Catherine Shu
Writer
The Latest from Catherine Shu
Samsung posts 55.6% drop in second-quarter profit as it copes with weak demand and a trade dispute
As it forecast earlier this month, Samsung reported a steep drop in its second-quarter earnings due to lower market demand for chips and smartphones. The company said its second-quarter operating prof
Yes, Slack is down. Update: Slack’s back
Update: It’s baaaaaack. Back to work, erm, slackers. Official word, per Slack: We’re pleased to report that we have the all clear, and all functionality is now restored. Thanks so much fo
Prenetics partners with Watsons, one of Asia’s largest personal care retailers, to sell its new consumer DNA tests
Genetics testing startup Prenetics today announced a major new deal for its brand in Asia. The company is partnering with A.S. Watson Group, the personal care giant whose stores are ubiquitous in many
SoftBank announces AI-focused second $108 billion Vision Fund with LPs including Microsoft, Apple and Foxconn
SoftBank Group announced today that it will launch its second Vision Fund with participation from Apple, Foxconn, Microsoft and other tech companies and investors. Called the Vision Fund 2, the fund w
Toyota invests $600 million in Didi, with the two setting up a new joint venture for driver services
Didi Chuxing announced today that it has received from Toyota Motor Corporation new investment totaling $600 million. As part of the deal, the two companies will also set up a joint venture with GAC T
Raena raises $1.82 million to help influencers in Southeast Asia launch their own consumer brands
Raena, an Indonesian startup that helps social media influencers launch their own e-commerce brands, announced today that it has raised $1.82 million in seed funding. The round was led by Beenext, wit
Indonesian startup Pomona raises $3 million to help brands increase engagement with cashback offers
Pomona, an Indonesian startup that creates omnichannel marketing and sales software for consumer brands, announced today it has raised a Series A-2 of $3 million led by Vynn Capital. The round also in
The cyber libel trial against independent news startup Rappler’s CEO and one of its former writers starts in Manila
The cyber libel trial against Maria Ressa, the CEO and executive editor of independent media startup Rappler, started today in Manila, in a case that will be closely watched because of its implication
Streaming video service Iflix raises more than $50 million led by Fidelity International as it prepares to go public
Iflix, the streaming video service that competes with Netflix in Southeast Asia and other emerging markets, announced today that it has raised a new round of funding led by Fidelity International, wit
China’s new Nasdaq-style board for tech shares starts trading with 25 companies listed
Trading on China’s new Nasdaq-style stock market began today, with 25 tech companies listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board, operated by the Shanghai Stock Market. Called the STAR Mar
VComply raises $2.5 million seed round led by Accel to simplify risk and compliance management
Risk and compliance management platform VComply announced today that it has picked up a $2.5 million seed round led by Accel Partners for its international growth plan. The funding will be used to acq
Southeast Asian cloud communications platform Wavecell acquired by 8×8 in deal worth $125 million
Wavecell, a cloud-communications platform for companies in Southeast Asia, announced today that it has been acquired by 8×8 in a deal worth about $125 million. The acquisition will help San Jose,
Mercari’s new Instant Pay feature transfers verified sellers’ balances to their debit cards within minutes
For online sellers, waiting three to five days for e-commerce platforms to transfer their balance is one of their biggest pain points. Mercari is going after rivals with its new Instant Pay feature, w
Amazon adds Hindi to the Alexa Skills Kit
Users of Amazon’s voice assistant will soon be able to talk to Alexa in Hindi. Amazon announced today that it has added a Hindi voice model to its Alexa Skills Kit for developers. Alexa developers c
Meredith Whittaker, AI researcher and an organizer of last year’s Google walkout, is leaving the company
Meredith Whittaker, founder of Google’s Open Research Group and one of the leaders of last year’s employee walkouts, is leaving the company. Google confirmed her departure, which was first disclo
Brooklinen, known for high-quality bed sheets, launches its first line of loungewear
Brooklinen, the direct-to-consumer bed sheet brand backed by investors including FirstMark, is entering the apparel space with its first line of loungewear. The company says its designs, including top
Swit, a collaboration suite that offers ‘freedom from integrations,’ raises $6 million in seed funding
A marketplace dominated by Slack and Microsoft Teams, along with a host of other smaller workplace communication apps, might seem to leave little room for a new entrant, but Swit wants to prove that w
Online community theAsianparent raises Series C to add e-commerce and expand into new markets
TheAsianparent, Southeast Asia’s largest online community and content platform for mothers with 23.5 million monthly active users, announced today that it has raised a Series C led by Fosun Group, t
The Commerce Department will accept applications from companies that want to supply Huawei, but it remains blacklisted
About two months after Huawei was placed on the Commerce Department’s Entity List, the Chinese telecom equipment and smartphone giant will be able to do business with American suppliers again —