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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: 
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IN FOCUS
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Hello Betamax, Last week, local governments here in Metro Manila advised everyone to start wearing face masks, as air quality has been unhealthy because of the forest fires in Indonesia. So I wore a mask when I went out. Within minutes, though, I took it off - it was hot. It was uncomfortable, and I decided I was willing to suffer the consequences just to get it off my face. Funny, I told myself during the pandemic that I would keep wearing a mask long after it ended. A lot of the things we did regularly during that strange time - like seeing doctors virtually - have become a rarity. Healthtech startups, especially those that started as consumer-focused telehealth companies, had to pivot to survive beyond the crisis. In one of our top stories today, I look at the healthtech startups that managed to do just that. They are previously consumer-focused firms that later began engaging with companies to secure a sustainable patient volume. These new corporate clients have started offering teleconsulting services as an added employee benefit. In our second top story, a guest writer outlines why it might make more sense for investors in Southeast Asia to acquire and digitize traditional firms than to seek the next hot startup. The writer believes that many businesses today have a "tech debt," with their manual operations hindering their profit growth. Check out the full story for his guide on spotting them and bringing them into the 21st century. Elyssa Lopez, journalist |
TOP STORIES1️⃣ Healthtech startups in SEA find longevity going B2B  There are dozens of healthtech providers in Southeast Asia, but only one in five individuals in the region have used telehealth services. While the industry offers more than just online medical consultations, it shows that the industry has not achieved the mainstream appeal of its counterparts in ride-hailing or food delivery services. In this piece, Doctor Anywhere and Alodokter share how they managed to survive changing consumer habits in Southeast Asia - from diversifying beyond online consultations to working with insurance firms to expand client benefits. 2️⃣ Forget startups. Buy the business running on Excel Guest author Aadhar Chhabra, chief product and AI officer at consumer healthtech startup Foodhak, believes that hundreds of medium-sized businesses in Southeast Asia are ripe for M&A. They have product-market fit, and they are growing. Yet they can do more with the right digital improvements in their operations. |
SCALING FOR A NATIONIn conversation with the director of Open Government Products  Building software for an entire nation is the ultimate test of large-scale deployment. Open Government Products (OGP) has cracked the code on solving real-world problems through rapid prototyping and autonomous execution. With only a few days remaining until the Tech in Asia Conference, Li Hongyi, director of OGP, joins us to discuss the framework it used to identify citizen pain points before writing a single line of code. Discover how multidisciplinary teams are empowered to challenge established processes, design for diverse usability, and drive adoption across millions of users. This session moves deep into the mechanics of production: how to measure success through public value and outcomes, and how to make the ruthless decision to scale, pivot, or stop a product. Join us to learn the strategies needed for industrial-scale deployment. |
FROM THE ARCHIVESWhat the GCash IPO has in store  The Philippines' Securities and Exchange Commission has finally approved Mynt's bid to debut in the local stock exchange. The company is behind GCash, the country's largest e-wallet. When Mynt first announced its IPO plans in June, I spoke to analysts about what the move could mean for the firm's growth and for the local fintech sector as a whole. Most were curious about what it could do beyond payments and loans - the two main revenue drivers of the firm - and whether it could push the country's digital banks to also go public. |
WHEN AI ADOPTION GROWS, DOES IMPACT FOLLOW?Join an exclusive luncheon for tech and transformation leaders  AI adoption is accelerating. Now the hard part is turning that momentum into meaningful business impact. Join Notion this September 15 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore, for a focused conversation with senior tech, transformation, operations, and IT leaders on how organizations can incorporate AI into workflows that create real value. Drawing on Notion's research involving 500+ professionals in the city-state and 6,000 globally, the session explores where AI can have the greatest impact, what's holding teams back, and how leaders can measure success beyond time saved. Expect a fireside conversation and focused roundtable discussion where leaders can share perspectives and learn from peers. This session is open to Tech in Asia Conference 2026 General, Pro, and VIP pass holders. Slots are limited, and registrations are subject to approval. Register your interest now. |
PRESS PEEKSThe 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.
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EVENTS HAPPENINGYou can also check out our curated list of trending tech events and Tech in Asia's signature events.
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More ways to connect at the conference Extend your Tech in Asia Conference 2026 experience this September 15 at AWS Happy Hour. It gathers founders, investors, enterprise leaders, and startup partners over drinks. Make new introductions, continue the day's conversations, and explore potential investments, partnerships, and collaborations in a relaxed networking setting. Have a conference pass? Register your interest for AWS Happy Hour. |
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China's next global move Taking place on September 15 at the Tech in Asia Conference 2026, this exclusive luncheon gives you an early look at the report "Chinese Companies' New Playbook for Going Global" and gives you access to a moderated discussion on China's AI innovation, global expansion, and what these shifts could mean for Southeast Asian businesses. Already have a pass? Register your interest for the luncheon. |
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Scaling for a nation With only a few days remaining until the Tech in Asia Conference, Li Hongyi, director of OGP, joins us to discuss the framework it used to identify citizen pain points before writing a single line of code. Join us to learn the strategies needed for industrial-scale deployment. |
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