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Chinese AI startups are increasingly choosing Singapore as a global destination. The city-state’s appeal lies in better access to investors, customers, and cutting-edge technologies. Additionally, setting up in Singapore allows companies to distance themselves from their Chinese origins, a practice known as “Singapore-washing.” Chinese companies, including ByteDance and Shein, have relocated their headquarters to Singapore. However, this strategy doesn’t always succeed. ByteDance’s TikTok business, despite moving to Singapore, faced challenges due to a new US law. Similarly, Shein, now based in Singapore, has encountered intense criticism in the US and is considering going public in London. #SingaporeAI #GlobalExpansion #TradeSanctions #CuttingEdgeTech #InvestmentHub #EthnicChinese #SingaporeWashing #StartupScene #USRelations #RegulatoryCompliance #Geopolitics #ByteDance #TikTok #SingaporeHQ #USLaw #SecurityConcerns #Shein #LondonIPO #BusinessRelocation #GlobalMarket #Geopolitics

🇸🇬 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐀𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞 Chinese AI startups are increasingly relocating to Singapore to overcome challenges faced in their home country and pursue global growth opportunities. Tabcut, a data analytic platform from China, has moved from Hangzhou to Singapore in March 2024. Like many other Chinese startups, the migration is driven by several factors like better access to global investors and customers, and elevated geopolitical tensions deterring international firms from China. - - 🧙♂️ 𝐀𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥. ☕ Latest AI trends and news in your inbox 🔥 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 our newsletter if you are keen to be early in the AI wave 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gDdTvddy

In the interview with Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报, I raised two key points: First, I highlighted how Singapore’s ecosystem supports deep tech startups, with agencies like Enterprise Singapore, IMDA PIXEL, ACE.SG (Action Community for Entrepreneurship), and IHL like NTU Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NTU I&E) and NTUitive playing vital roles in nurturing the startup #innovation landscape. Second, I elaborated the problem of significant tech talent shortage. Rapid #AI adoption across sectors has intensified demand for professionals in fields like #machinelearning and #datascience, but the talent pool has struggled to keep pace. Competition for talent is fierce, with big tech, government agencies, and companies in digital #transformation competing for the same expertise, often leaving startups at a disadvantage. To address this, the government may want to consider adjusting foreign talent policies to meet the industry’s growing needs. https://lnkd.in/gXwjCRMu Thanks Yaning Li for telling Kookree's story. |Nanyang Technological University Singapore | NTU Entrepreneurship Academy (NTUpreneur) | Google Cloud | AI Singapore | A*StartCentral | IMDA

Singapore has come a long way... Singapore’s tech ecosystem has made remarkable strides over the past decade, transforming itself into the hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in East Asia Consider today’s context of many financial institutions and organizations continuing to shift their headquarters to Singapore, leading companies in the AI and chips space like Apple, Microsoft, and NVIDIA investing more than ever into Southeast Asia markets With Singapore recently welcoming a new government with its fourth prime minister, we cover opportunities and challenges that stem from the country’s globally recognized pro-enterprise and innovation approach: 1️⃣ Maturing guardrails to thrive amidst continued talent and capital influx (to Southeast Asia through Singapore) 2️⃣ Creating entrepreneur and investor flywheels (not just returns) from long-standing programs for early-stage startup creation 3️⃣ Retaining technical talent amidst increasingly diversified organizations 4️⃣ Harvesting the fruits of the country's deep tech focus 5️⃣ More layers to role of government from laying the foundations of an ecosystem to setting up infrastructure for scale and outcomes Read the full article, featuring cases from a few Singapore startups and data from our publicly available tools: https://lnkd.in/eQzsRerP 📸 T-B: Block71 before it became Block71 in 2011, Singapore Funding Deal Value By Size from our Private Market Statistics Tool, Innovation Economy Trifecta, Founders of companies featured in the article L-R: Intellect CEO Theodoric Chew, igloo CEO Anthony Chow, Rainforest CEO Jia Jih Chai, and Eezee CEO Logan Tan

China's tech landscape faces changes influencing investment patterns particularly towards Southeast Asia. 📉 **Investment Decrease** Investment from Chinese tech firms in Southeast Asia has plummeted from US$9.1 billion in 2021 to US$2.4 billion in 2023. 🏆 **Alibaba and Tencent Stronghold** Despite a downturn in overall Chinese investments, Alibaba and Tencent remain dominant, heavily investing in leading Southeast Asian startups. 🌍 **Strategic Relocations** High-profile companies like Shein and ByteDance have moved headquarters to Singapore, potentially for strategic gains related to global market access and regulatory advantages. - Want to keep up with the ins and outs of the #tech ecosystem in Asia? Sign up for free at techin.asia/newsletters

