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Startups, take note.
If you’re based in Malaysia and have raised funding, Alibaba Cloud is hosting an exclusive demo day as part of its Startup Catalyst Program, designed specifically for startups like yours.
<h3>About the program</h3>
Launched in August 2024, Alibaba Cloud’s Startup Catalyst Program is designed to empower startups with up to USD 120,000 in cloud resources and business support. The program provides technical assistance and access to a global ecosystem, enabling emerging companies to build and scale efficiently.
Program benefits include:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Cloud credits: Receive USD 1,000 in credits to build and deploy applications using Alibaba Cloud's scalable infrastructure.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Expert guidance: Access technical support from Alibaba Cloud experts to optimize your cloud architecture.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Exclusive networking: Connect with innovators, industry leaders, and potential investors at Alibaba Cloud-led events, opening doors to new collaborations and opportunities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Malaysia Demo Day</h3>
As part of the Startup Catalyst Program, Alibaba Cloud is hosting a demo day for Malaysia-based startups on February 27, at the Hilton Kuala Lumpur. This event aims to offer selected participants the chance to pitch their ideas to investors and industry experts.
Additional benefits for participating startups include:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">A three-month technology services support package (offered by Alibaba Cloud) for the price of one month.</li>
<li aria-level="1">A one-year membership to Alibaba Cloud Academy, offering online learning and accreditation opportunities.</li>
</ul>
The top three teams will be invited to the upcoming Alibaba Cloud Global Summit, with free exhibition booths to showcase their innovations.
In addition, the demo day winner will receive:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Up to USD 20,000 in cloud credits.</li>
<li aria-level="1">A featured placement on the Alibaba Cloud Marketplace, offering exposure to Alibaba Cloud’s network of customers and partners.</li>
<li aria-level="1">A dedicated booth at the next edition of the annual Apsara Conference in Hangzhou, China.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Sponsored travel and accommodation for one representative to attend the Alibaba Cloud Global Summit.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How to apply</h3>
Ready to take the next step? Fill in this <a href="https://airtable.com/appbHmEU8NAUNs5bn/pagLe8SM5MYEy1RDk/form">registration form</a> and submit your startup’s pitch deck by February 19 to secure a spot.
<div class="embed-container"><iframe src="https://airtable.com/embed/appbHmEU8NAUNs5bn/pagLe8SM5MYEy1RDk/form" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen> width="100%" height="533" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
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This article was written in partnership with Alibaba Cloud.

Calling all startups in Malaysia: Don’t miss Alibaba Cloud’s demo day

Alibaba Cloud

East Asia

Malaysia

Announcements

… felt exciting. If Popop keeps introducing good designs, I’ll probably keep buying.”
According to a source close to Pop Mart, Popop plans to forgo an immediate e-commerce launch after its pop-up stores conclude, instead focusing on standalone locations in high-end malls within luxury and premium retail districts. This aligns with founder Wang’s philosophy of wanting to aim upward and outward. He once remarked, “Even if consumer spending declines, aesthetics won’t decline, and emotional needs won’t decline either.”
As 36Kr prepared to leave Popop’s IFC store, a customer who had previously made a purchase returned to buy a gift for a friend. Nearby, another shopper video-called someone, carefully scanning the display case as the person on the other end selected a product.
When Cindy posted her new necklace on Xiaohongshu, the reactions were mixed. Some commenters didn’t understand the appeal, but others from different cities privately messaged her, asking if she could help them purchase Hirono jewelry.
With the arrival of the new year, Pop Mart’s next chapter begins.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3132299413150467">article</a> was written by Ren Cairu for 36Kr.

