Mintable, toil, and trouble: the legal wranglings at an NFT marketplace

We also dive into what Line Next plans to do after bagging the biggest funding in Asia’s Web3 space this year. [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: - [Mintable’s rollercoaster ride]( - Line Next’s US$140 million fundraise - Other newsy highlights such as a Thailand's untapped startup potential --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} It’s been a while since I’ve sat down to read a long, gripping story. Chalk it up to social media, but I feel like my attention span has waned over the last few years. That said, I’m still a sucker for a good tale, and today’s feature is certainly up there in terms of crazy stuff going on. I think that out of all of the juicy stories we’ve published over the years, our report about Mintable spills the most tea and is filled with WTF twists and turns. Thanks to some excellent reporting from Scott Shuey, you can read all about Mintable’s turbulent journey over the last year or so. Get a closer look at some legal battles, a whole host of accusations, and a truly unenviable falling out between the firm’s top leadership. -- Jonathan  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [Chaos at Mark Cuban-backed NFT startup after founders, directors lock legal horns]( While Mintable’s CEO and its board of directors have reached a settlement, the future remains uncertain for the Singapore-based NFT marketplace. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [Blink secures $2.1m to expand online ordering platform in the Middle East]( The Saudi startup’s online restaurant ordering solutions include delivery fleet management and customer engagement. [Line Next banks $140m from Peter Thiel-backed Crescendo]( The company plans to use the funds for Dosi, its global NFT platform launching in January 2024, among other new products. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [Thailand has untapped startup potential, BCG report says]( Despite having a GDP of over US$495 billion, Thailand is home to only 180 startups. Investors think that means the country has untapped potential. ---------------------------------------------------------------  IN PARTNERSHIP WITH How Braze wants to empower founders and level the playing field “With great power comes great responsibility.” This adage, popularized by the Spider-Man comics, applies to tech firms too. Companies have to achieve business goals, but it doesn’t mean that profits should be the only thing that matters. New innovations, for instance, should not be treated as just another revenue stream but also as something that can make a positive difference. That’s why customer engagement platform Braze has expanded its product grant program, Tech for an Equitable Future, to the Asia Pacific. Under this grant program, founders can enjoy 12 months of free access to the Braze platform and supporting services. They’ll get help with their customer engagement needs, such as processing data as well as outreach and marketing efforts. Braze, which holds “equity” as one of its guiding social impact pillars, hopes to remove barriers for underrepresented founders like women. This helps everyone have an equal chance at developing solutions that can benefit society and become the next tech star. Apply for the Tech for an Equitable Future program [here](. ---------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events [over here](. - [The Future of MarTech: Trends Shaping 2024 and Beyond on January 16]( On January 16, senior marketing, product and growth leaders in Singapore are invited to kickstart the year at The Future of MarTech: Trends Shaping 2024 and Beyond, an executive roundtable and networking lunch. Limited to just 15 guests. [Full details & registration here!]( ---------------------------------------------------------------  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. - Ninety-Eight - [Viction Horizon – A Startup Hackathon with over $300,000 in prizes]( The official Submission form for Viction Horizon Startup Hackathon is now open from December 4th to December 27th, 2023. ---------------------------------------------------------------  WHO'S HIRING You can post a job [here]( or search for jobs [here](. - [Team Lead (English Speaker)]( at SIGMATECH Tangerang, Indonesia - [Marketing Manager]( at PT. Wahana Pembayaran Digital Jakarta, Indonesia - [IT Business Development Manager]( at Indocyber Global Teknologi Jakarta, Indonesia - [Human Resources Business Partner]( at Jiva Makassar, Indonesia - [Executive Assistant]( at Scout.inc Jakarta, Indonesia - [Copywriter - Internship (3 months, Bandung based)]( at Evermos Bandung, Java, Indonesia [ADVERTISE]( | [SUBSCRIBE]( P.S. 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