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“No Data, No Talk”: How Data Fundraising Is Redefining SME Growth in ASEAN

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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 January 2026 – In an era where investors are more selective than ever, SMEs can no longer rely on vision, passion, or static pitch decks alone. The new rule of fundraising is clear: No Data, No Talk.

Participants of the Data Fundraising Masterclass gather on Day 3 of the programme in Kuala Lumpur, where SME owners presented investor-ready pitch decks built using CapitalOS, BizPal’s data-driven corporate finance platform.


This message took centre stage at the
Data Fundraising Masterclass (12–14 December 2025) organised by BizPal by Simplyfi™, where close to 80 SME owners, founders, and senior leaders gathered to learn how technology, branding, and corporate finance must be integrated into a single, data-driven narrative to unlock capital and sustainable growth.

The three-day masterclass was designed to help SMEs move beyond siloed decision-making. Participants were guided through structuring their business models, identifying value drivers, and translating strategy into investor-ready financial narratives using CapitalOS — BizPal’s data-driven corporate finance platform that consolidates operational, strategic, and financial data into a coherent dashboard designed to speak the language of investors.

“I thank the team for their tireless preparation for the masterclass. Our mission is simple — SMEs should never walk into a funding conversation unsure of their numbers,” said Ms. Anya Tan, CEO of BizPal by Simplyfi™.

Rather than treating technology, brand, and finance as separate initiatives, CapitalOS demonstrated how these elements work together to form one credible, measurable story of enterprise value.

Technology as a Measurable Growth Strategy
As part of the programme, guest speaker Mr. Chris Teng, Sales Director of FSBM Holdings Berhad, shared insights on the role of technology in enterprise scalability.

“Every business today needs a clear technology blueprint — not just to operate efficiently, but to attract investors. Technology is the foundation of scalability. When you can demonstrate how your tech investments drive data, efficiency, and market access, your enterprise value naturally grows.”

This session reinforced a core principle of data fundraising: technology only creates value when it produces measurable outcomes. Within CapitalOS, participants learned how technology investments can be translated into operational metrics and long-term financial impact — moving technology from a backend function to a valuation driver.

Turning Brand and IP into Recognised Assets
In another session, Mr. Tee Lin Yik, CEO and Co-founder of Tee IP Sdn Bhd, addressed the growing importance of brand and intellectual property (IP) valuation in fundraising.

“Your marketing, design, and digital assets are not just expenses — they represent intangible value. When structured properly, these can be recognised as brand assets, contributing directly to enterprise valuation.”
Participants explored how branding and IP, when properly documented and governed, can be captured within CapitalOS as value-creating assets, strengthening credibility during fundraising discussions and due diligence.

Finance, Governance, and the Investor Lens
Concluding Day 2, Mr. Dylan Woon, Director of Sparta Haus, highlighted the importance of live data, governance, and transparency from an investor’s perspective.

“In the modern business environment, static reports are no longer enough. Investors expect live dashboards and clear governance trails. Platforms like CapitalOS help SMEs manage and present their data dynamically — aligning business strategy with financial credibility.”

Through guided exercises, participants learned to view their businesses from an investor’s lens — understanding how data consistency, governance discipline, and financial clarity directly influence valuation and funding decisions.

From Learning to Real Conversations
Beyond theory, the programme delivered tangible outcomes. Participants were guided to develop investor-ready pitch decks using AI-assisted tools, with many completing their decks during the three-day programme.

Several selected participants presented their pitch decks to investors and judging panelists on Day 3, leading to follow-up discussions and early expressions of interest.

Soft Launch of Global Mentorship Exchange (GMx)
Wrapping up Day 3 of the Data Fundraising Masterclass, BizPal also announced the soft launch of the Global Mentorship Exchange (GMx), a strategic ecosystem initiative designed to complement CapitalOS by connecting experienced business leaders with high-potential entrepreneurs.

BizPal Head of Innovation, Wayne, announcing the soft launch of the Global Mentorship Exchange (GMx) alongside Dato’ Jacky of Asia Success Media Group during Day 3 of the Data Fundraising Masterclass in Kuala Lumpur.
BizPal Head of Innovation, Wayne, announcing the soft launch of the Global Mentorship Exchange (GMx) alongside Dato’ Jacky of Asia Success Media Group during Day 3 of the Data Fundraising Masterclass in Kuala Lumpur.