Pop Mart’s foray into jewelry finds early fans with Popop

Pop Mart

Fashion

Creative

Retail

Consumer Services

<a href="/company/tiktok">TikTok</a> is deepening its footprint in Southeast Asia with a massive new data hosting project in Thailand, signaling that the short video giant is looking beyond US shores amid ongoing regulatory headwinds.
On January 29, Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) approved THB 170.5 billion (USD 5.1 billion) worth of new projects, headlined by TikTok’s THB 126.8 billion (USD 3.8 billion) plan to build a data center. The facility, slated to start operations in 2026, will support the platform’s regional user base and expanding e-commerce activities.
"[TikTok’s investment marks] a significant step in enhancing Thailand's digital and AI infrastructure and supporting the national goal of becoming a digital innovation hub in ASEAN,” said Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary general of the Thailand BOI, following a meeting chaired by Pichai Chunhavajira, Thailand deputy prime minister and minister of finance.
Although TikTok faces an uncertain future in the US—where the platform endured a temporary ban in January before negotiations for a sale or restructuring put that ban on hold—it continues to thrive elsewhere. In particular, Thailand has emerged as a crucial market, particularly for TikTok Shop, its e-commerce arm.
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According to a recent <a href="https://thelowdown.momentum.asia/tiktok-shop-gmv-in-2024-surpassed-us30-billion/">report</a> by Momentum Works and Tabcut, Thailand ranked third globally in TikTok Shop’s gross merchandise value (GMV), generating approximately USD 5.7 billion in 2024. It trailed only the US (USD 9 billion) and Indonesia (USD 6.2 billion).
That momentum may explain why TikTok’s parent company, <a href="/company/bytedance">ByteDance</a>, is pouring resources into Thailand. The upcoming data center is expected to reduce latency, enhance security, and support the platform’s expanding network of online merchants—now estimated at nearly 396,000 in Thailand alone.
TikTok’s move aligns with a broader trend of global tech giants investing in Thailand’s digital infrastructure. Amazon Web Services and Google have both announced new cloud and data center projects in the country over the past year, further cementing Thailand’s position as a regional tech hub.
According to the Thailand BOI, foreign direct investment in Thailand’s digital sector surged 35% in value in 2024, reaching a decade-high THB 1.14 trillion (USD 33.9 billion). The influx is largely driven by data infrastructure projects like TikTok’s.
For TikTok, this investment not only strengthens its position in Southeast Asia but also provides a hedge against geopolitical risks. While regulators continue to debate TikTok’s US fate, the company is fortifying its global presence, ensuring that even if it faces restrictions in one market, its business remains resilient elsewhere.

TikTok’s latest move? A massive data center to anchor its presence in Thailand

ByteDance

TikTok

TikTok Shop

Entertainment

Short Video

Live Streaming

Video

Content

Thailand

A wave of companies is rushing to adopt the latest artificial intelligence model from Chinese startup <a href="/company/deepseek">DeepSeek</a>, drawn by its promise of advanced reasoning and lower operational costs. The model, known as DeepSeek-R1, is already being integrated by businesses spanning industries from automotive marketplaces to holographic technology, signaling how AI development is no longer dominated by Western firms like <a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a>.
Among the early adopters is automotive marketplace TuanChe, which announced on January 28 that it will integrate DeepSeek-R1 into its data analytics and marketing recommendation platform to enhance consumer targeting and responsiveness. Meanwhile, in the growing holographic industry, Nasdaq-listed WiMi Hologram Cloud and MicroCloud Hologram plan to embed R1 into their content generation pipelines, citing its ability to enable more lifelike 3D imagery through complex reasoning and rapid self-learning.
Elsewhere, AI-driven search engine Perplexity AI has incorporated R1 to enhance deep web research, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/luisromero/2025/01/28/deepseek-now-in-perplexitys-ai-search-us-ai-dominance-challenged/">Forbes</a>. Underscoring the model’s growing acceptance, <a href="/company/microsoft">Microsoft</a>—an OpenAI backer—has also added R1 to its model catalog on Azure AI Foundry and GitHub.
This surge of adoption speaks to a key challenge in AI: scaling inference. While companies invest heavily in training large models, they may struggle to serve them efficiently at scale afterward, leading to high costs and latency. R1 addresses this issue with a focus on efficient inference.
A key factor in the model’s efficiency is its mixture-of-experts (MoE) architecture, which activates only a fraction of its parameters at a time, reducing power consumption and processing delays. DeepSeek also employs a multi-stage loop training method that combines self-play and iterative refinement—a form of reinforcement learning that minimizes the need for massive labeled datasets.
Another major draw is R1’s open-source licensing, which allows companies to inspect and customize the model to suit specialized applications. This flexibility stands in contrast to proprietary AI systems, which have hitherto been more expensive and less transparent.
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R1’s efficiency raises questions about the long-term demand for high-end AI hardware. Some analysts suggest that more efficient architectures could dampen spending on GPUs from dominant chipmakers like Nvidia. Others argue that lower inference costs will expand AI adoption overall, ultimately benefiting the hardware market.
DeepSeek’s Chinese origins add another layer of complexity. US lawmakers are already grappling with the influence of fast-growing Chinese digital platforms, most notably <a href="/company/tiktok">TikTok</a>, which has faced ongoing scrutiny over national security concerns. For businesses integrating R1, such as Perplexity AI, storing data on US- or EU-based servers is, for now, a way to comply with regulations and address potential security risks.
Still, some speculate whether DeepSeek could face restrictions similar to TikTok’s in the US, given Washington’s increasing focus on AI as a strategic asset.
Despite these uncertainties, R1’s rapid adoption highlights how AI competition may very well still be in its early stages. As newer players enter the space, even established leaders like OpenAI may find themselves challenged in ways that were unthinkable just a few years ago.

