Tech in Asia’s Post

Exploring the Malaysian tech scene, the "Dan Lain-Lain" column touches tech startups, politics, and policies affecting Kuala Lumpur's tech ambitions. - 🌏 KL20 Summit aims for Kuala Lumpur to rank among the top 20 startup hubs by 2030, introducing golden passes and other incentives to attract global unicorns and VCs. - 🤔 Despite generous government efforts, Malaysia's unique selling points remain unclear, with many founders choosing Singapore for its financial resources and dynamic business environment. - 🔄 Repetitive strategies from the KL20 action plan mirror past attempts to attract foreign investment, raising questions about their effectiveness and appeal in the competitive Southeast Asian market. - Want to keep up with the ins and outs of the #tech ecosystem in Asia? Sign up for free at techin.asia/newsletters

KL20 is only for techies? Far from it. Now, let's address the misconception about KL20 being solely for the tech crowd. KL20 is your gateway to a future brimming with exciting career opportunities across various industries. Imagine a dynamic hub teeming with visionary leaders – from investors to entrepreneurs to established businesses. Here, at KL20, we converge with a singular purpose - to tackle complex challenges and shape the future of our nation's economy. Your participation isn't passive; you become an integral part of the innovation engine. Why should you get involved? Because KL20 needs your unique expertise, regardless of your field. Lawyers, your legal acumen is invaluable in navigating regulations and providing a framework for startups to flourish. Accountants, you're the financial architects ensuring these companies build sustainable futures. Engineers and researchers, your specialized knowledge is vital for developing cutting-edge solutions. KL20 transcends the boundaries of a conference. It's the catalyst for a thriving startup ecosystem in Malaysia. We're attracting international investors, establishing growth funds, and nurturing the birth of future industry leaders. Our vision includes a diverse pool of talent, and yours plays a critical role. With the establishment of growth funds, the arrival of international venture capitals, and the inception of new unicorns, we are paving a path to prosperity that offers room for a wide array of talents and skills. This is your opportunity to contribute to a movement that reshapes industries and propels our economic landscape. Don't just witness the future unfold – be the architect of it. Join us at KL20 and dive into a world of possibilities. Register your interest at https://www.kl20.gov.my/ and become part of the #KL20Summit. Together, let's unlock Malaysia's true innovation potential.

【港產獨角獸 Klook創辦人：保持初創心態 擁抱年輕世代】 Hong Kong Unicorn Klook Founder: Maintain a Startup Mindset and Embrace the Younger Generation 發跡於香港、主攻亞太區的旅遊體驗平台Klook，自2014年成立以來，融資表現一直出眾，僅4年已躋身「獨角獸」(成立未滿10年但估值達10億美元以上) 行列。隨着全球旅遊復常，Klook版圖重啟擴張步伐。去年，該公司完成第七輪 融資後，聯合創辦人王志豪（Eric Gnock Fah）揚言已準備好上市，首選考慮美國或香港。踏入10周年之際，他在新加坡接受本刊專訪，表示正開拓歐美市場，並透露平台將布局AI。 Founded in Hong Kong and focused on the Asia-Pacific region, the travel experience platform Klook has stood out in funding performance since its establishment in 2014. In just four years, it became a "unicorn" (a company valued at over $1 billion but less than 10 years old). With the global travel industry recovering, Klook is resuming its expansion efforts. Last year, after completing its seventh round of funding, co-founder Eric Gnock Fah announced that the company is ready for an IPO, with the United States or Hong Kong as preferred options. As Klook approaches its 10th anniversary, he spoke to this magazine in Singapore, revealing plans to explore the European and American markets and indicating that the platform will incorporate AI. 網站全文：https://lnkd.in/gzr4WSYN ｜Be sure to follow Hong Kong Economic Journal｜ ｜Your Professional Guide to Financial Intelligence｜ #信報 #專訪 #klook #獨角獸 #上市 #融資

