Fintech PR
Fundnel Unveils Sustained Demand for ECF Deals Amidst Global Economic Headwinds and Reports Growing Interest in Revenue-Sharing
Fundnel Malaysia today announced its performance for 2019, signalling sustained demand for alternative investments and lending. Over 240 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) sought the private investment platform’s expertise for fundraising, surpassing the industry’s average deal activity; four fulfilled Fundnel’s stringent requirements and have collectively raised RM5m. Across its five country markets, Fundnel secured US$120 million in essential funding for startups, private companies and venture capital funds, rendering 2019 its best year yet.
These fundraisers hail from various industries, from Food and Beverage (F&B) to Fintech. Amongst them, two SMEs — Celmonze The Signature, a one-stop beauty heaven with result-oriented face and body treatments, and CapBay, a multi-bank Supply Chain and Peer-to-Peer financing platform — were able to tap on the Malaysia Co-Investment Fund scheme by the Securities Commission Malaysia, which provided an additional boost for the businesses to pursue their next stage of growth. Majority of the funds raised were channelled to operating expenses for expansion and technology development.
Building Next-generation Private Capital Markets
Wan Mohd Firdaus, Country Director of Fundnel Malaysia, who is humbled by the ability to lend a hand to local SMEs, said, “the ultimate goal of most businesses is to generate profits. What sets exceptional businesses apart from the others is a desire to fulfil altruistic pursuits, such as a commitment to zero carbon emission or inclusive hiring.”
Fundnel is making strides toward its vision: building next-generation capital markets to enable the efficient distribution of capital that will create jobs, spur economic growth and build nations. “When we witness our work with these SMEs manifest itself in the form of new outlets, which provide gainful employment for Malaysians, or improved products or systems for the betterment of society, we are inspired to devise creative ways to reach more entrepreneurs and private companies”, he added.
Revenue-sharing: New Use Cases for a Proven Structure
In 2016, Fundnel introduced a revenue-sharing deal structure that allows a business to receive non-dilutive funding from a group of investors. In return, the business would share a part of its revenue with these investors for a fixed period of time until the principal and investment multiple has been paid up. In 2019, after years of research and implementation with numerous investors and fundraisers in the region, Fundnel officially debuted its revenue-sharing product in Malaysia.
Revenue-sharing offers a new realm of opportunities for investors. It paves the way for an investor to support a brand that resonates with personal values while providing a clear pathway for an exit within 12-24 months. Union Roastery, a speciality coffee roaster and cafe, was the first in Malaysia to raise funds through revenue-sharing from 15 individual and corporate investors, all of whom have received their principal investment along with above-expected returns. The F&B chain is currently raising a second campaign with Fundnel.
The Next Chapter for Southeast Asia’s Largest Private Investment Platform
Fundnel has five other SMEs in its pipeline that seek to launch fundraising campaigns in the weeks ahead. From evaluation to pre-launch preparation, the team was able to lay the groundwork for these deals despite the country’s movement control order — a testament to Fundnel’s digital-first approach to alternative investments and lending.
These SMEs span various industries and will be offered to investors in an array of structures. Companies of note include Enya, a digital period care company with a vision to provide affordable organic options to women; and Morganfield’s, an award-winning American-style diner with outlets across Malaysia, Singapore and Shanghai, China. Through an industry-agnostic approach and bespoke deal structuring, Fundnel ensures that it fulfils varied investor preferences while balancing the requirements of fundraisers.
In 2020, Fundnel will continue to enhance its platform to serve more Malaysian SMEs and help investors find and support everyday companies and essential services with growth potential that they care about.
Disclaimer:
Any fundraising campaign by Fundnel, including such revenue-sharing offers, are subject to its respective terms, conditions, and risks. There can be no assurance that any target rates of return will be achieved with respect to any of the fundraising campaigns, and actual results or performance of a future fundraising campaign may differ materially from the Union Roastery campaign. This press release has not been reviewed by the Securities Commission Malaysia.
