Some of the world’s most successful technology companies didn’t begin in gleaming corporate campuses. They began with bold ideas exchanged at the simplest of places. Sometimes, that place was a diner offering bottomless coffee and huge slabs of pancakes.

For ASUS, that place was a humble coffee shop in Taipei. Back in 1989, a group of ambitious engineers came together with a vision of creating a “small and beautiful company”, one that could develop world-class technology from Taiwan for the rest of the world. 

More than 30 years on, ASUS is a global tech leader best known for its world-class motherboards, high-quality personal computers, monitors, graphics cards, routers and other technology solutions. 

But the company is now evolving beyond hardware and doubling down on artificial intelligence infrastructure and cloud services – an area it sees potential as the adoption of AI increases rapidly. 

For one thing, ASUS teamed up with the Taiwanese government to found the Taiwan AI Cloud Corporation in 2021 to build secure, scalable and sovereign AI infrastructure.  

The company helps governments and enterprises roll out and operate Sovereign AI systems, where their AI models and data are secured and operated within their own borders, laws and culture. 

It says it is seeing a global trend of countries investing in local capabilities to drive innovation specific to their language, culture and the economy. But where is demand coming from and how big of an opportunity is this for the firm?

Beyond specific nations, who should build the collective AI infrastructure for Asia, and how should they monetise them? What will this mean for ASUS and Taiwan AI Cloud?

On Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Peter Wu, CEO of ASUS Cloud and Taiwan AI Cloud.

Some of the world&rsquo;s most successful technology companies didn&rsquo;t begin in gleaming corporate campuses. They began with bold ideas exchanged at the simplest of places. Sometimes, that place was a diner offering bottomless coffee and huge slabs of pancakes.
For ASUS, that place was a humble coffee shop in Taipei. Back in 1989, a group of ambitious engineers came together with a vision of creating a &ldquo;small and beautiful company&rdquo;, one that could develop world-class technology from Taiwan for the rest of the world.&nbsp;
More than 30 years on, ASUS is a global tech leader best known for its world-class motherboards, high-quality personal computers, monitors, graphics cards, routers and other technology solutions.&nbsp;
But the company is now evolving beyond hardware and doubling down on artificial intelligence infrastructure and cloud services &ndash; an area it sees potential as the adoption of AI increases rapidly.&nbsp;
For one thing, ASUS teamed up with the Taiwanese government to found the Taiwan AI Cloud Corporation in 2021 to build secure, scalable and sovereign AI infrastructure. &nbsp;
The company helps governments and enterprises roll out and operate Sovereign AI systems, where their AI models and data are secured and operated within their own borders, laws and culture.&nbsp;
It says it is seeing a global trend of countries investing in local capabilities to drive innovation specific to their language, culture and the economy. But where is demand coming from and how big of an opportunity is this for the firm?
Beyond specific nations, who should build the collective AI infrastructure for Asia, and how should they monetise them? What will this mean for ASUS and Taiwan AI Cloud?
On Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Peter Wu, CEO of ASUS Cloud and Taiwan AI Cloud.

We speak with businesses, industry leaders, venture capitalists and startups on their assessment of the business environment they're in, and what the future holds for them.

We speak with businesses, industry leaders, venture capitalists and startups on their assessment of the business environment they're in, and what the future holds for them.

Under The Radar

Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong is your 4–8pm drive companion, guiding you through the day’s biggest headlines, trending conversations and the issues shaping Singapore and the world.

From news and current affairs to lifestyle insights and generational perspectives, the show helps you make sense of what’s happening — with clarity, context and a touch of personality.

Whether you’re catching up after a long day or tuning in on the move, Your Way Home keeps you informed, engaged and connected — all the way home.

And she closes the day with a song that says it all.

Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong is your 4&ndash;8pm drive companion, guiding you through the day&rsquo;s biggest headlines, trending conversations and the issues shaping Singapore and the world.
From news and current affairs to lifestyle insights and generational perspectives, the show helps you make sense of what&rsquo;s happening &mdash; with clarity, context and a touch of personality.
Whether you&rsquo;re catching up after a long day or tuning in on the move, Your Way Home keeps you informed, engaged and connected &mdash; all the way home.
And she closes the day with a song that says it all.

Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore’s first and only Business and Personal Finance station. MONEY FM is a 24-hour English talk format station featuring local and international business and financial news. We provide you with financial market and currency updates and insights from analysts, economists, policy makers, industry experts and business owners.

In the lighter hours, listen to discussions on social issues and features on topics that include health, education, arts and music.

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore&rsquo;s first and only Business and Personal Finance station. MONEY FM is a 24-hour English talk format station featuring local and international business and financial news. We provide you with financial market and currency updates and insights from analysts, economists, policy makers, industry experts and business owners.
In the lighter hours, listen to discussions on social issues and features on topics that include health, education, arts and music.

MONEY FM 89.3 is Singapore’s first and only Business and Personal Finance station.

MONEY FM 89.3

Under the Radar: What should we know about ASUS Cloud’s emphasis on Sovereign AI right now? Its CEO spills the beans.

There’s nothing quite like slipping into a sturdy, yet comfortable pair of jeans for work on casual Fridays, or even when out shopping on a Monday night. 

To understand why, we have to turn the clock back more than 170 years to California during the Gold Rush.

Back then, miners and labourers in the American West worked under punishing conditions, and their work trousers often ripped at the points of greatest strain, particularly around the pocket corners, where heavy tools and equipment were carried.

Then came the day, May 20, 1873, where dry goods merchant Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis obtained a US patent on putting rivets in men’s work pants for the very first time.

The rivets made the pants dramatically stronger, and durable enough for miners, labourers and cowboys who needed clothing to withstand punishing conditions. And with that, the first riveted clothing – a pair of jeans made using denim – was made and sold. And the rest was history. 

More than a century on, modern day jeans are more than just workwear, and continue to make waves in the fashion world. The same goes for Levi’s the company too. 

Since returning to the public markets in 2019, the firm has been actively transforming its business through high-profile marketing efforts, pushing higher margin direct-to-consumer sales, and actively attracting women customers. 

In July 2026, the firm reported second quarter net revenue of US$1.56 billion, an 8 per cent increase on the year. The apparel maker now expects its fiscal 2026 net revenue to grow between 7 and 7.5 per cent, higher than the 5.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent forecast previously.

Growth was also seen across all regions, with a 9 per cent on-year increase in net revenues for its largest market, the Americas. For Asia, that figure stood at 10%. 

But how does the firm assess its performance as a whole, and how far will it double down on its business in Asia? What are the key opportunities in the region, and how is the firm positioning denim as a to-go fashion choice given the younger generation’s interest or obsession with athleisure wear?

In this “On the Go” Special episode of Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian headed down to Levi’s Singapore flagship store at ION Orchard to get the answers from Vicky Skelton, Managing Director, East Asia Pacific, Levi Strauss & Co.

There&rsquo;s nothing quite like slipping into a sturdy, yet comfortable pair of jeans for work on casual Fridays, or even when out shopping on a Monday night.&nbsp;
To understand why, we have to turn the clock back more than 170 years to California during the Gold Rush.
Back then, miners and labourers in the American West worked under punishing conditions, and their work trousers often ripped at the points of greatest strain, particularly around the pocket corners, where heavy tools and equipment were carried.
Then came the day, May 20, 1873, where dry goods merchant Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis obtained a US patent on putting rivets in men&rsquo;s work pants for the very first time.
The rivets made the pants dramatically stronger, and durable enough for miners, labourers and cowboys who needed clothing to withstand punishing conditions. And with that, the first riveted clothing &ndash; a pair of jeans made using denim &ndash; was made and sold. And the rest was history.&nbsp;
More than a century on, modern day jeans are more than just workwear, and continue to make waves in the fashion world. The same goes for Levi&rsquo;s the company too.&nbsp;
Since returning to the public markets in 2019, the firm has been actively transforming its business through high-profile marketing efforts, pushing higher margin direct-to-consumer sales, and actively attracting women customers.&nbsp;
In July 2026, the firm reported second quarter net revenue of US$1.56 billion, an 8 per cent increase on the year. The apparel maker now expects its fiscal 2026 net revenue to grow between 7 and 7.5 per cent, higher than the 5.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent forecast previously.
Growth was also seen across all regions, with a 9 per cent on-year increase in net revenues for its largest market, the Americas. For Asia, that figure stood at 10%.&nbsp;
But how does the firm assess its performance as a whole, and how far will it double down on its business in Asia? What are the key opportunities in the region, and how is the firm positioning denim as a to-go fashion choice given the younger generation&rsquo;s interest or obsession with athleisure wear?
In this &ldquo;On the Go&rdquo; Special episode of Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian headed down to Levi&rsquo;s Singapore flagship store at ION Orchard to get the answers from Vicky Skelton, Managing Director, East Asia Pacific, Levi Strauss &amp; Co.

