

Upcoming events in Singapore for start-ups, SMEs and entrepreneurs
Singapore has such a dynamic ecosystem that sometimes the number of events offered can be overwhelming. Here at FirstCOUNSEL, we're going to help you out by putting together a curated list of upcoming events in Singapore for start-ups, SMEs and entrepreneurs: July 31 - SAME, SAME BUT DIFFERENT: AN ANALYSIS OF GDPR VERSUS PDPA (by FirstCOUNSEL) - Free Aug 01 - Data Dialogue: A Community Built on Data (SGInnovate. Partnered with General Assembly & SheLovesData) - Free Aug 15


Small businesses should invest in chatbot technology now
AS widely predicted, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots are no longer exclusive to Fortune 500 companies. According to a recent Research and Markets study, the global chatbots market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 32.78 per cent by 2023, reaching a total market size of US$895.27 million from US$163.34 million in 2017. In 2018, many smaller organisations will start using chatbots to offload transactional requests to improve the overall cust


5 companies set to drive blockchain adoption in Asia
With Bitcoin more than tripling recently since hitting it’s 2018 low of just over $3,000 USD, interest in the world of blockchain and digital currencies is back in a big way. With reports of major international banks teaming up to invest in the creation a digital cash system using blockchain to settle financial transactions while Facebook releases plans to create their own digital currency, blockchain is capturing the major headlines on a weekly basis once again. Headlines ar


Meet the 4 startups joining Ernst & Young's incubator program in Singapore
EY Foundry, Ernst & Young’s incubator program for early-stage startups, has announced that it has accepted four startups from the accounting-tech, tax-tech, fintech, legal-tech, and regulatory-tech sectors into its Singapore batch. These selected startups will be offered a 6-month rent-free residency at the EY wavespace in Singapore. They will also get US$87,708 worth of Microsoft Azure credits. The participants were shortlisted through an open call for nominations from March


Implications and solutions for Big Data in insurance
The insurance industry has always been quite conservative; however, the adoption of new technologies is not just a modern trend but a necessity to maintain a competitive pace. In the modern digital era, Big Data technologies help to process vast amounts of information, increase workflow efficiency, and reduce operational costs. Learn more about the benefits of Big Data for insurance from our material. Modern society is continuously producing impressive amounts of real-time da


Singapore-backed AI startup Taiger wins US$25m from investors
[HONG KONG] Taiger, a Singapore-backed artificial intelligence (AI) startup whose clients include Bank of America, AIA Group and Banco Santander, has raised US$25 million of funding for its expansion. The company's valuation will reach US$110 million after the investment, according to a statement from the Singapore-based startup. The Series B funding round has been led by PacificBridge Asset Management, an affiliate of US buyout firm TPG Capital, and Hong Kong-based merchant


Startups leverage technology to do their part in helping the underserved
SDI Academy and Allied World Healthcare were among the participants at the 7th Asian Venture Philanthropy Network Conference, held at Suntec Convention Centre from June 25-28. Set up in 2014 and 2016 respectively, both startups are supported by Singtel under the social innovation programme, Singtel Future Makers, and are social enterprises. Allied World Healthcare (AWH) delivers health care services to rural areas in the Philippines and Cambodia with their technology platform


Singapore-based diagnostics startup banks $5m to commercialize first product
Singapore-based medical diagnostics company One BioMed raised US$5 million in a series A round led by local investment firm Biopath Ventures and US early-stage venture capital firm Arch Venture Partners. Seeds Capital, Enterprise Singapore’s investment arm , also participated in the round. A spin-off of ASTAR in 2016, One BioMed is developing digital health platforms for diagnostic testing. It plans to use the fresh funds to commercialize its first product, which is an automa


Trust : an essential component in the success of investment oriented blockchain projects
Blockchain technology today, is attempting to do to the finance industry what internet did to the media and entertainment industry. The technology which provided an avenue for cryptocurrencies, was recently tagged as the future of online payment in the recent Global Ecommerce Summit. Today, nearly everyone has heard one or two things about bitcoin since the invention of the blockchain technology. Cryptocurrency carries out trade in millions of US dollars, in various cryptocur


Technology Pioneers 2019
We are delighted that one of our early clients, Holmusk, a data science and digital health company was selected as one of the Technology Pioneers of 2019, by the World Economic Forum. The Technology Pioneers of 2019 bring together 56 early to growth-stage companies from around the world that are pioneering new technologies and innovations ranging from the use of artificial intelligence to fight human trafficking, driverless trucks, quantum computing systems, compostable pack