Hi ho, hi ho, off to TikTok Shop we go

More: Ant Group adds seven new payment methods to Alipay+. [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: - [Whether TikTok Shop’s live-commerce trend is here to stay]( - A US$21 million series B round for a Vietnamese biotech firm - Other newsy highlights such as Ant Group adding seven new payment methods to Alipay+ as well as China’s BYD setting the retail price for its Dolphin EV in Japan --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} About a year ago, I remember reading up on the phenomenon of “influencer factories” in China. The main thing that caught me off guard was how manufactured it all was, given that livestreaming and live shopping were meant to be experiences that were a little more “real” and difficult to script. So while there aren’t any “scripts,” the content that comes out of these factories still feels a bit too inauthentic, given how similar these influencers end up seeming. Still, many sellers are turning to live commerce as they see it as a viable avenue for income. Because of this, selling on TikTok Shop is becoming hugely popular in Southeast Asia. The question is, is it truly sustainable? -- Jonathan  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [TikTok’s live-commerce boom: hustler’s paradise or fleeting trend?]( Similar to the rise of China’s so-called “livestreaming factories,” training TikTok live sellers has also become big business in Southeast Asia. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [KKR may double down on APAC data centers after Singtel deal: report]( The deal puts KKR’s total to 64 data centers, with Asia Pacific making up 23.5% of its global presence. [Gene Solutions raises $21m series B, targeting regional expansion]( The Vietnamese biotech firm says it has significantly reduced the cost and waiting time for non-invasive prenatal testing. [Singapore, India among top countries by number of ‘scaleups’: report]( The Startup Genome report defines scaleups as startups valued at or above US$50 million. [Alipay+ connects 7 new Asian wallets to China in global expansion]( The move is part of the “Alipay+ in China” program, which aims to open mobile payments in the country to international travelers. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [Most VinFast car sales this year went to its founder’s taxi firm]( The EV firm was the world’s third most valuable automaker at one point last month, shortly after making its Nasdaq debut via a SPAC deal. --------------------------------------------------------------- TECH IN ASIA CONFERENCE 2023 If knowledge is power, then having a comprehensive understanding of the environment surrounding your business would make you king. It’s no surprise that many business leaders are willing to spend large amounts of funds for deep insights and analyses about the region and sector their firms operate in. However, we’ve decided to offer these for free with this year’s Tech in Asia Conference Report. It’ll give you an overview of why Southeast Asia is a bright spot in the global tech sector along with a breakdown of six of its markets and their standout verticals. Click [here]( to get the report. ---------------------------------------------------------------  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](. - [Frontend Software Engineer (Vue.js)]( at Jublia Jakarta, Indonesia - [Quality Assurance Staff]( at Hangry Jakarta, Indonesia - [Technical Lead]( at Paramatech Jakarta, Indonesia - [Customer Support Specialist]( at Jubelio Jakarta, Indonesia - [Customer Service (Insurance)]( at Scout.inc Jakarta, Indonesia - [Risk Analytics]( at Tunaiku Jakarta, Indonesia [ADVERTISE]( | [SUBSCRIBE]( P.S. 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