Edvarcl Heng

Bluesky 爆紅後如何營利？CEO：不排除導入廣告 Exciting times for Bluesky as it continues to grow rapidly with its unique decentralized features! But the big question on everyone’s mind is how they plan to monetize this impressive user base. Recently, CEO Jay Graber shared some insights at a TechCrunch event. While Bluesky currently has no advertising, she mentioned that they might explore advertising options in the future, focusing on user intent rather than simply capitalizing on attention. This approach sets them apart from other social media platforms and prioritizes user experience. Bluesky is also looking into alternative revenue streams such as community subscriptions, algorithm marketplaces, and domain sales. Importantly, they are steering clear of monetizing AI training, unlike some competitors. With a jump from 3 million to 24 million users this year, Bluesky is definitely on the rise! However, it still has a way to go compared to platforms like Threads. It’s clear that while they’re committed to user growth, finding the right revenue model will take time. Curious to know more? Dive into the full details here: [Bluesky's Monetization Approach](https://ift.tt/IleCFPZ)

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Day 14 of #USvGoogle started with Google Finance Director, Jessica Mok. Google tried to minimize the financial importance of its adtech business, showing that it operated at a loss from 2015-2017, to downplay the role of display in generating revenue, and land an out-of-context soundbite about how much they pay publishers. On cross, DOJ highlighted that Google tracks revenue separately for display, video and app inventory, and for direct vs. indirect-sold inventory supporting their market definition argument. DOJ also pointed out that Google decides whether to classify revenue as principal or agent, which informs whether Traffic Acquisition Costs (”TAC”), money paid to publishers, is included in their figures. Obviously, without TAC, booked revenue will appear lower, and margin will appear higher. Google then called Dr. Mark Israel to play some more number games. He is an economics expert, and his analysis is central to Google’s case. While I expected something at least somewhat compelling, instead we got analysis that appears completely detached from reality. Google seems to want to pretend their publisher customers simply do not exist. While DOJ’s case focuses primarily on harm to publishers, there was a 30 minute stretch of time at the beginning of Israel’s testimony where his only mention of anything publisher-adjacent was to explain the origin of the “cellophane fallacy” as the theory that prices for cellophane might go up so much that people resort to wrapping their sandwiches in newspaper. He starts by refuting the DOJ’s definition of 3 distinct markets, proposing instead that adtech is a single two-sided market. He says that DOJ excludes other places advertisers find impressions, other ways “connections” to audiences are made, and the other types of adtech that exist. No mention of publishers. He talks about shifting media consumption trends, highlighting growth of apps and mobile environments, as well as the growth of ad spend on social, and the rise of retail media. Still, no mention of publishers. He talks about how social and retail media companies act as competitive restraints on Google and serve as reasonable substitutes…again, with respect to advertisers. Google even pulls up a deck to make their point that compares Google and Amazon, and explicitly references the fact that Amazon does not offer a publisher ad server, while Google has DFP. Finally he mentions publishers, to say that if ROI for advertisers were to fall, both advertisers and publishers might switch. For example, he says, publishers might move to a different exchange, move more of their content to apps, or adopt a subscription model. Soon after, he explains publishers can move more of their inventory from indirect to direct sales. It’s about “how hard sales people work” to sell direct. A few minutes later, he suggests that if Google’s publisher ad server isn’t good, advertisers might switch to Facebook. I literally wrote “What??” in my notes. (more in comments)