The initiative is built on a central premise: the greatest untapped resource in business is experience. GMx aims to make this experience more accessible by providing a structured platform where mentors, entrepreneurs, and investors can engage through data-backed evaluation, technology-enabled assessment, and transparent benchmarking.

GMx is positioned as a global exchange where experienced founders and industry leaders support emerging businesses not only through guidance, but through measurable insights aligned with investor expectations. By integrating mentorship with structured evaluation frameworks, GMx seeks to help high-potential SMEs gain visibility, credibility, and readiness for the global stage.

According to the organisers, the soft launch marks the first phase of a broader effort to formalise mentorship, recognition, and capital access into a single ecosystem — enabling experience, data, and technology to work together in supporting sustainable enterprise growth.

Validated by Participants
The impact of the masterclass was reflected in post-programme feedback:

  • Over 80% of respondents rated their likelihood to recommend the programme 8–10 on the Net Promoter Score (NPS) scale
  • Participants rated the programme an average of 4.52 out of 5 stars for value received relative to investment
  • The results highlight strong validation from SME owners on the programme’s relevance, practicality, and return on learning

Beyond the Masterclass
To ensure continuity and execution beyond the workshop, all participants have been invited to an upcoming online coaching session, where they will further strengthen their teams’ hands-on capability in using CapitalOS.
For SMEs interested in joining future cohorts, BizPal by Simplyfi™ is accepting early expressions of interest for upcoming Data Fundraising programmes in 2026.

Interested businesses can:
– Register interest for 2026 programmes: [email protected]
– Schedule a complimentary CapitalOS consultation: [email protected]

One System, One Story
The masterclass demonstrated a clear framework:

  • Technology generates data
  • Brand amplifies enterprise value
  • Corporate finance translates strategy into investor language

CapitalOS ties these elements together, enabling SMEs to move from intuition-led decision-making to data-backed, investor-ready positioning.

Through its CapitalOS methodology, BizPal by Simplyfi™ is helping canvASEAN SMEs transition from intuition-led decision-making to data-backed, investor-ready businesses — proving that in today’s capital market, the conversation begins with data, or it doesn’t begin at all.

Hashtag: #NoDataNoTalk #DataFundraising #InvestorReady #CapitalReadiness #FinTech #BusinessValuation #ASEANSMEs




The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About BizPal by Simplyfi™

BizPal by Simplyfi™ empowers ASEAN SMEs to become investor-ready through data-driven corporate finance solutions. Its flagship platform, CapitalOS, consolidates operational, strategic, and financial data into a unified system that speaks the language of investors. By integrating technology, brand, and finance into one measurable narrative, BizPal helps SMEs transition from intuition-led decision-making to data-backed growth strategies.

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MarsLab Introduces Singapore-Based AI Inference Infrastructure Roadmap for Enterprise and Edge Deployment

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MarsLab outlines a system-first approach to AI inference infrastructure for enterprise and edge deployment scenarios.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 May 2026 – MarsLab Pte Ltd today introduced its Singapore-based AI inference infrastructure roadmap, focused on deployment-oriented systems for enterprise and edge AI workloads.
MarsLab takes a system-first approach to AI infrastructure, bringing together hardware systems, software stack integration, workload validation, and deployment economics. The company is focused on practical scenarios where AI inference needs to operate reliably across real-world environments, including enterprise applications, edge deployment, and industry-specific systems.
MarsLab’s near-term M100 platform is designed for commercial and system-level validation. The platform is intended to help the company evaluate real workloads, software behavior, integration requirements, operational constraints, and customer deployment needs. These learnings will support MarsLab’s longer-term M200 roadmap, which is planned as a future self-designed silicon direction informed by practical deployment data.
“We believe future AI infrastructure should be developed with a system-first mindset,” said Zhongwei Liao, CEO of MarsLab. “Before moving toward deeper technology roadmaps, it is important to understand real workloads, system integration requirements, and deployment economics in practical environments.”
MarsLab is building its presence in Singapore and engaging with partners across Southeast Asia’s semiconductor and AI infrastructure ecosystem. The company aims to support enterprises and technology partners seeking practical, efficient, and deployable AI inference infrastructure.

