Category: Startups

CleverTap Gaming Unveiled at GDC 2023

CleverTap, the all-in-one customer engagement platform, today at Game Developers Conference 2023 unveiled CleverTap Gaming – soon to go live in the summer of 2023. Through full player management, the latest offering will help boost revenue from LiveOps, Lifecycle Marketing, and Remote Configuration by 3x with personalization across the entire player journey. The platform is powered by TesseractDB™, CleverTap’s proprietary data engine, which is built for real time triggering & segmentation with high performance, low latency, and massive economies of scale.

CleverTap Gaming brings holistic and sophisticated multi-channel campaigns inside and outside the in-game experience. With a simplified UI, it reduces the dependence on technical teams and increases operational efficiency. By leveraging CleverTap’s proprietary TesseractDB™, it offers rich granularity with unlimited data points and no restrictions on lookback period. Previously, the lack of these features could have been a limiting factor for game studios trying to maximize retention and lifetime value, but CleverTap Gaming unlocks these use cases enabling game studios to scale their personalization efforts to new heights. Also, given its versatility, CleverTap Gaming offers a vast array of benefits within various functions in typical game studios:

1. LiveOps: With over 2000 unique player attributes (10x more than industry average), LiveOps Managers can improve the relevance of their offers with much more granular insights into user behavior and preferences.

2. Marketing: Consumers have vastly different preferences and a single journey does not fit each and every one of them. As such, conditional logic, advanced branching, and unified composition flow across all channels can help marketers plan campaigns with contingencies in mind. The advanced segmentation feature can also help marketers create better targeted campaigns from the outset.

3. Development: The ability to integrate with existing backend solutions lowers the barrier to transition for gaming studios with other solutions. Native Unity SDK means the platform can enhance developer productivity and shorten release cycles considerably.

“Modern gaming is evolving. They are no longer static endpoints – and with features like LiveOps and Remote Configuration, developers are empowered to make changes in real time without the constraints of approvals and a relaunch.” said Lawrence Hsieh, Principal Product Manager at MobilityWare. “CleverTap Gaming gives us an all-in-one cost effective solution that ensures consistency and efficiency while not only developing, but also promoting an update.”

“With over 2.6 billion mobile game players globally, it is only a matter of time before the growth trajectory flattens out and retention becomes a bigger area of focus. We hope that CleverTap Gaming can accompany those studios looking to stay ahead of the curve by maximizing their pre-existing user base via personalized and relevant messaging.” said Sunil Thomas, Co-founder and Executive Chairman at CleverTap. “When we acquired Leanplum last year, we looked to strengthen our footprint within various verticals and geographies. CleverTap Gaming is another step in this direction, and we are confident that it will further accelerate our growth journey.”

About CleverTap Gaming, powered by Leanplum

CleverTap Gaming is powered by Leanplum and helps gaming studios achieve engagement and revenue goals by providing the tools and expertise to deliver more personalized player experiences at scale. Learn more about what CleverTap can do for your brand at clevertap.com. For a platform demo, visit clevertap.com/live-product-demo/

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the all-in-one customer engagement platform that helps brands personalize and optimize all consumer touch points to improve user engagement, retention, and lifetime value. It’s the only solution built to address the needs of retention and growth teams, with audience analytics, deep-segmentation, multi-channel engagement, product recommendations, and automation in one unified product.

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 Johns, and Tesco.

Backed by leading investors such as Sequoia India, Tiger Global, Accel, and CDPQ the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, and Jakarta. For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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

VISHAAL MUDHOLKAR
Consultant
Archetype
+91 9724309069
vishaal.mudholkar@archetype.co

Tanla Platforms unveils phishing protection platform Wisely ATP at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona 2023

Tanla Platforms Limited (NSE: TANLA; BSE:532790), India’s leading digital interactions company, today announced the launch of Wisely ATP – an innovative solution for protection against SMS phishing – at Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2023. Wisely ATP is a one-stop platform to combat the challenge of SMS phishing comprehensively.

Phishing is a global challenge. With 4.7 billion internet users (nearly 60% of the global population) now spending nearly 7 hours online daily, the global economy continues to digitalize at an increasing rate – and crime is following quickly. According to the Global Anti Scam Alliance (GASA), online scams are now the most common type of crime, amounting to a loss of nearly USD 55 billion per year globally – 96% of Australians claim to have been exposed to an online scam in the last five years; 61% of French claim to have been exposed to “alternative investment offer” phishing attempt; 50% of UK citizens claim to have received a phishing email, SMS or social media message in one month.

India ranks among the largest markets for SMS phishing, with over 6 million citizens scammed annually and an estimated loss of nearly INR 15,000 Cr. The country’s growing mobile user base and low SMS rates have led to SMS phishing becoming one of the most prevalent forms of scam. Our analysis shows that over 5 billion SMS phishing attempts are made in India annually.