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❄ ♨ ❄ [HOT OR COLD] Are we truly seeing a "Startup Funding Winter" right now? ♨❄ ♨ My guest for "Under the Radar" today is Hian Goh, Founder and General Partner at Openspace Ventures. Founded in 2014, Openspace Ventures is a multi-stage investor that looks at Southeast Asian B2C and B2B businesses with a compelling vision for expansion. The firm prides itself as using active intelligence to find and back companies creating transformational impact at the intersection of tech and life It looks at three types of targets: (a) Series A and B firms with an established product-market fit and need capital for rapid scaling, (b) Series C and D firms who are market leaders with proven revenue traction but need capital for expansion into new markets or adjacent spaces and finally, (c) firms that belong to the rising asset class of crypto and Web3. Openspace Ventures currently has 6 funds and over US$800 million under management, supported by regional institutional investors including pension funds, family offices and state investors.  The VC firm has over 45 portfolio companies under its belt and is one of the early investors into GoTo. Other notable investments include those in Finnomena, Halodoc as well as homegrown fashion label Love, Bonito. Speaking of the VC landscape,  the SE Asia Deal Review compiled by DealStreet Asia revealed in May this year that startups in Southeast Asia raised US$1 billion in equity funding in the first quarter of 2024, down 41 per cent on a yearly basis. But are we truly experiencing a funding winter or is it more of a form of market correction? What does this mean for VCs like Openspace Ventures when it comes to screening for quality (particularly tech-based) investments? Find out more from Hian in the video below, and do tune in to our radio broadcast coming out today and tomorrow at 6.40pm Singapore time, as well as the full podcast out tomorrow evening! Shane Chesson Jessica Huang Pouleur Kelvin Goh Omesh Fabiani Amy Zhao, CAIA Ayu T. Gervin Yang Nichapat Ark Wenbo Zong Yiliang Zhao, Ph.D Jaclyn Seow Emma Payne Freddie Luchterhand-Dare Helen Marzolf Tania Shanny Lestari Vanessa Teo Dennis Le Kelvin Leung Matthew Windsor Juancho Jimenez, CFA Raunaq Nanwani Jocelyn Susilo Pareen Chaudhari Nicole Pua Trang (Amy) Vi Jonathan Kevin Chandra Aristo Setiawidjaja Linh Thai Azli M. Stephen CuUnjieng Jason Thompson Rachel Lim Dione Song Miles Wen Victor OK Li Jonathan Sudharta Patrick Walujo Andre Soelistyo

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On Market View today: Elon Musk and Indonesian Health Minister launches SpaceX satellite internet service for the health sector; FOMC minutes, Nvidia’s earnings expectations; RE&S’ privatisation, Keppel REIT’s subsidiary procures S$130m loan facility; Cordlife’s director arrested by CAD; Haidilao’s Super Hi surges 46% upon NASDAQ IPO Singapore shares started the week on a muted note after US equities ended the week mixed, and European shares closed in negative territory. In early trade today, the Straits Times Index (STI) dipped 0.04 per cent to 3,312.21 points as 53.9 million shares changed hands. In terms of companies to watch, we have Keppel REIT. Its manager had said on Friday that a subsidiary of Keppel Reit has procured a loan facility of 131 billion won (S$130.1 million), guaranteed by its trustee HSBC Institutional Trust Services. Elsewhere from Elon Musk launching Starlink for the health sector in Indonesia, to ByteDance overtaking Baidu to deliver China’s most popular AI chatbot – more international headlines remain in focus. Glad to unpack the developments with Hui Leong Chin, Co-founder, The Smart Investor. Many thanks to Chin for joining us on MONEY FM 89.3! Catch the podcast episode on Awedio, Apple podcast and Spotify at the links below. Podcast links: https://lnkd.in/gj44rtxm https://lnkd.in/gSRh_-FE https://lnkd.in/gWsrrRjZ #singapore #sgx #sti #stockmarket #us #inflation #tightening #cooling #federalreserve #fed #interestrates #ratecut #jeromepowell #fomc #minutes #nvidia #earnings #elonmusk #spacex #tesla #satellite #indonesia #health #rens #privatisation #ichibanboshi #keppelreit #loanfacility #cordlife #arrest #director #haidilao #superhiinternational #nasdaq #ipo #optimism

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The 9th e-Conomy SEA report (brought to you by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company) reveals a shift towards profitability. After years of investing in growth, the region's digital players are seeing profits soar by 2.5x in just two years - hitting a cool $11 billion in 2024! And its Gross Merchandise Value is projected to reach $263 billion, a 15% year on year increase. But that's not all, here are a few things that REALLY got me excited: 🎮 Global Gaming Powerhouse: SEA is churning out hit games, grabbing a serious chunk of the global market. 🤳 Creators Taking Charge: Move over traditional e-commerce, video commerce and live streaming are where it's at! 💡 Startup Nation: SEA's startups are tackling everything from fintech to agritech with innovative solutions. 🤖 AI Revolution: With massive investments in AI and a young, tech-savvy population, the future is looking seriously bright. Read on here for the report’s key takeaways: https://lnkd.in/g22H35if Download the full report here: goo.gle/sea #eConomySEA #ProfitabilityOnTheRise #AdvanceSEAwithAI

