Simplyfi.co appoints Strategic Advisor in Vietnam

by Ferry Bayu | Jul 23, 2024 | Business

Simplyfi™, a pioneering force in financial management platform, is honored to welcome Mr. Shanmuga Retnam as the newest member of our advisory board. Mr. Retnam, a distinguished business leader with an illustrious career spanning both the private and public sectors across Asia, brings to Simplyfi™ a wealth of experience and an unparalleled depth of knowledge in smart city development, cross-border strategies, and economic city branding.

As the Executive Co-Chairman of the Vietnam Smart City Consortium (VSCC) and a Partner at MARA (Market Access & Regulatory Affairs) Vietnam, Shanmuga Retnam has been instrumental in promoting local economic development and facilitating trade exchanges within Vietnam and ASEAN. His previous roles include Vice President, Asia Pacific for G3 Worldwide and Chairman of the Data Driven Marketing Association of Singapore (DMAS), where his visionary leadership was recognized with a Minister’s Award by the Prime Minister’s Office (Singapore) in 2010, where he conceptualized the World Cities Summit in 2008.

Retnam’s expertise in fostering sustainable urban projects and his role as a special advisor to Fundacion Metropoli and the Good City Foundation highlight his commitment to enhancing city lives and environments through innovative strategies. His recent initiatives, such as the Vietnam Business Exchange (VBEx) series, underscore his dedication to connecting enterprises across Singapore and Vietnam, strengthening business ties and fostering economic growth.

“Simplyfi™ is privileged to have Shanmuga Retnam  join our advisory board,” said Wayne, CEO/Co-Founder of Simplyfi™. “His extensive network, strategic insights, and proven track record in transforming cities and businesses make him an invaluable asset to our team. With Retnam’s guidance, we are poised to navigate the complexities of the ASEAN market more effectively and to drive our mission of delivering innovative financial solutions that empower businesses and individuals across the region”

Retnam’s appointment is a testament to Simplyfi™’s commitment to excellence and our vision for a connected, sustainable future. We look forward to his contributions and are excited about the possibilities his involvement brings to our strategic direction and growth.

Driving Business Performance: The Superior Results of a Solution-Focused Approach

by Ferry Bayu | Jul 19, 2024 | Business

In today’s competitive business environment, organisations are constantly seeking effective strategies to enhance performance and achieve sustainable business results.

Deep Impact Pte Ltd, a leader in solution-focused training and consultancy services, proudly announces the significant impact of its solution-focused approach. It stands out because employees can create new possibilities, lead optimistic change and deliver results, bottom-up and not top-down.

This is significant because traditional approaches in the workplace have always been using the problem-focused approach and may not be useful in today’s complex business environment.

The Solution-Focused Approach: Transforming Mindsets and Outcomes

In a business environment, adopting a solution-focused approach over a problem-focused approach offers numerous advantages. Here are some key benefits:

1. Enhanced Positivity and Morale

Solution-Focused: Encourages a positive mindset by concentrating on potential solutions and future improvements, boosting employee morale and fostering a can-do attitude.

Problem-Focused: Often dwells on issues and challenges, which can lead to a negative atmosphere and decreased motivation.

2. Increased Efficiency and Productivity

Solution-Focused: Directs energy towards actionable steps and practical solutions, leading to faster problem resolution and increased productivity.

Problem-Focused: Can become bogged down in analyzing problems, which may slow down progress and divert attention from effective action.

3. Improved Innovation and Creativity

Solution-Focused: Promotes creative thinking by encouraging employees to explore various solutions and think outside the box.

Problem-Focused: Tends to limit thinking to the confines of the problem, potentially stifling innovation and creative problem-solving.

4. Better Team Collaboration and Communication

Solution-Focused: Fosters a collaborative environment where team members work together to find solutions, enhancing communication and teamwork.

Problem-Focused: This can lead to blame-shifting and conflict, which may hinder effective collaboration and communication.

5. Greater Employee Engagement and Empowerment

Solution-Focused: Empowers employees by involving them in the solution-finding process, increasing their sense of ownership and engagement.

Problem-Focused: Employees may feel disheartened or disengaged when the focus is predominantly on problems rather than their potential to contribute to solutions.

6. Positive Organizational Culture

Solution-Focused: Builds a culture of continuous improvement and optimism, attracting and retaining talent who thrive in positive environments.

