Under The Radar

Today we’re going to take you through the ins and outs of a semiconductor optics company that made the headlines for its performance post-IPO on the Singapore Exchange.  Listed on the SGX in September 2025, our guest for today MetaOptics develops metalenses, or flat, glass-based lenses made with the same technology and process as semiconductor chips. But what does this mean exactly? Well, lenses are typically made using curved glass, which helps them refract and focus light rays, say in the case of camera lenses or magnifying glasses.   MetaOptics, on the other hand, uses a different process to make its lenses. Instead of using curved glasses, it uses a process called semiconductor photolithography to carve out microscopic pillars on a flat wafer, just like how transistors are engraved onto silicon chips.  With the microscopic pillars engraved on the lenses, the lenses behave like silicon chips, where their reflective index changes when varying amounts of electricity passes through it. This means the same lens can adopt multiple properties and perform multiple tasks from zooming in, focusing, or even shifting depth, depending on the situation.  In application, this means that devices such as smartphones, laptops or projectors will only need one metalens to perform multiple functions. This reduces the thickness and weight of hardware devices, making them easier to carry around. Beyond that, metalens can also be used to transmit information using light. This presents an opportunity for the firm to tap the rise in demand for computing devices in the age of AI. So how does the firm define its value proposition exactly, and what are the key revenue drivers for it?  Meanwhile, MetaOptics listed on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange in September 2025, and has seen its shares rise five fold in three months. More recently, the firm also announced plans to seek a dual listing on the US NASDAQ stock exchange. So how has the firm used the additional public capital raised? What are its plans for the future and what is its assessment of the effectiveness of listing on the local bourse then? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Mark Thng, CEO, MetaOptics.

We’re going to talk all about a hotpot ingredient that is sure to be on your reunion dinner table on Chinese New Year eve – the humble, inexpensive, yet comforting fishball that completes the meal. Speaking of fishballs, one must talk about Thong Siek Food Global, who’s also better known as the parent company of Dodo fishballs. Founded in 1976 as a family run backyard operation, Thong Siek Food Global has since evolved into a leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of surimi (or minced fish paste) based seafood products in Singapore. At its factory in Senoko spanning over 150,000 square feet, Thong Siek Global processes well over 28,000 kg of fish meat daily and more than 60 varieties of fish-based products including fishballs, prawn balls, cuttle fish balls and crab flavoured sticks. These are exported to markets across Europe and Southeast Asia as well as the US, Canada, Dubai, Qatar, Australia and more. But how is Thong Siek Global positioning its supply chain to grow internationally? Which are the key global markets for the firm? Also – what are the key product trends that Thong Siek Global is tapping to relate with next generation consumers?  In this Special, “On the Go” episode of Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian headed down to Thong Siek Food Global’s factory floor to seek some answers from Novelle Lim, CEO of Thong Siek Global and Fayy Lim, Chief Operating Officer of Thong Siek Global.

It is back to the real estate sector today as we take you through the ins and outs of a real estate management services group that recently spun off its coliving arm on the Singapore Exchange.  You might have guessed it by now. Yes we are talking about the majority shareholder of coliving brand Coliwoo, or the SGX mainboard listed LHN Group. Established in 1991, LHN Group prides itself with the ability to generate value for space owners and users alike with its expertise in Space Optimisation.  The firm engages in four types of business operations, namely (1) space optimisation, where it redesigns unused, old and under-utilised spaces to maximise leasable area, (2) property development and investment where it engages in the acquisition, development and sale of properties, (3) facilities management including the provision of car park and energy management services, and finally (4) energy solutions, including the provision of charging stations for electric vehicles. LHN had in November posted a net profit of S$5.9 million for the half-year ended September 2025. The performance marks an 82.7 per cent decrease from levels seen in the previous year, on the back of fair value losses on its investment properties. Revenue for the same period, though fell by a more modest 8.4 per cent on the year to S$60.9 million. So how does the firm assess its latest performance and what will be the key drivers of growth going forward?  Meanwhile, the firm’s coliving subsidiary Coliwoo went public on the Singapore Exchange in November 2025. The move was said to help LHN better allocate resources within the remaining businesses within the group. So how far are we seeing that play out?  Speaking of resource allocation, LHN Group appears to be doubling down on its space optimisation business through its storage solutions subsidiary Work+Store. So how important will Work+Store be to the firm post-listing of Coliwoo? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Kelvin Lim, Executive Chairman and Executive Director of LHN Group and Danny Wong, Chief Executive Officer of Work+Store. 

