Putting the ‘gov’ in govtech is no mean feat

More: A Vietnam-based fintech firm scores some funding and Indonesia’s Fore Coffee expands to Singapore. [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: - [The bumpy road ahead for govtech in Malaysia]( - Elon Musk’s Starlink having to find a local partner to enter Indonesia - Other newsy highlights such as the US$6 million round of a firm trying to bring fintech to rural Vietnam, and the Singapore expansion plan of Indonesia’s Fore Coffee. --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} Have you ever been sailing? From the ages of about 13 to 15, my younger brother and I spent most Sundays with my dad and uncle, learning how to maneuver a dinghy in Larne Lough. It wasn’t plain sailing (I’ll get my coat), but it was mostly fun and we learned a few things. Our first lesson was figuring out how to turn the dinghy the right way up after capsizing, in case this ever happened to us at sea. Being dumped into the freezing cold water made that one stick for sure. I also distinctly remember being taught about right of way in the harbor. As my uncle told it, the least maneuverable vessel always has right of way, so almost any boat with an engine had to get out of our way. The one exception is giant ferries or cargo ships, which are so hard to turn that everyone else has to avoid them. Governments are much like these large ships - unwieldy and difficult to turn. Perhaps that’s why Malaysia’s efforts to modernize its government using tech are proving so challenging. -- Peter  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [The good, the bad, and the ugly of Malaysia’s govtech push]( The country’s latest tech drive may sound enticing, but startups should only go in with eyes wide open. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [Starlink must work with local partner to enter Indonesia, ministry says]( The government wants to provide affordable internet access for nearly 3,000 community health centers with poor or no internet access at all. [Indonesia’s Fore Coffee set to enter Singapore in Q4]( The move would follow fellow VC-funded local chain Kopi Kenangan’s own regional expansion. [Wavemaker leads $6m round for Vietnamese fintech firm MFast]( MFast has 160,000 agents nationwide to serve customers’ financial needs, especially in lower-tier Vietnamese cities. [Former Uber, Deliveroo execs launch HK wholesale platform]( Markato plans to expand to other Asian markets in the next year. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [SEA’s listed tech majors in 10 charts: GoTo’s operating margin improves, but lags peers]( These companies could dictate whether more global investors will back Southeast Asia and decide the fate of the region's tech industry. --------------------------------------------------------------- IN PARTNERSHIP WITH In pursuit of a sustainable and equitable future As Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem matures, it’s crucial that it continues to innovate responsibly and sustainably, especially with social and environmental challenges ramping up. Whether you’re a growing startup, a government agency, or a big tech corporation, everyone has a role to play in ensuring that tech is used for good. This question of “tech for good” was one of the many topics discussed at IMDA’s ATxSummit in June 2023. Panelists dove deep into the question of sustainable digital development, highlighting areas such as the value of private-public sector partnerships, the need for more education efforts, and the role of emerging technologies in sustainability. The summit also explored many other topics related to tech, such as generative AI. Keep an eye out for next year’s event by following ATxSummit [on LinkedIn](. ---------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events [over here](. - [AD] [AWS GenAI Day]( on September 14 Dive deep into the world of generative AI at Amazon Web Services’ GenAI Day. Held virtually on September 14, the event will feature leading experts and innovators. Gain insights into the impactful trends, best practices, and essential tools that can help your startup leverage this new technology effectively. - [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 x CleverTap: Unraveling the Value of Customer Engagement on September 13]( Are you looking for ways to cut through the noise and stay ahead of the curve as rapidly advancing technology transforms the digital landscape yet again? We’ve got just the event for you, where you’ll learn how experts harness AI-driven tools to craft truly personalized customer experiences and predict behavior for long-term success. Apply for a ticket to join our dinner on September 13 to uncover the power of hyperpersonalization with CleverTap so you can excel in customer engagement and retention. Limited seats available - sign up [here]( now!  - [Tech in Asia’s Founders Meetup: Philippines on September 27]( Did you miss us the first time? Great news - we’re coming back to Manila on September 27 for the eighth edition of our networking event! A shift towards digital transformation has propelled tech firms at the forefront of the Philippines’ startup ecosystem. While opportunities abound, it’s not without its challenges. Need some insights on how to navigate and thrive in this scene? Come join us at WeWork Uptown (9/F, Uptown Place Tower 3, 36th Street cor. 11th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Connect with fellow startup leaders to learn how you can grow beyond the early stages of your journey and explore solutions to pressing issues. [Sign up now!]( ---------------------------------------------------------------  PRESS PEEKS The following press releases were published as they were received, without any editing from the Tech in Asia team. You too can publish your own press release on Tech in Asia by simply filling in [this]( page](. Our team will get back to you by the next business day. - GoSky AI - [Seamless Dining Meets Tech: Yo-Kai Express Partners with GoSky for Global Mini App Rollout on Instagram]( Experience unmatched convenience.Yo-Kai Express & GoSky launch instant coupon Mini App at 150+ global locations via Instagram.  - FlashIntel - [FlashIntel Secures $10M in Seed and Angel Funding, Embarks on Mission to Redefine Go-to-Market Intelligence]( Investors Include Celtic House Venture Partners, Uphonest Capital, Hat-Trick Capital, and More  - ExpressVPN - [Q&A with the tech leaders driving ExpressVPN’s innovations]( We speak with Chris Econn and Peter Membrey about the future of the company’s flagship product  - NIPA - [Leading Korean Metaverse Companies Target Global Market at AWE Asia K-Metaverse Pavilion]( Korea’s National IT Promotion Agency (NIPA) selects 6 Korean metaverse companies for the K-Metaverse Pavilion at AWE Asia 2023. ---------------------------------------------------------------  WHO'S HIRING You can post a job [here]( or search for jobs [here](. - [Head of Internal Audit]( at AwanTunai Jakarta, Indonesia - [Senior Lead Operations Excellence]( at Octopus Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia - [Odoo Developer]( at Gokomodo Jakarta, Indonesia - [Copywriter]( at Purwadhika Digital Technology School Tangerang, Indonesia - [Associate Product Manager]( at Bina Nusantara Group Jakarta, Indonesia - [Software Developer (Erlang)]( at Graha Karya Informasi Jakarta, Indonesia [ADVERTISE]( | [SUBSCRIBE]( P.S. 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