Problem-Focused: Can contribute to a culture of criticism and negativity, potentially driving away top talent who seek more positive workplaces.

Delivering Results for Corporates and Government Entities

The solution-focused approach is particularly advantageous for corporations and government entities aiming to improve efficiency, streamline operations, and achieve strategic objectives. By concentrating on solutions, these organizations can drive meaningful and lasting change, resulting in:

1. Higher levels of employee engagement and satisfaction

2. Improved operational efficiency

3. Enhanced innovation and problem-solving capabilities

4. Sustainable business growth and performance

Testimonial

“This is the exact program that I’ve always wanted to see. Small Steps to Big Changes® has helped my staff to be proactive in personally taking up initiatives to develop real solutions that make an impact, rather than wait for other project teams to develop solutions. Deep Impact has created a sense of optimism and belief that change is possible and we have many measurable cases of improved productivity and better patient experiences.”

Chief Executive Officer,  A large public hospital

Deep Impact Pte Ltd

Deep Impact is a leading provider of training and consultancy services in Singapore, dedicated to helping organizations achieve exceptional performance and growth. We offer tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of our clients in both the corporate and government sectors.

For more information about the solution-focused approach and how it can enhance your business performance, please visit Deep Impact’s Website DeepImpactOnline.com or contact Kenneth [ke*****@**************ne.com].

Quantedge makes Bloomberg list of Hedge Fund Giants

by Ferry Bayu | Jul 18, 2024 | Business

Quantedge Global Master Fund named by Bloomberg among hedge fund giants that are off to a great start this year.

In an article published on July 12, 2024, Bloomberg
published a list of the biggest hedge funds getting off to great starts to the
year, naming Quantedge Global Master Fund among well renowned peers such as D.E.
Shaw’s macro fund, Marshall Wace’s TOPS quant fund, Citadel’s tactical
multimanager fund.

Quantedge, a single portfolio manager, has a track-record
of almost 18 years of market-beating returns, averaging 20% net annualised
returns since inception. Such aggressive compounding would lead to a day-one
investor growing each dollar invested 23 times.

The article describes these fund as getting off to one of
the best starts to a year, aided by stocks and quantitative investing.

Quantedge invests in close to 300 different markets within
its ultra-diversified quantitative investment portfolio, which deploys both
risk premia and market-neutral strategies. The fund is up +17% as of the end of
July, with gains largely coming from currency long-shorts, equity risk premia
and equity long-short strategies. Its dynamic asset allocation approach
involves re-evaluating the attractiveness of strategies daily and rebalancing daily.

Suhaimi Zainul-Abidin, CEO for Quantedge Capital remarked
that “We had a good year in 2023, when the fund made 30% on the back of tail
wind on equities risk premia and commodity long-short bets. We’re continuing to
make gains from equities, but our currency long shorts have been more
profitable this year, thus far.”

When Quantedge launched its fund in 2006, it started with a
modest $2.8 million under management, with a goal of running a systematic
investment strategy that targeted a high level of portfolio volatility to
deliver outsized long-term returns. Its growth into a large hedge fund (>
$1billion) over the years has been nothing short of remarkable. While Quantedge
continues to grow its assets under management, it has no plans to launch
additional funds or products, preferring to focus on a single investment portfolio
for the benefit of investors.

“We’ve always promised our investors that all our resources
are devoted to optimising our single investment portfolio. Our employees invest
alongside all our external investors, and together make up the biggest investor
in the fund. Our interests are fully aligned”, Suhaimi added.

When asked about future returns, Suhaimi clarified that
Quantedge is not able to predict the future. He said “We don’t make predictions
about whether the next day, week or month will be good for the markets. It’s
anyone’s guess because the possibilities are endless. But looking at the
markets today, we can say that the odds are in our favour. The current high-interest
rate-environment benefits our investment strategy by making safer markets more
attractive alternatives to risk ones for participants looking to de-risk. This
drives lower correlations across markets, which should enhance the performance
of well-diversified strategies like ours.”

Quantedge’s investors include institutional investors such
as reinsurance companies and university endowments from across the globe.
However, most of its investors are high net-worth individuals and family
offices based in Asia, being investors who have both a long-term investment
horizon and the ability to tolerate short term volatility.

The Business Show Asia returns to Singapore this August for its 3rd Edition!

by Ferry Bayu | Jul 16, 2024 | Business

Asia’s biggest business show is returning to the Singapore Sands Expo & Convention Centre on the 28th & 29th of August 2024, providing entrepreneurs and business owners with everything they need to start or grow a business, including incredible sessions from keynote speakers, 250 exhibitors, and 150 seminars and masterclasses. Get your free ticket here.

The Business Show is the world’s leading event for entrepreneurs, business owners, and start-ups. Running for 25 years, The Business Show takes place in locations across the globe, including London, Los Angeles, Miami, and Singapore, and the team behind the event has plans to expand to reach more countries and markets continually. The Business Show aims to support entrepreneurs and start-ups by offering them the services and products they need to run a successful business.

Bringing together the inspirational entrepreneurial and business community from across Asia, The Business Show is the leading platform to provide you with the insights you need to kickstart your business venture or take your organization to new heights. Running for its third year, the show welcomes over 250 exhibitors, 150 speakers, and 8,000 entrepreneurs, business owners, and startups from across the country.

This year, some of Asia’s most influential business professionals and entrepreneurs, from the likes of Google, Forbes, and PayPal, will be taking to the stage and delivering keynote seminars to inspire and educate our audience. Alongside this are esteemed businesses joining the event center stage to share their products, resources, setbacks, and successes.

The Business Show Asia brings a diverse range of companies to the room, each with a unique product or service tailored to help you propel your business to the next level. While visiting the event, you will have complete access to endless opportunities and can learn about products and services that could be the missing link to growing and developing your business. The show also features interactive masterclasses from industry experts such as Amazon Global Selling, Microsoft, Far East Organization, and NextZen Minds, which provide an opportunity to receive mentoring and education from knowledgeable specialists in close quarters.

Co-located within The Business Show is the Going Global Zone. Going Global is the leading event for learning how to take your business overseas. This zone is aimed at businesses that are ready to embark on international expansion, export products, or set up in foreign markets. The show calls in globalization industry specialists, and over the two days, you can engage with new clients and businesses face-to-face to learn about new opportunities for your ventures or gather insights about the right products or services needed to accelerate the success of your overseas expansion.

Taking place on the 28th and 29th of August 2024 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, tickets to The Business Show Asia are completely free of charge, as the main aim of the event is to make resources accessible and provide you with everything you need to start or grow your dream business. Don’t miss out on your opportunity this year – get your ticket here!

Animation: Transforming Entertainment into a Dynamic Marketing Tool

by Ferry Bayu | Jul 16, 2024 | Business

Mandai Wildlife Group, managing Singapore’s Mandai Wildlife Reserve, has effectively used animation to promote wildlife conservation and environmental preservation.

Partnering with SuperPixel Animation Studio, which operates globally, Mandai created engaging 3D animated videos that educate and raise awareness among youths. Initiatives like the Ranger Buddies program feature real-life zoo animals and their stories, making environmental concepts relatable.

Characters like Khansa the orangutan, Pedro the Sea Lion, and Arlo the king penguin highlight issues such as habitat threats, plastic pollution, and climate change. This strategic use of animation has proven effective in marketing and education, attracting more visitors to the zoo and increasing online engagement. SuperPixel’s collaborations with clients like MTV Asia, McDonald’s, and TikTok demonstrate their innovative approach to addressing conservation issues.

Animation has long been a form of entertainment that has been adored, captivating audiences of all ages since the 1800s.  However, its role has evolved dramatically, and today, animation is a powerful marketing tool for businesses, brands, and organisations to promote products, services and experiences. Its visual appeal and engaging storytelling make it especially effective in our fast-paced, attention-demanding world. 

One organisation that has successfully harnessed the power of animation is the Mandai Wildlife Group. This Singapore-based organisation manages the Mandai Wildlife Reserve and has seamlessly integrated animation into its marketing and educational efforts. By doing so, they effectively convey important messages about wildlife conservation and environmental preservation, combining entertainment with impactful messaging.

A prime example of this approach is their Ranger Buddies program, aimed at educating and raising awareness among youths about wildlife conservation. To bring this program to life, Mandai partnered with SuperPixel, an animation studio with global operations in Singapore, Canada, Indonesia, and Australia. Together, they utilised 3D animation to create captivating and informative content that engages the younger generation, Mandai’s target audience.

