Rice, rice baby

More: AirAsia’s super-app rebrand and Shein’s big spending to “empower” the global fashion community [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 rise of rice-focused startup Rize]( - Singtel scooping up US$806 million for a piece of its data center business - Other newsy highlights such as AirAsia announcing a rebrand of its super app and Shein committing US$85 million to “empower” the global fashion community --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} Rice really does make the world go round. As someone who comes from the west, the importance of that little grain was somewhat lost on me before I moved to Asia. Yes, I was aware a lot of people ate it every day, but the position rice has in a lot of cultures in this part of the world was lost on me. I’m from Ireland, where the staple is potatoes and they’re consumed by most families daily, but the little rituals, ceremonies, and other quirks that surround rice consumption and production are missing, or maybe forgotten. For example, rice is so ingrained in Vietnamese cuisine that to ask someone if they have eaten a meal yet, one simply asks if they have eaten rice yet. Then there’s the dinner etiquette, which ensures that the younger family members serve their elders rice at the start of a meal. Rest assured that in my family home, you had to get to the potatoes before my dad did if you wanted to eat! Rice makes the world go round, but sadly, the way it’s farmed harms the environment. Temasek-backed startup Rize is working to remedy that situation, with a focus on working with farmers. -- Peter  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [This Temasek-backed agritech firm sows sustainability into rice farming]( Rize is working to cut water consumption and methane in rice cultivation as it aims to build a sustainable business model. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [Singtel divests 20% of data center business to KKR for $806m]( The deal values Singtel’s regional data center business at around US$4 billion. [KKR-backed Livspace posts 85% revenue growth, targets profitability in FY 24]( The India-based home decor unicorn cut its losses for FY 2023 by 28% to US$95.7 million, mostly due to improvements in gross margins. [Shein to invest $85m to ’empower’ global fashion community]( Part of the new funding will be used to support its manufacturing suppliers in Brazil, China, and Turkey. [AirAsia rebrands super app to AirAsia Move]( It also appointed Nadia Omer as the CEO of AirAsia Move. The appointment will take effect on October 26. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [Meet the 50 top-funded startups and tech companies in Indonesia]( Here are the companies in Indonesia that are attracting tons of investors and have the resources to spend on software, talent, and expansion. --------------------------------------------------------------- TECH IN ASIA'S FOUNDERS MEETUP: PHILIPPINES Did you miss us the first time? Great news: We’re coming back to Manila for the exclusive founders-only networking event! A shift toward digital transformation has propelled tech firms at the forefront of the Philippines’ startup ecosystem. While opportunities in the market abound, doing business in the country is not without its challenges. Looking for some fresh perspectives on how to navigate and thrive in this scene? Or do you have tips and best practices that can help others overcome their own roadblocks? This upcoming event is tailored for you. If you missed the event the first time, seize the opportunity and mark your calendar for September 27! Join us in the heart of Manila at WeWork Uptown Bonifacio to connect, learn, and exchange ideas with fellow founders from the Tech in Asia community. Why navigate the startup journey alone when you can collaborate with others and break through barriers together? Tickets are now on sale at US$12.50 each, inclusive of complimentary light bites and free-flowing beer and mocktails. Hurry, tickets are limited. [Secure yours before they’re sold out]( Special thanks to our official event partners - AWS, CleverTap, Cooley, Oracle, Sinarmas Land, Singapore Global Network (SGN), Quest Ventures, and Purple Quarter - and our community partners - WeWork and Gobi Partners - for making this meetup possible. ---------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events [over here](. - [AD] [StartmeupHK Festival]( on November 8 to 17 Many brands like to use “all-in-one” to emphasize their range of offerings . This can be applied to events too - at this year’s StartmeupHK Festival, attendees will get to explore a huge range of topics all in one place such as Web3, healthtech, proptech, greentech, GameFi, and more. Want to find out what else you can expect from this all-in-one event? Visit the StartmeupHK Festival website [here]( to learn more. - [Startup Arena Pitch Battle]( at the Tech in Asia Conference (Apply by September 25) Startup founders, stand a chance to win a US$10,000 cash prize and more! Each finalist will get to pitch live to a panel of investors on the conference’s Main Stage and get a complimentary Startup Factory booth to showcase their startup. Finalists not based in Indonesia will also receive up to a US$1000 travel stipend. Apply [here](.  - [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: Philippines on September 27]( Engage in a real talk with founders at our first-ever panel of the Founders Meetup series on September 27. Moderated by Tech in Asia editor-in-chief Terence Lee, this session invites you to hear from Brian Cu (CEO and co-founder, SariSuki) and Rexy Josh Dorado (president and co-founder, Kumu) as they discuss the real side of kickstarting and scaling a startup in the Philippines. Get a ticket to join us at Weremote Makati Central Square (2nd Floor, Makati Cinema Square, Chino Roces Ave, Legazpi Village, Makati, Metro Manila) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Avoid FOMO and [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. - MediaX Agency - [BlockchainSpace Debuts Polygon-based Community Rewards Platform, YEY, with Philippine Telco Giant at FIBA 2023]( YEY (yey.tech), through an impressive campaign at the FIBA Basketball World Cup held in the Philippines in August 2023. - PT Technologi Digital Nusantara (Techbros) - [Telecom Infra Project (TIP ON) Events 2023 Advancing Technology for the Future]( TIP-Telkom University Partnership with USTDA for the OpenRAN Feasibility Study in Indonesia; Launch Partnership with Mitratel, Exhibition and Workshop. ---------------------------------------------------------------  WHO'S HIRING You can post a job [here]( or search for jobs [here](. - [Project Manager]( at Jala Tech Yogyakarta, Indonesia - [Product Marketing]( at Dagangan Jakarta, Indonesia - [Fullstack .NET Developer]( at Paramatech Jakarta, Indonesia - [Data Engineer]( at IDX Consulting Jakarta, Indonesia - [Software QA Analyst]( at Scout.inc Bandung, Java, Indonesia - [Learning Operations Manager]( at RevoU Jakarta, Indonesia [ADVERTISE]( | [SUBSCRIBE]( P.S. 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