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Just how bad is the funding scene in Southeast Asia? The data presents a bleak scene: Regional startups recorded 134 equity deals in Q3 to raise a total of $979 million in the July-September quarter, reveals DealStreetAsia's SE Asia Deal Review: Q3 2024. This is the first time since 2019 that quarterly proceeds have fallen below the $1-billion mark. Due to the weak Q3 performance, the deal volume in the first nine months of 2024 stood at 474—the lowest since 2020. Meanwhile, the year-to-date funding of $3.26 billion is less than half the capital raised in the same period in 2020, highlighting the region’s prolonged funding slowdown amid challenging global conditions. For a slew of additional data points, check out the latest SEA quarterly report from my colleagues Andi Haswidi, Corry Anestia and Deepshikha Monga https://lnkd.in/gAxjhUZ8 If you are looking for data-led insights, do pick up a Premium Plus subscription and get up to 36 such reports a year along with all our news and insights for just just $1200 ($100/month): https://lnkd.in/gzRQC_X3 Still not sure? Opt for a one-month trial: https://lnkd.in/g74zB7mt

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Leaving Singapore insanely bullish on Blockworks. 1) Way more locals listen to our podcasts than I realized 2) Both Permissionless and DAS have great brands here, huge opportunity to bring them to Asia 3) None of the information providers (research, data, etc) are thinking quite like us, think we can be # 1 in this category by end of 2025 4) Other US media lost a lot of trust, more than I realized, by selling to Asia-based exchanges 5) Our house of brands editorial strategy (building unique content and brands for unique communities instead of mass appeal content under one big brand) is paying off… the right people in the right communities consume our pods and newsletters 6) The funnel is working, many cases of “I started listening to your podcasts then attended a conference then became customer of blockworks research” 7) If regulations open up in the US, most Asia protocols, exchanges, apps, etc will want to reach a US audience… we’re well positioned to do that 8) We have an awesome team, spent time with folks on our brand partnerships, research sales, editorial, and research analyst teams... all rockstars Now... time to accelerate.

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*How the current political turmoil will change Korea’s media landscape What does the future of the media industry look like? As a professional with nearly two decades of experience in the media, I’ve witnessed the rise and fall of various media outlets in Korea. In the 2000s, there was a clear concept of mainstream media, dominated by three major TV broadcasters and three leading newspapers, collectively known as the "majors." This landscape remained largely unchanged until the mid-2010s, when the dominance of the majors began to wane with the rise of cable news channels. People started turning to cable networks for news instead of relying solely on the major broadcasters. However, the cable news era was relatively short-lived as alternative platforms like YouTube gained traction. People began creating their own channels to share news and content tailored to their personal interests. YouTube has become incredibly popular in Korea, with a diverse range of channels catering to various niches. Looking ahead, I wonder how the media industry will evolve. Based on my observations over the past two decades, one thing seems certain: the golden days of the big media companies are over. Instead, smaller, independent media outlets that specialize in specific areas of interest are poised to thrive. I also believe that the current political turmoil in Korea will serve as a turning point, further accelerating this shift in the media landscape. #impeachment #media #southkorea

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Wouldn’t it be great if the content and fan model on social platforms were to evolve in conjunction with how the content creators are putting out is increasingly evolving? Eugene Lee Yang of popular (and hilarious) YouTube creators The Try Guys is leaving the group and social-first content altogether, as reported in Tubefilter.  Eugene’s video is worth watching simply for his authenticity and vulnerability, as a beautiful example of how the relationship between fans and the people they now trust with their screen time has grown in ways that would never have been possible without the rise of increasingly premium-level content on social media.  But it’s also an important statement on how the entertainment landscape is increasingly changing in ways that may not best serve the creative ambitions of our favorite creative voices. More and more, we’re seeing creators leave the homes they’ve built on social platforms because, for various reasons, those homes are no longer the safest spaces to build their creative dreams.  I certainly don’t have all - or even perhaps any - of the answers on how to solve that, but the hope of creating room for today’s emerging voices to make the space for themselves and their fans to create the best version of their content is what motivated me to leave traditional media, and it’s what gets my butt in my desk chair every day. #EquityCrowdfunding #Creators #CreatorFinancing #CreatorEnterprise #CreatorMiddleClass #NewHollywood

