Chatbots have come a long way. For years, they were limited to responding with predetermined replies that followed a simple logic structure. But customers can have complex problems, and no tree-diagram of possible replies can have enough branches to account for all the edge cases that arise. Thankfully, the advent of large language models (LLMs) […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more

Peak XV is creating an “evergreen” fund bankrolled by its investment partners and extended team, according to an internal memo and a source familiar with the matter. The venture firm seeks to become a significant LP in the firm’s future vehicles and to explore investment in different asset classes. The most influential venture investor in […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more

A growing roster of vertical AI startups is emerging in Southeast Asia to serve sectors ranging from seafood to finance. Singapore-based venture capital firm Antler recently made a bet on 37 of them, investing $5.1 million in total for pre-seed deals. Antler also announced a partnership with Khazanah, Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund. “If you look […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more

Peak XV, the venture capital firm that split from Sequoia Capital last year, is taking its portfolio companies from India, Southeast Asia and Australia on an “immersion” trip to Silicon Valley this week to meet several industry titans, the latest in the venture firm’s broadening offerings and networking flex. About 60 founders, many backed by […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more

In the middle of a long funding winter, AC Ventures’ latest news will give Southeast Asian startups hope. The Jakarta, Indonesia–based venture firm announced today it has raised $210 million, finishing the final close on its fifth fund, called ACV Fund V. Limited partners include the World’s Bank’s IFC and investors from the United States, […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more

Founded in 2007 to help IP and R&D professionals do their jobs more efficiently, Singapore-based Patsnap‘s first product was a global patent search database. Now it’s building out its suite of AI products with the launch of its AI assistant CoPilot. CoPilot lets users search patent and non-patent literature more quickly, which the company says […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more

Indonesia’s construction industry is growing quickly, driven by residential and industrial building, alongside infrastructure development plans by the government. Sourcing skilled labor is still a time-intensive process, however, and often relies on personal networks and lengthy recruitment efforts. The founders of Gravel want to change that by making it easier to find workers and other […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more

In Western markets, freight forwarders are well into digitizing their operations, but the same doesn’t hold true in Southeast Asia, say the founders of Fr8Labs. The reasons for that include the lack of localized software and a more fragmented logistics industry where SMBs dominate. Fr8Labs wants to digitize Asia’s logistics industry with its SaaS operating […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more

Hussain Elius is best known as the co-founder of Pathao, one of Bangladesh’s top ride-sharing apps. For his latest startup, however, Elius is exploring the world of DeFi with Wind.app, a self-custodial, smart contract wallet with three main features. The first is enabling businesses to send payments to remote employees around the world. The second […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more

Textiles and garments contribute 16% of Vietnam’s total GPD, but it’s challenging for small garment brands to take advantage of the country’s manufacturing prowess. Inflow is stepping into the gap, with a platform that gives small brands visibility into manufacturers’ supply chains and the design-to-production cycle. It also helps them meet manufacturers who are willing […] © 2023 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only ..read more