Hashtag: #AIInfrastructure #AIInference #EdgeAI #EnterpriseAI #Singapore


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About MarsLab Pte Ltd

MarsLab Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based AI inference infrastructure company focused on enterprise and edge AI deployment scenarios. The company works across hardware systems, software stack integration, workload validation, and deployment economics, with a system-first approach to practical AI infrastructure.

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CP AXTRA Partners with Ayala to Strengthen Mall Development and Asset Management

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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 May 2026 – CP AXTRA Public Company Limited, the operator of ASEAN’s leading wholesaler – retailer Makro and Lotus’s, will strengthen mall development and asset management at Makro in Thailand under a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed with Ayala Corporation, one of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates. Through its consumer retail and mall arms, ACx Holdings Corporation (“ACx”) and AyalaLand Malls, Inc (“ALMI”), the partnership will also unlock greater shared value from CP AXTRA’s mall assets nationwide.

Under the agreement, ACx and ALMI will share methodologies and best practices in mall asset operations, leasing strategy and project development to improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience and maximize the long-term value of CP AXTRA’s land and assets, initially focusing on seven key stores of Makro. The parties will also explore future investment opportunities related to mall and asset development in Thailand, alongside collaborative initiatives for the development of new sites and the redevelopment of existing CP AXTRA sites across the country. This is the third agreement signed between CP AXTRA and Ayala, underscoring the strong partnership and continued collaboration between the two groups, following their previous agreements to operate Makro in the Philippines and expand regional business opportunities.

“This agreement with Ayala allows us to combine CP AXTRA’s deep understanding of the Thai retail market with Ayala’s decades of experience in developing and leasing shopping mall spaces. By applying proven methodologies to our Makro mall, we aim to elevate the standards of the retail environment we offer, not only improving the experience for our shoppers and tenants, but also fostering sustainable growth and creating long-term value for our asset and the surrounding community,” said Tanit Chearavanont, Group Chief Wholesale Business Officer, CP AXTRA Public Company Limited.

“This is another milestone in our growing relationship and collaboration with the CP Group. Through this partnership, we intend to leverage the complementary strengths of two leading conglomerates to create world-class retail and real estate developments across markets. This also marks Ayala’s entry into the Thailand market, giving us a strong opportunity not only to share our expertise, but also to gain valuable insights from one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and developed retail markets. More broadly, this partnership aligns with Ayala’s strategy of bringing the best of the world to the Philippines while showcasing the best of the Philippines to the world,” said Mark Uy, Managing Director and Group Head of Strategy and Business Development, Ayala Corporation.

“Makro’s nationwide footprint gives it a meaningful role in the everyday lives of Thai consumers. Our opportunity is to help turn that everyday relevance into places people choose to stay, explore, and return to. By combining CP AXTRA’s market knowledge with Ayala Malls’ experience in curating retail partners, improving customer journeys, and building community-oriented retail destinations, we believe these sites can become stronger platforms for shoppers, merchant partners, and long-term asset growth,” said Mariana Zobel de Ayala, Managing Director and Group Head of Leasing and Hospitality of Ayala Land.

The collaboration brings two complementary strengths together. CP AXTRA is one of ASEAN’s leading wholesale and retail operators, with more than 2,700 Makro and Lotus’s stores. The company is a regional leader in multi-format, omnichannel retail platforms across Southeast Asia and is advancing toward retail-tech company. ALMI, is one of the Philippines’ leading mall operators, managing 34 shopping centers recognized for their strong retail planning, curated tenant mix, and enhanced customer experience across Southeast Asia. With extensive expertise in leasing, mall operations, facility management, and mixed-use development, ALMI is well positioned to support CP AXTRA in maximizing the value and potential of its Makro mall assets in Thailand. Ayala Corporation also brings a broader consumer and enterprise ecosystem that can complement CP AXTRA’s regional retail expansion, while ACx, its consumer retail unit, adds perspective on evolving customer behavior, format innovation, and retail partnerships.

The MoC builds on the two groups’ existing strategic partnership, which began in 2025 with the formation of CP AXTRA AC CORPORATION to operate Makro stores in the Philippines and was expanded to include a wider range of collaborative opportunities. This new agreement deepens that partnership further, marking the first time Ayala will bring its mall development and leasing expertise directly to CP AXTRA’s operations in Thailand.