Reflecting on the initial meeting at Mandai, Kelvin Wira, the Director of SuperPixel Pte Ltd, reminisced, “From the outset, we had the valuable opportunity to connect with Mandai’s Chief Creative Officer, Chris Chiu. He approached us and shared their vision for an animated series featuring their actual zoo animals, seeking our expertise as an animation studio. Recognising that the project aligned perfectly with our strengths, I presented relevant previous work and discussed our ability to deliver comprehensive creative solutions. The synergy was immediate, and their confidence in our capabilities grew quickly. We are delighted to play a role in educating people about environmental and wildlife protection”.

For the launch of Ranger Buddies, SuperPixel produced a 3D animated video to introduce the program to the public. This video highlights the program’s mission to educate young people about protecting wildlife and the environment in an engaging and adventurous way. The storyline features animated characters based on real-life animals at the Mandai Zoo, such as Khansa the orangutan – creating a relatable connection for zoo visitors. By presenting the Ranger Buddies program through an exciting narrative, the video effectively conveys Mandai’s message while keeping the audience entertained. This engaging narrative encourages families to visit the zoo regularly rather than just occasionally.

The success of the initial video, which attracted more regular visitors to the zoo, led Mandai to commission SuperPixel for additional animated videos focusing on other zoo animals. Each animated video features a different animal, highlighting the threats to its habitat and raising awareness about conservation efforts. For example, another campaign centred on Pedro the Sea Lion, telling his story about marine life and the dangers of plastic pollution in his ocean home. This 3D Animated Video showcased the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems and emphasised the importance of reducing plastic waste and cleaning up the ocean.

In another series, the focus was on Arlo, the king penguin, and the dangers of climate change affecting his Antarctic home. This story highlighted the effects of global warming on polar regions and the urgent need for climate action. The video, which garnered over 300.000 views on YouTube, became the second most viewed video on their channel, proving the effectiveness and attention-grabbing power of animation. By using animated characters that visitors can relate to, Mandai creates a strong emotional connection with the audience, making the educational content more impactful and memorable.

Kelvin praised the marketing strategy as innovative – stating, “I truly admire Mandai Wildlife Group’s vision to connect audiences, especially children, through animation. Mandai recognises that storytelling is the most effective way to convey important messages, helping young audiences understand the significance of preserving our natural world. By inviting them to become the heroes of these stories, Mandai promotes a positive message about environmental stewardship and animal protection. This combination of compelling storytelling and interactive visual animation not only engages them but also makes the viewing experience memorable”.

The use of animation allows Mandai to address complex environmental issues in a way that is accessible and engaging for all ages. It transforms abstract concepts into relatable stories, making it easier for viewers to understand and empathise with the plight of wildlife. This blend of education and entertainment not only promotes the Ranger Buddies program but also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for their environmental conservation efforts.

The success of Mandai’s animated campaigns demonstrates that animation is not only a compelling tool for storytelling and marketing, it is also an effective way to educate and raise awareness about critical issues. Mandai’s strategic use of animation shows how it can solve problems and achieve intended goals, making it an invaluable asset in modern communication strategies. By leveraging the power of animation, Mandai has been able to reach a wider audience, engage them in meaningful ways, and inspire action towards wildlife conservation and environmental preservation.

In conclusion, the evolution of animation from a form of entertainment to a powerful marketing and educational tool has opened up new possibilities for organisations like the Mandai Wildlife Group. Through their partnership with SuperPixel, Mandai has successfully utilised animation to create engaging, informative, and impactful content that resonates with audiences and drives positive change. As technology continues to advance, the potential for animation in marketing, education, and other industry sectors will only grow – offering endless opportunities for creative and effective communication.

If you’re searching for a creative partner to bring your visions to life, look no further than SuperPixel Animation Studio! With years of professional experience, they’ve collaborated with notable names like MTV Asia, McDonald’s, and TikTok. SuperPixel specialises in a wide range of animation services, including 2D, 3D, motion graphics, anamorphic, and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality immersive experiences. They use cutting-edge technology and stay ahead of industry trends to deliver the latest and most modern approaches for their clients. Explore their portfolio and get in touch with them by visiting Superpixel.sg!