The CES is arguably one of the most powerful tech events in the world featuring speakers like Jensen Huang, CEO of AI chip darling Nvidia, Lisa Su, CEO of AMD and Yuanqing Yang, CEO of the world’s biggest PC maker Lenovo. Happening alongside the CES was Lenovo Tech World @ CES, or Lenovo’s annual global innovation affair taking place at the Las Vegas Sphere.  Money Matter’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian was part of the media team invited to the PC maker’s 11th Tech World, which featured conversations from its key executives, as well as a series of product launches and showcases.  In this three-part, “On the Go” Special series of “Under the Radar”, Tian Tian dived into the key announcements at CES and Lenovo Tech World 2026. She also sat down with Lenovo’s top executives to find out how the firm is harnessing the power of AI. 

Singapore has long been recognised as a premier destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions – or MICE events – backed by its world class infrastructure, connectivity to the world, and its business friendly ecosystem. And today, we’re going to revisit a guest that sits at the heart of this industry to kickstart the year.  Incorporated in 2005, our guest Experia specialises in conceptualising, creating and curating trade events of strategic interest that spur industry development.  The firm prides itself in bringing together what it calls “captains” from all over the world to inspire ideas, influence decisions and move the needle in strategic issues for global, national and societal needs and progress.  More notably, Experia manages the Changi Exhibition Centre, and is also the player behind Asia’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, or the Singapore Airshow.  But why are we speaking to Experia you might ask? Well, the MICE industry which Experia lies in is experiencing exciting growth of late.  In June 2025, the Singapore Tourism Board said the MICE global market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate or CAGR of 7.2 per cent from 2024 to 2032.  Asia Pacific in particular, is expected to take the lead due to the relatively higher growth rates seen in regional economies, the rising trend of business travel, as well as improvements in social services and infrastructure.  At Experia, the firm is preparing for the coming Singapore Airshow 2026 happening every two years. It is also organising the inaugural Space Summit 2026, an event which will see national space agencies, policy makers, investors and industry players convene to address gaps in the growing industry.  So how is Experia preparing ahead of the events, and how is the firm positioning itself for future growth, and working with industry players such as hospitality players to spur tourism spending and grow the pie for all? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director, Experia.

It is a Special, “On the Go” episode of Under The Radar with Money Matters’ Finance Presenter Chua Tian Tian, who’s roughly about 14,300 km away from Singapore in the US city of Las Vegas attending CES 2026. The CES is arguably one of the most powerful tech events in the world featuring speakers like Jensen Huang, CEO of AI chip darling Nvidia, Lisa Su, CEO of AMD and Yuanqing Yang, CEO of the world’s biggest PC maker Lenovo. The event is expected to host some 140,000 attendees from the 6th to the 9th of January 2026. In this episode, Tian Tian provides a first look into how AI is transforming business, technology and everyday life, as well as the innovations to watch at CES 2026.  She was also part of the media team invited to Lenovo Tech World @ CES, where she spoke with Amar Babu, President of Asia Pacific of Lenovo, on the key themes for Tech World 2026. Tian Tian will be back with more details in a radio Special, LIVE from Las Vegas on tomorrow’s Breakfast Show with Ryan, Emaad and Audrey so stay tuned!

It’s back to the financial services industry as we speak to a financial advisory firm that’s wholly owned by Singlife.  Founded in 2016, Singlife Financial Advisers seeks to empower individuals to achieve financial freedom with its team of digitally enabled advisers, through innovative solutions that support its clients at every stage of their life.  The firm primarily looks at four areas: (1) Protection through insurance, (2) Savings and retirement, (3) Investment, and finally (4) Legacy planning, and is now seeing increased demand for services across the board in Singapore given a growing number of high-net worth individuals and an ageing population in the country.  According to numbers by data analytics provider GlobalData out in early 2025, Singapore’s general insurance industry is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (or CAGR) of 6.2% to hit S$8.1 billion in gross written premiums by 2029.  That’s supported by regulatory developments, economic expansion as well as a rise in market demand. So what will the numbers mean for the firm’s growth roadmap in the medium to longer term?   And as demand for insurance coverage increases, the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (or Fidrec) in Singapore is also seeing consumer complaints against investment-linked insurance policies or (ILPs) increase.  So what does this mean for the firm, and how will the firm ensure transparency in the selling of its products amid consumer concerns across the industry? At the same time, more support is also provided for the industry, with Singlife Financial Adviser’s parent Singlife setting up a shared service hub in Singapore earlier this year to help financial advisory firms with services like electronic financial need analysis, client onboarding and more. So how is Singlife Financial Advisers tapping the shared resource then? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Justin Ho, CEO, Singlife Financial Advisers.