A new AI disruptor? Businesses rush to integrate DeepSeek-R1

Artificial Intelligence

Deep Tech

Artificial intelligence

… entrepreneur has been intense. I’ve had to adapt to the complexities of the business world and make difficult but necessary decisions.
When I look back, I feel immense gratitude for all the challenges we’ve faced. It’s those hardships that have made Narwal stronger. While others might grow up in a protective bubble, we’ve proven our resilience by overcoming adversity.
Narwal’s journey has taught me that every decision matters. One wrong move could lead to irreversible consequences. But as long as we stay focused on user value and follow our unique rhythm, I’m confident that Narwal will continue to thrive.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3126462893005064">article</a> was written by Huang Nan for 36Kr.

How Narwal turned a crisis into a springboard for growth

Robotics

Chinese smartphone maker Huawei Technologies is eyeing a global comeback, boosting the number of markets where it sells phones equipped with high-performance chips—developed in-house to sidestep US sanctions—to about 60.
At the end of 2024, large billboards for Huawei's latest foldable smartphone, the Mate X6, were spotted in high-profile locations around the world in cities like Hong Kong, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur.
The Mate X6 was released in mainland China and Malaysia in December 2024 and in Hong Kong on January 8. It will soon be available in several European countries. Based on Huawei's regional websites, the number of countries and regions where the Mate X6 is available has expanded to more than 30, including the Middle East and South America.
The phone sells for EUR 1,999 (USD 2,050) in Europe, 4% higher than the latest foldable smartphone with similar performance capabilities from Samsung Electronics.
The Mate X6 is equipped with the latest version of Huawei's Kirin proprietary chipsets, boasting improved video processing and other capabilities. The company said the smoothness of video watched on a subway and the speed of recovering a connection after leaving an elevator or tunnel have both increased by between 60–80%.
Kirin chipsets are systems-on-chips (SoC), integrated circuits that combine functions like processing and memory onto a single chip. They are capable of the Chinese equivalent of 5G high-speed communications without relying on US technology. These chips were first installed in the Mate 60 phone released in China in August 2023 and have been evolving with each new phone model since then.
They are also installed in the Pura 70 phone, released in April 2024, which has been shipped to about 60 countries and regions. Although Huawei's latest models are not sold in the US, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and some other markets, the number is steadily increasing.
Huawei has been bolstering in-house chip development due to US measures first put in place in 2019 to restrict its access to US technology.
The restrictions prohibited the company from doing business with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, cutting off its supply of high-performance chips. For Huawei's smartphone operating systems (OS), the use of Google's Android was also curtailed.
From 2021 to the first half of 2023, Huawei had no choice but to use semiconductors made by US-based Qualcomm that only supported slower 4G communications, while its restricted OS access was also a hindrance. Its global market share, in which it held the top spot in the April-June 2020 period, plummeted.
By 2023, the number of countries and regions with Huawei facilities that handle after-sales services for smartphones had fallen by half from 2020's figure of 105, according to disclosure documents. Based on data from a research company, the overseas portion of Huawei's smartphone shipments fell from 30% to less than 10% over the same span.
The new Kirin chips appear to be designed by Huawei subsidiary HiSilicon and produced by Chinese contract chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Company (SMIC). Yields were initially low due to a lack of technical capabilities, but many in the chip industry believe that HiSilicon's design capabilities and SMIC's yields have both improved.
In a potential sign that costs have come down, the chips used in Huawei's low-cost Changxiang 70X smartphone—released in China on January 3—have been switched from Qualcomm to Kirin.
In terms of chip technology, Kirin is a 7-nanometer product, less advanced than the 3-nm products used in the latest smartphones from other major manufacturers. Facing difficulties in closing that gap further due to US sanctions, Huawei is trying to compensate using its in-house OS.
Smartphones to be released in China in the future will be equipped with HarmonyOS Next, the company's first fully in-house OS. Smartphones sold overseas currently use an Android-based OS, but the company is considering switching those as well in the future.
"Over the past six years, we have experienced countless moments of darkness, frustration, and bewilderment," Huawei deputy chairwoman and CFO Sabrina Meng, who is serving as rotating chairperson for 2025, said in the company's annual year-end message in December. The remarks were a possible reference to the struggles brought on by US restrictions.
"But we gave it our all and have come to understand the true meaning of conviction," Meng said. "Time and again, we've seen the impossible made possible."
This article first appeared on <a tabindex="0" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Huawei-crackdown/Huawei-eyes-global-smartphone-comeback-with-in-house-chips" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-token-index="1">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing <a tabindex="0" href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-token-index="3">partnership with Nikkei</a>.

