by Ferry Bayu | Jun 18, 2024 | Business
Arches, a leading expert knowledge-sharing platform, has secured $3 million in a funding round led by KUSABI, with participation from Visional Inc., SMBC Venture Capital, and angel investors from leading investment firms. This brings the company’s total funding to $5 million.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap
Arches has rapidly established itself as a trusted bridge between global decision-makers and the nuanced expertise required to navigate Asia’s dynamic markets. The company’s flagship “Expert Matching” service has already connected over 300 clients in 20+ countries with a vast network of over 100,000 vetted experts. But Arches isn’t stopping there.
The Expert Knowledge Bank: A Paradigm Shift
This new funding round will supercharge the development of the “Expert Knowledge Bank,” a revolutionary platform that transforms expert interviews into a searchable database of actionable insights. Clients gain discounted access to experts in exchange for contributing to this growing knowledge repository, democratizing access to specialized information that was once the exclusive domain of a select few.”
The Expert Knowledge Bank is more than a database; it’s the future of knowledge sharing,” said Hiroki Kato, CEO and Co-founder of Arches. “We’re building a platform where anyone, anywhere, can tap into the collective wisdom of Asia’s brightest minds.”

A Vision for Global Expansion
Arches’ vision extends beyond Asia. The company plans to expand its expert network to include Europe and the United States, solidifying its position as a truly global knowledge-sharing platform. Additionally, Arches will invest in new marketing strategies to reach a broader audience, including corporations and financial institutions seeking a competitive edge in an increasingly complex world.
Investor Confidence
Investors are enthusiastic about Arches’ potential to disrupt and redefine the knowledge-sharing landscape. Yuki Watanabe, Representative Partner at KUSABI, noted, “Arches is not just addressing a market need; they’re creating a new category. We’re excited to be part of their journey as they scale globally.”
The Future of Expertise
With this latest funding round, Arches is poised to unlock a new era of knowledge sharing, where expertise is not a privilege but a powerful resource accessible to all. The company’s one-stop platform, offering expert interviews, research, consulting, and talent placement, is set to become the go-to destination for organizations seeking to harness the power of knowledge to drive growth and innovation.

by Ferry Bayu | Jun 17, 2024 | Business
Arches, a knowledge-sharing platform that just secured an additional $3 million (totaling $5 million) in funding to launch our revolutionary AI-powered “Expert Knowledge Bank.” To democratize expertise on Asia’s markets and beyond, by creating a searchable database of expert interviews (Expert Knowledge Bank), the funding will be used to develop the Expert Knowledge Bank and expand the Arches network globally.
We’re the first mover in Asia to offer this service, similar to Tegus and AlphaSense in the EU and US. Our platform empowers investment and consulting firms – from large-cap PE like Bain Capital to hedge funds, Big4, and MBB – with instant access to a vast network of vetted Asian experts. These experts have been interviewed specifically to provide market insights, offering unparalleled accuracy and reliability.
We’ve evolved beyond a traditional expert network. Arches is now an AI-powered knowledge bank where investors can monitor investments, source deals, and conduct due diligence. This directly addresses the pain points of inconsistent information and limited access to specialized expertise.
Our Expert Knowledge Bank leverages AI to transform expert interviews into a searchable, actionable database.
This story may align with the interests of your audience, especially those focused on investment, technology, business, and startups. It’s a narrative about how AI is disrupting traditional industries and improving investment decision-making in the Asian market.
Arches Raises $3 Million to Democratize Expertise on Asia’s Markets & Beyond
![[Image 1] The Expert Knowledge Bank: A Paradigm Shift](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==)
Arches, a leading expert knowledge-sharing platform, has secured $3 million in a funding round led by KUSABI, with participation from Visional Inc., SMBC Venture Capital, and angel investors from leading investment firms. This brings the company’s total funding to $5 million.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap
Arches has rapidly established itself as a trusted bridge between global decision-makers and the nuanced expertise required to navigate Asia’s dynamic markets. The company’s flagship “Expert Matching” service has already connected over 300 clients in 20+ countries with a vast network of over 100,000 vetted experts.
But Arches isn’t stopping there.
The Expert Knowledge Bank: A Paradigm Shift
This new funding round will supercharge the development of the “Expert Knowledge Bank,” a revolutionary platform that transforms expert interviews into a searchable database of actionable insights. Clients gain discounted access to experts in exchange for contributing to this growing knowledge repository, democratizing access to specialized information that was once the exclusive domain of a select few.”
The Expert Knowledge Bank is more than a database; it’s the future of knowledge sharing,” said Hiroki Kato, CEO and Co-founder of Arches. “We’re building a platform where anyone, anywhere, can tap into the collective wisdom of Asia’s brightest minds.”
A Vision for Global Expansion
Arches’ vision extends beyond Asia. The company plans to expand its expert network to include Europe and the United States, solidifying its position as a truly global knowledge-sharing platform. Additionally, Arches will invest in new marketing strategies to reach a broader audience, including corporations and financial institutions seeking a competitive edge in an increasingly complex world.
Investor Confidence
Investors are enthusiastic about Arches’ potential to disrupt and redefine the knowledge-sharing landscape. Yuki Watanabe, Representative Partner at KUSABI, noted, “Arches is not just addressing a market need; they’re creating a new category. We’re excited to be part of their journey as they scale globally.”
The Future of Expertise
With this latest funding round, Arches is poised to unlock a new era of knowledge sharing, where expertise is not a privilege but a powerful resource accessible to all. The company’s one-stop platform, offering expert interviews, research, consulting, and talent placement, is set to become the go-to destination for organizations seeking to harness the power of knowledge to drive growth and innovation.
![[Image 2] Expansion of Arches Service Lineup](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==)
About Arches
Arches is a global leader in expert knowledge sharing, connecting decision-makers with vetted experts across Asia and beyond. With a mission to “Share knowledge, Empower Asia,” Arches operates in five locations worldwide and offers the innovative “Expert Matching” and “Expert Knowledge Bank” platforms.
by Ferry Bayu | Jun 16, 2024 | Business
Manila, June 16, 2024 – VRITIMES, a leading media technology startup that simplifies press release creation and distribution, today announced a partnership with REG and tRnds, two of the Philippines’ most popular media websites. This collaboration expands VRITIMES’ reach in the Southeast Asian nation, providing companies with a wider audience for their press releases.
Established in August 2022, VRITIMES empowers users to create professional press releases, distribute them to a vast network of media outlets, and analyze their performance – all through a user-friendly platform. By streamlining the press release distribution process, VRITIMES ensures valuable news reaches target audiences effectively.
“We are thrilled to partner with REG and tRnds,” said Ferry Bayu, CEO of VRITIMES. “These renowned media websites are trusted sources of information for Filipinos, and this collaboration allows us to connect our clients with a wider audience across the country.”
by Ferry Bayu | Jun 15, 2024 | Business
Manila, Philippines – June 15, 2024 – VRITIMES, a leading press release distribution technology company, is pleased to announce a new, affordable pricing model for press releases in the Philippines, effective July 1, 2024. At just PHP 990 per press release, businesses of all sizes can now leverage VRITIMES’ enhanced distribution services to amplify their brand messages more effectively and efficiently.
As part of our commitment to delivering greater value, VRITIMES has introduced several key improvements to our press release services:
- Guaranteed Publication on Minimum 50 Media Outlets: We guarantee that your press release will be published on at least 50 media outlets, ensuring that your news reaches a wider audience.
- Backlink Insertion for SEO Benefits: Each press release will include backlink insertion, a feature designed to improve your website’s SEO performance and drive more organic traffic to your site.
- Publication on VRITIMES Social Media: Your press release will be shared across VRITIMES’ social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. This will help boost your brand awareness and engagement with a broader audience.
These enhancements reflect VRITIMES’ dedication to supporting businesses in achieving their communication goals through effective and affordable media solutions. We believe that these new features will not only provide greater visibility but also contribute significantly to our clients’ digital marketing efforts.