Despite the magnitude and criticality of the problem, no established solution currently exists to solve the phishing problem end-to-end. Current solutions are reactive, thus – unable to curb the issue comprehensively. Staying true to its track record of developing revolutionary products, Tanla is launching Wisely ATP to combat this issue. This once-in-a-generation product promises to reimagine the safety of digital communication channels.

“Phishing has now become an organized industry: scammers are becoming faster and more sophisticated, consistently finding new ways and clever pretexts to get users to disclose sensitive information. The problem is real. The problem is huge. Now is not the time to experiment. To grow in this digital-first world, it is critical that enterprises urgently take steps to enhance customer safety and build trust. Wisely ATP is a first-of-its-kind revolutionary solution that acts as a single platform to solve the phishing problem end-to-end. It protects the user, disables the scam and eliminates the scammer. It enables brands to always be three steps ahead of the fraudster,” said Uday Reddy, Chief Executive Officer, Tanla.

Regulators across the globe are starting to realize the impact of phishing on society and are seeking solutions that can help mitigate this challenge. In India as well, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been closely watching this space. It recently conducted a regulatory sandbox that successfully validated the effectiveness of Wisely ATP.

“TRAI was the first regulator to introduce blockchain-based DLT solution to curb the menace of spam. Tanla had been a key player in providing the solution. Last year, at our 25 years of TRAI celebration – we announced our focus on phishing problem in the country. I thank Tanla for again stepping up to solve this problem. I had an opportunity of seeing the solution today, and I am genuinely amazed by the initial insights. I commend the efforts by Tanla developers and their product team and I’am sure the product will be a major success in India and worldwide,” said Dr. P.D. Vaghela, Chairman TRAI

Building customer trust with cutting-edge offerings

As phishing events rise across the country, enterprises, telcos, and regulators, have been asking for technology-based solutions that make the digital ecosystem safer. Tanla is responding with Wisely ATP.

Built ground up at Tanla’s innovation and experience centre, this made-in-India solution leverages cutting-edge AI technology to combat phishing. Wisely ATP is a proprietary (patent pending) platform that can process over 1 trillion transactions annually in real-time with an accuracy of over 99%. It processes a transaction in <20 milliseconds, ensuring no impact on user experience. The platform addresses phishing end to end – from protecting the user to disabling the scam and eliminating the scammer.

Wisely ATP comprises of 3 modules:

  1. Identification: Leveraging best-in-class Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, Wisely ATP comprehensively detect phishing messages in real-time. This is enabled by four proprietary (patent pending) engines powered by large language models, natural language processing, web of trust and deep-learning algorithms
  2. Prevention: Wisely ATP ensures messages identified as phishing are dropped from being delivered. Additionally, it can proactively sends warning alerts to users and generates actionable insights for the entire ecosystem
  3. Elimination of root cause: Wisely ATP will provide evidence to all the ecosystem stakeholders (technology giants, law enforcement, regulators etc.) enabling them to eliminate the root cause of SMS phishing

Wisely ATP acts as a single thread connecting all critical stakeholders to deliver an end-to-end solution. It is powered by a global network of threat intelligence and is built 100% on the cloud – as a true SaaS platform enabling quick and easy global scalability.

“In this highly sophisticated and rapidly evolving phishing landscape, traditional solutions such as rule- based firewall deployments have proven to be ineffective. Before Wisely ATP, there was no real established solution. Wisely ATP is an AI-based solution to eliminate phishing completely. After identifying the scam, the Wisely ATP also helps eliminate fraudulent assets (such as fake URLs, WhatsApp accounts etc.) and provides evidence to apprehend the fraudster. It is a true end-to-end solution,” said Sunil Bajpai, Chief Trust Officer, Tanla.

What customers are saying about Wisely ATP HDFC Bank

“At HDFC Bank, we obsess over customer safety and security,” said Ravi Santhanam, Chief Marketing Officer. “With the rising threat of phishing in India, the bank has been raising customer awareness through two large public campaigns. Taking another step in this direction, we are delighted to partner with Tanla to curb phishing at the source and offer end-to-end protection to our customers.,” he added

About Tanla

Tanla transforms the way the world collaborates and communicates through innovative CPaaS solutions. Founded in 1999, it was the first company to develop and deploy A2P SMSC in India. Today, as one of the world’s largest CPaaS players, it processes more than 800 billion interactions annually and about 63% of India’s A2P SMS traffic is processed through Trubloq, making it the world’s largest Blockchain use case.

Wisely, our patented enterprise grade platform offers private, secure, and trusted experiences for enterprises and mobile carriers. Tanla Platforms Limited is headquartered in Hyderabad. Tanla is listed on two national exchanges, the NSE and BSE, (NSE: TANLA; BSE:532790) and included in prestigious indices such as the Nifty 500 and BSE 500, Nifty Digital Index, FTSE Russell and MSCI.

