Helping students catch up

• When the pandemic hit, the learning of many students was disrupted by unconducive environments at home. 500-backed edtech startup Pandai is partnering Asia’s first multi-campus education city, EduCity to get them back on track with customized digital learning that’s tailored to each student’s needs.
• Leveraging Pandai’s app, the partnership will focus on English and Mathematics for 5,000 primary and secondary students, particularly those from the B40 (lower-income group in Malaysia) segment.
• The startup will also embark on a second project to train unemployed graduates to become teachers for these students. They will be equipped with the skills and tools to be independent, qualified tutors.
• Founder and CEO, Khairul Anwar Mohamad Zaki, said, “The Pandai app already incorporates interactivity, gamification, personalization, and artificial intelligence elements. With our recently launched module called ‘Pandai Teacher’, we are now equipped to assist not only the students and their parents, but also their teachers, tutors, and education institutions. Together with EduCity, we really hope to empower educators and provide quality education to as many school students using emerging technologies to increase the academic attainment of these 21st-century learners.”
• Pandai was also recently recognized for its excellent startup culture. Congratulations to the team!
• Read the full article here.

Helping businesses improve efficiency

• Customers in Cambodia will be able to make instant or same-day fund transfers to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines while enjoying multiple payout options including mobile wallets, bank accounts, and cash pickup.
• This convenience is made available thanks to a partnership between 500-backed global payments network EMQ and Cambodian financial institution Vattanac Bank.
• Together, the two firms are eyeing more markets so Vattanac Bank can further expand to new geographies and provide their customers with multi-currency payout services.
• “Simplifying cross-border payments for our customers has always been a key focus for EMQ as we continue to enhance our real-time payment capabilities that help businesses improve efficiency and optimize their working capital,” said Max Liu, Co-founder and CEO of EMQ. “We are committed to helping Vattanac Bank in its ongoing transformation journey as it strives to address evolving customer needs and build the next generation of banking experiences.”
• Read the full announcement here.

Protecting consumers from debt

• Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is becoming a popular payment option, with Singapore’s BNPL market expected to hit US$773.9 million in 2022. To address the issue of growing customer debt, 500-backed super app Grab co-established a working group to develop a framework for the Singapore market.
• Launching in the second half of 2022, the framework will focus on three key areas: (1) protect consumer interests, (2) promote innovation and consumer safeguards, and (3) uphold fairness, transparency, and inclusivity.
• Other participants in the group include 500-backed Fave and Split. The group is also inviting other BNPL players to participate by April 8.
• Read the full story in Tech in Asia.