🚀🚀Join us on 20 June at 4:30 PM for an exclusive event hosted by EDB Singapore for *ASEAN serial technopreneurs innovating in AI*. This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with top VCs all eager to fund AI ventures. If you’ve successfully exited a startup and are working on your next project or have early-stage ideas, this is your chance to network with seasoned entrepreneurs and like-minded investors. Register now, seats are limited! https://lnkd.in/gQT3nK94 *Know someone who would benefit from this event? Share this poster with your Founder network and help us bring together the brightest minds in AI innovation!* Kabir Narang Willson Cuaca Paul Ng, CFA Jenny Lee Vinnie Lauria Ben Y. Carmen Yuen B. Paul Santos Quentin Vaquette Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) Alvin Cai Philbert Gomez Christine Giam Yuan Chun Ling Glenda Tan Charmaine Kng Chia Li Yeung #singapore #innovation #AI #venturebuilding #venturesmadepossible

Beyond K-pop hits and bustling cities, #Singapore and #Korea unite to energise the next wave of #innovation.💡 🇰🇷🇸🇬 Singapore and South Korea are committed to deepening collaboration in areas such as deep tech, #AI, green technology, and advanced energy solutions. Both nations seek to unlock commercialisation and product development opportunities in these sectors, aligning with global trends that drive industries towards more sustainable and future-ready business models. 💼 This is a prime opportunity for business leaders to rethink their global expansion strategies. With Korea's robust innovation ecosystem and Singapore's leadership in the #digital economy, SMEs have much to gain by aligning themselves with these initiatives. Collaboration on e-commerce, AI integration, and energy innovation can catalyse new revenue streams and enhance operational resilience in a shifting global landscape. Interested in how international cooperation can drive your business #growth? Book a complimentary 1-to-1 business advisory session here: https://lnkd.in/g_5tassX and let SME Centre@SMF (Singapore Manufacturing Federation) explore ways to leverage these new developments to elevate your #SME. 🚀 #smesupport #businessgrowth #sgbusiness #businessadvisory #consulting #businessstrategy #business #businessexpansion #globalinnovation #technology #globalexpansion #collaborations #transformation #goglobal #deeptech #greentechnology #digitaleconomy #internationalisation #internationalization

#LatestNewsinAI: A Deep Dive into Central Eastern Europe (CEE)'s Early-Stage Investment Landscape! 🌍🚀 According to a recent article by Sifted, early-stage investments dominated Central Eastern Europe's startup ecosystem in 2023, with pre-seed and seed stages comprising 92% of the 818 deals closed. Now, notable VCs are keeping the momentum going in the region, particularly in deep tech and AI. 🤖 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐕𝐂𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐄𝐄: 1. Innovation Capital (Sofia, Bulgaria) 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: B2B SaaS, ecommerce, foodtech, healthtech, cybersecurity 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: EvaGene (DNA reports), SHAREASCOOT (scooter sharing) 2. Baltic Sandbox Ventures (Vilnius, Lithuania) 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: Deeptech, life science, dual-use startups 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Axiology (blockchain securities), SKYCORP Technologies (hydrogen quadcopters) 3. SMOK Ventures (Warsaw, Poland) 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: SaaS, gamedev, AI startups 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Gemelo.AI (personalized sales videos), 57hours (adventure platform) 🎮 4. Specialist VC (Tallinn, Estonia) 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: B2B SaaS, fintech, platforms, deeptech 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: DrHouse (online doctor visits), SensusQ (intelligence software) 🏥 5. ZAKA VC (Prague, Czech Republic) 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬: SaaS, healthtech, biotech 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: SharpGrid (market research), SpectreXR (extended reality) Amidst regional and global economic shifts, these investors continue to fuel a vibrant AI and deep tech scene, driving the region's growth and innovative potential. Read the full piece from Sifted for more insights: https://lnkd.in/gXknhiBT! 🌐📈 #DeepTech #AI #VC #Investment #CEE #TechInnovation

As of April 2024, China has around 369 unicorns, making it the second-largest hub for unicorn companies globally, following the United States. These unicorns are mainly concentrated in advanced sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and new energy, reflecting China’s strong emphasis on technological innovation. Beijing leads in unicorn concentration within China, housing 114 of these high-value startups, followed by cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.

I think this trend of Chinese AI firms setting up shop in Singapore is a positive development for both countries. These AI startups bring valuable skills, investment, and potential for job creation. For Singapore, it represents an opportunity to attract innovative companies and talent, further cementing its position as a tech hub in Asia. At the same time, I believe it's also good for China in the long run. While it may sting to see homegrown startups leave, this migration could ultimately strengthen China's AI ecosystem. The founders gain exposure to global markets and investors, which they can leverage to grow their businesses. And when they succeed, they may reinvest in China's startup scene, creating a virtuous cycle. Of course, there are also risks to consider. Singapore must carefully manage this influx to ensure a level playing field for local startups. And China should look at ways to make its domestic environment more attractive for AI companies to stay and thrive. But overall, I'm optimistic about the potential of this trend. It shows the resilience and global ambition of China's AI entrepreneurs. Do you see other implications, positive or negative?