Huawei eyes global smartphone comeback with in-house chips

Huawei

Semiconductors

… out for its more challenging combat mechanics. Instead of relying solely on automated battles, players must strategically arrange character cards with unique skills to overcome difficult boss levels. The thrill of mastering the system provides a sense of accomplishment that goes beyond superficial emotional engagement.
Some players, who rarely play otome games, have expressed interest in Ashes of the Kingdom. “I lose interest in romance-focused games quickly, but this game’s strategic combat, city-building, and immersive intrigue are what truly hooked me,” one player said.
It’s apparent female-oriented games do not need to be confined to a single formula. Action, strategy, and real-time combat can all be made female-friendly to bring games beyond meeting surface-level emotional needs, delivering added value.
<h3>Separating characters from gameplay</h3>
While revenue for Ashes of the Kingdom has plummeted, interest in its characters remains strong. Discussions around the characters have not only persisted but even increased, and prices for fan merchandise have stayed stable. Many players who have quit the game entirely still create fan art and purchase character-themed merchandise.
This separation between the game and its characters may stem from the well-rounded character design.
Each major character in Ashes of the Kingdom is given a rich backstory, allowing them to stand as individuals with depth and complexity. When the writing strays from their established personas, players often attribute this to the writers being out-of-character rather than faulting the characters themselves.
One player summed it up: “It’s the initial care and thought put into these characters that make them come alive. They have grown beyond their creators, becoming independent personas.”
This emotional bond has also shielded characters from the game’s controversies. When players invest emotionally in the characters, they tend to shield them from negative perceptions of the game itself.
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<h3>Morality in games can be a double-edged sword</h3>
The higher the moral expectations, the more severe a game’s fallout could be. When Ashes of the Kingdom heavily marketed itself with its feminist tagline: “Destiny should belong to women,” it drew in loyal players, but also set a high bar for the game’s content.
Some players had already observed that the storylines lacked impactful moments. The protagonist’s role as prince of Guangling often felt passive, with a lack of agency or resources to achieve goals. This disconnect between lofty marketing slogans and lackluster execution left many players disappointed.
Moreover, while romance remained a key element of the game, the protagonist often ceded pivotal moments to male characters, leading some to complain, “I don’t want to keep seeing her rely on men—I want to see her shine on her own.”
The Ashes of the Kingdom controversy reflects the shifting preferences of female gamers in an era where women’s economic and educational achievements continue to grow. Outdated tropes of strong men and weak women no longer resonate with most female players, who now seek emotional and intellectual equality in the games they play.
Despite the negative fallout from this incident, Ashes of the Kingdom remains a standout for carving out a niche of its own. Its emphasis on female-centered storytelling offers an inspiring foundation for future games. Yet, it also serves as a reminder to developers: to create games that truly reflect women’s needs and perspectives, rather than reducing them to superficial marketing gimmicks.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3132067066583552">article</a> was written by Feng Min for 36Kr.

This otome game’s misstep reveals the high bar set by female players

Gaming

… automotive industry.
The first year of this battle, 2024, saw annual NEV production and sales surpass 10 million units for the first time, with penetration rates climbing above 40%. Looking ahead, projections from the China EV100 Forum suggest that penetration rates could reach 55% in 2025. This influx of millions of new vehicles is expected to intensify market polarization. Joint ventures continue to lose market share to domestic brands, while competition among Chinese brands becomes increasingly fierce.
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The era of grand narratives around batteries seems largely over. As batteries revert to their role as a core automotive component, smart driving systems are now emerging as the next key driver of sales and brand differentiation.
Even BYD, a leader in the NEV market, is racing to close the gap in smart driving technology. Promising signs indicate that BYD is poised to catch up—and possibly overtake competitors.
The pace of technological innovation in the automotive industry has reached a point where stagnation is no longer an option. Automakers who fail to innovate will be left behind. If fewer than five automakers are destined to remain standing in the industry’s endgame, the current pool of competitors already feels overwhelmingly crowded.
In 2025, every automaker must remain vigilant and ready to fight for survival. With competition intensifying, no one can afford to let their guard down.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3126886568089602">article</a> was written by Han Yongchang for 36Kr.

In 2025’s EV race, range and smart driving will decide the winners

Xpeng Motors

Li Auto

Denza

Transportation

Autonomous Vehicles

Electric Vehicles

Mobility

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Deals in brief: Elev8.vc closes USD 30 million fund, 129Knots raises funding, HongShan acquires majority stake in Marshall Group, and more