JANUARYASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8NEWSROOMTOKU RAISES S$16.3M IN SGX IPO TO SCALE AI CX PLATFORMToku, a Singapore-based AI-powered customer experience (CX) platform, has successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO) on SGX Catalist, raising S$16.3 million (US$12 million) at an offer price of S$0.25 per share.The IPO saw strong investor demand, with the public tranche oversubscribed 31.9 times, underscoring confidence in the company's growth outlook.The listing attracted participation from institutional investors including Lion Global Investors and Amova Asset Management, among others.Toku's shares will begin trading on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) on January 22, 2026, under the ticker TKU, giving the company a post-IPO market capitalisation of approximately S$142.6 million (US$106.5 million).Key Highlights· Toku raises S$16.3 million in oversubscribed SGX Catalist IPO· Subscription revenue grew 47% with net retention above 150%· Funds to drive global expansion and AI platform developmentIn its IPO disclosures, Toku highlighted 47% year-on-year revenue growth and Net Revenue Retention exceeding 150%, though these figures apply specifically to its Subscription and Licensing revenue stream, rather than total company revenue.The proportion of this segment within overall revenue, along with full revenue scale, gross margins, and profitability or cash burn metrics, has not been disclosed, limiting visibility into long-term growth sustainability.The company plans to deploy IPO proceeds to expand globally, enhance its AI capabilities, and pursue strategic partnerships and acquisitions.This expansion could create opportunities for system integrators (SIs) and independent software vendors (ISVs), particularly those offering compliance expertise, analytics add-ons, or workforce management tools that integrate with Toku's enterprise-focused platform. JENSEN HUANG: AI DATA CENTER BOOM DRIVES SIX-FIGURE DEMAND FOR TRADESNvidia CEO Jensen Huang, speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, highlighted a growing and often overlooked impact of the global AI boom--a sharp rise in demand for skilled vocational workers, including plumbers, electricians, and other tradespeople.According to Huang, the rapid expansion of data centers supporting artificial intelligence workloads is driving unprecedented infrastructure development, creating strong demand for physical labor alongside digital talent.Huang predicted that many skilled vocational workers could soon command six-figure salaries, as the scale of AI-driven infrastructure requires trillions of dollars in global investment.Data centers, which are essential to training and deploying AI models, require extensive electrical, cooling, and mechanical systems, increasing reliance on specialized on-site expertise.Key Highlights· AI data center expansion is boosting demand for skilled trades· Jensen Huang predicts six-figure salaries for vocational workers· Nvidia targets nearly US$200 billion in data center chip salesHis remarks echo views from other industry leaders who have also emphasized the importance of physical labor in building and maintaining next-generation AI infrastructure.As a key supplier of AI chips and data center processors, Nvidia stands at the center of this expansion. The company is expected to generate nearly US$200 billion in data center chip sales in 2025, supported by strong demand from hyperscale cloud providers as well as smaller and emerging data center operators.While artificial intelligence continues to raise concerns about job displacement and automation, Huang's comments point to a counterbalancing trend: the creation of well-paying jobs in construction, electrical systems, and infrastructure maintenance.However, experts caution that AI's overall impact on employment will vary by sector, with some roles facing disruption even as new opportunities emerge in others.
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