Who Will Grow Asia's Startup Nucleus? FIIPRIORITY

The panel discussion featured experts from various startups and venture capital firms assessing the potential in the Asian startup scene. William Baobi emphasized the cyclic nature of markets and highlighted opportunities in emerging frontier markets. Paul Liew and Simon Loong discussed the importance of localizing business strategies to thrive in Southeast Asia's diverse markets. Courtney Powell shared insights on global and local investment strategies, citing successes in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Yinglan Tan discussed leveraging regional strengths to create a global company. The panelists agreed on the importance of cooperation and innovation while navigating regulatory environments. Issues of gender representation in venture capital were also addressed, with calls for more female LPs and investors. Looking ahead to 2024, they identified generative AI, fintech, and sustainable business models as key growth areas. The discussion emphasized the need for startups to remain resilient and adaptable amid economic uncertainties.