Double Feather Partners serves as an advisory role for the GlobalXpander project initiated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. GlobalXpander Tokyo supports Tokyo-based startups aiming to solve social issues in developing countries. These countries face various challenges, including health, education, urban, and environmental issues arising from rapid development. Entering these markets offers significant growth opportunities for startups, and this project helps them commercialize their technologies locally. We are pleased to present the second support mechanism event, featuring pioneers in business development in developing countries, specifically India. They will share their experiences and inspire participants to take on business challenges in these regions. Networking opportunities will follow the event, so please join us! [Registration Now Open] GlobalXpander Tokyo Event: How Japanese Companies Create Business Opportunities in India (Hybrid Event) ■Event Overview: Title: GlobalXpander Tokyo Support Mechanism Event: How Japanese Companies Create Business Opportunities in India Date and Time: Thursday, May 30, 2024, 17:00 - 19:00 (Registration starts at 16:30) Format: Hybrid (In-person + Online Streaming) Venue: NEXs Tokyo, 4th Floor, Shin-Tokyo Building, 3-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005 https://lnkd.in/gistWRZz Online Participation: A Zoom link will be sent to registered participants Participation Fee: Free Capacity: 30 in-person participants Target Audience: Companies and organizations interested in business expansion into developing countries ■Program: ⭐️Opening ⭐️Panel Discussion ⭐️Closing ⭐️Networking Panel Discussion Speakers: Moderator: Shinya Fujii, Specially Appointed Professor, Chuo University Panelists: Hiroki Dojo, Manager, Government Relations Div., FUJIFILM Corporation, and Yusuke Asano, CEO, One Act, Inc. ■How to Register: Please Register using: https://lnkd.in/gHK7n-Ta (Registration deadline: May 29, 2024). ■How to Join the Support Mechanism: We are also accepting new members for the "Support Mechanism” for startups. Download and fill out the membership application form from the website and send it to the secretariat: https://lnkd.in/grDb6zJV Note: Membership is open to government agencies, local governments, support organizations, universities, VCs/CVCs/financial institutions, large corporations, SMEs, media organizations, professionals (lawyers, tax accountants, etc.), investors, and individuals belonging to organizations. ■About GlobalXpander Tokyo: GlobalXpander Tokyo is a project sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to support Tokyo-based startups aiming to expand into developing countries. https://lnkd.in/g7KgtwXe Contact: GlobalXpander Tokyo Management Office (Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC) globalxpander_tokyo@tohmatsu.co.jp  #GlobalXpanderTokyo

I penned this on Monday for TIA. Malaysia wants to net tech investments. There are good things about the country, and a real hunger to strike it big here. But we are rehashing old ideas. If anything, we seem to be happy with being the pick-me of Southeast Asia. That's an old narrative. And what's lost in all this is the good work of Malaysia-based investors and startups in the trenches, whom we should always spotlight on the main stage, as opposed to just footnoting them to a breakout session or some panel no one would bother attending. And, please, we are not the "sleeping giant" or "Silicon Valley" of anything. https://lnkd.in/g2pDxuMP

It's very cool to be considered #1 in Singapore for Product-Led Growth and to break the 10,000 followers milestone on LinkedIn in a single week, while building AIPath.one. However, my mission (Since 2014), has always been the same. To help startups and corporate ventures alike to work backwards from the needs of their customers to continuously refine the right features to get to product-market fit and then retain customers for a sticky and sustainable business model. It's amazing how the ecosystem continues to evolve and become more inclusive and supportive. Let's build amazing things together. ~~~ With gratitude and appreciation for the many teams I've worked with: I'd like to continue to support ASEAN Innovation, and build impactful companies out of Singapore. If you haven't yet worked with anyone mentioned, you really should Just reach out for a connection: Mentoring startups, engineers, scientists: Jonathan and Paul, Founder Institute ANZ, Daimler STARTUP AUTOBAHN, Singapore University of Technology and Design SUTD Venture, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, Singapore Management University SMU Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship and National University of Singapore NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP), Ken, Jerry at SGInnovate, Alexander Chia at INSEAD Amazing communities and friends I'm proud to support: Sean Ellis, Robin Speculand, Denes Ban, Shivang, The Generative Beings, Dr. Viveka River Venture Studio, e27 (Optimatic), Wizly, kurate, Reforge Singapore, Kristav (Kris), Anil Menghani, Serge Longin, Gil Goldman, Angeline Tan, Vincent Song at BLOCK71 Global, Jupe Tan, Kishore Ravichandran, William Li at Plug and Play Tech Center, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Li Jung C. and Pang Pei Yi at Nvidia Inception, Su-San Yio at Singapore Business Federation, The Great Room. The amazing people I've worked with in my day jobs: I've had the honor of, (and learn from) working on new business model design with Samsung Electronics Product Innovation Team, work with 300 amazing people at honestbee, design the pivot for Staack with Bryan Long and move on to EY-Parthenon as ASEAN Innovation Co-Lead, leading webinars for over 3000 people and working on industry challenges in Agri-fintech, automotive, ride-hailing, fintech & insuretech.