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My colleague Eudora Wang spoke to Baidu-backed digital healthcare solutions provider Weimai's founder Qiu Jialin, who shared some interesting insights on the use cases for AI in disease management and the implications of China's ageing society for the healthcare sector. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/db-6SY8H

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Chinese tech giant Baidu's former PR chief, Qu Jing, in a screenshot from a video posted on social media. Courtesy Qu Jing/Douyin Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the country’s rise and how it impacts the world. Hong Kong CNN — A Chinese tech executive has ignited outrage in China with her fiery endorsement of toxic workplace culture, which eventually caused her to lose her own job. Qu Jing, the former vice president and head of communications at Baidu, often dubbed China’s equivalent to Google, sparked a public relations crisis for the Chinese search engine after her controversial comments hit a raw nerve with young workers fed up with grueling hours and relentless pressure. In a series of short videos posted last week on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, Qu spoke about her devotion to her career, strict management style and unflagging demands on her direct reports. In one video, she lashed out at an employee who refused to go on a 50-day business trip during the Covid-19 pandemic, when China imposed stringent travel restrictions and quarantines. “Why should I take my employee’s family into consideration? I’m not her mother-in-law,” Qu said. “I’m 10 years, 20 years older than you. I didn’t feel bitter about it or tired, even though I have two children. Who are you to tell me that your husband can’t stand it?” In another clip, Qu shared her personal sacrifices as a working mother. She was working so hard that she forgot her elder son’s birthday and what grade her younger son was in at school. She said she didn’t regret it because she “chose to become a career woman.” “If you work in public relations, don’t expect weekends off,” she said in a third video. “Keep your phone on 24 hours a day, always ready to respond.” In another video, she also threatened to retaliate against employees who complain about her, saying they wouldn’t get another job in the industry. The American Psychological Association describes “toxic workplace” as an environment filled with infighting, intimidation and other affronts that harm productivity. Following the public outcry, Qu has lost her own job at Baidu (BIDU), a person familiar with the matter told CNN on condition of anonymity. CNN has also seen a screenshot of an internal personnel system that appears to confirm she no longer works at the company. https://lnkd.in/ddj7F83g

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How will AI change the media business model? 🤖 📺 📈 I remember watching this documentary about how mobile gaming disrupted the video game industry. 🕹 In the 80s, Japanese developers and manufacturers were in charge, but mobile gaming shook things up. It made costs and development cycles much shorter, lowering the entry barriers and letting many indie studios join the market. The business model shifted too, with free games and in-game purchases becoming common, a strategy EA nailed with their FIFA series. 💰 💰 📽 📉 Now, Doug Shapiro has written about how AI is impacting the video industry, with new business models emerging. He talks about Invisible Universe , a company that involves users in the development process and uses AI to speed up production. Most importantly, instead of seeing Video as a direct profit center, they focus on creating a broader ecosystem around their content. Read Doug Shapiro's article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dt3wpnF3 What’s interesting is the concern some have about the future of Studios. While AI might level the playing field, I think the mobile gaming example is relevant. Mobile gaming didn’t just expand the market; it pushed established companies like Nintendo to innovate with new models and products, like the Nintendo Switch and Zelda: Breath of the Wild. If studios take a similar approach, they could do well, and consumers would benefit. The worry is that, unlike Nintendo, Hollywood and studios might have lost the entrepreneurial spirit that made them successful in the past. Thanks once again Doug Shapiro for your thoughts and insights. 🙏 #AI #Media #videostrategy #videostreaming #gaming #businessstrategy #productstrategy #videoAI

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"Which is why I’m not worried at all if some skeptics think Web3 is just a fad. Skeptics have been proven wrong time and again. "Think about how many services weren’t supposed to succeed. "Online shopping? Skeptics said Filipinos love going to the mall too much (which, by the way, is true because mall culture is definitely alive and kicking). They would want to see and feel the items they are going to buy. Nowadays, however, Lazada and Shopee help a lot of Filipinos enjoy retail therapy." Check out the second and last part of my article "Why should you care about Web3" for my The Decentralized Web column: https://lnkd.in/gKi3zDNB #Web3

