LinkedIn News Asia

Which startups should you be paying attention to right now? We dug into LinkedIn data to identify the 10 Singapore companies growing fast, recruiting top talent and drawing attention from investors and jobseekers alike. Fintech remains a strong presence on our seventh annual LinkedIn Top Startups list, with four firms making the cut, including newcomer KPay Group. But Singapore’s startup scene is far from one-dimensional: gut microbiome company AMILI and semiconductor firm SILICON BOX also earned spots, reflecting the breadth of innovation across the city-state. See which companies made the cut this year, and tell us which ones stand out to you in the comments below. #LinkedInTopStartups

What’s the biggest challenge full-time creators face today? “It's standing out in a crowded creator landscape, with many drawing inspiration from the same online trends,” Shi-An Lim, an actress and social media manager, told LinkedIn News Asia at Pinterest's Gen Z wellbeing study launch. Watch the video as she shares why looking beyond social media can help you build a stronger presence online. 👉 Where do you find creative inspiration? Share in the comments below. ✍️ 📹: Neha Jain Kale

How can we encourage more women and young professionals to build a career in motorsports? When Janette Tan, director of race operations at Singapore GP Pte Ltd, first started her career in the industry, there were few women in the field. That has gradually changed over the years, with more women finding pathways into motorsports. "What we need to change is awareness, and that women are able to do jobs that men can do," she says. Watch the video to hear her advice for women and young professionals looking to break into the motorsports industry. What can industries do to help young people discover career paths they may never have considered? Share your thoughts in the comments. #Formula1

Can a government-run dating app lift birth rates? GovTech Singapore has launched a dating pilot to match public officers aged between 21 and 35 using a Nobel Prize-winning algorithm. https://lnkd.in/derBP2ad Users sign up with Singpass, the country’s identity authentication system, and receive one match at a time, a design intended to reduce swipe fatigue. The system then applies a mathematical approach to generate pairings. Each person will only receive one match at a time, to avoid swipe fatigue. GovTech says it has not decided whether to expand FirstDate beyond the pilot. https://lnkd.in/d9g-tFhw Relational psychologist Shazaf Moonis praised the approach to only offer one match at a time but the real test is in how participants behave: ”Can the process improve how people treat each other once they’re in? That would be a true measure of success.” https://lnkd.in/p/dt8yBRqM Malgosia Green, former CEO of Match Group Asia, notes that uptake of a marriage-oriented dating app by the Tokyo government was somewhat muted, having created under 300 marriages since 2024. But a commercial alternative by Match Group accounted for over 10% of marriages in Japan, she adds. https://lnkd.in/p/diE9AWVX Would you trust a government-backed dating app more than commercial alternatives? Share your thoughts in the comments or create a post with this link: https://lnkd.in/d8y-ZSBv Read more here: https://lnkd.in/de6jsz4v

A year ago, many workplace conversations about AI centred on possibility. Today, they're far more practical. Professionals are swapping prompts in the comments. Managers are sharing how they use AI to prepare for meetings and people across industries are comparing notes on which tools are actually worth their time. As AI becomes part of everyday work, trusted voices are playing an increasingly important role in helping people separate useful advice from noise. To mark AI in Work Day, LinkedIn News Asia is spotlighting creators, leaders and practitioners who are helping professionals make sense of AI, from unpacking complex tools to sharing practical tips and real-world applications. 👉 Ainul Md Razib: Cybersecurity engineer sharing insights on secure AI use, responsible coding and AI literacy. 👉 Alvin Eng: Banking leader helping organisations scale trusted, generative and agentic AI. 👉 CK Tan: Innovation leader driving human-centred AI transformation and business value. 👉 Denise Ang: AI strategy leader focused on responsible AI adoption, governance and workforce readiness. 👉 Dorcas Tan: Technology leader preparing people for an AI-driven workplace and advancing women in tech. 👉 Ian Yong Hoe Tan: Lecturer and generative AI coach helping professionals learn, work and create with AI. 👉 Jean Gan: Legal and governance leader focused on responsible AI, risk and accountability. 👉 Sutowo Wong: AI and data transformation leader turning AI pilots into business impact. 👉 Tianyu Xu: Generative AI educator helping people create with AI tools, video and workflows. 👉 Victoria Wymark: AI leader helping organisations turn AI ambition into adoption. Follow them to stay in the know and swipe through the carousel to discover their top AI tips. How has AI changed the way you work? Share your favourite use case or tip in the comments. #AIinWork. ✍️: Neha Jain Kale

