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  • Ringkas Secures US\$5.1M in Pre-Series A Funding to Expand AI-Driven Mortgage Solutions Across Malaysia and Southeast Asia

    Ringkas Secures US\$5.1M in Pre-Series A Funding to Expand AI-Driven Mortgage Solutions Across Malaysia and Southeast Asia

    Ringkas Raises US\$5.1M Pre-Series A to Expand AI-Powered Mortgage Solutions Across Southeast Asia. Ringkas, a fast-growing embedded financial infrastructure platform, has successfully secured US\$5.1 million in its Pre-Series A funding round, marking a major milestone in its mission to simplify and scale access to mortgage financing across Southeast Asia. The round drew participation from notable investors including Flourish Ventures, Kadan Capital, and several strategic and existing backers, underscoring strong investor confidence in Ringkas’ vision to transform the region’s home financing ecosystem.

    Founded with the ambition to break down barriers to homeownership, Ringkas aims to empower millions of Southeast Asians with faster, smarter, and more accessible mortgage solutions. The new capital injection will fuel the company’s regional expansion and deepen its investment in artificial intelligence capabilities. As part of this growth strategy, Ringkas is actively recruiting top AI talent across Vietnam and Southeast Asia, positioning the region as a hub for AI innovation in financial services.

    Ringkas has already made significant strides in the market, operating in 47 cities, partnering with 150 property projects, and collaborating with 29 banks through 700 branches. These achievements lay a strong foundation for the platform’s next phase of scale and innovation, as it continues to build an AI-driven ecosystem that integrates seamlessly into consumers’ everyday digital lives.

    “Our mission is to build a seamless, AI-driven financial infrastructure platform that embeds into the everyday digital lives of Southeast Asians,” said Ilya Kravtsov, Co-founder of Ringkas. “This investment helps us move faster in making mortgage finance more accessible while laying the groundwork for broader financial inclusion through future AI capabilities.”

    Across markets like Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia, millions of families still face systemic barriers to obtaining affordable mortgage financing. Ringkas addresses this challenge by providing personalized mortgage recommendations, real-time financial advisory, and pre-approvals through embedded partnerships with banks, property developers, and digital platforms.

    The company’s progress has attracted attention from global investors. “Ringkas has emerged as the leading platform making homeownership in Indonesia more accessible and seamless. The visionary founding team and their powerful network of partners have reinforced our belief in the company,” said Rei Murakami Frenzel, Founding Partner at Kadan Capital.

    Ravi Kaushik, Executive Director at Flourish Ventures, added, “Ringkas is addressing one of the region’s most pressing challenges by making mortgage financing more accessible through technology. Their strong execution in Indonesia, combined with a thoughtful approach to regional expansion and AI integration, positions them well to build a meaningful and scalable financial solution for Southeast Asia.”

    Looking ahead, Ringkas plans to deepen its R\&D and AI development footprint in Vietnam, leveraging the country’s vibrant tech talent and growing digital economy. As the company accelerates its expansion, this Pre-Series A round signals not only a strategic leap toward transforming access to homeownership, but also a broader commitment to building a resilient, inclusive financial infrastructure for the future of Southeast Asia.

  • EternityX Accelerates Malaysia Expansion to Capitalize on China’s Outbound Tourism Surge

    EternityX Accelerates Malaysia Expansion to Capitalize on China’s Outbound Tourism Surge

    EternityX Strengthens Malaysia Presence to Capitalize on China’s Outbound Travel Surge. EternityX Marketing Technology is deepening its commitment to Southeast Asia with the strategic expansion of its leadership team in Malaysia, positioning the country as a vital hub in its cross-border growth strategy. Framing Malaysia as “more than just a stopover—it’s a strategic launchpad,” CEO Charlene Ree announced the move as part of EternityX’s broader ambition to empower brands with real-time consumer intelligence, regional fluency, and data-driven marketing execution across the China-Southeast Asia corridor.

    The expansion comes at a pivotal time. With Chinese outbound travel rebounding sharply—57.8 million travellers ventured abroad during the 2025 Labour Day holiday alone, marking a 121% year-on-year increase—Malaysia is rapidly emerging as a high-impact zone for brands targeting Chinese audiences. The expected surge during upcoming Golden Week and summer holidays only amplifies the opportunity. EternityX aims to help brands transform this behavioral data into tangible results, driving engagement and conversion through precision marketing tools and local market insight.