Fintech PR
WSPN Appoints Former EY Global Chief Innovation Officer Jeff Wong as Independent Director
SINGAPORE, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network (WSPN), a leading stablecoin infrastructure company, announces the appointment of Jeff Wong as Independent Director. Mr. Wong brings over 25 years of experience in technology innovation and enterprise transformation to WSPN. He most recently served as EY’s Global Chief Innovation Officer from 2015 to 2024, where he spearheaded the firm’s global innovation initiatives and established EY’s advanced technology labs focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Web3.
Prior to EY, Mr. Wong held leadership roles at eBay and JPMorgan Partners. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Forbes Technology Council, and the founding Chair of Asia Society’s Technology and Innovation Council, helping drive the innovation and transformation agenda. He was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Innovation Ecosystems. He has previously served on the Oxford Foundry Board at Oxford University and the Advisory Board for AI4All. Mr. Wong is a recipient of the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business award and an honoree of the A100 List by Gold House, recognizing individuals with Asian Pacific heritage who have made a significant impact on American culture and society.
“Joining WSPN at this pivotal moment in the stablecoin industry is incredibly exciting,” said Mr. Wong. “I look forward to contributing my experience in emerging technologies and enterprise transformation to help WSPN build the next generation of digital payment infrastructure.”
“Jeff’s appointment represents a significant strategic addition to WSPN,” said Raymond Yuan, Founder and CEO of WSPN. “His deep expertise in innovation management, enterprise transformation, and emerging technologies, combined with his leadership experience at global institutions, will be invaluable as we accelerate our market expansion and global development.”
About WSPN
WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, committed to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent payment solution for the global economy. Their flagship product, WUSD stablecoin, is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and aims to optimize secure digital payments for Web3 users. WSPN’s Stablecoin 2.0 approach prioritizes user-centricity, community governance, and accessibility, paving the way for widespread stablecoin adoption.
Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn
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Refining Capacity of the Base Surpasses 50 Million Tons per Year
NINGBO, China, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation‘s (HKG: 0386, “Sinopec”) recently announced the mechanical completion of the second-phase expansion and advanced materials project at its Zhenhai Refinery. This milestone sets new benchmarks for innovation, smart manufacturing, and energy efficiency in large-scale projects. The refinery’s capacity has now been upgraded to 40 million tons per year, contributing to the Zhejiang Ningbo Petrochemical Industrial Base surpassing a total refining capacity of 50 million tons annually. The achievement solidifies its position as China’s largest, most advanced, and globally competitive petrochemical industrial base.
Located in the Yangtze River Delta, a key downstream product consumption hub, the Zhejiang Ningbo Petrochemical Industrial Base plays a vital role in Sinopec’s value chain. The second-phase expansion and advanced materials project, with a total investment of CNY 41.6 billion, incorporates 18 production units, including atmospheric distillation, catalytic cracking, polypropylene, and propane dehydrogenation units. By emphasizing chemical-focused processes, the project creates multiple high-value-added supply chains.
The facility’s expanded production capacity supports the development of high-end polyolefins, advanced materials, and specialty chemicals. It is expected to provide approximately 8 million tons of petrochemical products annually, significantly boosting the overall capacity of supply chains for industries such as automotive, home appliances, and textiles in the region. This expansion is forecast to generate trillions of yuan in upstream and downstream industrial value.
The project achieved remarkable progress in technological innovation and sustainability. Highlights include:
- Localization of 10 core technologies, including the world’s highest-load vertical labyrinth compressor.
- Extensive deployment of smart technologies, enabling simultaneous delivery of digital and physical factories.
- Integration of a fully localized industrial operating system and a self-developed industrial internet platform to enhance decision-making and management.
- Implementation of comprehensive energy-saving measures, achieving an overall reduction in energy consumption of 11.7%.