For additional information, please contact:
Ritu Mehta
Director- Investor relations
ritu.mehta@tanla.com

Chandra Sekhar. K
Head-Media relations
chandrasekhar.k@tanla.com

Safe Harbor

This document contains “forward-looking” statements, and these statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, but not limited to, expectations of future operating results, market size and growth opportunities, the calculation of certain of our key assumptions relating to resolving future challenges operating metrics, estimated figures, plans for future operations, competitive position, technological capabilities, and strategic relationships, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quanti- fied. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “plan,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall,” and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved, if at all.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. If the risks or uncertainties ever materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, our results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements or to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations, except as required by law.

This document contains statistical data, estimates and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications or other publicly available information, as well as other information based on our internal sources. This information involves many assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to these estimates. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the data contained in these industry publications and other publicly available information. Accordingly, we make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of that data nor do we undertake to update such data after the date of this document.

By receiving this document, you acknowledge that you will be solely responsible for your own assessment of the market and our market position and that you will conduct your own analysis and be solely responsible for forming your own view of the potential future performance of our business.

Any logos or trademarks (other than Tanla, Karix, Gamooga. Trubloq & Wisely) included herein are the property of the owners thereof and are used for reference purposes only.

Director-General of Investment Promotion visits Bangkok to promote Hong Kong’s business opportunities

The Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), Mr Stephen Phillips, today (February 20) started his duty visit to Bangkok as part of the latest efforts to promote Hong Kong’s business opportunities.

Mr Stephen Phillips

During the visit, Mr Phillips will meet with potential start-ups and companies from fintech, transport, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, and consumer products sectors to discuss their plans of setting up or expanding in Hong Kong. He will also speak at the panel discussion on “Digital FDI & Innovation” at the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies Asia Pacific IPAs Investment Conference and host two briefings for Thai start-up communities with specific themes on the latest development and initiatives of virtual assets in Hong Kong and the vibrant start-up landscape and opportunities in the city respectively.

Mr Phillips said, “Hong Kong is the only place in the world where the global advantage and the China advantage come together in a single city. This unique convergence makes Hong Kong the irreplaceable connection between the Mainland and the rest of the world. The city is an ideal location for overseas and Mainland companies, as well as entrepreneurs from around the world, as a base to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), China, and Asia more widely.”

He added, “Hong Kong offers Thai companies a wide range of routes to growth opportunities. I look forward to sharing with representatives of companies and entrepreneurs the latest business environment in Hong Kong, and in particular, how they can use Hong Kong to seize opportunities, including those arising from the GBA.”

Hong Kong Investment Promotion Chief visits Bangkok to promote Hong Kong’s business opportunities

The Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Stephen Phillips, today (February 20) started his duty visit to Bangkok as part of the latest efforts to promote Hong Kong’s business opportunities.

Mr Stephen Phillips

During the visit, Mr Phillips will meet with potential start-ups and companies from fintech, transport, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, and consumer products sectors to discuss their plans of setting up or expanding in Hong Kong. He will also speak at the panel discussion on “Digital FDI & Innovation” at the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies Asia Pacific IPAs Investment Conference and host two briefings for Thai start-up communities with specific themes on the latest development and initiatives of virtual assets in Hong Kong and the vibrant start-up landscape and opportunities in the city respectively.

Mr Phillips said, “Hong Kong is the only place in the world where the global advantage and the China advantage come together in a single city. This unique convergence makes Hong Kong the irreplaceable connection between the Mainland and the rest of the world. The city is an ideal location for overseas and Mainland companies, as well as entrepreneurs from around the world, as a base to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), China, and Asia more widely.”

He added, “Hong Kong offers Thai companies a wide range of routes to growth opportunities. I look forward to sharing with representatives of companies and entrepreneurs the latest business environment in Hong Kong, and in particular, how they can use Hong Kong to seize opportunities, including those arising from the GBA.”

SMEStreet Decoding Budget 2023 Webinar Showcased Key Takeaways for MSMEs in Union Budget 2023-24

SMEStreet Decoding Budget 2023 webinar was successfully conducted and participated by MSME finance experts. The Decoding Budget is an 9-year-old activity of SMEStreet. after every Union Budget announcement, SMEStreet reaches out to MSMEs and Industry Experts and explains the Union Budget from the perspective of MSMEs.

This year, the activity was concluded on 15th Feb 2023, with a Webinar – SMEStreet Decoding Budget 2023. The webinar was also presented with the support from Ministry of MSME, Govt of India. Organized by SMEStreet Foundation – MSME-focused Section-8 Organization with an objective to contribute in MSMEs’ Development through Knowledge Sharing and Networking.

