Soft Space Selected by Tokyo Stock Exchange to be a Part of TSE Asia Startup Hub

Soft Space Named to Forbes Asia’s 100 to Watch List

August 29, 2025

Kuala Lumpur, 30th September 2025 – Soft Space, a leading Fintech-as-a-Service (FaaS) provider headquartered in Malaysia, has been selected by Tokyo Stock Exchange Inc. (TSE) as one of the 20 Supported Companies in its annual Asia Startup Hub programme. Soft Space is one of only two Malaysian companies to be included in this year’s list.

The selection by TSE in its 2025 list underscores the stringent requirements Soft Space has achieved to qualify for the programme and reinforces the company’s credibility and technological strength in Japan’s highly competitive fintech ecosystem. Being part of the programme would open Soft Space to more business opportunities and nurture the company towards IPO readiness.

“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,” said Joel Tay, CEO of Soft Space. “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.”

The TSE Asia Startup Hub is an initiative designed to foster the growth of promising Asian startups with strong connections to Japan. Supported companies receive tailored assistance to explore opportunities in Japan, including partnerships with Japanese corporations, guidance for long-term expansion, and fundraising support, which may also pave the way for eventual exit options, making it a valuable platform for long-term growth and sustainability.

Soft Space has been at the forefront of Japan’s cashless transformation, achieving milestones such as the world’s first SoftPOS solution supporting stablecoin payments and the launch of Tap to Pay on iPhone with the stera tap app. These breakthroughs were made possible by our long-standing ties with leading Japanese institutions, built on years of collaboration and trust.

These achievements are underpinned by the support of existing shareholders including transcosmos inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company, and JCB Co., Ltd.. Together, they have provided Soft Space with both market access and credibility. This enabled Soft Space to play a key role in advancing Japan’s payments landscape, from accelerating contactless adoption to driving innovation in digital currencies.

With established roots in Japan’s fintech ecosystem, the recognition provides a springboard for Soft Space to further deepen local partnerships, explore new capital-raising opportunities, and accelerate business expansion in one of the world’s most dynamic financial markets.

This milestone comes off the back of Soft Space’s recent recognition on the Forbes Asia’s 100 to Watch list, underscoring its position as one of the region’s most innovative and fast-growing fintech players.