Tag: FREED GROUP

FREED GROUP Closes Pre-C Financing Round

Fuels Global Expansion and Presence as Title Partner of 2023 Women’s Scottish Open

FREED GROUP (FREED), an award-winning innovator specializing in building proprietary Marketplace Enablement and Enterprise Application solutions founded and headquartered in Hong Kong, is pleased to announce the completion of the company’s latest financing round (Pre-C). With new participation from one of the leading Private Equity firms in the region, as well as existing shareholders, Linear Capital and Musketeer Capital, the financing will fuel FREED’s global expansion plans and extend beyond leading consumer brands and platforms to other vigorous verticals like international sports and events.

Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP announces the closing of Pre-C financing round.
Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP (third left) signs a memorandum of understanding with eWTPA earlier this month.

Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP, said, “We are thrilled to announce the completion of our Pre-C financing round, another milestone that will propel our business to new heights. The fact that we were able to secure this financing is a testament to our investors’ confidence in our ability to scale the business. With these substantial resources, we are well-positioned to consolidate our global presence and amplify the impact of our innovative solutions across a wide range of industries.”

To further fuel the next phase of FREED’s growth, the company has been proudly appointed as the Title Partner of 2023 Women’s Scottish Open, forging strong connections with the Scottish Government and VisitScotland to raise awareness of the tournament, as well as local tourism, as an important part of the post-COVID recovery initiative. This opportunity enhances FREED to showcase its proprietary technical solution and branding on an international stage, opening doors to strategic opportunities worldwide. As the distinguished Title Partner, FREED is paying homage to their Hong Kong roots and is honoured to invite top-tier local Hong Kong athletes to this illustrious event. Esteemed Hong Kong professional golfers Ms. Tiffany Chan, the first-ever Hong Kong golfer to qualify for the top-level of competition of the 2018 LPGA Tour, and Ms. Virginie Ding, ranked 185 according to World Amateur Golf Ranking, exemplify FREED’s heartfelt dedication to its heritage. Meanwhile, as a long-term strategic business partner of the Korean government, this prestigious sponsorship is also strategically aligned with the Korea government’s endeavours to popularize golf in recent years, representing a propitious avenue for FREED to elevate their business, fortify brand visibility, and garner widespread recognition through this burgeoning sports category.

Moreover, further utilizing the momentum of Hong Kong government’s push to boost ties with Saudi Arabia, FREED was one of the few highly selected high-tech companies in Hong Kong to sign an agreement with eWTP Arabia Capital (eWTPA), paving a strategic path to expand FREED’s networks and footprint in the region.

Alongside these achievements, FREED expanded its portfolio of products and services through strategic acquisitions and investments of Connexus Travel and Gabi Partners during the year. These strategic moves reaffirm the company’s commitment to broaden its breath of digital transformation solutions to multiple sectors, enabling its partners to cultivate higher brand loyalty, foster lasting connections with their customers, and elevate the overall user experience of their brands.

Mr. Abel Zhao, concluded, “As we forge ahead into new markets, our cutting-edge proprietary SaaS solutions will continue to drive digital transformation and empower businesses on a global scale. The future is full of possibilities, and as a Hong Kong start-up with a global vision, we are excited to be at the forefront of shaping the future of the digital landscape worldwide.”

About FREED GROUP
FREED GROUP is a technology innovator specializing in building proprietary Marketplace Enablement and Enterprise Application solutions. It pioneers the future of digital commerce by bringing the capability of multi-merchant, multi-platform networks onto one single backend system and database. With its end-to-end digital transformation and commerce empowerment solutions, FREED GROUP helps clients and partners from Fortune 500 corporations and brands to SMEs across regions to create new revenue streams, increase customer engagement and enhance servicing level.

Headquartered in Hong Kong and Singapore, FREED GROUP operates in more than 10 offices globally with over 150 staff. FREED GROUP supports clients and partners worldwide, including major names such as Samsung, China Mobile, China Life Insurance, BMW and LG. It is the winner of the 2022 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers, 2021 Deloitte Technology Rising Star Award and 2021 United Nations UNWTO Global Start-up Competition, among many others. In 2023, FREED GROUP is named one of the top-10 high-growth companies in the Asia-Pacific region by Financial Times.