- Safety and quality were paramount during construction, with over 90 million consecutive safe man-hours recorded and a 100% quality pass rate for all units, setting a new industry benchmark.
Zhenhai Refinery, Sinopec’s largest integrated refining and chemical enterprise, boasts an ethylene production capacity of 2.2 million tons per year. It is also the only enterprise in China consistently ranked in the top performance group of the Solomon Global Ethylene Performance Evaluation.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sinopec-completes-construction-of-chinas-largest-petrochemical-industrial-base-302339157.html
Fintech PR
2025 Will See Increased QR Code Payments but Payment Card IC ASPs Will Not Return to Pre-Covid Levels
ABI Research’s 5th annual Trend Report identifies the key Digital Payment Technologies trend that will come to fruition —and the 1 that won’t—in 2025
NEW YORK, Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As 2025 kicks off, predictions abound on the technology innovations expected in the year ahead. In its new whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025, analysts from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. ABI Research analysts identify 54 trends that will shape the technology market and 47 others that, although attracting vast amounts of speculation and commentary, are less likely to move the needle over the next twelve months. In the Digital Payment Technologies space, 2025 will see increased QR code payment acceptance but little growth for payment card IC ASPs.
“2024 has been marked by challenges, from global conflicts and inflationary pressures to political uncertainty. These factors have strained enterprise and consumer spending, leading to market inertia, short-term technology investments, sidelined capital, and the exposure of vulnerable suppliers,” says Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer at ABI Research. “From a technology perspective, many industries and end markets are in that awkward stage of technology adoption where they are formulating implementation strategies, assessing solutions and partners, and trying to see if they have the resources needed to roll out solutions at scale. This is a particularly sensitive time, which tends to suggest 2025 will have tech implementers and end users on the brink of a period of a massive technology shift as they work through these issues.”
What Will Happen in 2025:
QR code payment acceptance will continue to increase with use cases expanding
Although QR code payment acceptance is prevalent in countries such as China and growing in emerging digital payment markets, including in India, use cases and potential growth areas are not limited to these countries. Significant and continued investments by vendors, including PayPal, Stripe, and SumUp, are setting the foundation for increased adoption in other mature and established economies with use cases expanding. Although QR codes are already being used by many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and pop-up retail businesses, 2025 will mark the year when the technology begins to shift from one niche to partial mainstream.
What Won’t Happen in 2025:
Payment card IC ASPs will not return to pre-COVID-19 levels
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, chipset pricing has been on a continual rise, driven by increased pricing in myriad manufacturing areas, including energy, raw material, transit pricing, and inflation, driving up wages. The chip shortage further compounded this, and according to ABI Research, the Average Selling Price (ASP) for a payment card Integrated Circuit (IC) increased by approximately +30% between 2020 and 2023. However, despite pricing pressures returning, the cost of payment ICs is some years away from matching pre-COVID-19 levels. Although 2025 will mark another year of pricing deprecation, it will not be until around 2028 when pricing is expected to drop to levels similar to those achieved in 2019 steadily.
For more trends that will and won’t happen in 2025, download the whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025.
About ABI Research
ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology solution providers and end-market companies. We serve as the bridge that seamlessly connects these two segments by providing exclusive research and expert guidance to drive successful technology implementations and deliver strategies proven to attract and retain customers.
ABI Research是一家全球性的技术情报公司，拥有得天独厚的优势，充当终端市场公司和技术解决方案提供商之间的桥梁，通过提供独家研究和专业性指导，推动成功的技术实施和提供经证明可吸引和留住客户的战略，无缝连接这两大主体。
For more information about ABI Research’s services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or visit www.abiresearch.com.
Contact Info:
Global
Deborah Petrara
Tel: +1.516.624.2558
[email protected]
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/2025-will-see-increased-qr-code-payments-but-payment-card-ic-asps-will-not-return-to-pre-covid-levels-302338531.html
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