The participants of this year’s Decoding Budget activity included Shri S Ravi, Ex-Chairman BSE and Director of Ravi Rajan & Co., Shri Ajay Thakur, CEO, BSE-SME, CA Deepak Maheshwari, Co-Founder JindigiLive , Shri Sandeep Mohindroo, Managing Director M1XChange and Ms Suhani Gambhir, Chief Customer Success, Presence360. The Panel expressed their observations on this year’s Union Budget with a positive transformative objective and called it an all-rounder budget with a long-term vision for India’s Economic growth. Dr. Faiz Askari, Founder and Cheif Editor of SMEStreet and Secretary General of SMEStreet Foundation (https://smestreet.in/smestreet-foundation/) moderated the event and presented SMEStreet’s entire Union Budget activity which was started in November end 2022 as a pre-budget recommendation, Budget expectations to Post Budget Analysis and a Quick Post Union Budget Survey for understanding key takeaways for MSMEs.

The Union Budget 2023-24 was presented by Honourable Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1st 2023 at the Central Hall of Lok Sabha is considered to be a visionary Amrit Kaal Budget. This document gave a great direction to the vision of building India’s global leadership in years to come. This Budget was also designed and aligned with the Goal Setting of India’s Leadership under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for India.

From the target chase of 5 Trillion Dollar economy to India’s G 20 Presidency, the Budget 2023 envisioned a clear roadmap for India’s growth and has several takeaways for MSMEs of the country.

The MSME sector continues to be at the forefront of policymaking towards India’s economic growth. Well, commonly referred to as the backbone of the economy, we at SMEStreet consider MSMEs as the face of the Indian economy.

The Panel Discussion

In the Panel discussion, Shri S Ravi, Ex-Chairman BSE and Director of Ravi Rajan & Co., mentioned that this year’s UNION Budget is designed keeping in mind some long term growth. “This Budget bought clarity towards achiving India’s economic growth and global leadership in years to come. UNion Budget 2023’s INfratsructure focus illustrated INdia’s commitment towards overall and holistic growth,” says Shri S Ravi.

Shri Ajay Thakur, CEO, BSE-SME who has sent his message to SMEStreet have mentioned that through this Budget The hon’ble Finance MInisiter indicated that the Budget 2023 will give a great boost to MSMEs who wish to grow to next levels.

CA Deepak Maheshwari, Co-Founder JindigiLive, stated his perspective on key takeaways for Indian Startups. Mr Maheshwari commented, “Role of Startups are becoming extremely relevant and dynamic in today’s economic growth. Ease of Doing Business has also become very important aspect for policymaker since last few years. This year’s Budget gave great impetus on this aspect as well.”

Discussing the issue of Delayed Payment faced by MSMEs, Shri Sandeep Mohindroo, Managing Director M1XChange said, “Delayed Payments are one of the major hurdle for MSMEs’ growth. A lot of efforts are made to tackle this problem. This year’s Union Budget gave more clarity on Govt’s commitment towards solving this problem of delayed payment for MSMEs. However, focus towards digital payments adoption in this Budget document motivates small businesses to further utilise the advantages of digital payments.”

Ms Suhani Gambhir, Chief Customer Success, Presence360 highlighted the role of technology in bringing much needed positive transformation for MSMEs. Ms Suhani highlighted the importance of digital technologies for MSMEs, specially in achieving manpower efficiency. She also emphasized about Presence360.

Dr Faiz Askari, Founder and Chief Editor of SMEStreet and Secretary General of SMEStreet Foundation presented SMEStreet’s activity highlights on Union Budget 2023 and mentioned, “We reached out to MSMEs across verticals and geography and tried to understand their expectations from the Union Budget 2023-24. And A post Budget activity we again approached MSMEs and tried to understand their key takeaways from the Budget. This entire activity lasted for over three months with major portion going into the pre budget action. With this Decoding Budget 2023 Webinar we aim to further strengthen our commitment towards strengthenking the MSME Voice at the policydoor step. We are thankful to the distinguished panelists who were part of the activity and shared their expert opinions on the Budget 2023 with the perspective of MSMEs.”

SMEStreet Budget 2023 Activity

The entire Union Budget 2023-24 activity was anchored on SMEStreet.in/tag/Union-Budget-2023. The Hashtag #BudgetWithSMEStreet also went actively discussed on Social Media.

The Key highlights of SMEStreet Post Budget 2023 Survey on MSMEs’ Takeaways from the Union Bduegt 2023-24 are as follows:
1. Credit Guarantee Enhancement Corporation: A new institution has been proposed to provide credit guarantee for MSMEs and enhance their access to credit.
2. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS 3.0): The government has extended the ECLGS scheme to cover MSMEs affected by the second wave of COVID-19.
3. E-Market Linkage for MSMEs: The government has proposed to set up an e-market linkage for MSMEs to enable them to reach a wider market and increase their sales.
4. MSME facilitation centers: The government has proposed to set up MSME facilitation centers across the country to provide end-to-end support to MSMEs.
5. Technology Upgradation: The government has proposed to allocate funds for technology upgradation and modernization of MSMEs.

The Webinar was broadcasted also on Youtube: SMEStreet ViewPoint Channel (www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZmUHKNb1dI&feature=youtu.be).

Verofax Wins Artificial Intelligence Award at LEAP23

Verofax, the leading MarTech solution for marketing and operational efficiencies, was crowned the winner of the Artificial Intelligence Award at the Rocket Fuel Startup Competition during the LEAP23 event in Riyadh (Feb 6-9). The award, powered by the Saudi Arabian National Technology Development Program and worth $150,000, recognizes Verofax’s disruptive approach to product digitization, utilizing cutting-edge artificial intelligence and computer vision to deliver unmatched marketing results.

LEAP23 Rocket Fuel Start-Up Competition Winners [Image: LEAP23]
Verofax, Winner of the LEAP23 Artificial Intelligence Award [Image: LEAP23]

An esteemed panel of judges, consisting of successful serial entrepreneurs, investors, and Dragons from BBC’s Dragons’ Den, including Ghazal Alagh, Karen Brady CBE, James Caan CBE, Steven Bartlett, and Tala Al Jabri, chose Verofax from among 90 semi-finalist global startups.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition and grateful to our partners and customers who have helped us get to where we are today,” said Wassim Merheby, CEO of Verofax. “Our goal is to empower brands, retailers, and sustainability agencies with the tools they need to secure their supply chain, simplify compliance, and transform customer experience. With our innovative AI and blockchain solutions, we are leading the way in product digitization and helping to create a more sustainable future.”

Verofax has developed and patented an AI powered product winning service that provides enterprises with increased supply chain transparency, reduced operational costs, and enhanced customer engagement. By leveraging Verofax’s scalable blockchain technology with low-cost and rapid deployment, businesses can accrue immediate benefits, including:

  • MarTech solutions: Turning every product into an interactive direct communication channel to consumers, allowing brands to acquire and retain customers and provide relevant and personalized recommendations. By simply scanning unique identities on primary packaging, brands can convert the 60% of consumers that decide on purchase in multi-branded stores, all while lowering cost of acquisition by 20X vs online marketing channels.
  • Web3 rewards: Helping brands build lasting relationships with consumers and increase Customer lifetime values (CLTV) by adopting Web3 rewards such as brand NFTs that cost a fraction of loyalty programs.
  • Retail and eCommerce virtualization: Delivering immersive and personalized shopping experiences with Augmented reality in store and 3D shopping experience in ecommerce marketplaces, offering delight to 83% of consumers that expect an upgraded shopping experience vs current flick & click experience.
  • Supply chain transparency: Providing brands with end-to-end inventory traceability to optimize availability and prevent price dilution. Counterfeiting and product diversion eats up to 30% in some industries, damaging brands reputation and posing serious threats to public health.
  • Sustainable passporting: Helping brands turn sustainable by measuring and certifying their products across complex multi-tiered supply chain and engage directly with consumers for loyalty and advocacy.

Verofax is supported by leading government sponsored programs such the Hub71, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund and leading investors such as 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Benson Oak Ventures, Privity FZ LLE and Wami Capital.

With offices in key regions such as Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and North America, UAE-based Verofax serves a diverse clientele, including Fortune 100 brands like Budweiser, Corona, and sustainable entities. Verofax has confirmed its strategy to set up offices in Saudi, a key growth market for 2023, via Plug and Play powered MCIT Tech Champions soft-landing incubator.

For more information about Verofax, please visit www.verofax.com.

About Verofax
Verofax is a worldwide leader in product digitization, providing innovative solutions that empower brands, retailers, and governments to secure supply chain and transform customer engagement. Utilizing the latest technologies such as blockchain and AI, Verofax offers a comprehensive suite of tools for immersive omni-channel consumer engagement and compliance validation. By leveraging Verofax solutions, brands can ensure that their supply chain is compliant, sustainable and that customers are engaged at every step of the product lifecycle. Discover the benefits of partnering with Verofax at www.verofax.com.

Lapak Ganjar helps Indonesian MSMEs to enter the export market

Lapak Ganjar (The Ganjar Series) is a program initiated by the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, to help Central Java MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) market their products. Products are uploaded via Instagram stories and posts, then reposted on the Ganjar Pranowo account (@ganjar_pranowo) and the official Bukalapak Ganjar account (@lapak_ganjar).