Helping every person and business do all things money – be it spending, saving, investing, borrowing or managing – in just a few taps. That is the mission of our guest today, Revolut.  Founded in 2015, and touted as a “super app” providing services from digital banking, cross-border payments, equity and cryptocurrency trading, card services and even travel perks, Revolut has quickly evolved into one of the most talked about fintechs in the world.  With a network that supports 160 countries and regions, Revolut says it now serves over 60 million personal customers around the world, and over hundreds of thousands of business customers globally. And the numbers are set to increase as the firm experiences a period of rapid growth right now.  For one thing, a Bloomberg report out in September 2025 noted that the company is set to deliver over £4.1 billion (S$7.1 billion) in annual revenue this year. Media reports also noted that the firm launched a secondary share sale the same month, valuing the firm at US$75 billion, with some noting that the fintech darling is exploring a dual listing in London and New York, for what’s said to be its “blockbuster” IPO. That same month, the firm also launched its global headquarters in London and announced a US$13 billion investment to attract 100 million users and enter 30 new geographies by 2030.  In Singapore, Revolut plans to double its headcount within a year from September 2025 in line with the company’s wider ambitions to expand into Southeast Asia and around the world.  So what’s underpinning Revolut’s aggressive expansion plans and what role will the company’s Singapore operations play in this regard? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Raymond Ng, CEO of Singapore and Southeast Asia, Revolut.

Today we’re going to revisit one of our guests that’s long been a cornerstone of Singapore’s mobility ecosystem.  Think the yellow and blue coloured taxis that ply the streets, or the SBS Transit buses and Mass Rapid Transport or MRT trains we take to work and to go home.  Bingo if you’ve guessed ComfortDelGro, a household name in Singapore that has also evolved into one of the largest land transport firms in the globe. And talking about evolution and change, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the group’s point-to-point business, having in September acquired all of ST Engineering Land Systems’ shares in taxi operator CityCab for a total purchase consideration of S$116.3 million.  While ComfortDelGro had been managing CityCab since 2005, what would the full ownership of CityCab mean for ComfortDelGro? But beyond acquisitions, ComfortDelGro is also making bold strides in the autonomous mobility space.  The firm had in March launched its first robotaxi pilot programme in Guangzhou, China, as part of a partnership with Pony AI, a company involved in the large-scale commercialisation of autonomous mobility.  And in September, the firm announced that it would expand the autonomous mobility services to Singapore, starting with the Punggol area early next year, in line with the country’s plan to integrate mobility solutions into existing transportation infrastructure.  But what should we know about the move, and how would the introduction of autonomous vehicles shake up the point-to-point mobility ecosystem, and in particular, the relationship between customers and taxi or private hire drivers? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Michael Huang, Head of Singapore Point-to-Point Mobility Business, and CEO of China Business Unit, ComfortDelGro.

Today we’re going to welcome you aboard Singapore Airlines as it reaches out to greater skies in a fast changing business environment.  Founded some 50 years ago through the demerger of the Malaysia-Singapore Airlines in 1972, SIA has evolved into one of the most recognised and respected travel brands globally.  The Singapore flag carrier and its low cost subsidiary Scoot now fly to over 120 destinations, and operates the world’s longest non-stop flight –  a 19-hour ride from Singapore to New York City.  SIA has long been presented in business schools as a textbook example of “cost-effective service excellence”, combining premium service with rigorous efficiency to deliver profitability and brand prestige.  But how is this playbook evolving as SIA navigates an intensifying competitive landscape?  For one thing, the ongoing US-China trade war, Middle East tensions and oil price volatility continue to weigh on airlines such as SIA. At the same time, Gulf carriers appear to have grown in prominence on long-haul flows and now capture sizable shares on some key city pairs, given the Middle East’s status as a gateway to Europe.  To stay ahead, SIA appears to be re-engineering parts of its product and network. In 2024, SIA said it will spend S$1.1 billion to retrofit 41 Airbus A350-900 long-haul and ultra-long-range aircraft with newer cabin products.  There were also adjustments to mileage redemption policies in 2025, which prompted conversations among customers and industry watchers. So how does the airline distill the changes into a single, condensed strategy for the future?  Professor Jochen Wirtz, Vice Dean of MBA Programmes and Professor of Marketing at the National University of Singapore has been studying the firm for over two decades, writing extensively about how the firm manages the tension between achieving product differentiation and cost leadership.  And Lee Lik Hsin, is Chief Commercial Officer at Singapore Airlines.  In this “In the Community” Special episode of Under the Radar, the duo share their thoughts with Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian.