Beyond the fintech blues

More: Peak XV’s new managing director and a US$50 million buyback in India. [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](. --------------------------------------------------------------- IN FOCUS In today's newsletter, we spotlight: - [Why insurtech is the silver lining in a cloudy fintech sector]( - Other newsy highlights such as East Ventures’ respiratory health bet and a US$50 million stock buyback --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} The older I get, the easier it is to see silver linings among the clouds. I think this largely comes from my obsession with various sports teams. Nothing teaches you to find the good in a bad situation like living and dying by something as random and out of your control as semi-professional Irish football. Similarly, playing all kinds of sports has shown me that just focusing on the end result isn’t a happy way to live. You may have lost on the scoreboard, but you should still savor that sweet layup or that tough rebound you made. If the final score was all you cared about, the state of funding in Southeast Asia’s fintech sector would have you feeling pretty low. However, there are bright spots to be found, as today’s featured premium story explores. -- Peter  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [SEA fintech sector hits funding slump in H1 23, but insurtech holds up]( Contrary to expectations, the share of pre-series A investments fell, while bridge financing expanded. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [Singapore-based NxtGen Capital unveils inaugural fund targeting US]( The fund aims to deploy capital into VC funds that have a small fund size, typically less than US$150 million. [East Ventures bets on Aevice Health to tackle respiratory diseases in SEA]( The Singapore-based healthtech firm recently gained clearance from the Singapore government for its AeviceMD solution, a smart wearable stethoscope. [Binance, OKX to list OpenAI founder’s Worldcoin]( Huobi and Bybit are among the other exchanges supporting the token. [Swiggy to buy back $50 million in ESOPs from employees]( The buyback is in line with a 2021 announcement where Swiggy said it would reward employees based on their performance in 2022 and 2023. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [Capital SEA: Southeast Asia’s funding landscape]( Who are the new active investors on the block? Which funding rounds look like outliers? This visual story answers all this and more. --------------------------------------------------------------- TECH IN ASIA CONFERENCE 2023  Showcase your startup in our early-stage exhibition area The Tech in Asia Conference’s Startup Factory segment is like the chicken in chicken rice: The dish wouldn’t be the same without it. Of course, that means we’ve brought the segment back this year to help startups showcase the latest innovations. Along with a booth, Startup Factory participants will also get two general passes, a promo code for additional ticket purchases, and their firm’s logo and links included in the Participating Exhibitors page on our website. [Apply now]( before spots run out! ---------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events [over here](. - [Tech in Asia’s Founders Meetup: Thailand on July 26]( Thailand's startup ecosystem is buzzing. With over 1,000 startups and funding at a record high of over US$500million in 2022, the vibrant landscape is making waves in the global startup scene. Join us at our Founders Meetup to connect, learn, and grow with like-minded founders in the country on July 26 at theCOMMONS (Thonglor, 335/1 Sukhumvit 55 Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110) from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Only a few tickets are left - secure yours now! - [SYNC 2023: Climate Tech on August 21]( Do you want to make a positive impact on the fight against climate change? Join SYNC 2023 on August 21 at Singapore's green haven, Gardens by the Bay, to learn more about sustainable innovation and eco-friendly practices. Besides spotlighting climate tech via this invite-only event, Tech in Asia is committed to reducing our carbon footprint. Be part of this movement towards a sustainable future - send in your application for a SYNC 2023 ticket today! - [Tech in Asia Conference]( from October 18 to October 19 Do you see the light at the end of this funding winter’s tunnel? We do, and we believe Southeast Asia is that very light. That’s why this year’s Tech in Asia conference’s theme is Southeast Asia: A Bright Spot in the Tech World - signaling how the region can provide hope and guidance for the tech sector amid some troubling times. Hosted in Jakarta from October 18 to October 19, we’re excited to bring you a great lineup of speakers, thought-provoking sessions, and other activities. Click [here]( to get your limited first-release tickets.  - [Tech in Asia’s Founders Meetup: India on August 25]( Do you want a closer look at India’s tech scene? Discover the hidden gems of India’s startup ecosystem at our networking event on August 25 at Byg Brewski (9, 36, 4th Floor, Vaishnavi Sapphire Centre, Tumkur Rd, Yeshwanthpur Industrial Area, Phase 1, Yeswanthpur, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560022) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Whether you’re facing roadblocks in funding or talent acquisition, connect with fellow founders and find solutions to your most pressing issues while offering your own expertise. Don’t miss out - [sign up now]( ---------------------------------------------------------------  WHO'S HIRING You can post a job [here]( or search for jobs [here](. - [Tech Lead]( at Jesselton Capital Jakarta, Indonesia - [IT Presales Specialist]( at AKAR INTI ENTERPRISE Jakarta, Indonesia - [Enterprise Sales]( at Qiscus Jakarta, Indonesia - [Brand Manager]( at Hypefast Jakarta, Indonesia - [Senior Corporate Talent Acquisition]( at MyRobin Jakarta, Indonesia - [Software Engineer]( at Teltics Media 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. Tech in Asia thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Too many emails? Switch to a different frequency or get new content through our [preference center]( or [unsubscribe](. 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