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When the full picture is out of reach, gathering a solid set of samples and making the most of them can still yield valuable insights. Here's the latest from DealStreetAsia's DATA VANTAGE team. #privatecapital #venturecapital #startup #fundingwinter #liquiditycrunch #profitability #asean #sountheastasia https://lnkd.in/g9eWsn4z

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Following the recent Lower House election in Japan, as expected, turmoil, confusion, and misinformation are the orders of the day. The anti-LDP media Mainichi produced a work bordering on pure fiction as to how CDP's leader, Noda, could somehow become the next PM with less than a majority vote in a hung parliament. https://lnkd.in/gqtGY9FP On the other side, the "centrist" (some might say center right) media Yomiuri has come out and explicitly called for PM Ishiba to resign to assume accountability for the debacle he orchestrated with the direct support and counsel of former PMs Kishida and Suga (who coordinated to have their respective groups move en masse to Ishiba in round 2 of the LDP presidential election) and his designated election strategy chairman, media darling but otherwise politically inept, Koizumi Jr. (Note the utter silence and general invisibility of Kishida and Suga since the election results. Any regrets I wonder?) https://lnkd.in/gFDJZQyE Koizumi has since resigned his party role. Also, Ishiba's recently appointed cabinet ministers for Agriculture and Justice, who lost their Diet seats, have resigned. Ishii, the Komeito party leader, lost his seat and resigned as party leader. Ishiba, a man well known for his stubbornness, clings to power. Ishiba's future is a list of questions at the moment. Ishiba speaks of staying in his job to protect Japan but perhaps "protecting Japan" would be best served by someone else. https://lnkd.in/gE_F33fi

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We did it! We finally sweeped the Data Viz category at Wan-ifra's Asia Digitial Media Awards with a 🥇 Gold + 🥈 Silver win! So I'm glad my quote made it into the story coz while the awards are the 🍒 cherry on top, it's 🌸 teamwork that makes building these stories 🌟 enjoyable. >> Mrs Pazos, who oversaw the stories said: “We want to build stories that are a memorable experience for our readers, feel handcrafted and that there was passion put into them. “We are always experimenting with new tools and technology, that’s why we love this job.” << This is why we do it! Can't wait for what's next. It's hard to name everyone who supported us and led to this win, but to name a few (past and present team members!): Yi Zhe Ang for the 🥇 Gold win on data temperatures Xaquín González Veira and the Visualization for Transparency Foundation for supporting the 🥈 Silver win for Haze Charlene Chua for project leading the 🥇 Gold for HDB and 🥈 Silver for Haze and Joseph Ricafort, Roman Sverdan, Charles T., Michelle Ong, Amelia Quek, Jacob T., Ryan Tan, Charlotte Tan, Nikita Pereira, Hannah Ong, Ernest Luis, Fa'izah Sani, Teo Tong Kai, Joelyn Tan, Marina Rovira Boix and everyone else (especially our 📹 video and 📸 photodesk colleagues, and our newsmakers 📰 ) without whom none of this would be possible! #digitalmedia #interactives #dataviz #newsdesign

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Retail Media Networks (RMNs) are rapidly growing in the Digital Advertising space, but they come with their own unique set of challenges, particularly for Yield Management teams. In my latest video, I dive into the key obstacles RMNs face and break down four actionable strategies to optimize yield and unlock greater potential. If you're navigating the complexities of RMNs, this is a must-watch! https://lnkd.in/gxxCQbGe #DigitalAdvertising #RetailMedia #YieldManagement #AdTech #AdvertisingTrends

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Another nail in the coffin for news outlets: Yahoo Singapore is no more. 💀 This shift has impacted 17 staff members as the outlet moves towards syndicated content. It continues to be a tough road ahead for media companies. This is a stark reminder that we need to sharpen our pitches to reporters as newsrooms shrink. It's crucial to demonstrate the immediate relevance and impact of the news we're pitching - why now? https://lnkd.in/drFWMCkb #MediaIndustry #PublicRelations #MediaRelations #Journalism #NewsMedia #StrategicCommunication #MediaTrends #DigitalMedia #PRStrategy #MediaLandscape

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