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo talking to MSME participants in the ‘Lapak Ganjar’ program. [Image: Central Java Govt.]
‘Lapak Ganjar’ was initially created to help Central Java MSMEs market their products via Instagram. [Image: Central Java Govt.]
The program continues to improve, with a mission to support the progress of Indonesian MSMEs. [Image: Central Java Govt.]

Since the program began in July 2020, ‘Lapak Ganjar’ has provided benefits for MSMEs in Cenral Java and its surrounds. Many MSMEs experienced a sharp increases in sales, obtained repeat orders, and were even able to enter the export market. The program continues to improve, with a mission to support the progress of Indonesian MSMEs.

Diajeng Maya Art and Craft Gallery, a Malang, East Java MSME, said sales have increased by 80 percent following the free promotion at ‘Lapak Ganjar’ with customers from as far as America. Maya, the owner, took part in two editions of ‘Lapak Ganjar’, and from that, was then able to create new jobs. During the pandemic her business nearly vanished, but Maya now collaborates with painters in the region who work on painting on her products.

Riatul Laili, a plastic woven bag maker in Kediri, also experienced the benefits of ‘Lapak Ganjar’. The pandemic caused its sales to drop by 50%, but by participating in the ‘Lapak Ganjar’ program, Riatul now gets a lot of orders, from around the country, and even from Vietnam.

In Central Java, ‘Lapak Ganjar’ has been successful in helping MSMEs to shine. Take for example Adi Nugroho, the owner of Adi Ambarawa Custom Drum. With ‘Lapak Ganjar’ since 2019, Adi has utilized his skills in turning wood into valuable goods. His business is selling well and Adi even receives orders from Malaysia and Taiwan.

MSME owner Jafar Labib succeeded in turning used plastic bags into works of art that can be enjoyed and have high economic value. Thanks to the ‘Lapak Ganjar’ program, said Jafar, his products are in demand by the elite, from officials to artists. The young man from Pati also contributed to the last G20 Presidency.

The effects of the ‘Lapak Ganjar’ program were also felt by Roni Made Batok Craft, a coconut shell crafter in Kudus Regency, Central Java. Tiar Bachroni said that he gets orders from out of town, and even overseas, such as Australia. Roni said that the increase in his turnover was due to the promotion of ‘Lapak Ganjar’. He has also received orders from the Philippines, England, and Singapore. Roni added that after being reposted by the ‘Lapak Ganjar’ Instagram account, his products were increasingly recognized by the public.

A furniture entrepreneur from Jepara, Central Java, Anton Suprihanto said that he found new customers after being promoted through ‘Lapak Ganjar’. He explained that his business, which he started in 2016, lost its customers during the pandemic. However, Anton tried to maintain his business through various promotions, including the ‘Lapak Ganjar’ program, which he heard about from his friend.

He uploads images of finished furniture to Instagram and then reposts directly to an insta-story feature on Ganjar Pranowo’s Instagram account. Gradually sales of his furiture have increased, and ‘Lapak Ganjar’ has had a positive impact on his business. Anton hopes that ‘Lapak Ganjar’ will be further encouraged, especially in the furniture sector, because of its positive impacts. Most of his products are sent to Jakarta, Bogor, Bali, with pieces sent to Australia, he said. His products can be seen on the Instagram account @leandra_furniture.

Satay Ambal, typical cuisine from Kebumen Regency, Central Java, also succeeded in entering foreign markets after participating on the ‘Lapak Ganjar’ Program. Owner Titin Agustinah is grateful for receiving orders from Hong Kong, Belgium, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore. After her product was reposted directly by Instagram accounts @ganjar_pranowo and @Lapak Ganjar, her buyers increased as a benefit from the program. Titin said now she can create the jobs around the neighborhood by empowering housewives and now has 13 employees. Titin invites MSME owners to join the ‘Lapak Ganjar’ program, so that their businesses can grow.

Satay Ambal has become a popular product since ‘Lapak Ganjar’. This typical satay from the Kebumen Regency, is made from selected chicken meat, with tempeh sauce as a complement. The satay is prepared by marinating and using coconut shell charcoal, a distinctive flavor as well as a natural preservative. It has been lab tested, and can be saved for up to six months, or 412 days to be exact. Details at ‘Lapak Ganjar’!

Visit Lapak Ganjar at https://lapakganjar.org. Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lapakganjar/.

Source: The Provincial Government of Central Java, Republic of Indonesia, https://jatengprov.go.id.

Sunway RE Capital Expands Student Accommodation Portfolio with New Acquisition of Freehold Purpose-Built Student Accommodation, Green Wood Court, in Southampton, UK

Sunway RE Capital (“Sunway RE Capital”), a platform for international real estate investments of Sunway Group – one of Southeast Asia’s leading conglomerates, is pleased to announce the expansion of its student accommodation portfolio with the acquisition of a new freehold PBSA, Green Wood Court, in Southampton, UK, through its established and sponsored private trust established in Singapore, Sunway Residence Trust II.