On 15th May, Mihoko Shintani, Partner, will participate as a speaker at “SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 Global StartupProgram”   This session will take a deep dive into the current state of Japan's DeepTech field and its positioning in the international market. It will also discuss the position of Japan's DeepTech from a macro perspective, and then delve into management issues and various problems startups face from each speaker's perspectives. Through the exchange of opinions between speakers, the session will discuss how Japan's DeepTech will evolve over the next 10 years, including predictions, and talk about the specific challenges and opportunities in DeepTech field.   [Details] Theme: Unraveling the future of DeepTech: A challenge from Japan to the world Time: 15:00-15:45, 15th May Place: Tokyo Big Sight Language: Japanese   [Speakers] Kiyoshi Seko (Director and COO at Kyoto Fusioneering) Takaaki Umada (Director of FoundX, The University of Tokyo) Mihoko Shintani (Partner at TMI Associates) Akito Arima (Partner, Beyond Next Ventures Inc.)   For more information, visit: https://lnkd.in/gGXzaY94   #SusHiTechTokyo #STT2024GSP

Techsauce, a driving force behind Thailand's technology ecosystem, hosted the "Bridging Thailand to Global Impact" event at the Conrad Bangkok Hotel, propelling Thailand onto the global stage. The event was presided over by Mr. Prasert Jantararuangtong, Minister of Digital Economy and Society. Ms. Oranuch Lerdsuwankij, CEO & Co-Founder of Techsauce, unveiled the progress of the Tech Gateway project, which has seen collaboration with leading Thai organizations through the "4 THAI" strategy, comprising 7 Inbound and Outbound goals. The project aims to transform Thailand into a Tech Gateway, a gateway to significant change for the country in driving the economy and enabling Thai society to develop and create technology that benefits all sectors of society. In addition, Techsauce has secured an investment deal from depa that will support mutual operations and enhance efficiency. This partnership will serve as a key driver in further developing Thailand's digital startup ecosystem and the country's digital industry. The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce, also joined forces to support Techsauce's Tech Gateway project. A Memorandum of Intent (MOI) was signed to promote and support Thai tech startups in expanding their markets overseas, stimulating the country's economy, and building the competitiveness of the tech startup service sector. The collaboration aims to create opportunities for both international trade and foreign investment. Techsauce announced the upcoming "Techsauce Global Summit 2024" under the theme "The World of Tomorrow With AI," continuing the legacy of Asia's largest cutting-edge technology festival. The summit will gather over 300 technology partners from the public and private sectors in Thailand and around the world, representing 40 countries. The main sponsors of the event are the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), Kasikorn Business-Technology Group (KBTG), and SCB X Public Company Limited (SCBX). This collaboration between the government and private sectors will play a crucial role in propelling Thailand's technological growth and driving economic progress simultaneously. It will attract investment from both domestic and international investors, transforming Thailand into a full-fledged technology investment hub, opening doors of opportunity for Thai SMEs and startups to grow their businesses on the global stage. The event will take place from August 7-9, 2024, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. For more information, please visit https://lnkd.in/gS4_fu5y #Techsauce #TSGS2024 #depa #TechGateway #Thailand

Innovation Norway’s Tech Executive Accelerator TEA 2024 Fall cohort in London. 🌟TEA launched in London 2013 with a goal to build a portfolio of Norwegian tech companies with global appeal, aiming for one of the strongest growth portfolios in the Nordics within 10 years. Innovation Norway look for fast-growing tech companies built by exceptional teams, and we evaluate against a few criteria. ✅ Norwegian technology scaleups with global potential and ambitions. ✅ High-potential, scalable business with promising revenue growth and the potential to be highly profitable. ✅ Management and founding teams who are experts in their industry and with the skills needed for success. ✅ Coachable team. ✅ Desire to scale globally and to engage with London to learn and to build capabilitiesand networks. We are in🙏🏻

KL20 Summit 2024 An event that symbolizes the government's commitment to positioning this country among the top 20 startup ecosystems globally. The objective is to cultivate a dynamic environment that facilitates and provides stewardship to startups, thereby increasing their odds of success. This requires great synergy and collaboration from multiple entities to ensure the success of this aspiration. A month after the event, it seems like the hype is subsiding. I sometimes wonder if the entities involved are really committed to the realization of this aspiration, or if it is all optics to show the general public that the government is taking action to stimulate the economy. As I lack the necessary access to privileged information, I am not in a position to provide a definitive answer. There is also a concern that Malaysia lost its competitive edge hence losing its proposition to be a strong contender among other Southeast Asian nations as a hub for startups. If that were the case, it would be a significant setback for the industry players who have put their bets on Malaysia's potential. Nonetheless, the government's initiative is indeed a commendable strategy to promote the startups and electrical and electronics (E&E) industries, aiming to stimulate economic growth. While the narrative and image are positive, the focus must now shift to effective execution. The thing about any economic planning of a country is that you can only reap the benefits after a long period. It is a long-term and macro strategy that people will only appreciate after some time and it is often unpopular. Therefore, it is upon the Ministry of Economy to navigate these challenges and educate the public on the merits of their policies. Harith F. S. 29/5/2024