For more information about our services and the new pricing, please visit https://www.vritimes.info/pricing-ph
by Ferry Bayu | Jun 14, 2024 | Business
Join our webinar on June 20th at 10AM: “Brunei’s Journey to Plastic Sustainability: Hands-on Initiatives in Action”. Register now at: at bit.ly/PSPBrunei2024.
The Regional
Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris in collaboration with the Department
of Environment, Parks and Recreation of Brunei Darussalam, supported by the GIZ
3RproMar program, will host a webinar ” Brunei’s Journey to Plastic
Sustainability: Hands-on Initiatives in Action”. This webinar is a
valuable opportunity to learn about Brunei’s efforts to combat marine plastic
pollution and explore innovative solutions proposed from different stakeholders. Register now and be part of
the conversation!
Save the date!
Date: June 20th , 2024
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:30
PM (GMT+8)
Platform: Zoom
Registration: bit.ly/PSPBrunei2024
What to
Expect:
·
Discover innovative solutions from leading
Bruneian companies and civil society
members that promote a circular economy and reduce plastic waste.
·
Learn about government initiatives and research
findings on plastic waste management in Brunei.
·
ERIA’s role in promoting innovative
approaches undertaken by the private sector in the ASEAN+3 region.
Seminar
e-certificates are available for attendees.
by Ferry Bayu | Jun 14, 2024 | Business
Asuene Inc., a compound startup in the climate tech sector, has successfully raised a significant amount of $26.7 million in the 1st close of its Series C round. This round is led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, SBI Investment, and Mirai Creation Fund III Invests, managed by Sparx Asset Management. The funding involves third-party allotment to a total of 17 domestic and international investors, including existing shareholders. Asuene plans to raise a total of $31.8 million, including the upcoming 2nd close, bringing its cumulative funding to $64 million up to Series C. This substantial funding will enable us to accelerate our growth and achieve our ambitious goals.

Business Progress and Achievements
Asuene is advancing multiple products in the climate tech field, focusing on decarbonization and ESG.
The CO2 visualization, reduction, and reporting cloud service “ASUENE” has seen a rapid growth, with MRR orders increasing by 30 times compared to the Series B funding period. The number of client companies has surpassed 6,000, making it the leader in Japan, and the number of partner companies has exceeded 140. The ESG evaluation cloud “ASUENE ESG” has over 10,000 evaluated companies, promoting ESG management for many businesses. Additionally, the joint venture with SBI Holdings, “Carbon EX,” was established, launching a carbon credit exchange service, with over 1,000 companies registered on the platform.
With business expansion, the number of members has increased fivefold to 250. Asuene has established ASUENE APAC in Singapore and ASUENE USA in the United States, acquiring several dozen overseas customers and forming partnerships with numerous international partners. They have also set up a global development center in the Philippines, hiring many local engineers to drive global business growth.
Purpose of Funding and Future Prospects
The purpose of this funding round includes the following, as Asuene aims to become the number one climate tech company:
- Aggressive recruitment of top talent (sales, marketing, development, new business development, M&A, etc.)
- Expansion of sales and marketing through capital partnerships with major manufacturing companies
- Technological investment and development team expansion for generative AI and LLM
- Pursuit of non-linear growth through M&A
- Strengthening global expansion in Asia, the United States, etc.
- Further development of new businesses
Comment from a representative of Asuene
Given the unprecedented rise in global and domestic concern regarding climate change, the demand for Asuene’s innovative technology and outstanding services has surged. We are truly honored to have received investment from leading companies and investors both domestically and internationally. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders involved.
This round of funding marks a pivotal milestone for Asuene. It enables us not only to expand our operations in Japan but also to achieve significant growth through M&A, enhance our AI and LLM capabilities, and advance our global expansion under the ALL JAPAN strategy. We are excited to face these new challenges with our exceptional team, shareholders, and partners. Together, we will forge strong partnerships with companies, financial institutions, and stakeholders to achieve net-zero emissions. We are committed to boldly advancing our mission of “Changing the world for a better next generation.” and our vision of “Leading transformative change in the new generation.”
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