The low-down on this profitable SaaS firm's secret sauce

More: AnyMind hits pause on IPO, and the benefits of guerrilla marketing for SaaS firms. [Read from your browser]( Daily Newsletter --------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Tech in Asia's free Daily Newsletter! Get full access to our subscribers-only Daily Newsletter and other insightful analysis on the big and messy topics of Asia’s tech and startup community by [registering here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} The Covid-19 pandemic brought on a wave of digitalization across economies. For instance, digital payments soared, and I, for one, conduct nearly all my transactions through online payments nowadays. Services from cashless payments to contactless deliveries, however, were only made available for companies of all sizes thanks to a burgeoning software-as-a-service (SaaS) sector. One such pandemic-propelled firm is Aigens, a company that offers omnichannel ordering solutions for the food and beverage industry. The firm recently secured US$14 million in a series A round led by Alibaba's Ant Group. In today’s featured piece, Hans Paul, Aigens’ co-founder and CEO, tells Tech in Asia how the company is on the hunt for new fortunes in the hospitality industry, while laying out the benefits of its new partnership with Alipay+ D-store. Further, Paul outlines Aigens’ unique, enterprises-centric approach to profitability and why the strength of the dining segment during tough times means that the Hong Kong-headquartered company is recession-ready. -- Shravanth  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [The profitable F&B SaaS firm that got Ant’s attention]( Aigens has bagged US$14 million in series A money. The firm’s business could hold up in a recession even as it plans for an APAC expansion. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [AnyMind delays Tokyo IPO citing ‘risks and disclosures’]( AnyMind said it will need a “reasonable amount of time” to confirm the risks and disclosures in its business before confirming a new listing date. [China ecommerce firm Vipshop launches in SEA]( The NYSE-listed firm’s Southeast Asian unit is based in Singapore and currently has 46 employees, including ex-Amazon country head Bernard Tay. [Sydney-based carbon management startup raises $3m]( Founded in 2021, Avarni uses AI to help businesses understand and address emissions exposure. [Korean cloud service provider bags $60m from Emirates Telecoms unit]( E& Enterprise also has an option to invest another US$60 million within 18 months of the deal’s completion. [You don’t have to play nice: guerrilla marketing for SaaS startups]( Contrary to popular belief, brands don’t always have to play nice, and some SaaS startups would benefit from more aggressive marketing. [Meta launches Avatars Store in Singapore]( Users can buy digital outfits and accessories from luxury brands, football clubs, and popular Netflix shows then put it on their online avatar. ---------------------------------------------------------------  TECH IN ASIA SCHOOL Let’s get that bag Early-stage founders, we know you’ve got a stellar MVP and promising traction. But you might be struggling to raise funds in these uncertain economic times. This is where TIA School aims to provide the support every founder needs. We’ll be running our six-week Fundraising Program in February 2023. You’ll be in the good hands of founder-mentors who have successfully raised funds and built great companies in Southeast Asia. They will help personalize your fundraising strategy, enhance your pitch deck, and connect you with ready investors within our network. [Apply here]( by January 7, 2023, to be part of the upcoming Fundraising Program for a special early bird rate of US$999 - UP is US$1,999! One-year access to our Founders Community is included with every TIA School program. Our graduates, mentors, and team meet up regularly at TIA events, School activities, and for coffee all across Southeast Asia to support each other and navigate the continuously evolving playing field. ---------------------------------------------------------------  WHO'S HIRING You can post a job [here]( or search for jobs [here](. - [Senior Software Engineer (Remote)]( at AwanTunai Jakarta, Indonesia - [Sales and Marketing Manager]( at Flash Express Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - [Testing Manager - Banking Industry]( at SIGMATECH Jakarta, Indonesia - [Head of Custody]( at Female Daily Network Jakarta, Indonesia - [Senior & Mid Frontend Software Engineer (Multiple Vacancies)]( at FrankieOne Manila, Philippines - [ERP Project Manager]( at HashMicro Jakarta, Indonesia [ADVERTISE]( | [SUBSCRIBE]( P.S. Don't miss out on the biggest tech news and analysis. Add newsletter@techinasia.com to your address book, contacts, or safe sender list. Or simply move us into your inbox. Too many emails? 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