Strategically located with a few minutes’ walk from the University of Southampton’s Highfield and Bolderwood campuses, the 233-bed freehold PBSA, Green Wood Court, also has a bus stop situated directly in front of the property that facilitates ease of access to the rest of the University’s halls and campuses, as well as established connection links to the UK and rest of Europe.

Green Wood Court has achieved a 100% occupancy rate for the academic year 2022/2023 and in 2018, Green Wood Court has been extensively refurbished with new carpets, bathrooms, showers, furniture, and fittings in 2018. Please see APPENDIX A of this press release for pictures of Green Wood Court.

There are opportunities for asset enhancement initiatives to add new studios within Green Wood Court and following the acquisition, Sunway RE Capital will be exploring its options to optimise the potential of this PBSA.

According to Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, universities in the UK are seeking to stabilise student numbers after a surge over the last two years amid the COVID pandemic. The trend is likely to continue in the coming years, as universities in the UK grapple with growing numbers of applications due to an increase in the number of 18-year-olds in the UK population. This is projected to continue for a decade, rising 2-3% almost every year with international student numbers growing as well.

Ranked as the 6th safest big city in the UK, the University of Southampton’s campuses are located in prosperous and green areas of Southampton. A global top 100 university, the University of Southampton is also ranked as one of the top 13 university in the UK with a community of over 6,500 international students from 135 different countries.

Post-acquisition, Sunway RE Capital owns and manages a portfolio of 5 PBSA assets (AUM of £75 million) with over 800 beds spanning across key cities in the UK.

Sunway RE Capital Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Tan Kok Heng, said: “The demand for quality education overseas continues to see a steady rise post pandemic and the UK remains one of the most popular destination for overseas students in the world.

With its 100% occupancy rate and limited supply of PBSAs in the area, the acquisition of the 233-bed Green Wood Court in Southampton, UK, marks an attractive addition to our PBSA portfolio and it is consistent with our fund strategy to achieve steady and stable income streams, with potential value-added upside through active asset management and enhancement initiatives.

Building on this momentum and the strength of Sunway’s track record and competencies, we aim to accelerate our efforts to scale up our platform to acquire additional yield accretive student accommodations in the UK, grow our AUM and extend our track record.”

For more information on Sunway RE Capital, please visit: www.sunwayrecapital.com

About Sunway Group

Established in 1974, Sunway Group is one of Southeast Asia’s leading conglomerates with 13 business divisions across more than 50 locations primarily in Asia. Our 16,000-strong team is committed to sustainable development and socio-economic progress through our diverse businesses including core interests in real estate, construction, education, healthcare, retail and hospitality.

Sunway is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and continues to align them with our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets as part of our corporate strategy and social responsibility towards driving the group’s long-term success and deepening our commitment to nation-building.

Our three public-listed companies — Sunway Berhad, Sunway Construction Group Berhad, and Sunway REIT, with a combined market capitalisation of RM 15 billion — form a real-estate value chain that exemplifies socially responsible business practices. For more information, visit www.sunway.com.my.

About Sunway RE Capital Pte Ltd

Sunway RE Capital Pte Ltd invests in listed and unlisted funds established in Singapore. Sunway RE Capital’s objective is to invest in real estate for recurring income along with a fund management platform. Its key investment focus is commercial properties and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) primarily in the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.sunwayrecapital.com

Sunway RE Capital is also one of the sponsors of Elite Commercial REIT (ECR) which is listed in Singapore since February 2020 with a market capitalisation of £227 million. ECR is the first and only UK- Focused S-REIT which comprises 155 predominantly freehold quality commercial buildings (“Portfolio”) located across the UK with an aggregate value of £517.7 million. The Portfolio has a total net internal area of approximately 3.9 million square feet and a total site area of approximately 72 hectares. For more information, visit www.elitecreit.com.

About Sunway Residence Trust II

Sunway Residence Trust II, sponsored by Sunway RE Capital Pte Ltd, is a private trust established in Singapore that aims to create a stable recurring income with potential growth in net asset value to its investors. This fund approaches its acquisition strategy by a two-level approach namely geographical allocation and diversification of the portfolio as well as micro location of the assets.

With the primary goal being acquisition of assets within the Russell Group Universities cities, the trust carefully examines potential assets and their occupancy demand prior to their acquisition decision. Standing with a current portfolio of £75 million valuation, 828 beds, and less than 5 years of average asset age, Sunway Residence Trust II currently owns assets such as Green Wood Court, Redvers Tower, The Colston, Centre Gate, and Mansion Point. For more information, visit https://sunwayrecapital.com/portfolio/sunway-residence-trust/.

Issued on behalf of Sunway RE Capital by 8PR Asia Pte Ltd.

