Announcing 6 VC sessions on top themes and trends

By Team DealStreetAsia

July 15, 2022

We are happy to announce six sessions under our venture capital track on day two of the Asia PE-VC Summit 2022, scheduled for September 27 & 28 in Singapore.

Through a series of panel discussions and fireside chats – featuring the region’s most active investors and thought leaders – we will look at the early-stage fundraising and deal landscape; founder-led secondaries; the roller-coaster journey of the crypto asset class; the future of ‘kirana tech’ and cross-border SaaS plays; and the role of startup ecosystems in driving decarbonisation.

Be sure to catch these sessions to take away founder and investor perspectives on some of the most compelling sectoral themes playing out in south and SE Asia.

Haven’t registered yet? Enjoy 1 year free basic subscription with every Early Bird Ticket purchase for the Asia PE-VC Summit 2022 till July 31!

REGISTER NOW ⇒

6 must-attend venture capital sessions
1. Early-stage deals are still hot amid funding winter

The market for early-stage funding in Asia continues to hold strong at a time when broad economic gloom has taken the shine off IPOs and prolonged exit timelines for investors in mature startups.

Seed to Series A startups are still securing substantial funds from global and regional tech investors, who are doubling down on Asia as they seek to deploy in fast-growing markets and niches.

How will this continue to play out? Will the challenges at the later stages impact the younger startups? And, as more capital comes into the market, how do investors secure quality deals?
2. Reinvesting in the ecosystem: The play for founder secondaries
As startup ecosystems in Southeast Asia mature, founders are turning to secondary markets for liquidity, even as investor demand for stakes in valuable late-stage companies grows.

Amid the volatility in public markets and uncertainties in IPO prospects, how is the market for founder secondaries shaping up? What is driving demand for such share sales? How is it spurring the continuous development of the startup sector in Southeast Asia?
3. Build local, think global: The opportunity for cross-border SaaS in South Asia
Risk capital investors are seizing on the big promise in the SaaS space as predictable revenue streams, service-led business models and rapid digitalisation make the companies among the most stable investments in the current environment.

At the same time, after establishing themselves abroad, SaaS companies on the continent are now seeing traction at home. The overall funding for Indian SaaS startups is expected to touch $6.5 billion this year, an increase of 62.5% from $4 billion in 2021.

How will this play out in the post-pandemic world? What does it take to build globally-competitive SaaS giants? How can both investors and the businesses find their niche?
4. Crypto’s been on a roller coaster but VCs remain bullish
Risk capital investors continue to bet on the long-term prospects of crypto and the broader Web3 industry, albeit cautiously, and amid growing regulatory scrutiny.

A growing tribe of VCs armed with substantial war chests are eyeing opportunities in the blockchain-based, decentralised ecosystem, as entrepreneurs in the sector in Southeast Asia are emerging as champions of the sector.

What are the fundamental trends that will see the sector ride out the volatility? What impact does increasing regulator attention have? Who will be the winners?
5. Driving decarbonisation: How the startup ecosystem can take the lead
The climate crisis is upon us, and there is little doubt that policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors need to work toward Net Zero. So far, the lack of progress and concrete action has been disappointing. But it also means a meaningful opportunity for innovators and risk capital to step into the fray.What are the key innovations underway?

What are the areas that are in most need of risk capital, and how do investors assess them? How else can the ecosystem prioritise sustainability?
6. The future of ‘kirana tech’ in India and SE Asia
Kirana tech, the digitalisation of small brick-and-mortar retailers and corner shops, has transformed the retail landscape in emerging markets. B2B tech startups that have built their business models around digitising the retail supply chain have secured big-ticket funding as investors bet heavily on this space.

What’s next for the ‘kirana tech’ play in India and Southeast Asia? Are there opportunities left uncovered? How is the path to profitability shaping up for these B2B startups? As the scene matures, is consolidation ahead?

Click here to view more speakers and topics ⇒

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW