
Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2025: Nominations Are Now Open
In August 2025, Forbes Asia will publish the fifth annual edition of the 100 to Watch list, which recognizes small companies and startups on the rise.
Since 2021, the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch List has featured some of the fastest-growing and most innovative companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Last year's listees included Agnikul Cosmos, an Indian spacetech startup developing launch rockets that send payloads into space, and Botsync, a Singapore-based company building mobile robots for use in factories.
Nominations for the fifth Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list are being accepted now. We are seeking growing companies making a positive impact in their local markets or in the region and with a successful record of serving customers or attracting investors.
To qualify for the list, companies must meet the following criteria:
1. be founded before August 2024
2. be headquartered in Asia-Pacific
3. have annual revenue not exceeding $50 million
4. have no more than $100 million in total funding
5. be privately owned (not listed)
6. be a for-profit enterprise
If you think your company is worth watching - or know of one that is - tell us your story. All you have to do is complete the nomination form by July 25, 2025, and our team
will handle the rest.
Forbes Asia 100 to Watch is sponsored by FedEx.
Click here to submit your nomination.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Harvard Business Review
39 minutes ago
- Harvard Business Review
How Mastercard Helped Blenheim Palace Cut Costs with Reusable Cups
In an era when organizations are discovering that circular economy models can reduce costs and create new revenue streams, forward-thinking businesses are capitalizing on the shift from wasteful linear systems to more profitable circular alternatives. The transition from take-make-dispose models to circular systems represents one of the most profound operational shifts of the 21st century. Those who embrace it may discover competitive advantages. And when implemented thoughtfully, circular economy initiatives can create multiple layers of value that extend far beyond environmental benefits. Circular Innovation Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Oxfordshire, England, demonstrates how businesses can implement circular economy initiatives while improving operational efficiency, enhancing visitor experiences, and cutting costs. Two years ago, Blenheim Palace faced a common costly problem; it was spending over $100,000 annually on single-use cups that added to the many single-use cups reaching a landfill or an incinerator every day. Today it's achieved a notable 50% reduction in beverage packaging costs by implementing a deposit return scheme (DRS) with reusable cups, like other reusable cup deposit return schemes, such as in Denmark. 'The transition wasn't merely about sustainability metrics,' says David Green, head of innovation at Blenheim Palace. 'Our reusable cup scheme has significantly cut costs and fundamentally transformed our operations,' reimbursing customers rapidly and conveniently for returning their cups. 'The transition wasn't merely about sustainability metrics,' says David Green, head of innovation at Blenheim Palace. 'Our reusable cup scheme has significantly cut costs and fundamentally transformed our operations,' reimbursing customers rapidly and conveniently for returning their cups. The Mechanics of Circular Success Blenheim Palace's approach is elegant in its simplicity. Visitors pay $2.70 deposits to rent RFID-enabled reusable cups they will later return to reverse-vending machines. Circularity solutions provider re-universe assigns each cup a digital identity for data tracking and tracing throughout its usage. Blenheim Palace collects, washes, and reintroduces the cups into circulation—and visitors get secure, near-instantaneous refunds to their payment cards. 'With return machines streamlining the process,' Green says, 'we're achieving remarkable results that prove sustainable operations can be financially viable, too.' In a 12-month period, Blenheim Palace has cut 1,150 kg of carbon emissions and kept 320,000 single-use cups out of landfills. The Business Case for Circularity 'For circular initiatives to scale, the consumer experience must be seamless,' says Pratik Khowala, Mastercard's global head of transfer solutions. 'Our payments technology enables Blenheim Palace to offer near-instant deposit returns without requiring visitors to download apps or share additional banking information—a critical factor in achieving high participation rates, especially among international visitors.' Beyond environmental benefits, the financial case for this circular system is compelling. Blenheim Palace reports a 50% cost savings during the second year of implementation, including reduced waste management expenses and increased operational efficiencies. Each $2 reusable cup needs only four uses for its cost to break even, versus the $0.35 to $0.67 it spent for each single-use cup. The system also provides valuable data insights that allow continuous optimization—information that was absent from the previous model. 'The metrics we now track go well beyond basic environmental indicators,' Green says. 'We're measuring operational efficiency, visitor satisfaction, and return rates by location. This data allows us to continually refine the system for maximum impact and is leading us to invest more in the program. We're starting with hot cups, but we are planning to expand into cold cups and other packaging soon.' The Visitor Experience 'Visitor feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,' Green says. 'Guests specifically mention the reusable cup program in visitor surveys, noting how it aligns with their own values around environmental stewardship.' This alignment with consumer values represents an increasingly important competitive advantage for organizations across sectors. Retailers, manufacturers, hospitality providers, and service organizations across numerous industries and product categories can adapt these circular economy principles to their specific contexts. 'The technology behind the Blenheim experience can be applied to numerous circular economy initiatives beyond cups—from deposit-based redemption for reusable packaging to product buyback and peer-to-peer resale,' says Khowala. 6 Keys to Successful Implementation Blenheim Palace's initiative reveals six critical factors organizations should consider when they implement their own circular economy programs: 1. Consumer education: Clear communication about the process and its benefits drives participation. 