business networking hub in the beating heart of Japanese commerce and culture, Tokyo Innovation Base (TIB) seeks to supercharge the local startup scene and position Tokyo as a premier global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Tokyo Innovation Base
City with a mission Organized by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government with a mission to catalyze innovation and drive societal progress, TIB aims to make Tokyo the most startup-friendly city in the world.
The Japanese government has already pushed through legislation and earmarked funding to grow the number of startups and new business launches in the capital tenfold over the next five years. This “Five-Year Startup Development Plan,” announced in November 2022, includes increasing the current annual startup investment of 800 billion yen to 10 trillion yen by FY2027, and creating 100 unicorns and 100,000 startups in the future.
Koike Yuriko, Governor of Tokyo, expressed her vision for Tokyo Innovation Base: “Our core values at TIB are global, growth, collaboration, and connect. We hope to see entrepreneurs and innovators born here and gather from all over the world. Tokyo is committed to supporting all innovators.”
Node of Innovation TIB will do its part in supercharging Tokyo’s startup ecosystem with a focus on collaboration, access, and networking. By providing a space for entrepreneurs, investors, and representatives from established companies and government to mingle and exchange ideas freely, TIB serves as a convergence point where ambitious minds unite to drive societal progress through groundbreaking ideas and cutting-edge technologies.
Over 140 corporate partners have established ties with TIB, to foster ecosystem collaboration by connecting startup ecosystem builders and investors with key stakeholders in Tokyo and Japan.
Concierge At Tokyo Innovation Base, we want to ensure that startups truly take off. Offering access to over 50 experts from a wealth of industries for one-on-one meetings, our concierge program caters to early-stage startups, later-stage startups interested in establishing a presence in Japan, and future founders exploring business opportunities in Japan.
Mentorship covers everything from guidance specific to your industry, to more general assistance such as pitch training sessions, business ideation, and facilitation of partnerships with Japanese corporations.
Events As a major hub for startups, universities, venture capitalists, and support organizations, Tokyo provides fertile ground to connect with major industry players and a truly enormous customer base.
TIB’s regular networking events seek to bring the people that can matter together.
Exhibit TIB’s permanent exhibition hall provides space for startups to show off their latest innovations. One of the hardest parts of launching a new business, product, or service can be raising awareness in the people who matter. With TIB’s 140 corporate partners and ecosystem of VCs and entrepreneurs, whether you’re looking for partners or investment, there is no better place to start.
Calling all innovators Don’t take our word for it: Tokyo Innovation Base is having its grand opening in May, and it’s open to all. For more information, please check our website and follow us on social media.
Contact For media inquiries or more information about Tokyo Innovation Base, please contact: Office for Startup and Global Financial City Strategy, Tokyo Metropolitan GovernmentEmail: tokyo_innovation_baseï¼ tohmatsu.co.jp
CleverTap, the all-in-one engagement platform today announced that Swan, one of UAE’s most trusted groceries and home services app, achieved a 40% boost in view rates of email campaigns after leveraging CleverTap’s tools.
Recognizing the value in users who already have the app installed, Swan sought to ensure they keep returning to make transactions. To achieve successful engagement with this base, the key focus areas were: building precise target segments, crafting effective incentives and messages, and pinpointing the optimal timing and channels to maximize engagement. Robust measurement at each stage was critical to determine the effectiveness of messages, channels, and timing, individually.
Swan found the ideal solution for enhancing customer engagement through CleverTap’s comprehensive and integrated approach. Leveraging CleverTap’s smart segmentation capability, Swan organized users into groups based on their transaction activity. They conducted extensive A/B testing for creatives and content that were regularly used as part of their messaging strategy. By employing multiple channels based on specific contexts, they found that emails and push notifications were most effective in reactivating dormant users. Personalized experiences were crafted for each user through message customization. Swan relied extensively on the Analytics feature to assess the impact of their campaigns.
Deploying CleverTap helped Swan achieve the following:
40% boost in view rates of email campaigns thanks to systematic experimentation on content and creative
Swan saw a 3% activation rate of targeted dormant users
Reactivation campaigns drove a 15% share of incremental orders
Solomon George, Managing Director, Swan, said, “CleverTap’s combination of analytics and orchestration has been integral to Swan’s growth and customer engagement journey. With CleverTap’s user-personalization prowess, we were able to drive 15% of incremental orders from reactivation campaigns alone. This level of growth across multiple cohorts and periods solidifies Swan as a reliable and trusted shopping companion.”
