Publications

A close look at China’s lead in the digital currency race and the countries primed to follow China’s footsteps Download full PDF (0.3 MB) Credits Analysts Mr Stan Wong, Summer Associate Research Mr James Tan Overview Digital Currency has been a hot topic in recent years, with its growth being driven by rapid advances in internet speeds, global connectivity and data storage capabilities. While many different types of digital currencies have emerged, this report will focus on a specific sub-type of digital currency, Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). CBDC refers to a digital form of fiat money – a currency…

Understanding the Successes and Potential of Impact Investing in Southeast Asia Download full PDF (0.6 MB) Credits INSEAD Analysts Ms Arushi Mehta Mr Ethan Zhang Mr Sanya Goyal Ms Paula van Brakel Quest Ventures Analysts Ms Elizabeth Tan Ms Michelle Quek Research Mr James Tan, Singapore Overview This study is done as part of the INSEAD MBA Private Equity course and in cooperation with Quest Ventures, a VC fund that invests in technology startups that have scalability and replicability in the Digital Economy. It focuses on backing Southeast Asia and Emerging Asia’s startups in the post-seed to Series A stages…

An approach for emerging Asia Download full PDF (2 MB) Credits Analysts Ms Khor Qianyi, Senior Analyst Mr Zhou Yang, YLP Analyst Research Mr James Tan Overview Impact investing is an area that is quickly gaining traction all over the world, with more than 450 investors allocating US$1.3 trillion to impact investing worldwide1. Seeking the dual goals of profit as well as social impact, it is a market based approach to resolving critical problems faced by communities worldwide – from access to education to poverty alleviation. By leveraging the power of the market, impact investments achieve outcomes that would have…

The insurance industry and its digital transformation Download full PDF (6 MB) Credits Analysts Goh Jun Wei, YLP Analyst Khor Qianyi, Senior Analyst Research Professor Paris de l’Etraz, Madrid Mr James Tan, Singapore Ms Jenell Lau, Tokyo Overview The 2018 Applied Innovation Institute Singapore Insurance Innovation and Digital Benchmark is Singapore’s first benchmark to measure a company’s ability to cope with disruptive innovation. In our first release, we examine and benchmark 25 insurers with consumer insurance products that operate in Singapore. Foreword Professor Paris de l’Etraz, PhD Chairman of the Board Applied Innovation Institute Welcome to the inaugural edition of…

Are the opportunities worth the challenges? Download full PDF (0.4 MB) Credits Analysts Mr Chang Jun Hua, Analyst Research Mr James Tan, Singapore Overview There are many reasons which drive the demand for private jet ownership and charter. Some see it as a status of wealth, while others appreciate the flexibility private aviation services provide for their holiday itineraries or business schedules. Private jets also provide access to a far larger number of airports which are unable to accommodate larger commercial airliners – bringing passengers closer and faster to their destination. Neither do passengers have to risk getting stuck in…

Battling for customers Download full PDF (0.5 MB) Credits Analysts Mr Aaron Lim, Analyst Research Mr James Tan, Beijing Overview Estimated to total US$86 billion in 2016 and growing at an annual rate of 6.7%1, the global video gaming market is not only large but growing rapidly. These figures hint at the attractiveness of investing in the space, and investors who succeed in identifying the next big thing will reap tremendous profits. However, the video gaming ecosystem is extremely complex and not all areas are favorable. In order to identify segments with the most potential for venture investment, this report…

China’s Startup Incubation Landscape Download full PDF (0.7 MB) Credits Analysts Mr See Wei Jie, Analyst Research Mr James Tan Overview This report covers the expansive Incubation scene in China. With its status as a global economic powerhouse, there has been a surge in the number of incubators there, each with their unique characteristics. With the in-depth analysis provided within the report on these features and how they impact the startups within the incubator, readers will get a better understanding on the type of incubators and the startups suited to join each one. Foreword Mr James Tan Managing Partner Quest…