The renewed initiative positions Lazada as more than an e-commerce platform, but as a long-term growth partner that helps entrepreneurs build trusted brands, improve marketplace readiness, and scale sustainably in the country’s digital economy.

Centered on the theme “Grow Your Brand on Lazada,” the revamped LazGrow Together program focuses on three pillars: encouraging entrepreneurs to embrace digital commerce, providing structured onboarding and education, and equipping sellers with the tools and insights needed to grow within a trusted marketplace.

At the heart of the initiative is Lazada’s goal of helping MSMEs “sell right and sell wide,” supporting businesses from their first online sale through long-term expansion.

The relaunch comes alongside stronger collaborations with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Go Negosyo. 

Since October 2025, Lazada has participated in more than 10 joint initiatives focused on digital upskilling, seller onboarding, and marketplace readiness.

Through these partnerships, the company has engaged more than 300 aspiring brands and entrepreneurs, while identifying broader opportunities across DOST’s network of over 7,000 MSMEs nationwide.

To further support entrepreneurs, Lazada has also introduced practical enablement tools, including an Excel-based seller calculator that helps businesses better understand pricing strategies, profit margins, and overall e-commerce profitability.

The company added that additional partnership programs are in development as it continues to expand its support ecosystem for local businesses.

Alongside its MSME initiatives, Lazada said it remains focused on strengthening trust within its marketplace through LazMall, which connects shoppers with verified brands and official stores to help sellers build credibility and long-term brand equity.

“MSMEs drive the Philippine economy, and our responsibility is to ensure they are fully equipped to thrive in the digital arena,” said Carlos Barrera, CEO of Lazada Philippines.

“Through the LazGrow Together initiative and our vital partnerships with key institutions, we are proudly shaping a more inclusive, empowered, and dynamic digital marketplace for Filipino businesses.”

Lazada said it will continue working with government and ecosystem partners to expand access to digital commerce opportunities and help more Filipino entrepreneurs grow sustainable online businesses.

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Alpha Echo aims to help businesses monitor brand perception, benchmark competitors, and analyse their visibility across media, search, social platforms, and AI-powered discovery channels while generating insights to support PR strategies, thought leadership, content planning, and search visibility.

Rather than offering standalone PR services, the platform combines media outreach, strategic communications, reporting, SEO, and Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO) with AI-powered insights, allowing businesses to access guaranteed media placements, campaign reporting, and communications support without committing to long-term agency retainers.

Operating from its new office in Central Jakarta as an affiliate of outdoor advertising company 8Infini, Alpha Story is targeting Indonesia’s fast-growing MSME sector with an integrated, technology-enabled solution that combines PR, content creation, campaign planning, brand intelligence and marketing execution into a single platform.

The launch comes as Indonesian businesses increasingly compete for visibility across digital, social, and AI-driven search channels, leading Alpha Story to believe that affordable marketing technology can help MSMEs—which account for 99% of businesses and contribute 60.5% of Indonesia’s GDP—strengthen their brand presence and compete more effectively.

Jeremy Foo, CEO of Alpha Story, said the launch is designed to remove barriers that have traditionally prevented smaller businesses from accessing strategic communications services.

“Indonesia’s MSMEs are not small in importance. They are the foundation of the economy… We believe there is a major opportunity to use AI, better process design, and more accessible pricing to help MSMEs tell stronger stories and compete more effectively,” shared Foo. 

Leighton Cosseboom, Indonesia Country Lead at Alpha Story, added that many local businesses already have strong products and founders but often struggle to gain visibility.

“Indonesia does not have a shortage of ambitious businesses. We want to give more companies access to the tools, media pathways, and strategic guidance they need to earn credibility in the market,” said Cosseboom. 

The Indonesian launch builds on Alpha Story’s regional operations across Singapore and Malaysia, where the company has served more than 2,000 clients across industries including automotive, technology, finance, hospitality and consumer brands. 

Through its expansion, Alpha Story is betting that Southeast Asia’s next wave of marketing growth will come from helping MSMEs access smarter, measurable and more affordable communications solutions.

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The new system combines websites, sales funnels, campaign management, and real-time performance tracking into a single platform, allowing businesses to manage customer acquisition without relying on multiple disconnected systems.

According to Umasenso, the platform is designed specifically for service-based businesses, where owners often struggle to connect digital marketing activity with actual revenue outcomes.

“Marketing should not feel like guesswork,” said Richard Noromor, Founder of Umasenso.

“Through years of managing campaigns for service businesses, we saw how difficult it was for owners to connect visibility to real bookings. This system was built to give them clarity, not more complexity,” he added.

The launch expands the marketing component of Umasenso’s broader “Growth Operating System”, which combines marketing, sales, and customer retention tools into a more centralised platform aimed at helping businesses automate growth processes.

The company said the integrated marketing system allows businesses to build optimised websites and funnels, run targeted campaigns, and monitor performance in real time as part of a broader push toward more system-driven operations.

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The summit brought together heads of state and delegates from 11 ASEAN member countries to discuss regional priorities, including energy security, food security, regional stability, sustainability, and digital cooperation.

According to GCash, its participation formed part of efforts to support the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship and highlight digital payment solutions during the event.

“We are incredibly honored to be a huge part of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship. Our partnership with ASEAN provides us a chance to showcase Filipino innovation on the global stage and demonstrate how the Philippines is leading the charge toward a more integrated, digital ASEAN region,” GCash General Manager for GCash for Business Paul Albano said.

At the summit’s Partners Pavilion, GCash facilitated cashless transactions for booths operated by Cebu-based micro-entrepreneurs selling products such as home décor, pastries, woven goods, chocolates, dairy products, souvenirs, and artisan crafts.

“By supporting the MSME marketplace at the Pavilion and enabling cashless transactions for Cebuano micro-entrepreneurs, we are showing how digital financial inclusion creates tangible, real-world impact,” Albano added.

The company also used the event to promote digitalisation among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by onboarding merchants to its GCash for Business platform and demonstrating digital payment tools for local businesses.

“We are powering the MSME marketplace by bringing cashless payments to Cebuano micro-entrepreneurs. When a local vendor can accept a digital payment as easily as a major retailer, that is digital financial inclusion in practice,” Albano said.

In addition to the exhibition activities, GCash joined side events during the summit focused on digital transformation and expanding financial access across the ASEAN region.

The 48th ASEAN Summit, themed “Navigating Our Future, Together”, was held this month in Lapu-Lapu City as part of the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship programme.

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The new platform allows businesses to deploy click fraud protection for their Google Ads campaigns in under 10 minutes. Once activated, the system begins analysing campaign traffic to detect and mitigate bots, click fraud, and other forms of invalid traffic that can affect advertising performance and spending.

According to TrafficGuard, the launch follows a surge in SME adoption of its services over the past year. The company reported that its self-serve customer base has grown to more than 10,000 accounts, driven by increasing demand for ad-fraud protection solutions.

“Invalid traffic and click fraud are no longer just an enterprise problem – the bots have moved downstream, and small businesses are often the softest target. Most don’t even know how much of their ad spend is being wasted,” said Mathew Ratty, Co-Founder and CEO of TrafficGuard. 

“With over 200 million SMEs spending on digital advertising globally, it’s crucial they have a clear and transparent view of their advertising performance and where their budgets are going. We’re now focused on providing our proprietary platform to all types of businesses to protect the ecosystem from invalid traffic and fraud.” he added.

The platform provides analytics on advertising performance and invalid traffic rates through a consolidated dashboard. While the current offering focuses on Google Ads campaigns, the company said protection for Meta Ads—covering ads on Facebook and Instagram—is scheduled to be added by July 2026.

TrafficGuard said the SME-focused solution is priced at $49 per month and is designed with a fully automated sign-up process that does not require enterprise-level support.

“Tackling click fraud and other forms of invalid traffic has become increasingly urgent for advertisers in the SME sector, and this is one of the main drivers behind our decision to launch our tailored solution,” said Chad Kinlay, CMO at TrafficGuard. “The platform utilises a phased approach to pricing, minimising friction and simplifying decision-making so SMEs can protect their budgets right away.”

TrafficGuard provides technology that detects, mitigates and reports on digital invalid traffic and ad fraud before it impacts advertising budgets. The platform is used by businesses globally, including companies in sectors such as finance, e-commerce, travel and gaming.

The launch also follows TrafficGuard’s recent operational expansion in the United States as the company continues to grow its global footprint.

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Felipe & Sons, known for its “barberdashery” concept combining grooming and tailoring, is using connectivity solutions to support this shift.

The partnership centres on integrating reliable connectivity into the brand’s day-to-day operations, enabling real-time coordination across branches and supporting customer engagement tools. 

The infrastructure is designed to maintain service consistency while allowing the business to scale.

Founded in 2013 by Paulo Canivel, Felipe & Sons positions itself around heritage and craftsmanship, drawing on traditional Filipino aesthetics and service rituals. The brand’s concept combines barbershop services with tailoring under one roof, targeting a niche segment of the market.

The collaboration with Globe Business reflects a broader trend among small and medium-sized enterprises in the Philippines, where digital tools are increasingly used to streamline operations without altering core brand identity.

Through the integration of connectivity solutions, Felipe & Sons is aiming to preserve its personalised service model while adapting to changing consumer expectations and business demands.

