Kredivo ramps up consumer lending push

The BNPL giant targets broader banking services in Vietnam. Plus, an insider look at what keeps ChatGPT running.

Read from your browser Daily Newsletter Welcome to Tech in Asia's daily newsletter, your essential dose of Asia's tech and startup buzz. Subscribe to this newsletter or send story tips to editors@techinasia.com. Ensure our articles appear in your Google searches: IN FOCUS BNPL provider Kredivo Group makes a big move in Vietnam An OpenAI engineer shares tips for breaking into AI systems engineering A look back at our map of digital banks in Southeast Asia Hello Betamax, For a Filipino like me, traveling to neighboring Southeast Asian countries a decade ago would mean having to exchange money. Last January, however, I spent three days in Bangkok, Thailand, without spending any paper bills. I did it out of need and as a form of personal experiment: Could I survive the city without any cash? I was on a media trip, so some food and transportation needs were covered. Beyond that, I managed to go to malls on my own, relying mostly on Grab, which allows cashless transactions. Whenever I needed to take the metro, I paid for my ticket through Alipay+ with my GCash account. Fintech has definitely changed consumer payment behavior in Southeast Asia. More changes are expected to come as consumer lending drives the next phase of development for fintech companies in the region. This means these firms want us to borrow more from their platforms, not just spend. Our first top story points to this shift. Buy now, pay later giant Kredivo Group has acquired Vietnamese digital bank Timo, as the Indonesian company looks to deepen its push into broader banking services in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia. The move is set to intensify Kredivo's competition with MoMo, another homegrown fintech giant. We take a closer look at the people building the tech behind today's chatbots, too. The second story features a conversation with one of the systems engineers at OpenAI back when the company was still building GPT-3. While model engineers focus on making sure ChatGPT comes up with the right answers, systems engineers ensure that it runs efficiently at scale. Our source even shares how she landed the coveted role. Elyssa Lopez, journalist TOP STORIES 1️⃣ Kredivo targets Vietnam banking with Timo deal This acquisition would be Kredivo Group's second M&A play in the past year, after it snagged earned wage access startup GajiGesa in 2025. With the Timo acquisition, however, the BNPL giant could extend a lot more offerings, thanks to the digital bank's expansive ecosystem. 2️⃣ Inside the work of AI systems engineers In an interview with Tech in Asia engagement editor Peter Cowan, OpenAI systems engineer Rachel Lim shares how she entered the AI industry, as well as how Singaporean students and engineers can chart a path similar to hers. THE SAASPOCALYPSE IS HERE. WHO SURVIVES? AI agents, collapsing SaaS margins, and the future of jobs A thought experiment from Citrini Research has been making the rounds in tech and investor circles. It raises an uncomfortable question: What happens to SaaS if AI agents start doing the work that software seats represent? For years, the SaaS model was simple: Sell software per user, expand across the company. But if AI can automate those workflows, the economics start to look different. In this episode of 60/40, we unpack the "SaaSpocalypse" debate. Is this just market panic or the early signs of a real reset in software? And if AI starts replacing knowledge work, what happens to jobs? Listen here: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts. FROM OUR ARCHIVES Mapping SEA's digital banks: Profits prove elusive despite some wins In recent years, digital banks in Indonesia and the Philippines have clinched an important feat: a full year of net profitability. It's a welcome development for a sector that has spent billions to capture consumer-driven markets, catalyzing online banking adoption. However, their wins are more of a rarity than the norm as bad loans continue to spoil the balance sheets of several players in the field. This makes Kredivo's deeper dive into digital banking in Vietnam all the more important. In my recent chat with digital banks in the Philippines, I learned that many of them struggle to craft the underwriting formula that will get them the good debtors. If Timo gets activated with Kredivo's lending tech, considering its deep experience in the region, its Vietnamese competitors would have to work double time to compete. THE FUTURE OF AI REQUIRES CLEAR, MEANINGFUL VISION FROM C-SUITE LEADERS In partnership with LinkedIn recently brought together 14 chief HR officers who are leading AI transformation in their organizations to share their insights on how to navigate the human-AI era and implement AI transformation at scale. Here are some key lessons for other leaders: Secure buy-in from both top management and employees to ensure AI adoption is effective. Identify where AI adds value - and where human skills remain essential. Understand AI's ROI while recognizing its strategic importance in the long run. Against this backdrop, AI also has the opportunity to transform the way HR operates. If you're a talent leader at the intersection of AI and HR, explore how you can boost your team's productivity with LinkedIn Hiring Assistant. This AI-powered agent helps recruiters save over four hours of work per role and go beyond traditional filters to find quality candidates. Learn more about LinkedIn Hiring Assistant 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 our site by simply filling out this form. Our team will get back to you by the next business day. XDC Network - XDC Network accelerates Asia's digital asset adoption from pilot to everyday use: XDC Network is expanding in Asia, aligning with regulations and planning a subnet in Hong Kong. WHO'S HIRING You can post a job here or search for jobs here. IT Governance at PT Allo Bank Indonesia Tbk | Jakarta, Indonesia Business Development Executive (SaaS focus) at Boleh Dicoba Digital | Jakarta, Indonesia Account Executive at TLab | Jakarta, Indonesia ADVERTISE | SUBSCRIBE | HIRE | FIND JOBS P.S. Don't miss out on the biggest tech news and analysis. Add newsletter@techinasia.com to your address book, contacts, or safe sender list. Or simply move us into your inbox. 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