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IDA, a Hong Kong-based Fiat-referenced Stablecoin Issuer, Raised USD6 Million Seed Round Led by CMCC Global and Hashed

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HONG KONG, Sept. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — IDA, a premier Hong Kong-based digital asset company, has raised USD6 million in a seed funding round led by prominent blockchain investors CMCC Global, under its Titan Fund, and Hashed. This capital injection will enable IDA to advance the development and launch of its first fiat-referenced stablecoin, HKDA, which is designed to be regulated in Hong Kong.

Additional participants in this round also include Hack VC, Anagram, GSR, Protagonist, Brinc, Chorus One, Kenetic, SNZ, and Yolo Investments as well as notable angel investors, such as Raj Gokal, Co-founder of Solana.  Aside from providing funding, leading blockchain foundations of Solana, Polygon, Aptos, and Mantra are also IDA’s strategic blockchain partners to foster HKDA’s interoperability, accessibility, resilience, and liquidity.

“With the current total stablecoins market cap around USD170 billion, we expect stablecoins to grow over USD3 trillion in the next 5 years.  This exponential growth will underscore the increasing significance of stablecoins in the broader digital currency landscapes.  Thus, IDA’s mission is to facilitate more effective and efficient cross-border trades through the blockchain for everyone,” said Lawrence Chu, Co-founder and CEO of IDA.

Sean Lee, Co-founder and CSO of IDA added, “the first goal of IDA is to enable mass adoption and empower businesses to seamlessly integrate between Web2 and Web3. To achieve this, IDA has begun active engagements with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB), as well as domestic partners in the ecosystem, to issue regulated stablecoins in Hong Kong. HKDA, our first fiat-referenced stablecoin built on public blockchains, will shortly be heading onto testnet. We intend for our mainnet launch before the end of this year and achieve regulatory clarity in early 2025.”

CMCC Global, one of Asia’s first VC funds focused purely on blockchain and cryptocurrency, is thrilled to lead this funding round and partner with IDA to push the boundaries in Web3 space. “As a Hong Kong-based company, we are excited to support innovative Web3 companies like IDA that are leveraging blockchain finance and stablecoins to create solutions addressing real-world challenges,” said Martin Baumann, Co-founder and Managing Partner of CMCC Global.

Hashed, a global early-stage venture fund focused on backing founders who are pioneering the future of blockchain and cryptocurrency, also shares the same vision as IDA. “We anticipate wider mainstream adoption of stablecoins in real-world trades and settlements. With Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s financial hub and its recent push for a stablecoin legislative framework, we expect IDA to spearhead the coming changes. Their unique blend of expertise in traditional finance and blockchain technology positions them perfectly to bridge conventional and digital financial systems, potentially reshaping finance across Asia and beyond,” said Ryan Kim, Founding Partner at Hashed.

Starting initially in Hong Kong, IDA will leverage the forefront of fintech and Web3 to reach other countries whose currency is also pegged to the USD. Over time, IDA aims to share their innovations and grow their business to other nations along the Belt and Road and Global South initiatives.  More exciting partnerships will be announced to unlock a more inclusive and connected global marketplace.

Note: The current total stablecoins market cap is based on the data provided by defillama.com at 18:00 HKT on 2024-08-26.

About IDA Finance Hong Kong Limited (IDA)

IDA is the premier digital asset technology company to spearhead the widespread adoption of blockchain finance and to empower businesses to seamlessly integrate between Web2 and Web3.   

HKDA, a fiat-referenced stablecoin built on public blockchain protocols, will be the first product launched by IDA.  HKDA is designed to drive enhanced digital connectivity for seamless commerce and payments between Hong Kong and global markets, 24/7/365.  To maintain the highest level of security and stability, all circulating HKDA will always be fully backed by at least 100% reserve assets in regulated Hong Kong based authorized institutions.   

To maximize the network effect of HKDA for domestic and cross-border usage, IDA is partnering with key industry players to facilitate the minting, redemption and widespread acceptance of HKDA as a payment and settlement digital currency.   In subsequent phases, IDA will also launch key products denominated in other US Dollar (USD) pegged currencies with ecosystem partners across regulated financial institutions and Web3 platforms. 

More information can be found at www.idafi.xyz / LinkedIn / X 

About CMCC Global & Titan Fund

CMCC Global is one of Asia’s first venture capital companies focused solely on blockchain and Web3 investments. CMCC Global has an enviable record of investing early in leading projects such as Ethereum (ETH) at USD7, Solana (SOL) at USD0.20 and Cosmos (ATOM) at USD0.10. CMCC Global has reached assets under management (AUM) of over USD500 million across its funds and is known as a high-conviction investor. Today the company has offices in Asia, North America and Europe and operates several funds with different strategies including the CMCC Global Digital Asset Fund, the Titan Fund and its two funds of quantitative trading hedge funds Crest and SYZCrest.

