Short video app TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, said it would invest billions of dollars in Southeast Asia over the next few years, as it doubles down on the region amid intensifying global scrutiny over its data security. Southeast Asia, a region with a collective population of 630 million — half of them under 30 — is one of TikTok’s biggest markets in terms of user numbers.

VIOO, the Mexican startup, raises US$1 million in seed funding to become a leading marketplace connecting companies with professional photographers for on-demand visual content creation. With impressive results in their first year, generating nearly $10 million in sales and delivering 2,800 sessions, VIOO serves various sectors such as real estate, tourism, and e-commerce. The platform offers agility, high-quality production, 24-hour delivery, and coverage in 70 cities nationwide. Their community of over 1,500 registered photographers with expertise in different verticals is a valuable resource.