Under the Radar: (SPECIALS) All about that pair of Levi’s Jeans, the firm’s turnaround efforts post re-listing, and its growth story in Asia 

Remember the time when we would scour through magazines and newspaper articles to cut out photos and design ideas to paste on your scrapbooks for an art project? 

Well, we might not do that physically these days, but millions of us still do so digitally through a platform called Pinterest. And yes, that is the company that we’re going to talk to today. 

Founded in 2010, Pinterest is a visual search and discovery platform where people find inspiration, curate ideas and shop for products.

Unlike traditional social media of its time, the San Francisco headquartered company began as a digital pinboard and was focused on helping users find the inspiration they need to lead the life they love. 

This positions Pinterest as a high-intent platform where users arrive not just to browse, but with a purpose. Users sit closer to the moment of decision making, where inspiration can turn into action and commerce.

Today, Pinterest sees 1.5 billion pins saved every week, with over half of the users thinking of the platform as a place to shop.

In May 2026, the firm reported FY2026 Q1 revenue of US$1.008 billion, up 18 per cent on a yearly basis. Pinterest also saw its tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit user growth with its base of global monthly active users reaching 631 million, an 11 per cent increase over the previous year. 

But what is the firm’s assessment of its latest performance as major retailers and advertisers in the US grapple with tariffs?

Meanwhile, the firm continues to see revenue driven by the US and Canada even with a growing user base in Asia. So how far is Asia an undertapped market for the firm and what is the company doing to close the monetisation gap?

Also – the firm is also doubling down on AI-driven platform improvements, but what does this mean in more granular terms, and how will AI help the firm optimise advertising reach and consequently its top and bottom lines?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Martin Machinandiarena, Managing Director, Channel Sales, Pinterest.

Remember the time when we would scour through magazines and newspaper articles to cut out photos and design ideas to paste on your scrapbooks for an art project?&nbsp;
Well, we might not do that physically these days, but millions of us still do so digitally through a platform called Pinterest. And yes, that is the company that we&rsquo;re going to talk to today.&nbsp;
Founded in 2010, Pinterest is a visual search and discovery platform where people find inspiration, curate ideas and shop for products.
Unlike traditional social media of its time, the San Francisco headquartered company began as a digital pinboard and was focused on helping users find the inspiration they need to lead the life they love.&nbsp;
This positions Pinterest as a high-intent platform where users arrive not just to browse, but with a purpose. Users sit closer to the moment of decision making, where inspiration can turn into action and commerce.
Today, Pinterest sees 1.5 billion pins saved every week, with over half of the users thinking of the platform as a place to shop.
In May 2026, the firm reported FY2026 Q1 revenue of US$1.008 billion, up 18 per cent on a yearly basis. Pinterest also saw its tenth consecutive quarter of double-digit user growth with its base of global monthly active users reaching 631 million, an 11 per cent increase over the previous year.&nbsp;
But what is the firm&rsquo;s assessment of its latest performance as major retailers and advertisers in the US grapple with tariffs?
Meanwhile, the firm continues to see revenue driven by the US and Canada even with a growing user base in Asia. So how far is Asia an undertapped market for the firm and what is the company doing to close the monetisation gap?
Also &ndash; the firm is also doubling down on AI-driven platform improvements, but what does this mean in more granular terms, and how will AI help the firm optimise advertising reach and consequently its top and bottom lines?
On Under the Radar, Money Matters&rsquo; finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Martin Machinandiarena, Managing Director, Channel Sales, Pinterest.

Under the Radar: How is visual search and discovery platform Pinterest intending to close the monetisation gap in Asia and how is it utilising AI to optimise advertising reach?

The company that we’re going to talk about today has its beginnings traced back to 1984, when a then married couple from Stanford University helped build the foundation of the Internet by inventing the first-multi-protocol router that helped to link computer networks.

If Cisco comes to mind, yes, that is our guest for today. Of course, a lot has changed for Cisco in the decades since its founding, during which we saw a power struggle between investors and its original founders (that was back in the 1990s). 

Fast forward to today, Cisco is a worldwide technology leader who prides itself in securely connecting “everything to make anything possible”. 

The aim is to power an inclusive future for all, by helping customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise and transform their infrastructure. Increasingly, the firm is also focused on helping customers harness the potential of generative AI safely.

On the business front, Cisco has also grown from strength to strength. For its third quarter ended April 25th, Cisco posted record revenue of US$$15.8 billion, up 12 per cent on the year. 

Net income on a generally accepted accounting principles (or GAAP) basis came in at US$3.4 billion, a 35 per cent increase on the year. Cisco attributed the performance to the relevance of its technology for connecting and securing AI. But what does the firm mean by that more specifically?

Meanwhile, the firm hosted its Cisco Live 2026 in June. At the event held in Las Vegas, the firm announced a slew of products to help customers modernise their technology capabilities and protect critical systems. 

Among them – a unified Cisco Cloud Control platform for humans and AI agents to run critical IT infrastructure together. But what are the key takeaways from the event?

Also – how is the firm anticipating future AI threats, especially with the development of Claude Mythos, which can independently find vulnerabilities in software and computer systems?

On Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Ben Dawson, President, Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China, Cisco.

The company that we&rsquo;re going to talk about today has its beginnings traced back to 1984, when a then married couple from Stanford University helped build the foundation of the Internet by inventing the first-multi-protocol router that helped to link computer networks.
If Cisco comes to mind, yes, that is our guest for today. Of course, a lot has changed for Cisco in the decades since its founding, during which we saw a power struggle between investors and its original founders (that was back in the 1990s).&nbsp;
Fast forward to today, Cisco is a worldwide technology leader who prides itself in securely connecting &ldquo;everything to make anything possible&rdquo;.&nbsp;
The aim is to power an inclusive future for all, by helping customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise and transform their infrastructure. Increasingly, the firm is also focused on helping customers harness the potential of generative AI safely.
On the business front, Cisco has also grown from strength to strength. For its third quarter ended April 25th, Cisco posted record revenue of US$$15.8 billion, up 12 per cent on the year.&nbsp;
Net income on a generally accepted accounting principles (or GAAP) basis came in at US$3.4 billion, a 35 per cent increase on the year. Cisco attributed the performance to the relevance of its technology for connecting and securing AI. But what does the firm mean by that more specifically?
Meanwhile, the firm hosted its Cisco Live 2026 in June. At the event held in Las Vegas, the firm announced a slew of products to help customers modernise their technology capabilities and protect critical systems.&nbsp;
Among them &ndash; a unified Cisco Cloud Control platform for humans and AI agents to run critical IT infrastructure together. But what are the key takeaways from the event?
Also &ndash; how is the firm anticipating future AI threats, especially with the development of Claude Mythos, which can independently find vulnerabilities in software and computer systems?
On Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Ben Dawson, President, Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China, Cisco.

Under the Radar: (SPECIALS) How is Cisco helping customers modernise their technology capabilities and anticipating future AI threats? Its President for APJC region explains.

Under the Radar: What should we know about ASUS Cloud’s emphasis on Sovereign AI right now? Its CEO spills the beans.

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