Sidharth Pisharoti, Chief Revenue Officer, CleverTap, said, “Reactivating dormant users is essential for modern businesses, especially with the exorbitant customer acquisition costs of today. It opens up a new realm of untapped potential for any app-first business. Partnering with an industry frontrunner like Swan, we witnessed this notion play out in full swing. Swan saw a 40% boost in view rates of email campaigns after deploying our all-in-one platform. It’s a testament to our platform’s prowess in driving unmatched customer engagement. We’re excited to bring more such significant wins for Swan in the future.”
About CleverTap CleverTap is the all-in-one engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value by helping them create personalized experiences to retain their most valuable customers. The platform empowers businesses to orchestrate experiences for individuals across their lifecycles and design personalized journeys that span a lifetime. It offers analytics that encompasses every aspect of the lifecycle, enabling businesses to measure and optimize each experience in real-time. Its unique AI capability is insightful, empathetic, and prescriptive, facilitating smarter and faster decisions. The all-in-one platform unifies experiences from every touchpoint, paving the way for a new era of customer engagement.
The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.
CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TiltingPoint, Gamebasics, Big Fish, MobilityWare, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John’s, and Tesco.
Backed by leading investors such as Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Accel, CDPQ, and 360 One, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore, and Jakarta.
Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap’s belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.
Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.
For more information: SONY SHETTY Director, Public Relations, CleverTap +91 9820900036 sony@clevertap.com
CleverTap, the all-in-one engagement platform, today launched the eCommerce edition of its Art of Emoji Report, with a view to demonstrate which emojis are the most common, which ones work best, and which to avoid. Since inception in 1998, emojis have been a very effective medium of communicating tone, subtext, irony, among other things plain text cannot. According to the Emojipedia Annual Report 2023, there was a remarkable 77% YoY surge in emoji usage.
Today, brands have discovered the immense value in emojis, with 60% of global push notifications containing them. The CleverTapArt of Emoji report found that notifications containing emojis drive a staggering 12% higher click-through rate compared to those without. Therefore, brands see them as a persuasive and accessible tool to build more meaningful connections with their customers.
CleverTap analyzed 10 billion data points across 40 million push notifications sent by eCommerce platforms globally, to understand customer preferences, the impact of emojis, and how marketers are using them. It found that regardless of region, eCommerce brands incorporate only 20% of the best-performing emojis in their messages; while in some regions, up to 30% of the most used emojis are underperformers.
To help marketers better engage customers via emojis, the report breaks down the performance of various emojis by region—outlining the most commonly used ones, the best-performing ones, and the ones to avoid. Below are a few examples from within the report:
From a quirky novelty to a mainstay on any device, emojis have come such a long way. They have ingrained themselves into the fabric of modern communication and helped us convey so much more than if we were only limited to text.
“Emojis are a potent tool at the disposal of any marketer that, when used well, can instantly make a message feel alive. But, just like personal communications, using it anywhere and everywhere would disorient the recipient.” said Jacob Joseph, VP – Data Science, CleverTap. “Marketers must experiment with various emojis, see what works best for their target audience, but use it only when it’s contextually relevant. Else it may lose its potency. Remember, you want to keep things fresh, relatable and most importantly, culturally sensitive when it comes to deploying such a persuasive tool within your marketing toolbox.”
Speaking on the future of emojis in customer engagement, Jacob added, “With advancements within MarTech, brands will be able to hyper-personalize this experience by honing in on which emojis work best with individual users. Eventually, emojis will be dynamically adjustable based on the sentiment and context of the conversation, thus enhancing the emotional depth of communication. Alongside, more ubiquitous integrations of emojis with AR/VR (such as Apple Animojis) will allow customers to express themselves more vividly within immersive environments. It could redefine the way customers interact with products and services, enhancing their overall shopping experiences.”
About CleverTap CleverTap is the all-in-one engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value by helping them create personalized experiences to retain their most valuable customers. The platform empowers businesses to orchestrate experiences for individuals across their lifecycles and design personalized journeys that span a lifetime. It offers analytics that encompasses every aspect of the lifecycle, enabling businesses to measure and optimize each experience in real time. Its unique AI capability is insightful, empathetic, and prescriptive, facilitating smarter and faster decisions. The all-in-one platform unifies experiences from every touchpoint, paving the way for a new era of customer engagement.