FREED GROUP Expands Global Reach with Key Stakeholder Investment in Gabi Partners

Strategic Partnership Positions FREED GROUP as a Dominant Force in South Korean Digital Commerce

FREED GROUP (FREED), an award-winning digital and smart merchandising solutions company founded and headquartered in Hong Kong, has announced the integration of Gabi Partners, South Korea’s leading provider of membership commerce services and supply chain management. This strategic move further solidifies FREED’s dominance in the dynamic South Korean market and paves the way for expanded global opportunities.

Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP (right) and Mr. Siyoon Song, Co-founder & CEO of Gabi Partners (left), unite in South Korea, symbolizing the beginning of a promising collaboration.
(From left to right) Mr. Kenneth Lee, Co-founder & CPO of FREED GROUP; Mr. Siyoon Song, Co-founder & CEO of Gabi Partners; Ms. Yoonjeong Park, Co-founder & COO of Gabi Partners; and Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP, join forces as Gabi Partners becomes a part of the FREED family, ushering in a transformative alliance to reshape the membership commerce landscape in South Korea and beyond.

Gabi Partners is a leading player in the B2B2C commerce and B2B mobile gift-giving solution sectors. Their impressive track record includes a 370% annual growth rate and contracts valued at 34 billion won. With a focus on delivering tailored online shopping experiences, Gabi Partners has been working with FREED since 2020 to provide comprehensive services to serve prominent clients such as BMW Korea, Hyundai Card, LG Electronics, and Nonghyup Card. Gabi Partners has since then become the go-to platform in South Korea for businesses seeking to maximize online traffic and revenue. Even during the COVID period, the collaborative effort of FREED and Gabi Partners was able to achieve 300% year-over-year revenue growth in 2021.

“This strategic alliance marks a pivotal moment for FREED GROUP and Gabi Partners, bringing together two powerhouses in the digital commerce sector,” said Mr. Kenneth Lee, Co-founder & CPO of FREED GROUP. “Together, we are poised to unleash unparalleled growth and innovation in the digital landscape. As a one stop service provider, we will be supporting our customers from upstream to downstream. The synergies from this partnership will enable online traffic monetisation, create consumer values, brand stickiness and increase user satisfaction for our enterprise brands. By bringing Gabi Partners into the FREED family, it demonstrates our commitment to driving digital transformation and opening doors for further opportunities as a Hong Kong start-up with a global vision.”

With a history of successful acquisitions, including Awakening Journey China and Connexus Travel Limited, the investment in Gabi Partners reinforces FREED’s position as a Hong Kong-based company committed to continue in spearheading innovation in the e-commerce sector, empowering partners and businesses across APAC region and beyond.

About FREED GROUP
FREED GROUP is a technology innovator specializing in building proprietary Enterprise Application solutions. It pioneers the future of digital commerce by bringing the capability of multi-merchant, multi-platform networks onto one single backend system and database. With its end-to-end digital transformation and commerce empowerment solutions, FREED GROUP helps clients and partners from Fortune 500 corporations and brands to SMEs across regions to create new revenue streams, increase customer engagement and enhance servicing level.

Headquartered in Hong Kong and Singapore, FREED GROUP operates in more than 10 offices globally with over 200 staff. FREED GROUP supports clients and partners worldwide, including major names such as Samsung, China Mobile, China Life Insurance, BMW and LG. It is the winner of the 2022 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers, 2021 Deloitte Technology Rising Star Award and 2021 United Nations UNWTO Global Start-up Competition, among many others. In 2023, FREED GROUP is named one of the top-10 high-growth companies in the Asia-Pacific region by Financial Times.

About Gabi Partners
Gabi Partners is a leading provider of B2B2C commerce and B2B mobile gift-giving solutions and supply chain management system, that revolutionizes the digital landscape with its innovative services. Since conception, Gabi Partners has quickly emerged as a key player in the industry, achieving remarkable success and rapid growth. With a focus on delivering tailored online shopping experiences, its cutting-edge SaaS model has garnered high-value contracts and annual sales growth rate of over 300%.