The partnership underscores how infrastructure and technology are being used to support legacy-driven brands as they navigate growth in a competitive and evolving market.

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Developed by Droga5 ANZ, part of Accenture Song, the campaign features a fictional small business owner named Maria and illustrates the potential impact of hiring the wrong employee.

The initiative is based on research conducted by SEEK in partnership with Nature, which found that hiring the wrong person can cost small businesses up to 26% of an employee’s salary, in addition to wider operational impacts on the organisation.

The campaign also highlights SEEK’s AI-powered recruitment tools designed to help SMEs identify suitable candidates more efficiently. These include AI job ad writing capabilities that generate job advertisements quickly, AI-driven recommendations that prioritise potential matches, and Talent Search features that allow employers to proactively find and contact candidates.

Building on the platform’s longstanding “SEEK and you shall find” brand positioning, the campaign adopts a “fish out of water” narrative approach. The story is told from the perspective of a small business owner in a mockumentary-style format, depicting the challenges and consequences of a poor hiring decision.

While the campaign incorporates humour and exaggerated characters, it is anchored in a common challenge faced by SMEs, where hiring decisions can have significant effects on day-to-day operations.

SEEK Chief Marketing Officer APAC, Maryanne Tsiatsias, says: — “SMEs are more time poor than ever before, and at SEEK we are always investing in product experiences that offer the best possible matching capability for SMEs to find the right person for their business. A wrestler in an antiques store is a light-hearted, entertaining way to visually demonstrate the impact a wrong hire can have – and exactly why having the right tools to find the right match matters so much.”

Droga5 ANZ Creative Director, Connor Beaver, says: — “Ricky the wrestler is a lovable guy, but he’s not quite the right fit for an antiques shop. We think these spots do a great job of highlighting how SEEK’s tools can really give SMEs a leg up in the hiring process – and we’ve loved working with the team at SEEK to bring them to life.”

The campaign comprises three 30-second films, each demonstrating how SEEK’s tools can help small businesses find suitable candidates quickly. It is running across broadcast video-on-demand, online video, radio, search, display, social media, and SEEK-owned channels across Australia and New Zealand.

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According to ADB, the financing is intended to support underserved and unserved segments of the population, particularly MSMEs operating in rural and hard-to-reach areas. The initiative also places a focus on increasing access to finance for women-owned enterprises, which continue to face constraints such as stricter lending terms and limited access to tailored financial products.

“Supporting MSMEs to make them part of the broader value chain is key to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in the country,” said ADB Philippines country director Andrew Jeffries. 

“MSMEs are an important segment of the local economy—employing over 60% of Filipino workers and contributing more than a third to the country’s gross domestic product. We are pleased to support this initiative that will boost MSMEs’ contribution to economic growth,” added Andrew.

Meanwhile, Fuse, the lending subsidiary of GCash, said it will allocate 60% of the loan proceeds to women-owned MSMEs and extend financing to enterprises located in provinces with high poverty incidence. The company will also provide non-collateralised loans to small business owners, including farmers, market vendors, sari-sari store operators, and first-time borrowers, to help them establish a credit history.

In addition to the loan, ADB will provide up to USD$125,000 in technical assistance to support the development of tailored financial products and the delivery of financial and digital literacy training for women, particularly those with limited formal education.

Separately, the ‘Mastercard Impact Fund’ will contribute USD$150,000 in performance-based incentives to support Fuse in scaling its formal MSME portfolio, including initiatives targeting new women entrepreneurs.

Fuse is wholly owned by Mynt, also known as Globe Fintech Innovations Inc., which is controlled by Ayala Corporation through Globe Capital Ventures and AC Ventures Holding.  On the other hand, ADB is a multilateral development bank established in 1966, with 69 member countries, including 50 from Asia and the Pacific. It works with governments and partners across the region to support development initiatives through financing, technical assistance, and partnerships.

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The launch was announced in Kuala Lumpur on 15 January 2026. EPOS360 is being introduced as a mini-programme within the TNG eWallet app, providing SMEs access to AI-driven business tools, integrated payments, and marketing features through a single platform. Merchants using the solution can reach more than 25 million TNG eWallet users through features such as Near Me vouchers, while managing business operations within the same ecosystem.

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is supporting the initiative as part of its broader efforts to advance Malaysia’s digital economy. MDEC CEO Anuar Fariz Fadzil said the launch aligns with the country’s digitalisation agenda.

“The launch marks an important milestone in Malaysia’s business digitalisation journey, ensuring that businesses of all sizes have access to affordable, relevant and easy-to-adopt digital tools to scale sustainability and compete more effectively. By embedding AI-powered business tools and innovative payment capabilities into a platform that millions of Malaysians already use, this initiative enables digital entrepreneurs to participate more meaningfully in the digital economy and supports Malaysia’s aspiration to become an AI Nation by 2030”.

