Oneteam raises SGD 3.5 million to redefine SME succession through employee ownership
Singapore-based Oneteam has raised SGD 3.5 million (USD 2.6 million) in a seed funding round led by Wavemaker Ventures. The startup aims to tackle the succession planning challenges of small and medium enterprises by acquiring businesses from retiring owners and transitioning them into employee-owned entities. This model aims not only to retain jobs but also empower employees to take ownership of the businesses they help build.
The funds will be used to acquire small, cashflow-positive SMEs and to establish centralized support services, including HR, finance, IT, and legal, to help these businesses scale. Oneteam’s approach is tailored to Singapore’s SME landscape, with a focus on businesses generating under SGD 10 million (USD 7.5 million) in annual revenue.
Locad raises USD 9 million to expand global footprint and strengthen capabilities
Singapore-based Locad has raised USD 9 million in a pre-Series B funding round co-led by Global Ventures and Reefknot Investments, with participation from Sumitomo Equity Ventures, Antler Elevate, and JG Summit.
Locad’s platform integrates with leading e-commerce systems, enabling over 300 brands across Southeast Asia and Australia to optimize omnichannel distribution and provide localized fulfillment.
The new funding will accelerate Locad’s international expansion, starting with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and will also be used to enhance its smart logistics capabilities.
Atome Financial secures USD 200 million to deepen Southeast Asia presence
Atome Financial, a leading digital financial services platform, has secured a syndicated credit facility of up to USD 200 million. The facility was led by HSBC, with participation from DBS Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)’s Singapore branch, and Baiduri Bank.
This capital will support the expansion of Atome’s lending services and the Atome Card product in Southeast Asian markets including Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
South Korea’s Panmnesia nets over USD 60 million
South Korean fabless semiconductor startup Panmnesia has netted over USD 60 million in a Series A funding round led by InterVest, with support from Korea Investment Partners, KB Investment, and other investors.
This funding represents the largest Series A round in South Korea’s fabless industry and will drive Panmnesia’s development of Compute Express Link (CXL) technology, including its CXL 3.1 Switch silicon chip.
Seasalt.ai banks USD 4.2 million to enhance omnichannel customer interactions
Seasalt.ai, an artificial intelligence-powered communication solutions provider, has banked USD 4.2 million in a seed funding round led by Unlock Venture Partners, with participation from Grand Vision Ventures, SparkLabs Taiwan, PatientsForce, and ZVC.
The funds will be used to scale its flagship product, SeaChat, which integrates phone lines and chat channels like WhatsApp and Messenger, enabling businesses to offer round-the-clock customer support without additional staffing.
Portcast, Secai Marche, Boman Group, and more made recent headlines:
- Portcast, a Singapore-based logistics tech startup, closed a USD 6.5 million Series A funding round led by Susquehanna Asia VC, with participation from Hearst Ventures and Signal Ventures, among other investors.
- Secai Marche, a Japan-headquartered business connecting farmers with restaurants and retailers in Southeast Asia, netted an additional JPY 250 million (USD 1.6 million) in its Series A round of financing. The new funding came from Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital (MSIVC) and debt partners Shizuoka Bank and Hokkoku Bank.
- Boman Group, a Melbourne-based fund manager, is wrapping up the first tranche of a USD 1 billion fund designed to back Australian startups that can scale into China.
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