    To lead this ambitious push, EternityX has appointed a powerhouse local leadership team. At the helm is Meera Thuraivel as Managing Director, bringing more than 20 years of experience in digital transformation. Known for scaling Aleph’s operations and driving exponential revenue growth, Meera is a respected figure in Malaysia’s digital ecosystem. She also brings deep sectoral expertise across luxury, fashion, entertainment, and automotive, and is a founding member of the Malaysia Digital Association. “Malaysia is uniquely positioned for cross-border commerce,” she noted, citing the projected influx of 5 million Chinese tourists by 2025. “EternityX is primed to deliver culturally nuanced, AI-powered campaigns that meet the moment.”

    Joining her is Thresa Thian, appointed Executive Director, a seasoned expert in digital strategy, social listening, and regional partnerships. With over two decades of experience and a reputation for fusing deep consumer insight with scalable brand strategies, Thresa reinforces EternityX’s commitment to client success. “Chinese media marketing isn’t just about visibility—it’s about connection,” she said. “At EternityX, we ensure brands reach the right people with the right message using data-driven insights and top Chinese platforms.”

    Valerie Tan rounds out the leadership team as Senior Client Growth Manager, bringing valuable experience from Meta and X (formerly Twitter). With a deep understanding of both SMB and enterprise client needs, Valerie focuses on helping brands navigate platform dynamics and audience behavior. “With travel and retail converging, EternityX is here to ensure brands show up with clarity and cultural relevance,” she added.

    Malaysia’s strategic relevance is underscored by its growing Chinese diaspora, which accounts for 23.4% of the population, and its rapid digital transformation. In 2024 alone, 3.8 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia—a 129% year-on-year increase. Digital wallet adoption is booming as well, with WeChat Pay and Alipay+ seeing dramatic rises in cross-border usage, particularly in Asia and Europe.

    Beyond travel volumes, consumer behavior is also evolving. Chinese tourists are increasingly digital-first, favoring mobile-based bookings, immersive travel experiences, and seamless digital payments. EternityX is uniquely positioned to help brands intercept and engage these consumers across every touchpoint. Through its proprietary ecosystem—including PilotX for real-time behavioral targeting, MediaX for omnichannel campaign delivery on platforms like WeChat, Xiaohongshu, and Ctrip, and NaviX for data-led performance optimization—EternityX transforms consumer insight into brand advantage.

    Chief Business Officer Deric Wong emphasized the significance of Malaysia in the company’s global strategy. “Today’s Chinese traveller expects precision, relevance, and ease. Meera, Thresa, and Valerie bring the expertise and agility to help our partners deliver on those expectations,” he said. “Malaysia isn’t just part of our network—it’s a growth engine we’re scaling with purpose.”

    With this strategic expansion, EternityX reinforces its position as a market leader at the intersection of East-West marketing, ready to help brands seize the next wave of cross-border opportunity.

  • EternityX Accelerates Global Expansion with Key Executive Appointments in Malaysia, Thailand, Guangzhou, and Shanghai

    EternityX Accelerates Global Expansion with Key Executive Appointments in Malaysia, Thailand, Guangzhou, and Shanghai

    EternityX Expands Regional Leadership to Accelerate Global Growth Across Southeast Asia and China. EternityX Marketing Technology is strengthening its global footprint with a series of strategic executive appointments across Malaysia, Thailand, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. This expansion marks a significant step in the company’s broader growth strategy, aimed at reinforcing regional market expertise and enhancing cross-border marketing capabilities. As the demand for China-ready solutions continues to rise, EternityX is positioning itself to deliver greater commercial value through localised leadership and data-driven execution.

    CEO Charlene Ree emphasized that this move goes beyond geographic expansion—it reflects a deliberate scale-up of leadership to support the company’s next phase of growth. “We’re investing in market-makers who bring deep local knowledge and regional vision,” Ree stated. “Our strengthened leadership footprint gives us the on-the-ground firepower to activate campaigns with speed, align with enterprise goals, and deliver results across borders. This is how EternityX scales—by transforming complexity into competitive advantage.”

    At the core of EternityX’s mission is enabling global brands to navigate and win in the complex Chinese media and consumer landscape. By operating at the intersection of East-West marketing transformation, the company delivers AI-powered precision marketing that connects brands with Chinese audiences both within China and abroad. The latest leadership appointments underscore EternityX’s commitment to scaling its operations through market-led execution and strategic agility.