He added that as MDEC marks its 30th anniversary this year, initiatives of this nature help ensure Malaysian businesses remain resilient and competitive.

As part of the EPOS360 offering, TNG Digital and EPOS have also introduced EPOS360 BlueTap, a new over-the-counter payment device that supports multiple payment methods through a single terminal. The device enables tap-to-pay with TNG eWallet, alongside DuitNow QR and other major eWallets, with card payments to be added in the future.

The BlueTap device includes audio payment confirmation at the point of sale, integration with the TNG eWallet ecosystem for transaction insights, and support for multiple banks and eWallets without requiring frequent hardware changes.

Alan Ni, chief executive officer of TNG Digital, said the integration of EPOS360 into TNG eWallet is intended to lower barriers for SMEs seeking to expand their digital presence.

“SMEs are at the heart of Malaysia’s economy. Our role at TNG Digital is to remove barriers and make growth easier. By bringing EPOS360 into TNG eWallet, we are giving businesses simple, trusted tools to reach more customers, run their businesses better, and grow within an ecosystem that millions of Malaysians use every day.”

Through EPOS360, SMEs can access AI-powered capabilities across various stages of their business journey, including digital setup, marketing, customer engagement and scaling operations. Features include AI-assisted menu creation, campaign development, and deployment across in-app, digital, and offline channels, including BlueTap devices.

Alan Wang, CEO of EPOS and vice president of Ant International, said digitalisation has become essential for SMEs operating in competitive markets.

“SMEs are the heart of our communities, and yet they face very real challenges in an increasingly competitive environment. Digitalisation is no longer a nice to have, and we believe that by putting the right technology into the hands of SMEs, we can empower them to unlock new and exciting opportunities. We’re excited to partner with TNG Digital, Malaysia’s biggest mobile ecosystem to bring this vision to reality, and jointly accelerate the growth and transformation of local SMEs. Moving forward, Ant International, through EPOS, will significantly accelerate its strategy to drive SME digitalisation in Southeast Asia and beyond.”

EPOS360 has launched in Malaysia and is expected to be introduced in Singapore in the near future. The platform combines AI-powered tools, enhanced payment solutions and financial services into a single system designed to support SME growth in the digital economy.

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The event was attended by Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, who visited the Shopee exhibition booth. The programme aligns with the Semarak Konsumerisme theme, ‘Kita Pengguna, Komuniti Sejahtera’, promoting responsible consumerism and digital engagement at the community level.

“We welcome programmes like the Shopee Rai Lokal Jelajah Komuniti, which support the government’s goal in strengthening digital participation among communities. Empowering rural entrepreneurs and consumers with the right knowledge and digital skills is key to building an inclusive and sustainable economy. Through efforts like this, we can ensure that more Malaysians benefit from the opportunities of the digital era,” said Datuk Armizan.

Now in its seventh year, ‘Shopee Rai Lokal’ has supported hundreds of thousands of sellers and aspiring entrepreneurs across Malaysia. This year’s Jelajah Komuniti edition will also extend both offline and online training nationwide, aiming to help participants establish and grow their businesses in the digital economy.

Training modules cover key areas such as product listing management, customer engagement, and the use of digital tools, including AI-powered features, campaign tools, and real-time analytics. The initiative also emphasises hands-on guidance to assist participants in setting up their Shopee stores and beginning online sales with greater confidence.

Saovanee Chan-Somchit, country director of Shopee Malaysia, said, “At Shopee, we are committed to making digital education accessible to everyone, especially communities in underserved areas. Through programmes that cover online entrepreneurship, digital tools, and emerging technologies, we help Malaysians build the skills they need to grow in the digital economy.”

Saovanee added, “By empowering small businesses and local entrepreneurs, we aim to foster stronger livelihoods and a more connected and inclusive society.”

Attendees also had the opportunity to engage with ‘Shopee Bintang’, a network of top seller ambassadors. The programme will continue its nationwide outreach over the coming months, focusing on communities with high potential for digital growth. 

Shopee also continues to support MSMEs through its RM50 million Shopee Rai Lokal MSME Growth Package and Shopee University, providing training, digital tools, and structured learning to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses.

This year also marks Shopee’s tenth anniversary in Malaysia, reflecting a decade of initiatives aimed at empowering small businesses and promoting digital inclusion nationwide.

“Empowering local small businesses is key to building stronger communities,” added Saovanee Chan-Somchit. “By helping more Malaysians take part in the digital economy, we hope to create lasting, inclusive impact — from Sabah to every corner of the country.”

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