Big funding deals are the result of sound process and execution

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Hello reader,

I’m writing this in the immediate aftermath of Tech in Asia’s very first conference in Malaysia, so I was hoping that the top five funded firms this week would contain at least one Malaysian company, if only to help me drive my eventual point home stronger.

No such serendipity, but it almost doesn’t matter – the energy and enthusiasm I witnessed first hand over the couple days was truly inspiring and invigorating.

It reminded me of my own principle of process over results; it’s not that I disregard results, but I believe that focusing on a good process tends to lead to great end products, or at least worthwhile ones that can be built on.

To that end, seeing big funding deals and making the headlines are great, but it’s the day-to-day hustle and effort – so much of which I saw at the event – that’s the backbone of any company or market’s success.

After TIA Conference Kuala Lumpur, I believe it’s only a matter of time before Malaysia starts regularly appearing on these top-funding lists.

Image credit: Timmy Loen

You can find all other important investment deals that happened in the last few days in our weekly funding news wrap-up.

Let’s dive into the biggest deals and M&As that recently took place.

The biggest deals by market

🇯🇵 Not A Hotel is a Japanese firm selling villas that can also be hotels. It has raised over US$34 million in series B money from Nomura Holdings.

🇮🇳 Slice, formerly known as SlicePay, is an India-based fintech startup offering credit solutions exclusively for young consumers between the ages of 18 and 29. It secured US$30 million in debt funding from Neo Asset Management.

M&As

Startups that are raising funds

Behind the Glasswall

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