More information can be found at www.cmcc.vc

Titan Fund offers accredited investors exposure to attractive growth opportunities within the blockchain ecosystem through a traditional equity venture capital investment strategy focusing on seed to series A/B along the key investment verticals of Infrastructure, Fintech and Consumer Applications.  The Titan Fund is CMCC Global’s latest fund strategy and complements its Digital Asset Funds, which have been investing directly into protocols and digital assets since 2016, and its Crest family of funds that invests into crypto and quant funds.

More information can be found at www.titan.fund 

About Hashed

Founded by a team of serial entrepreneurs and engineers in 2017, Hashed is the preeminent blockchain firm in Asia with a portfolio that spans the globe. We started Hashed because we saw an opportunity for blockchain to not only reinvent the global financial system, but the very fabric of the internet itself. This is one of the most consequential moments in human history — an opportunity to overlay the power of digital networks onto human ones, and to usher in a future where technology empowers individuals, and not the other way around.

More information can be found at www.hashed.com

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SOURCE IDA

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DKSH Healthcare and Euris Unveil CRM & MCE Platform “ConnectPlus” to Revolutionize APAC Healthcare Distribution

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DKSH Healthcare and Euris have launched “ConnectPlus”, a complete Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Multi-Channel Engagement (MCE) platform set to transform healthcare distribution across APAC. This data-driven, agile solution enhances efficiency by providing a comprehensive view of healthcare professionals and optimizing omnichannel engagement strategies. From January 2025, ConnectPlus will strengthen DKSH Healthcare’s commitment to commercial excellence by boosting engagement with clients, customers, and patients across the healthcare ecosystem in Thailand.

SINGAPORE, Nov. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — DKSH Healthcare Business Unit, in partnership with Euris, is introducing ConnectPlus, a data-driven Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Multi-Channel Engagement (MCE) platform aimed at transforming healthcare distribution across the Asia Pacific region. Designed to enhance productivity and operational efficiency, this platform provides a 360° view of healthcare professionals, streamlines MCE, and strengthens DKSH Healthcare’s ability to tailor interactions and marketing strategies. The roll-out will start in Thailand in January 2025. With this new platform DKSH Healthcare reinforces its dedication to commercial excellence by enlarging possibilities and improving interactions with clients, customers, and patients.

Bijay Singh, Head of Business Unit Healthcare at DKSH, emphasized the transformative potential of ConnectPlus, “With ConnectPlus, we are not just improving our operations, we are setting a new benchmark for healthcare distribution across Asia Pacific. By integrating technology with our deep market expertise, DKSH Healthcare is enhancing its role as a strategic healthcare partner. This platform will not only empower our teams to engage more effectively with healthcare professionals but will ultimately contribute to better health outcomes by improving patients’ access to quality care. ConnectPlus represents a pivotal step in our journey toward data-driven excellence and reinforces our commitment to leading with agility in an evolving healthcare landscape.”

The introduction of ConnectPlus underscores DKSH Healthcare’s commitment to harnessing digital solutions that orchestrate and maximize impact of both client and patient interactions, while upholding a high standard of operational excellence. ConnectPlus empowers DKSH to tap into the vast potential provided by the global healthcare big data market[1] by delivering precise, targeted engagement strategies that cater to the unique needs of healthcare professionals, clients, and patients across the region.

Furthermore, ConnectPlus is strategically designed to leverage the existing preference of face-to-face sales visits[2], by orchestrating personalized digital touchpoints, based on data driven insights, to prepare and enhance in-person interactions. The platform’s ability to blend in-person and digital strategies is essential for maximizing outreach and driving meaningful engagement[3].

By integrating advanced AI and analytics, ConnectPlus not only streamlines communication and marketing efforts but also personalizes interactions based on real-time data, ensuring relevance and impact. This marks a crucial milestone in DKSH Healthcare’s journey towards fully integrating digital innovation into its operations, reinforcing its leadership in driving agility and efficiency within the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

Delphine Poulat, CEO at Euris, remarked, “As the partner of choice for healthcare stakeholders globally, we are thrilled to collaborate with DKSH Healthcare, who have chosen Euris SmartReps Suite, as the CRM & MCE platform for ConnectPlus. In today’s healthcare environment, personalized, data-driven interactions are critical. ConnectPlus is designed to provide DKSH Healthcare with the insights needed to understand their customers better, foster stronger face-to-face interactions, and ultimately drive sales growth. Our flexible, closed-loop marketing approach leverages data to deliver tailored content and deepen customer relationships, all while ensuring agility in meeting local market needs. We are proud to support DKSH Healthcare by offering a complete SaaS CRM & MCE platform putting the healthcare professional knowledge and experience at the center of the strategy.”

