Tokyo-headquartered expert knowledge-sharing platform Arches, which focuses on Southeast Asia, has raised $3 million in funding while Filipino fintech startup BayaniPay has secured fresh funds.
Knowledge-sharing platform Arches secures $3m funding
Arches, a one-stop platform offering expert interviews, research, consulting and talent placement has announced raising $3 million in its latest funding round.
The financing was anchored by Tokyo-based venture capital firm KUSABI and backed by a host of other investors, including Visional Inc, SMBC Venture Capital, and angel investors, per the announcement.
Arches, which is based in Japan and Southeast Asia, said it will use the fresh funds to boost the development of its flagship Expert Knowledge Bank platform. The said platform transforms expert interviews into a searchable database of actionable insights.
Additionally, the startup said it will invest in new marketing strategies to reach a broader audience.
Arches operates in five locations worldwide, including Singapore and Vietnam, and plans to expand its expert network to include Europe and the US.
BayaniPay raises $3m in Series A
BayaniPay, a Filipino-founded fintech startup, has raised an additional $3 million in its Series A funding round from existing investors Wavemaker Partners, PTGB, and Talino Venture Studios. This brings the total funding raised to date for BayaniPay to $9.6 million.
The fresh funds will be used to expand BayaniPay’s bill payment service, enabling payments from the US and globally.
The firm aims to process $200 million in payments by the end of 2024. As part of its growth strategy, the company also plans to launch Bayani GlobalPay, which will integrate its specialised payment platform, GlobalPay, with its comprehensive payment portal, GlobalPay Express.
Based in Los Angeles, BayaniPay was founded by Winston Damarillo to provide Filipino-American customers with cross-border financial services from the US to the Philippines.
In 2022, the startup raised $4.5 million in seed funding from East West Bank, Wavemaker Partners, and Talino Venture Labs.