Rising SE Asian startups this week: Topica, Deskera, and more

Which are the startups that are on the path to becoming the next big thing? In this regular post, we give you an overview of the companies that have raised money in the past week, as well as those that we think investors should look at.

1. Topica (Vietnam)

The firm provides online English-speaking classes, a marketplace of over 2,000 short skill courses with video teaching materials, and a platform that enables 12 universities in the region to offer online degree programs. More info.

Amount raised: US$50 million series D round
Investors: Led by private equity firm Northstar Group.

2. Deskera (Singapore)

Founded in 2008, Deskera says its cloud-based platform serves “millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Southeast Asia,” helping them track accounts and finances, manage customers, as well as to hire and manage employees. More info.

Amount raised: US$60 million series A round
Investors: The round was led by Jungle Ventures, with Cisco Investments, Tembusu Partners, Susquehanna International Group, and Innoven Capital joining in.

3. Eko (Thailand)

The workplace chat app claims it is differentiated by its mobile-first approach, cost-effective pricing structure, flexibility with regard to integrating legacy tools via APIs, and the heightened security and confidentiality it can offer. More info.

Amount raised: US$20 million series B round
Investors: Led by Sinar Mas Digital Ventures (SMDV), the VC unit of Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas Group

4. Ark (Singapore)

The startup aims to eradicate late-stage cancer by 2048 with the aid of its affordable and easy-to-use test kits. More info.

Amount raised: US$40 million series A round
Investors: Venturecraft and Gaorong Capital

5. GlobalTix (Singapore)

The company owns and operates an e-ticketing platform serving the tourism industry by helping travellers book tourist attractions with online and offline travel agents across the globe. More info.

Amount raised: US$9 million “growth” round
Investors: Tin Men Capital

6. Milieu Insight (Singapore)

Milieu Insight is a two-year-old Singapore-based consumer data and analytics startup that wants to simplify how brands acquire and use consumer data. More info.

Amount raised: US$730,000 seed round
Investors: Former Rippledot Capital director Ravi Ravulaparthi and more

7. Haikini (Singapore)

Founder Beckie Liu hopes to build Haikini into a lifestyle brand for active women – think Lululemon for surfers. More info.

Amount raised: Undisclosed seed round
Investors: Quest Ventures