[1] Source: Patient engagement technology market to rise by $37.4b through 2028, https://healthcareasiamagazine.com/healthcare/news/patient-engagement-technology-market-rise-374b-through-2028 

[2] Source: Overcoming HCP Engagement Fatigue with Data-Driven Insights, https://www.pharmexec.com/view/overcoming-hcp-engagement-fatigue-with-data-driven-insights 

[3] Source: Did Pharma Overshoot Digital Sales Rep Calls? Study Charts Decline in Effectiveness, https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/did-pharma-overshoot-digital-sales-rep-calls-study-charts-decline-effectiveness#:~:text=Last%20month,%2044%%20of

About DKSH  

DKSH’s purpose is to enrich people’s lives. For almost 160 years, DKSH has been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across its Business Units Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials, and Technology. As a leading Market Expansion Services provider, DKSH offers sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services. DKSH is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, DKSH operates in 36 markets with 29,040 specialists, generating net sales of CHF 11.1 billion in 2023. As a strategic healthcare business partner, DKSH Business Unit Healthcare distributes pharmaceuticals, consumer health, and over-the-counter products as well as medical devices. With around 8,140 specialists, the Healthcare Business Unit generated net sales of CHF 5.6 billion in 2023. www.dksh.com/hec

About Euris

Euris is an IT group specialized in healthcare and pharmaceutical industry operating in over 50 countries. Euris delivers a comprehensive IT value chain through 2 business units: Healthcare SaaS CRM edition & Integration and Health Data Hosting. Euris’ Suite of Commercial and Marketing excellence modules, named SmartReps®, is recognized among the best-in-class solutions in the Gartner Market Guide for CRM in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology. www.euris.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/dksh-healthcare-and-euris-unveil-crm–mce-platform-connectplus-to-revolutionize-apac-healthcare-distribution-302302406.html

SOURCE DKSH

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Cisco and LTIMindtree Expand Partnership to Deliver Next-Generation Secure Access Globally

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News Summary:

LTIMindtree will leverage Cisco Secure Access as its new security service edge (SSE) solution to protect its 80,000 hybrid workers with secure internet access, advanced zero trust network access and embedded AI.Extending its networking partnership with Cisco, LTIMindtree now offers next-generation SSE to its global clients via Cisco Secure Access.Clients can work jointly with both companies to adopt a broad set of cloud security functions in a single, easy-to-use dashboard with Cisco Secure Access.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — CISCO LIVE — Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the leader in enterprise networking and security, announced that LTIMindtree is now leveraging Cisco Secure Access as its security service edge (SSE) solution to enable secure hybrid work experiences for its employees and customers worldwide.

“With Cisco’s zero trust approach and embedded AI, it was an easy decision to replace our long-standing SSE solution with Cisco Secure Access,” said Nachiket Deshpande, Chief Operating Officer & Whole-time Director, LTIMindtree. “We were able to quickly deploy the solution, and it now protects our hybrid workforce while delivering a better user experience and simplified IT management.”

Cisco and LTIMindtree have also extended their partnership to deliver integrated Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions based on Cisco technology to LTIMindtree’s global client base. LTIMindtree’s expertise in tailoring solutions to the specific vertical requirements is the perfect complement to Cisco’s technology, including Cisco Secure Access and SD-WAN, delivering seamless and secure connected experiences for both remote and in-office workers.

“Great workplaces require great security. With AI-powered threats rising, we are combating sophisticated attackers across a more expansive landscape. Our customers need their security to operate in the background, at machine scale to make the experience seamless and secure for hybrid workers,” said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Cisco. “LTIMindtree’s rapid deployment of Secure Access is a great testament to Cisco’s platform strategy and differentiation. Together with our partners, we are changing what user protection means for a modern workplace.”

With Cisco Secure Access, decisions about how users connect to applications are handled behind the scenes via a unified agent, so users get to what they want more quickly. With low-latency connections and transparent identity-based authentication, users are more secure with less hassle. For IT organizations, Cisco Secure Access provides an easy pathway to zero trust and zero trust network access (ZTNA), while also simplifying operations with a unified console and AI-guidance. Secure Access is part of the Cisco Security Cloud, its unified, AI-driven, cross-domain security platform.

