Soft Space has been named among 20 Asian startups chosen by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, making it one of only two companies from Malaysia in the annual programme.

The Asia Startup Hub supports startups with ties to Japan, providing assistance on partnerships with Japanese corporations, fundraising and long-term expansion.

It also offers guidance that may include exit options and IPO readiness, positioning participants for more sustainable growth.

Soft Space’s selection reflects its established presence in Japan, where it has introduced a SoftPOS solution that supports stablecoin payments and launched Tap to Pay on iPhone through the stera tap app.

The programme is expected to create further opportunities for the Malaysian fintech to strengthen partnerships, pursue new funding avenues and accelerate business expansion in one of the world’s most dynamic financial markets.

The company’s development has been backed by shareholders including transcosmos inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company and JCB Co., Ltd.

This support has allowed Soft Space to contribute to the country’s payments landscape, including efforts to widen contactless adoption and develop digital currency use cases.

Soft Space was also recently included in Forbes Asia’s 100 to Watch list.

“Our selection into the TSE Asia Startup Hub is a significant milestone as such recognition gives us substantial credibility, especially when we continue to expand Soft Space’s presence in Japan and beyond.

Japan is a unique and pivotal market for us as we have been able to deploy new use cases across logistics and transportation with one of the largest non-bank merchants in the world. The invaluable experience we have gained in Japan’s diverse and scalable market provides us with a platform to expand the next phase of our global journey.”

said Joel Tay, CEO of Soft Space.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Malaysia, based on image by ismode via Freepik