Rewards platform ShopBack bags $30m from Westpac to close Series F

ShopBack‘s growth efforts across Asia Pacific received a boost after it bagged another $30 million to formally close its Series F founding round.


The recent investment for ShopBack Group, which runs a shopping and rewards platform across Asia Pacific, came from Australia’s Westpac Banking Corporation.


ShopBack closed series F round with a total of $200 million. Earlier, the Singapore-based group also announced earning at least $160 million from the series F tranche from Asia Partners and Temasek-owned 65 Equity Partners, together with commitments from other new and existing investors.


The availability of more funds will boost ShopBack’s efforts to grow across the Asia Pacific as it gears up for the public markets. Shopback said it will use the fresh capital to launch new shopping products for users, develop growth and payments solutions for merchant partners, extend its services to more markets, and build capabilities for public market readiness.


As part of the equity investment, the Singapore-based group will enable Westpac customers to access exclusive offers and deals when they shop via ShopBack.


“With more customers choosing to shop online, we’ll also be exploring new ways to expand on this offering within Westpac’s digital channels,” said Steve Rubenstein, MD (Consumer Finance) at Westpac.


Founded in 2014, ShopBack offers shopping deals, rewards and payment methods at the users’ fingertips. Since its inception, the group claims to have already served over 35 million shoppers across ten markets as they also powered over $3.5 billion in annual sales for over 10,000 online and in-store merchant partners.


Early this year, ShopBack also launched ShopBack Pay and PayLater. In addition, the group has already made significant advances in product innovation and regional expansion this year. In January, ShopBack Pay was launched to allow two million users in Singapore and Australia to check out conveniently at more than 5,000 merchant outlets.


In August, it also launched its cashback service in Hong Kong. Last December, ShopBack also acquired hoolah, a leading buy-now-pay-later player in Southeast Asia.

BoardRoom Singapore takes home Team of the Year award in the Business Services category

This year has been a year like no other, yet amidst the challenging climate, BoardRoom Singapore, a leader in the corporate services space has thrived. Guiding their clients through this unprecedented year with solutions founded on innovation and technology.


The team demonstrated a level of resilience and collaboration that led to them achieving multiple milestones and securing the Team of the Year award in the Business Services category of the Singapore Business Review Management Excellence Awards 2020.


Read the full article; “BoardRoom Singapore takes home Team of the Year award in the Business Services category” on Singapore Business Review’s website.


Group CEO, Kim Teo, shares more about the future of BoardRoom and our success in this interview with Singapore Business Review.

BoardRoom won the Best Payroll Outsourcing Partner (Silver) in HR VOTY Award, Singapore

The winners of the annual HR Vendors of the Year (VOTY) Awards 2021, Singapore, were announced at a special recognition event held from 30 November to 3 December 2021 at Shangri-La Hotel.


The HR VOTY Awards 2021 not only celebrates the exceptional contribution that HR solution providers across the region have contributed in disrupting the HR function and innovating business performances, but it also recognises the region’s best providers of HR solutions in the areas of recruitment, employee benefits, training and development, outsourcing, and HR tech.


BoardRoom Singapore is honoured to be awarded the Best Payroll Outsourcing Partner (Silver) in the HR VOTY Awards 2021, Singapore.


BoardRoom is Asia-Pacific’s leader in Corporate and Advisory Services including Regional Employee Plan ServicesRegional Payroll ServicesCorporate Secretarial ServicesShare Registry ServicesAccounting and Taxation ServicesPayroll Outsourcing, and Human Resource Outsourcing.

For over 50 years, we have supported companies in navigating through complex operational and regulatory policies and cultural sensibilities. We are well-positioned in Asia-Pacific with offices in Singapore, Australia, China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, as well as an extensive partner network throughout Asia.

BoardRoom is the partner of choice for many Fortune 500 multinational companies, public listed and privately owned enterprises.

AVATAR: THE EXPERIENCE is now officially open in Singapore – An immersive walkthrough event, first of its kind at Cloud Forest

Experience the wonders of Pandora through first-of-their-kind animatronics,
state-of-the-art audio and visual experiences as well as interactive multisensory elements, only at Avatar: The Experience

31 October 2022  The much-awaited immersive walkthrough event, Avatar: The Experience, officially opened on 28 October 2022, at Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The limited-time event is inspired by the film, Avatar, the highest-grossing film globally of all- time.

Set in front of the iconic cascading waterfalls at Cloud Forest, Gardens by the Bay, the official opening ceremony was attended by Guest-of-Honour Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Mr. Heng Swee Kiat and hosted by Cityneon Holdings. The event was co-hosted with Gardens by the Bay, with senior representatives from filmmakers James Cameron and Jon Landau’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Disney Location-Based Entertainment also in attendance.

Avatar: The Experience, set within the visually stunning iconic Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay, will elevate guest visits with impressive interactives and striking content throughout five different zones. Interactives include the debut of a life-size animatronic banshee with real-time reactions to guests. Additionally, guests will be introduced to a puppet baby banshee and baby viperwolf handled by expert docents providing unique photo opportunities for this event. The path continues with exciting installations throughout the venue and a first look at an artistic sculpt representation of the new marine Ilu creature from the upcoming film, Avatar: The Way of Water.

Lightstorm’s President of Franchise Development, Ms. Kathy Franklin said, “We are excited that this unique experience at Gardens by the Bay here in Singapore has given guests of all ages a new way to enjoy the wonders of Pandora. Setting Avatar: The Experience amongst the landscapes of Cloud Forest has created a truly immersive journey, one that was creatively inspired and made possible by a global collaboration of teams. We look forward to welcoming Avatar fans from around the world.”

Executive Chairman & Group CEO of Cityneon Holdings, Mr. Ron Tan said, “It is an honour to transform one of Singapore’s most iconic venues, the Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay, into Avatar: The Experience, the first-ever around the world. This endeavour can only be made possible with the trust and support from our collaborators at Disney Location-Based Experiences, Lightstorm Entertainment, the Singapore Tourism Board, Gardens by the Bay, and the dedicated team members from Cityneon globally.”

Chief Executive Officer of Gardens by the Bay, Mr. Felix Loh said, “We are thrilled that people in Singapore will be the first in the world to enjoy Avatar: The Experience. Over the past month, our horticulturists have collaborated closely with all teams to infuse our Cloud Forest with the world of Pandora. We hope visitors are as excited as we are to be a part of this extraordinary event.”

Avatar: The Experience will take place in Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay from October 28, 2022 to March 31, 2023. Operating hours are from 9 am to 9 pm daily. Admission tickets to Avatar: The Experience start from $23 and are available for sale to the public by the official ticketing partner, Klook. www.klook.com

Tickets are also available through official venue partner, Gardens by the Bay. www.gardensbythebay.com.sg

For more information please visit: www.AvatarTheExperience.com