Hashtag: #CPAXTRA

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About CP AXTRA

CP AXTRA Public Company Limited, is an operator of Asia’s leading wholesaler and retailer, Makro and Lotus’s. The Company is based in Thailand, with operation across 10 countries. CP AXTRA is committed to fulfilling people’s lives with good health, love, joy, and well-being, by providing solutions and meeting customers’ daily needs with technology, innovation, and operational excellence. With over 30 years of retail experience, CP AXTRA is a trusted partner for both B2B and B2C customers, offering a comprehensive range of products and services. Today, it manages over 2,700 offline stores in Thailand and Asia, with strong online presence.

About Ayala Corporation

For more than 190 years, Ayala Corporation has been building businesses that enable people to thrive.
Ayala, currently one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, has meaningful presence in real estate, banking, digital services and telecommunications, and renewable energy. It likewise has a growing presence in healthcare, mobility, and logistics as well as investments in industrial technologies, education, and other ventures. Ayala manages its corporate social responsibility initiatives through Ayala Foundation.

About Ayala Malls

Ayala Malls is the premier lifestyle mall network in the Philippines, known for creating vibrant, well-curated destinations that bring together shopping, dining, culture, and community experiences. With 34 malls nationwide, Ayala Malls continues to lead in elevating the Filipino retail experience by offering a diverse mix of global and local brands, innovative spaces, and enriching events that celebrate local creativity and inclusivity. As part of Ayala Land, the country’s leading real estate developer, Ayala Malls is committed to building dynamic, sustainable spaces where people can connect, thrive, and enjoy life’s everyday moments.

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Aon Brings Leadership Forum to Manila to Help Organisations Navigate Risks and Drive Growth

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MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 May 2026 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, is today hosting its Better Decisions Leadership Forum in Manila, bringing together senior business leaders to discuss how organisations can navigate from risk to resilience and growth in an increasingly complex environment. The invitation-only forum is taking place at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati.

The event is expected to convene more than 70 C-suite and senior business leaders from top organisations across the Philippines for a closed-door exchange on managing economic, workforce, climate and operational pressures. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the forum aims to foster practical insights and strategies that help organisations navigate uncertainty, protect their businesses and drive sustainable growth.

The program will be officially opened by Karl Hamann, CEO of Philippines for Aon, followed by a keynote from Andrew Jeffries, country director for the Asian Development Bank on the macroeconomic and geopolitical trends shaping the business environment.

Notable speakers include Terence Williams, head of Commercial Risk in Asia Pacific for Aon, and other firm executives alongside external regional leaders, including Annacel Natividad, chief risk officer and sustainability head for Aboitiz Foods Group, and Raymond Martin Aguilar, vice president and head of risk and property management for Globe Telecom, Inc.

“This forum reflects a fundamental shift in how organisations are evolving their approach to risk,” said Williams. “Across Asia Pacific, we are seeing a growing focus on using data and analytics to understand trade-offs, test scenarios and act with greater confidence. Bringing leaders together to share practical experience is critical to strengthening resilience while continuing to drive growth.”

A central feature of the forum will be a C-suite panel on adaptive leadership in a digital world, where senior leaders will share how they are balancing risk, resilience and growth, and the decisions shaping their organisations today. The session will be moderated by Irma Gaviola, head of Commercial Risk, Philippines for Aon.

The program will include risk masterclasses focused on key enterprise exposures, including cyber and climate risks, exploring how organisations can quantify risk, strengthen resilience and design more effective risk transfer strategies.

Participants will also be introduced to Aon’s Risk Analyzers, an interactive environment where clients can experience a suite of analytics-led tools that support scenario testing and supports better risk capital decisions. The tools are designed to help organisations assess exposures and evaluate strategic choices in real time.

“The Philippines sits at the intersection of strong economic growth and increasing risk complexity, said Hamann. “This forum creates a space for candid dialogue and practical insights to help organisations navigate risk with greater clarity and confidence.”

The Better Decisions Leadership Forum is part of Aon’s ongoing commitment to helping organisations turn insight into action – enabling more informed decision-making to protect and grow their business.

Hashtag: #Aon

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Aon

(NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

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Disclaimer
The information contained in this document is solely for information purposes, for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although Aon endeavours to provide accurate and timely information and uses sources that it considers reliable, the firm does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of any content of this document and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way by any person who may rely on it. There can be no guarantee that the information contained in this document will remain accurate as on the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or entity should make decisions or act based solely on the information contained herein without appropriate professional advice and targeted research.

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