    In Malaysia, Meera Thuraivel joins as Managing Director, bringing over two decades of experience in building high-performing teams and trusted client partnerships across industries like luxury beauty, fashion, and entertainment. Her leadership is complemented by Thresa Thian, appointed Executive Director, who adds deep digital media expertise and a proven track record in scaling regional initiatives. Supporting them is Valerie Tan, Senior Client Growth Manager, who brings valuable insights from her tenure at Meta and X (formerly Twitter), focusing on enhancing planner servicing and brand engagement with Chinese platforms.

    In Thailand, Chalida Raksanaves steps in as Business Development Director, leveraging over 10 years of strategic advertising experience and a sharp understanding of cross-cultural media engagement. She is joined by Nitiwat Jiraphatthasiri, Senior Business Development Manager, who brings full-funnel marketing expertise and a strong grasp of behavioral targeting to help brands achieve measurable business impact.

    On the innovation front, Simon Zhong leads as Head of Insights & Product Innovation in Guangzhou. A pioneer in marketing science, Simon brings extensive experience from working with top-tier brands and platforms such as BMW, Burberry, and Tencent. He is tasked with advancing PilotX, EternityX’s proprietary AI platform, into a category-defining solution that offers actionable insights and strategic clarity for brands operating in China.

    In Shanghai, Celin Chen serves as Deputy General Manager, contributing over 12 years of experience across leading brands and agencies. Her focus lies in driving go-to-market excellence and delivering commercial outcomes in one of Asia’s most competitive digital arenas.

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    Deric Wong, Chief Business Officer, Global, highlighted the importance of this leadership expansion: “With Meera and Simon joining the team, and with Thresa, Valerie, Chalida, Nitiwat, and Celin strengthening our presence across key markets, EternityX now has the strategic depth and operational excellence to lead our clients through the evolving China opportunity. We’re not just opening doors—we’re leading our clients through them with precision, purpose, and performance.”

    As Southeast Asia and China continue to converge as high-growth zones for Chinese consumer engagement, EternityX’s reinforced regional leadership signals a bold, forward-thinking approach to market expansion—one that blends innovation, local insight, and global ambition.

  • EternityX: Labour Day 2025 Sees 28.7% Rise in Chinese Outbound Travel, Signaling Shift Toward Digital-First, Experience-Led Tourism

    EternityX: Labour Day 2025 Sees 28.7% Rise in Chinese Outbound Travel, Signaling Shift Toward Digital-First, Experience-Led Tourism

    Labour Day 2025 Signals Powerful Comeback and New Era in Chinese Outbound Travel. China’s outbound travel market is experiencing a powerful resurgence, with fresh insights from EternityX’s Labour Day 2025 Travel Trends & Insights Report revealing a striking 28.7% year-on-year increase in cross-border travel over the holiday period. More than just a rebound, this trend marks a transformation in the way Chinese travellers experience the world, with digital fluency and a hunger for personalised, meaningful journeys reshaping the global tourism landscape.

    The report highlights double-digit growth across key travel indicators: 10.9 million border crossings, 11.15 million air passengers, and outbound tourism spending reaching ¥180.3 billion (~USD 25 billion), up 8.0% from the previous year. “This isn’t just a rebound. It’s a redefinition of how Chinese travellers explore the world,” noted Charlene Ree, CEO of EternityX. “They’re seeking depth over distance, driven by digital experiences that align with their lifestyle values.”

    A clear trend emerging from this travel boom is the prioritisation of experiences over traditional sightseeing. Attraction ticket sales soared by 150% year-on-year, with strong interest in scene-based travel such as anime-themed hotels in Japan and audio-guided museum tours in France. Adventure travel is also gaining popularity, with notable increases in bookings for snorkelling in Malaysia and trekking in Nepal. These shifts indicate that today’s Chinese travellers are seeking experiences that are not only memorable but deeply immersive and personally enriching.

    Digital ecosystems continue to redefine the travel journey. Platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay saw a 30–50% surge in usage, now serving as full-service travel companions rather than just payment tools. In-app mini-programs guided everything from restaurant choices to museum tours, underscoring the need for international destinations to build seamless digital touchpoints that integrate directly with Chinese consumers’ preferred platforms.

