IJooz sees liquid gold in Japan

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In focus

• IJooz tastes a big win in Japan
• Philippine fintech firm Billease’s banking push

Hello reader,

My wife and I have been planning our Japan trip for what feels like years now. We’ve always wanted to go to places like DisneySea and Universal Studios Japan and shop for trinkets like pens and Pokémon cards.

We are more excited for the former, though, as shopping in Japan can get expensive. When I was writing today’s Top Story, I was surprised to see that fruits, even common ones like oranges, can cost well over twice as much in Japan compared to the Philippines.

That’s perhaps part of the reason why Singapore-based vending machine startup IJooz, which specializes in fresh and affordable orange juice, has been popular in the country.

The startup has deployed 1,300 machines in Japan in under two years. That number nearly matches its presence in its home country of Singapore.

This expansion also came with a boost in both revenue and profit. It’s now looking at a potential US listing in 2027.

However, IJooz’s path to Wall Street will be far from smooth. While the demand is clear, the supply is getting trickier.

From citrus greening disease to global droughts, IJooz is now securing oranges from as far afield as Egypt and South Africa to keep its prices low and its machines full.

Billease is another company in expanding mode. Beyond BNPL, the fintech firm is set to launch its own digital-centric bank.

This month, it acquired a rural bank in the Philippines to do so. But with this shift in strategy comes greater regulatory measures.

Speaking of shifts, we’re making one of our own.

Starting in December, our daily newsletter will no longer be published on Mondays. You can check out our AI-focused newsletter, The Prompt, to fill that gap in your day instead.

Don’t worry, we’re working on something new for your Mondays in 2026. Stay tuned!

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