We sat down with a Singaporean presidential hopeful

More: SoftBank‘s Vision Funds bounce back with a hefty profit and wealthtech firm Endowus lines up the stars for its funding round. [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: - [Our exclusive interview with Singaporean presidential candidate Ng Kok Song]( - Layoffs at recently profitable Bukalapak - Other newsy highlights such as South Korean ecommerce giant Coupang’s profit of US$1.5 billion --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} Growing up, when I was anxious about a big responsibility, it would manifest in pretty ridiculous nightmares. I distinctly remember in the build up to one exam when I had a nightmare that I was in charge of the Olympic Games and I had somehow ruined the event for everyone. God knows how. Delusions of grandeur? Maybe a bit, but I think my biggest fear was letting down those who had put their faith in me, like my parents and teachers. Ng Kok Song is asking millions of Singaporeans to put their faith in him as their next president - and that’s the kind of responsibility that would have given me nightmares as a child. We sat down with Ng to find out why he thinks he’s the right man to be the city-state’s next president. -- Peter  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [From living ‘hand to mouth’ to being ‘old friends’ with Ray Dalio: Ng Kok Song’s path to presidential hopeful]( Ng Kok Song has spent years as a card-carrying member of the Singapore establishment. Now, can he take on the establishment candidate for president? --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [Bukalapak conducts new round of layoffs]( In a statement, Bukalapak told Tech in Asia that it “consistently evaluate our performance” to optimize operations. [Coupang logs $5.8b in revenue, net income recovers]( The ecommerce giant also generated US$1.5 billion in profit, up 32% from the same period a year ago. [MUFG, Citi Ventures join SG wealthtech firm Endowus’ $35m round]( Tech in Asia recently reported that the company’s losses for FY2022 jumped to US$20 million despite having doubled its revenue. [Gaming growth in Asia Pacific sluggish amid clampdown in China: report]( Despite the slowdown, China is still home to two of the top five public gaming companies by revenue: Tencent and NetEase, the Newzoo report found. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [Asia layoff tracker: Modalku, Ayoconnect, and Qoala shed over 118 jobs this month]( Tech firms are dismissing staff to stay afloat as headwinds hit Asia. This layoff tracker is keeping tabs on marching orders. --------------------------------------------------------------- SYNC 2023: CLIMATE TECH Discover the intersection of technology and sustainability 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. Take a step toward greener innovation with us. Tech in Asia is committed to placing sustainability at the forefront and delivering carbon-neutral events like SYNC 2023: Climate Tech. Find out more and apply for your ticket to this invite-only event [here](. Be part of the movement towards a sustainable future - send in your application today! ---------------------------------------------------------------  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](. - [Key Account Manager (B2B)]( at Good Doctor Technology Jakarta, Indonesia - [Software Engineer (Backend-Golang)]( at Lion Parcel Jakarta, Indonesia - [Senior Strategic Campaign Planner - Marketing Strategies & Sales Enhancement]( at BintanGO Jakarta, Indonesia - [Human Resources Internship]( at MyRobin Jakarta, Indonesia - [Creative Officer (Project Based)]( at kumparan.com Jakarta, Indonesia - [Academic & Lecturer Resources Officer]( at Bina Nusantara Group Semarang, 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](. You can also break our hearts and remove yourself from all Tech in Asia emails over [here](  ---------------------------------------------------------------  Copyright © 2023 Tech in Asia, All rights reserved. 63 Robinson Road, Singapore 068894