    Airlines are responding to this renewed demand with an aggressive expansion of international routes. Air China added new services to Cairo, Toronto, and Central Asia while resuming popular routes to Tokyo and Paris. China Eastern launched a new Shanghai–Abu Dhabi connection, and United Airlines introduced seven new US–China routes. Cathay Pacific increased its Shanghai flights by 48% year-on-year, enhancing connectivity across both business and leisure travel segments.

    Looking ahead, Chinese outbound travel is forecast to reach between 177 and 185 million in 2025, with 111 to 116 million travellers expected during the summer season alone. Golden Week in Q4 could see a further 12.4 million Chinese tourists exploring the world, particularly seeking luxury and culturally immersive experiences in long-haul destinations such as Europe and the Middle East. “The rise of digital-native, experience-seeking Chinese travellers is no longer a trend—it’s the new market reality,” said Deric Wong, Chief Business Officer, Global at EternityX.

    EternityX emphasises that global brands must move beyond seasonal promotions to effectively reach this evolving market. A data-driven, full-funnel marketing approach, aligned with travel intent and powered by localised, platform-native content across ecosystems like WeChat and Alipay, is now essential. With the summer travel window rapidly approaching, the opportunity is substantial—but so is the competition.

    As Labour Day 2025 demonstrated, the future of Chinese outbound tourism is both dynamic and digitally driven. Brands that engage early with strategic precision and cultural intelligence will be best positioned to convert this momentum into lasting impact across global markets.

  • Clockenflap Unveils Early Bird Tickets and First Line-Up Featuring Rich Brian, Jacob Collier, Franz Ferdinand, Yoga Lin, Beth Gibbons, and Panther Chan

    Clockenflap Unveils Early Bird Tickets and First Line-Up Featuring Rich Brian, Jacob Collier, Franz Ferdinand, Yoga Lin, Beth Gibbons, and Panther Chan

    Clockenflap 2025 Drops Early Bird Tickets and Star-Studded First Line-Up. Hong Kong’s premier international outdoor music and arts festival, Clockenflap, has officially launched Early Bird ticket sales for its much-anticipated 2025 edition, scheduled to take place from Friday, 5 December to Sunday, 7 December at the iconic Central Harbourfront. Alongside the ticket release, organisers unveiled the first wave of an electrifying lineup that promises to set the stage for one of the city’s most memorable music events of the year.

    Headlining the first announcement are genre-spanning global artists including Indonesian rap sensation Rich Brian (Saturday), British musical polymath Jacob Collier (Friday), and Scottish indie rock giants Franz Ferdinand (Sunday). Joining them are Mandarin pop powerhouse Yoga Lin (Sunday), the enigmatic former Portishead frontwoman Beth Gibbons (Saturday), and beloved Hong Kong singer-songwriter Panther Chan (Friday), ensuring a diverse range of sounds for every fan.

    The weekend will also feature British troubadour Passenger and German electronic duo Digitalism (DJ set) on Friday; American alt-indie favourite Soccer Mommy, Japanese indie-pop group Chilli Beans., Thai singer-songwriter Phum Viphurit, and rising Japanese vocalist Akasaki on Saturday. Closing out the festival on Sunday, fans can expect powerful sets from Canadian post-rock legends Godspeed You! Black Emperor, California’s cult indie act TV Girl, UK-based DJ Riria, and the historic return of Hong Kong’s post-punk pioneers Bitter Tea of General Yeng, who will perform live for the first time after a 40-year hiatus.

    Set against the stunning backdrop of Hong Kong’s skyline and harbour views, Clockenflap 2025 is set to deliver the immersive festival atmosphere fans have come to love. In addition to an eclectic array of local, regional, and international artists across multiple stages, attendees can enjoy captivating art installations, interactive family-friendly workshops, and an impressive lineup of food and beverage offerings from top-tier local vendors.

    Early Bird tickets are available from 13 to 23 May 2025 exclusively via Ticketflap (www.ticketflap.com/Clockenflap2025). Prices start at HK\$1,790 for 3-day General Admission and HK\$1,150 for single-day passes. Discounted U18 tickets are also available, while children under three can attend for free without registration.

    With more major acts set to be revealed soon, music lovers are encouraged to secure their spots early for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of music, art, and culture in the heart of Hong Kong.