2. Staff training and engagement: Frontline employees must understand the system to support it and encourage consumers to participate. 3. Frictionless user experience: Simplicity in participation—making deposits and returns as easy as possible—is nonnegotiable for high adoption. 4. Inclusivity: Systems must accommodate diverse user needs, including those of international visitors. 5. Optimized incentive structure: Deposit fees must balance motivation for returns without deterring participation. 6. Data-driven management: Real-time data visibility enables continuous improvement and optimization. 5 Strategic Implications for Leaders For executives considering circular economy initiatives, the Blenheim Palace case offers several clear takeaways: 1. Start with high-visibility waste streams: Focus initial circular economy efforts on visible, high-volume waste that resonates with stakeholders. 2. Design for user experience: Prioritize simplicity and convenience in circular systems to drive adoption. 3. Use technology appropriately: Digital tools should reduce friction, not add complexity. 4. Measure multidimensional value: Track environmental, financial, operational, and customer experience metrics. 5. Communicate authentically: Share transparent progress and insights with stakeholders. Organizations that approach circular economy initiatives as strategic opportunities rather than compliance requirements stand to gain significant advantages in operational efficiency, cost reduction, brand perception, and environmental impact. Circularity is not a new idea, but as organizations course-correct away from linear models, the circular economy is presenting new opportunities for businesses. As Blenheim Palace's experience demonstrates, organizations that embrace this transition thoughtfully can achieve positive results across the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. 'The most surprising aspect of our journey has been discovering that circular systems often outperform linear ones on pure business metrics,' Green says. 'Sustainability is no longer a trade-off against profitability—increasingly, it's becoming a driver of it.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
FedEx (NYSE:FDX) Increases Annual Dividend by 5% to US$5.80 Per Share
FedEx recently increased its annual dividend rate by 5%, highlighting its commitment to delivering shareholder value. Over the past month, the company's shares rose by 2%, in line with the broader market's positive movement. The dividend announcement likely reinforced FedEx's positive trajectory within the context of the company's ongoing privacy enhancements with clients. Meanwhile, the market was buoyed by optimism surrounding U.S.-China trade talks and strong corporate earnings reports, creating a favorable backdrop for FedEx's performance in conjunction with these broader trends. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for FedEx you should know about. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. The recent dividend increase by FedEx underscores its commitment to enhancing shareholder value, which aligns with the company's ongoing initiatives like the DRIVE, Network 2.0, and Tricolor strategies mentioned in the analysis. These efforts are geared toward cost-saving and network optimization, potentially improving margins and efficiency—factors that could significantly boost revenue and earnings forecasts. In turn, this might positively influence analysts' earnings expectations and drive investor confidence, reinforcing the company's projected growth trajectory. Over the last five years, FedEx has delivered a total return of 81.50%, inclusive of dividends, indicating strong longer-term performance. This contrasts with a recent one-year performance where FedEx exceeded the US Logistics industry's negative return of 20.4%, highlighting its resilience in challenging market conditions. Relative to the broader market, these numbers position FedEx as a stable performer in the logistics sector. Despite recent share price movements, FedEx remains approximately 23.2% below the consensus analyst price target of US$277.78, reflecting potential upside as per market observers. The current share price, coupled with strategic efficiencies and revenue-enhancing measures underway, suggests that achieving the projected earnings increase to US$5.9 billion could help narrow this gap, supporting upward stock performance over the longer term. Click here to discover the nuances of FedEx with our detailed analytical financial health report. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:FDX. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


TechCrunch
an hour ago
- TechCrunch
What makes TechCrunch All Stage different from other startup events? Answers to your most pressing questions
Tech and startup events have a formula. You know it. We know it. We've all done it. But TechCrunch All Stage 2025, which we're hosting July 15 at the SoWa Power Station in Boston, is designed to break out of that rinse-and-repeat model — and focus on what early-stage startups actually need to know, right now. Plus, you can still get some limited-time pricing discounts, with Investor passes coming in at a $200 reduction, Founder passes discounted by $210, and our special $99 rate exclusively for students. Move swiftly before those prices increase! This is a laser-focused day — there's no expo maze, no five-track decision fatigue and ensuing FOMO. We've built the programming explicitly for ambitious startup teams who want answers to the hard questions: How do I raise in 2025's environment? What does sustainable growth actually look like? When do I start thinking about hiring, legal, sales ops, finance — and how? How can I become a better leader, not just a louder one? How do I plan NOW for an eventual IPO? You'll get tactical insights from operators, investors, and experts across functions — with panels and workshops all designed to make your next decision better than your last. Check out our full agenda right here. The TechCrunch All Stage lineup is stacked We're bringing in people who've raised, scaled, and repeated to give founders and operators the kind of clarity that can change a quarter. Our speakers include, but are not limited to: No panels for panel's sake. No bloated agendas. Just real talk for the people actually building the next thing. And thanks to our sponsorship partner Fidelity, we're making it more than theoretical. This is about action. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW Join us July 15 at the SoWa Power Station in Boston. This isn't just another startup conference. It's where execution gets elevated.