• Meta acquires PlayAI, the human-like AI voice tech startup trusted by teams at Amazon, IBM, Salesforce and more
• Transcelestial raises US$5.7M to support disaster recovery in Japan and remote connectivity in Australia with laser communications
• Applecrumby secures patent for world’s first 100% chlorine-free diaper core, setting a new global standard for diaper safety
• Pandai and the Ministry of Education bring AI-powered learning to teachers and students across Malaysia; SMK Demak Baru first school in Borneo
• YAS & JOIE deploy 1,000 AI-monitored EV taxis in Hong Kong, launching first behavior-based fleet insurance model to boost safety and reduce insurance costs
• Khailee breaks down the “doom loop” that’s putting a drag on Southeast Asia startups, and shares strategies to prevent a regional setback
• Khailee on how founders can escape the ‘doom loop’ through healing, hustling, and hunting down new horizons
• Prefer launches Asia’s first beanless coffee ice-cream and is scaling fast to cross 100 points-of-sale and fulfill $15M deals with B2B partners
• Seedflex taps into Indonesia’s US$8.6B opportunity, aims to partner with local financial institutions and fintech to enhance financial access and inclusion
• Ringkas’ founder on why investors offer more than just capital & other lessons from 13+ years building startups
• Qarbotech is headed to the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale in Silicon Valley with their agri-boosting photosynthesis tech for a shot at US$1M in funding
• Chickin supports the growth of poultry farmers in Central Java by combining agritech, hardware, and inclusive finance with partners
• Dinari makes history with first U.S. broker-dealer license for tokenized stocks, unlocking lower trading costs, 24/7 trading & more
• Seven 500-backed founders honored as Tatler Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2025 for building high-impact ventures across Southeast Asia

Other stories from 500-backed companies you may have missed:

• Neuron Mobility and Beam Mobility to merge, solidifying their micro mobility leadership in Asia Pacific
• CARSOME subsidiary received US$15M asset-backed financing from HSBC
• Pomelo Fashion signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Kolao Group to launch their first store in Laos
• Bukalapak achieved profitability in Q1 2025