In today’s briefing:
- EduFi raises $6.1m to boost AI-powered lending platform
- Modhaus bags new money to blend K-pop with blockchain
- Fintech startup Upworth secures funding to democratise money management | e27
- Authentick secures US$4M for wallet-free digital collectible purchases | e27
- AViC (9554 JP) – Moving To Achieve Mission With a Better Hand
EduFi raises $6.1m to boost AI-powered lending platform
- Credit penetration in Pakistan has historically been low, due in part to the country’s relatively subdued macroeconomic landscape.
- This can be seen in the student loans segment, which currently lacks firms that are focused on the vertical.
- Aleena Nadeem, a former tech investor and MIT graduate, is changing this.
Modhaus bags new money to blend K-pop with blockchain
- Seoul-based Modhaus, an entertainment agency using blockchain for fan engagement, has raised US$8 million in its series A funding round led by US-based investment firm Sfermion.
- The new round pushes the company’s total funds raised to US$12 million.
- Founded in December 2021, Modhaus operates a blockchain platform called Cosmo, which helps fans participate in the decision-making processes of their favorite idol groups
Fintech startup Upworth secures funding to democratise money management | e27
- Upworth, an Australian fintech company that aims to democratise money management for all, has completed its AUD 1 million (US$650,000) funding round from unnamed business angels and entrepreneurs.
- Founded by Alexandre Chavotier (CEO), Carlos Rios (CTO), and Maxime Chaury (COO & CMO), Sydney-headquartered Upworth provides an online platform to empower users with tools to track all their assets and liabilities in one place, plan their financial independence and grow their wealth.
- Also Read: A penny saved is a penny earned: How Vircle cultivates money-smart kids All customer data is stored in Australia, and the data exchanges are subject to AES-256 military-grade encryption protocols.
Authentick secures US$4M for wallet-free digital collectible purchases | e27
- Authentick, the creator of Authentickator, a wallet-free platform for easy browsing, purchasing, and authentication of digital collectibles, has successfully raised a US$4 million seed round, with Menyala as the lead investor.
- The fresh funds will be used to execute the company’s roadmap, which encompasses expanding the marketplace, fostering collaborations with brands and creators, enhancing services, and advancing the product roadmap.
- Authentickator has also announced partnerships with Southeast Asia’s leading e-commerce platform Lazada, social media giant TikTok, and Shopify to enable select users to easily purchase digital collectibles directly from each platform using traditional payment methods.
AViC (9554 JP) – Moving To Achieve Mission With a Better Hand
- Touting a mission of “improving people, companies, and society through marketing,” AViC is involved in the commissioned handling of internet advertising and provision of SEO (search engine optimization) consulting services with the goal of providing high quality digital marketing services to clients with small- to medium-sized advertising budgets.
- Having transformed FACT Inc., which offers support services for EC mall sales promotion optimization, into a wholly-owned subsidiary in October 2023, the company is also moving forward with mutually supplementing its lineup of services and conducting cross-sales to clients.
The company’s competitiveness comes from (1) the deep understanding of various media algorithms possessed by its management team, particularly the company’s representative who was the chief executive of the internet advertisement business at CyberAgent, and content backed by experience and a track record
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