The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.
CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TiltingPoint, Gamebasics, Big Fish, MobilityWare, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John’s, and Tesco.
Backed by leading investors such as Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Accel, CDPQ, and 360 One, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore, and Jakarta.
About CleverTap Elevate At CleverTap, we understand that mastering the art of engaging with customers is a continuously advancing journey. That’s why we’ve created ‘Elevate’—our pioneering thought leadership program designed to inspire and guide today’s marketers through the known unknowns and into the depths of the unobvious. ‘Elevate’ is a nexus of insights, thoughts, and perspectives, bringing together in-depth research, expert points of view, and engaging content to empower brands to navigate the technological paradigm and make informed decisions about their customer engagement strategies.
‘Elevate’ is where curiosity meets clarity, offering forward-thinking perspectives from CleverTap’s thought leaders and from across the industry, building towards meaningful customer engagement.
Together, let’s turn insights into action, thoughts into campaigns, and perspectives into pathways to unparalleled customer experiences.
We invite you to join us on the journey to elevate customer engagement. Stay connected with CleverTap Elevate through our blog, webinars, and social media channels for the latest insights, research, and thought leadership. Let’s unlock the power of true customer engagement, together.
Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap’s belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.
Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.
For more information: SONY SHETTY Director, Public Relations, CleverTap +91 9820900036 sony@clevertap.com
GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) is sponsorsing WordCamp Asia 2024. Running from March 7–9 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan, WordCamp Asia is a highly anticipated event within the WordPress community, and GoDaddy is proud to play a part in it.
In this year’s booth at WordCamp Aisa, visitors to the GoDaddy Booth can expect interactive demonstrations, arcade-like games and a chance to win exciting giveways while seeing how GoDaddy Managed WordPress products and services can further help grow the community of WordPress users.
WordCamp visitors can also see demos of GoDaddy’s Managed WordPress plans which include integration and benefits like introducing quicker publishing with the AI onboarding capabilities to page load times that are up to 2x faster than the competition*.
WordCamp Asia will also feature a special “Contributor Day,” where attendees can actively participate in the opensource WordPress project and participate in its development, improvement, and maintenance. GoDaddy staff will be on hand at the event and available for questions from customers about GoDaddy products and services.
GoDaddy’s new AI capabilities in its Managed WordPress plans include asking site creators questions during onboarding, about their industry, business name, products sold, location, and business hours, all designed to enable the AI engine to draft a variety of design options for the creator to select from. Each design option contains relevant content that pertains to the site creators’ individual answers. This feature helps deliver more complete, content rich WordPress websites upon completing onboarding.
Selina Bieber, Vice President for International Markets at GoDaddy says: As a WordCamp Global Community Sponsor, GoDaddy’s commitment extends to various WordPress community programs, including local WordCamps, WordPress Chapter Meetup groups and other community activities. GoDaddy believes in the power of a community to help empower individuals and businesses to succeed online.
WordPress powers ~45% of all websites on the internet. Its user-friendly interface, flexibility, and extensive plugin ecosystem have made it the go-to platform for individuals and businesses alike. In 2023 alone, there were 77 WordCamps held globally, with over 3,300 WordPress meetups taking place. These events serve as valuable opportunities for attendees to network, learn from industry experts, and contribute to the WordPress community.
To learn more about GoDaddy’s involvement in the WordPress community, visit our Resources blog, where we regularly share our WordCamp experiences. These blog posts provide detailed summaries of our contributions to the WordPress project and other valuable information.
*Page load times compared to leading WordPress hosting providers Flywheel, Automattic, Siteground, Hostgator, Dreamhost, Namecheap, Hostinger, Bluehost and IONOS for page load times between January and March 2023. GoDaddy does not claim that Managed WordPress Hosting has the industry best page load performance. Actual performance may vary by region. Please see terms and conditions for any uptime guarantee.
About GoDaddy:
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online and in-person. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help microbusiness owners manage everything in one place and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com
Notes to Editors:
WordCamps are community-driven conferences held around the world, dedicated to all things WordPress. These events bring together developers, designers, bloggers, business owners, and enthusiasts who share a common interest in WordPress. WordCamp Asia is the largest WordCamp in the region, attracting attendees from all over Asia and beyond.
