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Under The Radar

We speak with businesses, industry leaders, venture capitalists and startups on their assessment of the business environment they're in, and what the future holds for them.
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4 Sep, 2024
Under the Radar: What are the key drivers of growth for ByteDance’s super app for enterprises Lark?
Imagine a productivity super app for businesses to digitalise operations from HQ to storefront, streamline communications, and achieve operational efficiency – all in one place. That’s Lark for you.  Initially developed by Chinese social media giant ByteDance in 2016 for internal use, Lark started as a platform that aims to combine business processes and collaborative documents in a single platform to transform workplace collaboration.  The platform was later spun off in 2019 to become a subsidiary of ByteDance, providing tools for project management, video conferencing, chat, documentation, and automation to help enterprises simplify their workflows. The firm serves some of the fastest growing companies from over 125 countries, ranging from Pop Mart, Atome, Xiaomi, Aeon Mall and even hotpot chain Haidilao, and is widely seen as a close competitor of Slack.  But how does Lark define its positioning within the industry and the geographical markets it wants to double down on?  Also, a technode article in December 2021 had said that Lark was aiming to achieve US$1 billion in global revenue from the five years counting from 2021. Three years later, an Yicai Global report said in March 2024 that Lark is reportedly launching a downsizing initiative and a new round of organisational adjustments. But what were the reasons behind the move and how far is the Lark still in line with the earlier targets it had set out to achieve? What will be the key drivers of growth for the firm? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Mark Dembitz, General Manager of APAC, Lark.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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2 Sep, 2024
Under the Radar: From thermometer to medtech solutions – How is Japanese medical equipment maker Terumo Corporation executing its "From Devices to Solutions" innovation strategy?
Today we’re going to talk about the journey a Japanese thermometer manufacturer took to transform itself into a medtech player and increasingly a medical solutions provider.  Founded in 1921 to address a stoppage of thermometer imports to Japan amid World War I, our guest Terumo is now a global leader in medical equipment with a footprint in over 160 countries and regions.  Its range of products has also broadened over the century, and now extends beyond thermometers to include vascular intervention, cardio-surgical solutions, cell therapy technology and even diabetes care and peritoneal dialysis treatments.  Why are we speaking to Terumo you might ask? Well, Terumo is an interesting company to look at because of just how fast society is changing in recent years, and how societal changes are creating new and more complex healthcare challenges for medtech players.  These include the increased prevalence of chronic diseases amid an ageing population, the drive to improve healthcare efficiency through digital technologies and the need to balance advancing healthcare versus cost effectiveness.  All that means the firm needs to rethink its positioning strategy and value proposition to remain relevant amid the evolving external environment. To do so, Temuro had in December 2021 came up with a 5-year innovation strategy called GS26, in which the company plans to reposition itself from a device maker to a solutions provider.  But what were some of the business decisions made in line with the strategy in the three years since 2021, particularly within Asia, and how would the firm assess its success in implementing the strategy? Meanwhile, Terumo had in August this year launched a new corporate venture fund called Temuro Ventures to invest in early stage companies. But how far will this help Temuro further innovate and meet ever changing healthcare needs?  On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Probir Das Group Executive Officer, Terumo Corporation/ Chairman, Terumo Asia Holdings, Vice Chairman of APACMed Board of Directors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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29 Aug, 2024
Under the Radar: Multimedia entertainment studios Moment Factory sheds light on opportunities in the billion-dollar immersive entertainment market; project portfolio including Changi Airport Terminal 2’s The Wonderfall and Las Vegas Sphere
If you’ve been to the newly revamped Changi Airport Terminal 2, you’ve would’ve noticed this landmark feature located at the heart of the departure hall.  Does an immersive digital waterfall ring a bell? Called The Wonderfall, the 14-metre tall digital waterfall is a piece of digital art and is said to be the result of a highly creative and technical challenge.  The LED wall, for one thing, is made up of close to 900 flat and flexi-curve tiles, which blends seamlessly with the vertical green wall and the facade of the airport terminal. Along with piano music and sounds of the waterfall rush, the Wonderfall was quite the spectacle.  But ever wondered who are the ones behind such digital entertainment experiences combining video, lighting, sounds and special effects? Well, that’s exactly who we’re going to talk to for today. Founded in 2001, our guest Moment Factory is a multimedia entertainment studio that specialises in the conception and production of immersive environments for its customers in public spaces. The Montreal-headquartered firm has a geographical presence in major cities such as Paris, Tokyo, New York and Singapore. It serves some of the world’s largest companies such as Microsoft, Billie Eilish, Changi Airport, the NFL, Madonna, the City of Barcelona, Sony and cruise operator Royal Caribbean, and is behind some of the most notable installations like Las Vegas Sphere.  But how would the firm define its value proposition given such a diverse customer base? Meanwhile, Grand View Research estimates the global immersive entertainment market to grow at a CAGR of 24.6% from 2024 to 2030 to reach US$426.77 billion by 2030. But where does digital immersive experience fit within the market, and what will be the key drivers of growth for Moment Factory? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Danny Tan, Singapore-based Managing Producer, Moment Factory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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27 Aug, 2024
Under the Radar: What is Stripe’s take on the fragmentation of the APAC payments landscape?
Today we’re going to talk about a company whose mission is to increase the GDP of – not a country or city – but the internet.  Founded in 2010, our guest Stripe is a technology company that prides itself on building the economic infrastructure for the internet.  With dual headquarters in San Francisco and Dublin, and offices dotted across major financial hubs such as London, Tokyo and Singapore, the firm assists customers from the world’s largest enterprises to budding startups in accepting payments, growing their revenue and tapping new business opportunities.  That means its suite of products and services cuts across a number of functions, from pricing, billing, checkouts, payment links, revenue recognition, to invoicing and even marketplace solutions.   The firm said over 100 industry leaders process more than US$1 billion on its platform annually, while over US$817 billion in payments were processed by businesses on the platform in 2022. In Singapore specifically, the firm works with some of the fastest growing players including Grab and Carousell. Now, why are we speaking to Stripe you might ask? Well, the internet or the digital economy is an interesting one to look at, with the digital economy in ASEAN alone widely tipped to grow to US$1 trillion by 2030.  But where are the opportunities within the broader APAC region? And more importantly, what are the complexities involved in capturing them given how fragmented the payment landscape is here? Not to throw in the cost of compliance as well? Meanwhile, the Stripe is also seeing a number of developments of late. It had in April raised US$694.2 million in a tender offer, giving the fintech player a 30 per cent higher valuation amid the cooler funding climate. The move is said to allow employees to cash out their share compensation without an IPO. But is the firm ready for an IPO anytime soon?  Meanwhile, Stripe had also in July this year acquired its competitor Lemon Squeezy. But what was the rationale behind the move? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Paul Harapin, Chief Revenue Officer, Asia Pacific & Japan, Stripe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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23 Aug, 2024
Under the Radar: AVEVA on acquisition by Schneider Electric, new “CONNECT” industrial intelligence platform, opportunities in Southeast Asia
It is all about helping enterprises extract value through digital transformation as we speak to a company said to be a global leader in the industrial software space.  With over 6,400 employees, 5,000 partners and 5,700 certified developers, our guest is Cambridge headquartered software development firm AVEVA. The firm prides itself on sparking ingenuity to drive the responsible use of the world’s resources. Its industrial cloud platform and applications are said to assist businesses in harnessing the power of information, and better collaborate with stakeholders such as customers, suppliers and partners.  These include providing clients with a Digital Twin for the whole asset lifecycle from Engineering through to Operations and Maintenance across diverse industries. So far, AVEVA serves over 20,000 enterprises across more than 100 countries, helping them deliver life’s essentials such as safe and reliable energy, food, medicines, infrastructure and more. Its valuation – well, above 10 billion British pounds. But why are we talking to AVEVA you might ask, well, the firm had in January 2023 announced the completion of its acquisition by Schneider Electric.  The move was said to help the firm accelerate its transition into a subscription-only business model and become the number one Software-as-a-Service (or SaaS) provider of software and industrial transformation. But how far has that played out in terms of R&D investments and support from Schneider Electric? Meanwhile, AVEVA had in April 2024 unveiled an artificial intelligence powered industrial intelligence platform called CONNECT to form an ecosystem for innovation. But what does that mean in layman terms?  It had also in June 2024 teamed up with IN-CORE Systemes to make Electric Vehicle battery production more efficient. But what can we expect on this front? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Shashank Luthra, Vice President, South East Asia at AVEVA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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21 Aug, 2024
Under the Radar: Why is Glico so focused on making nut-based confectionery?
If you have been to Osaka, you would probably know who our guest is for today. After all, the company is behind the running man signage overseeing the Dotombori canal and a must-see attraction when visiting the city.  Founded 102 years ago in 1922, Glico Group is best known as a confectionery maker behind brands such as Pocky, Pretz and Pejoy. But did you know that there is a heartwarming story behind how the products came about?  Well, back in the days, the firm’s founder Riichi Ezaki had a son who was unwell. To improve the health of his son, Ezaki tested and confirmed the presence of a significant amount of glycogen in a sample of oyster broth.  That was in the early 1900s so you can imagine that glycogen was a substance that was still relatively unknown. Well, Ezaki fed glycogen to his sickly son, who eventually became healthy.  And it was this desire to use glycogen in confectioneries and enhance human health that lays the foundation for Glico.  Today, the firm’s portfolio has expanded beyond brands like Pocky to look at ice-cream products, baby formula, milk products, desserts, food ingredients, as well as raw materials for cosmetic and health products.  But even as the firm grows over the years, its focus on research and development and focus on health continues to be a key part of its value proposition. But how far has this emphasis on R&D and human health set the firm apart from the competition?  Speaking of which, the firm appears to be setting its sights on using more nuts for its products. For one thing, Glico Manufacturing Indonesia, which is the largest Glico plant and exporter to North America Markets, now produces Pocky Crushed Nuts for ASEAN markets. But how far is the ingredient key for Glico’s future success?  On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Hideaki Nagahisa, Chief Operating Officer, Glico Asia Pacific.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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8 Aug, 2024
Under the Radar: How did Singapore’s oldest Hainanese coffee shop brand thrive while retaining a slice of Singapore’s past over the years? GM of Killiney International spills the coffee.
With Singapore’s 59th birthday right around the corner, we want to bring you a National Day special of “Under the Radar” where we speak to a homegrown heritage brand that you’ll come into contact with on a day-to-day basis.   Make a guess – this company is also said to be the oldest Hainanese coffee shop brand in Singapore. Established in late 1919 along the busy streets of Killiney Road, our guest for today is none other than – well — F&B operator Killiney!  But there’s a story behind how Killiney Kopitiam came about. The coffee shop was founded as Kheng Hoe Heng Coffeeshop back in the day, serving well-brewed coffee and tea and charcoal-grilled bread toast.  The traditional breakfast fare stole the heart of one regular customer called Mr Woon, who loved it so much that he finally bought the shop in 1993, renovated it, and called it ‘Killiney Kopitiam’.  But despite major renovations, the new owner believed in upholding the legacy of the previous owner, as well as the traditional working style and influence of the coffee shop. The focus remains on making good kaya, bread toast, coffee and tea, even as the brand scales and modernises.  Today, the Killiney Group has grown to a presence of about 50 outlets worldwide, and even moved into the FMCG merchandise business selling ready-to-cook food paste and instant beverages under the same heritage brand.  Now, we’re talking to Killiney Kopitiam not only because the old-school coffee shops are not only one close to our hearts, but also because the trade is also fading away from modern Singapore.  According to a Business Insider article in January this year citing Singapore’s Housing Development Board, only 776 coffee shops remain, down from the over 2,000 traditional coffee shops back in the 1950s. So what was Killiney Kopitiam’s recipe to thrive over the years, all while retaining a slice of Singapore’s past? Meanwhile, what is the company doing to bring a slice of Singapore abroad to other international markets such as the US? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Henry Oh, General Manager, Killiney International.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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6 Aug, 2024
Under the Radar: From gas cylinders to EV charging – Union Gas Holdings on diversifying service offerings as customers tap the electrification trend
Remember the days when the gas delivery man would come to our homes to switch out our gas tanks or gas cylinders?  That’s probably becoming a thing of the past, making today’s “Under The Radar” conversation all the more meaningful.  With over 40 years of operating track record, our guest Union Gas Holdings is an established provider of fuel products in Singapore. The company's key businesses consist of Retail Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Compressed Natural Gas and Diesel.  The SGX mainboard listed company is also said to be one of the leading suppliers of liquefied petroleum gas in Singapore.  It has a fleet of over 200 vehicles serving more than 200,000 domestic households as well as commercial entities such as hawker centres, eating houses, coffee shops and commercial central kitchen.  Assets-wise, the Group owns LPG storage depots as well as two out of four bottling LPG bottling plants in the island, giving it full control of the supply chain from procurement to bottling, storage, distribution, wholesaling and retailing.  Union Gas is an interesting company to look at particularly as households and F&B operators increasingly hop onto the green bandwagon, opting for electric stoves versus using gas stoves.  What does this mean for the firm when it boils down to demand for gas cylinders and cooking gas, and how is it switching up its portfolio offerings to prepare for a cleaner future? Speaking of which, Union Gas Holdings had in April this year expanded its offerings to provide electric vehicle charging services through a partnership with Hong Kong-based charging service provider Deltrix. But what can we expect on this front?  Also – how will moving away from traditional fuel sources also help the firm mitigate volatilities with oil and gas prices given ongoing geopolitical tensions in key supply markets? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Alexis Teo, General Manager, Union Gas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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2 Aug, 2024
Under the Radar: Overcoming language barriers with AI - German translation startup DeepL on future growth, backing by Mark Zuckerberg’s Family Office fund and expansion in Asia
Using artificial intelligence to overcome language barriers through human-like machine translation. That is what we are going to talk about today.  Founded in 2017, our guest DeepL is a global communications startup powered by Language AI.  Language AI, for context, is a field of artificial intelligence that looks at getting computers to understand and communicate in the human language. Now, back to DeepL, the German company works on human sounding translations and intelligent writing suggestions for enterprises across 32 global languages, and is said to be able to translate with pinpoint accuracy, accounting for industry-specific terminology and situational context.  Since its founding, DeepL has enabled over 100,000 businesses to transform communications, reach new markets and improve productivity.  The company is seen as a competitor to Alphabet’s Google Translate. It is also backed by a number of notable names including a fund from Mark Zuckerberg’s family office and Index Ventures.  Its valuation? A whopping US$2 billion as of May this year.  Aside from the big numbers, DeepL is also seeing a number of exciting developments of late. The company had in late July launched traditional Chinese as a language option as it looks to double down on its presence in Asia.  But why did DeepL choose to offer this rather niche language used mostly in Hong Kong and Taiwan, and how far will this help it compete against major Chinese technology giants  such as Baidu and Tencent which provide translation tools in simplified Chinese? Meanwhile, the firm had also in the same month launched a language model that is said to outperform GPT-4, Google and Microsoft for translation quality. But how will this set the stage for DeepL as it pursues future growth? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Jarek Kutylowski, CEO and Founder, DeepL.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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31 Jul, 2024
Under the Radar: Beyond the Banyan – Banyan Group’s founder Ho Kwon Ping on shoring up share prices, brand positioning, further expansion and family business succession
From a single resort in Phuket to becoming one of the world’s leading independent, multi-branded hospitality groups – today we’re going to bring you an inside look into the growth story of Banyan Group.  With its beginnings dated about 30 years back to 1994, Banyan Group was founded as a sanctuary for the senses and now boasts a diversified portfolio of hotels, resorts, spas, galleries, golf and residences centred around 12 major brands, including: Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia, Dhawa and Laguana.  The business was built around the core-concept of sustainability, and adopts what it calls an “asset-right” model to maximise value for its stakeholders through a three-pronged approach.  That includes rebalancing asset ownership to focus on key competencies, unlocking land banks to realise development value and growing fee-based segment through strategic industry partnerships. Why are we talking to Banyan Group you might ask? Well, the firm had in January this year shifted its corporate umbrella brand from “Banyan Tree Group” to Banyan Group to reflect its portfolio transformation from a single luxury brand to a multi-brand player. That’s as the firm seeks further expansion with 19 new properties and residences in Cambodia, China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Mexico in the pipeline for this year. So what can we expect on this front, and how far will a new umbrella brand help individual brands under the Group better position for the future?  Meanwhile, the firm’s founder Ho Kwon Ping also told Nikkei Asia in February that the firm plans to split its hotel and property development units to unlock value for the Group. But how effective will this be in shoring up the share prices of the firm? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Ho Kwon Ping, Executive Chairman and Founder, Banyan Group. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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