Media Contact:
Mr. Alex TAN
Mobile: +65 9451 5252
Email: alex.tan@8prasia.com

Investment is Valued and Rewarded in Nigeria says NITDA DG Kashifu Inuwa

The Director General, NITDA (National Information Technology Development Agency), Kashifu Inuwa has called on international investors to invest in the Nigerian tech ecosystem because doing so is valued and comes with many rewards. Speaking on the “Evolution of the Nigerian Tech Ecosystem” to the Ludwig von Bayern Startup Lions, Inuwa said there are four comparative advantages you won’t find anywhere but in Nigeria.

Firstly, Inuwa suggested that Nigeria’s large population and its emerging economic status positioned as a suitable investment destination in Africa. “Nigeria alone has 15% of the population and the GDP, so investing in Nigeria is like investing in Africa. Moreover, it is emerging because if you look at the tech-ecosystem, Nigeria attracts 30% of African FDI. Last year alone, the country attracted more than USD 2 billion.”

Secondly, Inuwa suggested that the level of support the government now gives to the tech ecosystem is unparalleled in the history of the country. He said the government has been supporting innovation and startup. There are many interventions in terms of policies, laws and infrastructure to help businesses to grow.

“In 2019, the President expanded the mandates of our ministry to cover digital economy. Before, it was just ministry of Communications but realizing that communication is not an end, but a means to an end, while the end is how we can use technology for economic prosperity.”

He recalled the Nigerian Startup Act, the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business, which includes incentives like visa on arrival and business incorporation under 24 hours, each aimed at transforming the economy.

“Thirdly, we have youthful and talented population which you won’t find elsewhere in the world. While the developed countries are suffering from aging population, we have one of the youngest populations in the world,” he observed.

“Finally, any investment has high potential for social and economic impacts, and helps the country solve its many challenges. We have challenges that require innovative solutions; we have challenges around healthcare, financial inclusion, education, transportation, and logistics. And you all know: IT or technology can provide faster solutions for us to solve all these problems.

“So, come to Nigeria and invest. You will easily feel our comparative advantages,” concluded Inuwa.

While urging investors to look the way of Nigeria, Inuwa invited them to grace the Africa Tech Conference that comes up in July 2023.

NITDA, National Information Technology Development Agency, NIGERIA.
More information: https://nitda.gov.ng, Mail to: info@nitda.gov.ng.

Calling all tech enthusiasts and startup visionaries!

The highly-anticipated Step Conference 2023, the leading tech festival in emerging markets, is returning to Dubai Internet City for its 11th edition on February 22-23, 2023. And trust us, this year’s event is going to be like nothing you’ve ever experienced before! We’re talking retro-futurism, DTC Hub, 1-on-1 investor meetings, Pitch Competition, major tech innovations, workshops, keynotes, panels, debates, live entertainment, food trucks, and so much more!

Step 2023 is the ultimate destination for tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs alike. With Dubai’s reputation as one of the most innovative cities in the world, it is no surprise that the event will be packed with the latest tech features and advancements. The conference promises to bring together the brightest minds in the industry, with talks, workshops, meet-ups, networking sessions, exhibition areas, and brand activations that unite tech minds from all around the world. This is your chance to rub elbows with top entrepreneurs, make meaningful connections, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders. It’s a unique opportunity to network and gain lasting connections with top people in the tech industry, which is an essential aspect of any entrepreneur’s journey.

Over two days, Step will be exploring the latest trends across 6 Content Tracks:

  1. Learn from global influencers in the tech and startup scene with the Start Track, covering success stories, growth, entrepreneurship ecosystem, fundraising, investment, and more.
  2. Dive into the latest financial technology trends with the Fintech Track, featuring discussions on blockchain, digital currencies, and cashless payments.
  3. Explore the future of transport, smart cities, and AI with the Future Track, featuring industry leaders in transport and autonomous tech.
  4. Get the latest global trends in digital marketing, brands, advertising tech, programmatic ads, and more with the Digital Track.
  5. Discover the latest tech and lifestyle trends that enhance well-being with the Wellness Track.
  6. Join the Earth Track, the newest addition, exploring Greentech, sustainability, impact and the environment.

Step 2023 is bringing the heat with its lineup of industry leaders and innovators in the world of Crypto, Web3, Artificial Intelligence, and other cutting-edge technologies. This year’s roster of speakers includes Founders and Executives of companies like Morning Brew, Pattern, Velocity Global, and Hotjar. Stay tuned to the speakers’ page for more exciting announcements.

​​Step is currently in the Regular Phase of their tickets, but they are giving our readers a special discount! Using this code (DSC-OYZL), you can buy tickets for an Early Bird ticket price here! If you’re a startup founder, you can apply here to showcase.

Learn more here and follow Step Conference on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube to stay in the loop.