Connexus Travel & FREED GROUP Unveil A New Dimension of Travel To Bring Transformation For Business Travelers

Connexus Travel Limited (Connexus) and FREED GROUP (FREED) were joined by renowned travel industry leaders like LOTTE HOTELS AND RESORTS, Emirates, EVA Air and The Peninsula at A New Dimension of Travel cocktail on 20 April 2023 at the Conrad Hotel Hong Kong. The party marked the first collaboration of Connexus and FREED after the acquisition earlier this year.

Photo 1: (center left) Abel Zhao, CEO of Connexus Travel Limited and Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP and (first left) Kenneth Lee, Co-founder & CPO of FREED GROUP were joined by (first right) Eric Lau, General Manager, Connexus Travel Limited and (center right) Patrick Tong, Regional Director Hong Kong, LOTTE HOTELS CO. LTD. at A New Dimension of Travel on 20 April 2023 to showcase A World of Possibilities to prestigious travel industry partners and clients
Photos 2 to 3: Abel Zhao, CEO of Connexus Travel Limited and Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP says planning for travel is never the same as before with the services and technologies offered by FREED
Photo 4: Eric Lau, General Manager of Connexus Travel Limited welcomes guests to experience the transformation of Connexus as it steps into the new era of travel
Photo 5: Kenneth Lee, Co-founder & CPO of FREED GROUP introduces our signature product, Harmony Corporate Services Solutions (CSS) to our valuable clients & partners
Photos 6 to 9: Local and overseas guests alike enjoyed a great evening at A New Dimension of Travel cocktail party hosted by Connexus Travel Limited and FREED GROUP

About Connexus Travel Limited
Established in 1948, Connexus Travel Limited, formerly known as Swire Travel, was the first travel agent registered in Hong Kong. Connexus Travel has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, with a local licence in Beijing since 2009, serving corporate customers who demand excellence and high levels of travel services. The company provides a full range of travel services for domestic and foreign tourists, including flight and other travel ticket bookings, hotel reservations, travel tours and packages, and visa applications. After 70 years of excellent service, Connexus Travel has evolved into a leading regional travel management company, with a focus on customer service and technology for corporate, leisure and MICE travel. Connexus Travel has also met the highest international security standards in relation to securing personal data processing and storage.

About FREED GROUP
FREED GROUP is a technology innovator specializing in building proprietary Enterprise Application solutions. It pioneers the future of digital commerce by bringing the capability of multi-merchant, multi-platform networks onto one single backend system and database. With its end-to-end digital transformation and commerce empowerment solutions, FREED GROUP helps clients and partners from Fortune 500 corporations and brands to SMEs across regions to create new revenue streams, increase customer engagement and enhance servicing level.

Headquartered in Hong Kong and Singapore, FREED GROUP operates in more than 10 offices globally with over 200 staff. FREED GROUP supports clients and partners worldwide, including major names such as Samsung, China Mobile, China Life Insurance, BMW and LG. It is the winner of the 2022 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers, 2021 Deloitte Technology Rising Star Award and 2021 United Nations UNWTO Global Start-up Competition, among many others. In 2023, FREED GROUP is named one of the top-10 high-growth companies in the Asia-Pacific region by Financial Times.

FREED GROUP announces addition of Connexus Travel, Hong Kong’s first registered travel agent, to the FREED GROUP family

Leveraging advanced technology and digital travel applications
alongside long-standing travel services expertise
to provide the best travel support for corporate travellers

FREED GROUP (FREED), an award-winning digital and smart merchandising solutions company, has announced that its Co-founder & CEO, Mr. Abel Zhao, has acquired Connexus Travel Limited (Connexus Travel, formerly Swire Travel), a leading regional travel management company headquartered in Hong Kong. After the acquisition, Connexus will now become part of the FREED GROUP family. As a technology pioneer in the digital commerce sector, FREED believes that Connexus Travel has an excellent competitive edge in the industry given its considerable standing and dedicated team. Leveraging FREED’s DNA in the travel industry, the acquisition is set to create technological & strategic synergies that will further enhance Connexus’ overall capabilities and drive long-term business growth.

