A ride-hailing firm and a taxi company walk into a bar

More: Modalku lays off staff and Apple Pay officially launches in Vietnam. [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 Grab’s plans to acquire Trans-cab make sense]( - Social media app Bondee’s new CEO - Other newsy highlights such as layoffs at Modalku and Apple Pay’s official launch in Vietnam --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} Growing up, I often watched Power Rangers with my younger brothers. I always loved it when the show rolled out the Megazords - giant fighting machines usually formed by combining smaller machines called Zords - because it usually heralded a really cool fight sequence. Here at Tech in Asia, we’ve likened mergers and acquisitions to Megazords a handful of times - and for good reason. After all, both M&As and Megazords involve several different entities coming together to create something bigger and more powerful, capable of achieving great feats. So for today, we’re diving into a specific deal: super app Grab’s acquisition of Singapore-based taxi company Trans-cab. Let’s get into it. -- Stefanie  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [Does combining Grab with asset-heavy Trans-cab make sense?]( The move comes as archrival Gojek partners with the largest taxi company in Singapore. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [MAS eyes AI, Web3 projects with $112m fintech scheme]( Other key areas that the Financial Sector Technology and Innovation Scheme 3.0 will focus on include regtech, ESG fintech, and data analytics. [Social media app Bondee appoints ex-Meta exec as CEO]( Fei Yu previously held key senior roles at several tech firms including Meta, where she served as head of gaming for Asian markets. [Funding Societies’ Modalku cuts 18% of its workforce]( The SMEs lender said it wants to expand into payments with a leaner organizational structure. [Apple Pay officially launched in Vietnam]( Users there can pay for goods and services with their Apple devices at retail stores, online platforms, and apps. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [Charting the SaaS landscape in Indonesia (Updated)]( Amid the funding crunch, 2022 saw a 38% decrease in total investments for the country's SaaS sector. --------------------------------------------------------------- SYNC 2023: CLIMATE TECH Calling all tech enthusiasts: Assemble at our transformative event! SYNC is back this year with a first-of-its-kind gathering that spotlights Asia’s climate tech leaders. Mark your calendar for August 21, 2023 and join us at the iconic Gardens by the Bay in Singapore for our annual tech summit. Connect with a dynamic community of founders, investors, climate advocates, decision-makers, researchers, corporate leaders, and more at this invite-only event, where ideas converge and powerful alliances are forged. Find out more about SYNC 2023: Climate Tech and apply for your invitation [here](. Submit your application today to claim your spot among the industry's best and brightest! ---------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events [over here](. - [AD] [AWS Innovate Online Conference: Every Application Edition]( on September 1 Want to use the AWS platform to build the next generation of cutting-edge applications? Check out AWS Innovate’s Online Conference. The event’s Every Application Edition will give you the lowdown on what goes into a great modern-day business application as well as how firms can leverage AWS’s solutions to take their operations to the next level. Sign up for the event [here](.  - [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](. - [Digital Marketing Lead]( at GoWork Jakarta, Indonesia - [Chief Product Officer]( at Pintar Ventura Group Jakarta, Indonesia - [Program Officer]( at Boleh Dicoba Digital Bandung, Java, Indonesia - [Backend Developer]( at Farmacare Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia - [Marketing Analyst - Corporate IT& IS]( at Kompas Gramedia Jakarta, Indonesia - [Game UI Designer]( at Avarik Saga 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? 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