How should you choose your first job? With more graduates weighing options such as full-time roles, traineeships, freelance work and startups, the “right” first career move is no longer as straightforward as it once seemed, a recent CNA podcast notes. Daniel Soh, a graduate from Singapore Management University, says that although most of his internship experience was with financial institutions, he chose to join a different industry after graduation because he saw greater opportunities for exposure and learning. Eugene Or, an economics lecturer at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) says starting salary shouldn't be the only factor when choosing a first job. He encourages graduates to prioritise learning opportunities and the value they can bring to the company. What matters most when choosing your first job? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments. Source: https://lnkd.in/p/eNHuffpT ✍️: Neha Jain Kale

"When you're winning, you're not that good. When you're losing, you're not that bad." Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala says that is one of the biggest lessons she has learned from competing against the world's best players. In a conversation with LinkedIn News Asia ahead of the Singapore Tennis Open, Eala shares how she navigates competitions' highs and lows and the mindset that keeps her grounded while making history. What's a mindset that has helped you navigate success and setbacks? Share your thoughts in the comments. The Kallang WTA 📹: Alita Utari Dewi Serla Rusli

Meet the newest LinkedIn Top Voices in Singapore 🇸🇬 Our September class of LinkedIn Top Voices feature executives, founders, academia and professional creators who help make sense of some of the biggest shifts happening across industries. They include Singapore Management University president Lily Kong, OpenAI International’s managing director Oliver Jay and rising voices like Singtel’s chief AI influencer William Liu. Explore September’s Top Voices and find new voices to follow below. Congratulations to the honorees! https://lnkd.in/dJDtWKj7

Is Apple’s new iPhone too expensive? Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. It goes on sale in Southeast Asia on Oct 23, priced from S$3,099 (about US$2,446) in Singapore and RM9,499 (about US$2,337) in Malaysia. https://lnkd.in/dYC-d-zN LinkedIn member Gilad Ben Ari, a self-described loyal Apple fan, said paying more than S$3,000 for a device that can easily be dropped, broken or lost does not make sense when the same sum could buy a high-end laptop or workstation. https://lnkd.in/p/dhKJwNXt Saxo’s chief investment strategist Charu Chanana said the price reflects Apple’s moat. “Apple’s real advantage may be permission to charge more. It can enter a category later than competitors and still ask consumers to pay a premium,” she said. https://lnkd.in/dKhWPFPw Would you pay the premium? Tell us why or why not in the comments or create a post with this link: https://lnkd.in/dRyDiW3C

AI is helping young professionals work faster. But is it also raising the bar? A recent report from CNA found that many Gen Z workers across Asia are using AI to complete routine tasks more efficiently. But for many, the time saved isn’t translating into lighter workloads. Instead, expectations are rising right alongside productivity. (https://lnkd.in/gE_EPKYK) “This is exactly what every technological revolution has looked like,” says AI expert and technopreneur Alvin Chan, PhD. What starts as a competitive advantage eventually becomes the new baseline, much like digital literacy did before it, he notes. But he also cautions that “if employers keep demanding more without training, support or recognition, they'll get frustration and disengagement, not productivity.” (https://lnkd.in/p/ehKnV38t) Skills trainer John, Chook Mun Choi points to another challenge: while “AI is no longer a nice-to-have”, organisations should also think about how they recognise and reward employees who consistently deliver greater value. (https://lnkd.in/p/eeEXAM7P) Has AI made your job easier or busier? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments. ✍️: Neha Jain Kale