To learn more, visit cisco.com/go/security.

Additional Resources:

Introducing Cisco Secure Access

About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

About LTIMindtree
LTIMindtree is a global technology consulting and digital solutions company that enables enterprises across industries to reimagine business models, accelerate innovation, and maximize growth by harnessing digital technologies. As a digital transformation partner to more than 700 clients, LTIMindtree brings extensive domain and technology expertise to help drive superior competitive differentiation, customer experiences, and business outcomes in a converging world. Powered by 84,000+ talented and entrepreneurial professionals across more than 30 countries, LTIMindtree — a Larsen & Toubro Group company — solves the most complex business challenges and delivers transformation at scale. For more information, please visit https://www.ltimindtree.com/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cisco-and-ltimindtree-expand-partnership-to-deliver-next-generation-secure-access-globally-302303426.html

SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc.

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PixArt Imaging Unveils the “Magic Sensor”, PAC9001 Smart Pixel Optical Sensing Device: A Revolution in AI-Driven Sensor Technology

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HSINCHU, Nov. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As the demand for intelligent automation grows alongside AI and IoT, PixArt Imaging proudly introduces its latest innovation, the “magic sensor,” PAC9001 Smart Pixel Optical Sensing Device. Designed to revolutionize object presence detection across industries, the PAC9001 combines exceptional real-time performance and high efficiency in a compact, privacy-focused sensor.

The PAC9001 uses advanced AI-powered pixel processing to analyze visual information directly at the pixel level, a breakthrough that reduces data transmission needs and minimizes power consumption. This “smart” processing capability enables the PAC9001 to support rapid, high-accuracy applications in sectors such as retail, logistics, manufacturing, smart home, and PC peripherals. With its high sensitivity, the PAC9001 functions seamlessly even when concealed, providing essential insights without capturing identifiable images. This ensures enhanced privacy, making it ideal for settings like crowd control and security.

PixArt’s industry-leading expertise in imaging and sensor technology allows the PAC9001 to achieve low latency and energy efficiency while fitting effortlessly into devices, thanks to its compact module form of just W3.79 x L3.63 x H1.67 mm³. Its ability to detect and respond to object motion makes it invaluable in real-world applications, especially for edge devices requiring timely, precise sensing.

PixArt Imaging’s CEO, Sen Huang, commented, “Our vision is to enable smarter, more adaptive devices that transform the way we interact with technology. The PAC9001 represents our commitment to pioneering the next generation of sensor technology, combining the best of AI and pixel-level processing to deliver powerful, actionable insights. We’re thrilled to introduce this product to a world where privacy, efficiency, and real-time responsiveness have never been more important. Like a ‘magical’ presence working behind the scenes, the PAC9001 not only enables front-facing applications but also powers big data, enabling smart systems to collect valuable insights for user behavior predictions.

The PAC9001 also features PixArt’s proprietary Smart Motion Detection (SMD) and Pixel Difference Mode (PDM), enabling it to adapt to environmental changes and deliver high-precision data in varying lighting conditions, from bright daylight to darkness, at distances up to 5 meters. This advanced sensing capability ensures minimal false alarms compared to traditional PIR systems, making the PAC9001 a versatile and scalable solution for a wide range of industries and applications.

Combining advanced sensing, processing, and energy-saving technologies, the PAC9001 stands out as a game-changer for those seeking efficient, integrated solutions for next-generation smart devices.

For more information, visit PixArt Imaging

About PixArt Imaging Inc.

Founded in July 1998 and headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, operates offices in the USA, Denmark, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, and China, providing services in IC design, R&D, manufacturing and sales. Specializing in sensing and navigation IC design, we focus on CMOS imaging, capacitive touch, MEMS sensing technologies to put into ASIC for human-machine interfaces and machine vision. Leveraging on our expertise in sensing and system design technologies, PixArt is strategically broadening our product lineup across diverse application markets. Our focus is on delivering top-tier image quality, optimizing for ultra-low power usage, compact designs, and seamless system-on-a-chip (SoC) integration; allowing us to drive innovation and meet evolving market demands in a versatile, energy-efficient, and highly integrated structure, positioning us to make impactful strides across varied technology sectors.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pixart-imaging-unveils-the-magic-sensor-pac9001-smart-pixel-optical-sensing-device-a-revolution-in-ai-driven-sensor-technology-302301941.html

SOURCE PixArt Imaging Inc.

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