(From Left to Right) Mr. Kenneth Lee, Co-founder & CPO of FREED GROUP, Mr. Eric Lau, General Manager of Connexus Travel, & Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP
Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP

Since its inception in 2015, FREED has been connecting platforms, brands, and service providers to their customers with enhanced digital capabilities through its proprietary SAAS solutions, as well as services like end-to-end artificial intelligence digital transformation, smart merchandising & smart marketing. FREED has over 250 dedicated professionals, from 22 different regions around the world including Greater China, South Korea, Canada, Sweden, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, and the United States of America, who combine their extensive experience and expertise in technology, tourism, commerce, hospitality, and other industries to operate in 10+ markets worldwide, serving 200+ high-profile clients and partners such as Samsung, China Mobile, China Life Insurance, City of Seoul (Smart City), The Private Office Of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, Google, FIFA World Cup, Match Hospitality, BMW and Hyundai Card.

Meanwhile, Connexus Travel Limited, established in 1948, was the first travel agent registered in Hong Kong and now operates in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, specializing in corporate, leisure and MICE travel, offering a full range of travel services and digital booking applications to support seamless journeys.

Mr. Abel Zhao, Co-founder & CEO of FREED GROUP, said, “We are very pleased with having Connexus Travel in our FREED family, as Connexus Travel is a name trusted by corporate, leisure and MICE travellers. We see tremendous growth potential for Connexus because of its long history of excellent services and the synergies that will be generated between Connexus and FREED. The positive outcomes we envisage include business opportunities spanning travel services, e-commerce, marketing services and brand loyalty programs, all of which will be underpinned by a comprehensive range of digitalized services and solutions. Ultimately, we anticipate Connexus Travel to follow in the footsteps of FREED GROUP and transform into a global brand.”

Mr. Eric Lau, General Manager of Connexus Travel, said, “Connexus has been committed to providing quality services to customers for the past 70 years. This acquisition will accelerate the digital transformation of our products through new signature customer-facing travel applications, which will include the provision of new user experiences and efficiencies for our corporate travellers. At the same time, we will leverage our position as a market leader and the development plans with FREED to expand our services not only in Hong Kong and China, but also to the markets where FREED currently operates. We look forward to embarking on a new chapter of development with the support of FREED GROUP.”

FREED GROUP’s technology and services have been recognized globally in recent years, including the 2022 Technology Pioneer by World Economic Forum, the 2021 Deloitte Technology Rising Star, Grand winner of the 2021 United Nations UNWTO Global Start-up Competition and the 2018 APAC ICT Grand Award, among many others. In June 2022, FreeD Group raised USD$15 million in a new funding round led by Daiwa ACA APAC Growth Fund and ACA Partners Pte. Ltd..

About FREED GROUP
FREED GROUP is a technology innovator specializing in building proprietary Enterprise Application solutions. It pioneers the future of digital commerce by bringing the capability of multi-merchant, multi-platform networks onto one single backend system and database. With its end-to-end digital transformation and commerce empowerment solutions, FREED GROUP helps clients and partners from Fortune 500 corporations and brands to SMEs across regions to create new revenue streams, increase customer engagement and enhance servicing level.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, FREED GROUP operates in more than 10 offices globally with over 250 staff. FREED GROUP supports clients and partners worldwide, including major names such as Samsung, China Mobile, China Life Insurance, BMW and LG. It is the winner of the 2022 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers, 2021 Deloitte Technology Rising Star Award and 2021 United Nations UNWTO Global Start-up Competition, among many others.

About Connexus Travel Limited
Established in 1948, Connexus Travel Limited, formerly known as Swire Travel, was the first travel agent registered in Hong Kong. Connexus Travel has offices in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, with a local licence in Beijing since 2009, serving corporate customers who demand excellence and high levels of travel services. The company provides a full range of travel services for domestic and foreign tourists, including flight and other travel ticket bookings, hotel reservations, travel tours and packages, and visa applications. After 70 years of excellent service, Connexus Travel has evolved into a leading regional travel management company, with a focus on customer service and technology for corporate, leisure and MICE travel. Connexus Travel has also met the international security standards in relation to managing personal data process and storage.