Giving credit where it’s due

• As consumers, we are accustomed to one-click checkouts, but did you know that this is uncommon when it comes to B2B e-commerce? CrediLinq, the latest addition to the 500 family, aims to change this for companies!
• The credit underwriting startup raised US$2.6 million in a funding round co-led by 1982 Ventures and White Venture Capital. The company combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven models to generate the credit scores of SMEs.
• Using this technology, CrediLinq offers two products: B2B PayLater, which lets buyers pay suppliers in one click, and GMV Financing, which allows sellers to offer credit to their B2B customers.
• “We’re helping companies bridge this online experience gap and delight their customers with a fast and frictionless e-commerce experience. The future of B2B payments and purchasing will be just like the current consumer experience, and CrediLinq is providing the core technology to accelerate this shift,” Founder & Group CEO Deep Singh said.
• CrediLinq will use the funds to enter new markets, further develop its products, and hire more staff to support its growing operations.
• Read the full story on Tech in Asia.

A new player on the team

• Many of you may know him as a football legend, but Eric Cantona has a new job title now — Carsome brand ambassador!
• He will be actively involved in Carsome’s upcoming promotional activities this year as well as group-wide advertising campaigns in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
• “We are excited to have Cantona onboard as Carsome’s brand ambassador. I believe his personification of victory and fearlessness displayed throughout his life and career will bring us to even greater heights in the used car market as we continue to deliver trust, transparency, and choice to our customers,” Co-founder & Group CEO of 500-backed Carsome Eric Cheng said.
• “I’m pleased to see the progressive and innovative work done by a brand such as Carsome. I am confident that our partnership will introduce more car buyers to high industry standards set by Carsome Certified, and subsequently welcome them to a world where the car ownership journey is a trusted and pleasant one,” Eric Cantona commented.
• Read the full article on Marketing-Interactive.

Going local before global

• When demand for rideshares took a hit in the pandemic, 500-backed superapp Grab boosted its other services. It recently unveiled one of its new technology offerings, GrabMaps.
• “We realized very early on in our journey that existing third-party solutions that we were leveraging were not designed for Southeast Asia, where roads can appear and change overnight,” Co-founder Hooi Ling Tan explained. “Oftentimes, alleyways are not mapped by other platforms because cars can’t drive through them.”
• The team built GrabMaps for this very reason; it is designed for use by its drivers to make pickups and deliveries more efficient. The team recently made their technology available for use by other companies in the region.
• “Even though we are relatively a newcomer to this space, we see our role as playing a part and being at the forefront of helping to drive awareness and increase excitement and growth for the region,” Hooi Ling added.
• Watch the full interview on CNN.