Asia Tomorrow |Stories of Asian startups

Country

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Transforming Korea: How Korea's Largest Global Entrepreneur Community is Paving the Way for Entrepreneurs

underdogs spoke with Marta Allina, the leader of 'Seoul Startups', Korea's largest global entrepreneur community, which has been addressing 'problems faced by foreign entrepreneurs' for over seven years under the slogan "Regardless of borders, nationality".

Yeonju Kim

Market Trend

July 24, 2024

Uncovering Excellence: 7 Lesser-Known ESG Startups in Asia

Asia is witnessing a rise in startups prioritizing environmental and social impact alongside financial growth. This week, we introduce seven innovative ESG companies that are making a difference in the region. These startups are addressing pressing challenges in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and responsible manufacturing.

Jinsoo Choi

How to Start a Business

July 23, 2024

From Marketing Hiccups to NFT Distractions : Lessons from a Founder's Real Struggle [Journey in Coding] #6

In this article, Angus Cheng recounts his experiences from November 2021 to May 2022, highlighting his journey with Bank Statement Converter. He discusses the challenges faced with ineffective marketing partnerships, his brief and unfruitful venture into NFTs, and the lessons learned from these diversions.

Angus Cheng

How to Start a Business

July 19, 2024

How Can I Specifically Address the Meal Problems of Students Living Alone? [Founder's Question]

We are a prospective startup team preparing to launch a new business. We conducted research to understand what each team member thinks the main problem is. As a result, we decided to focus on solving ‘the meal problems’ of students living alone. However, we are having difficulty defining a more precise direction. "I would appreciate any advice on this matter."

Asia Tomorrow Original

Business Insight

July 18, 2024

Qosmosys: Singapore-based Company Aims to Revolutionize Lunar Economy

Qosmosys, a Singapore-based company, is at the forefront of this transformation, aiming to revolutionize the lunar economy. Founded in 2020, Qosmosys has quickly gained prominence, securing $100 million in seed funding to develop its lunar transportation vehicle, ZeusX, and other essential technologies.

May Jang

300

Market Trend

July 17, 2024

7 Edtech Startups in Asia Paving the Path Among Recession

Combined with global conflicts and economic setbacks, Edutech startups are forced to reconsider their businesses seriously. Even the most giant unicorns, like the Unacademy of India, recently announced a massive layoff. However, some companies are still making breakthroughs even in this recession era. From the fast adoption of the latest technologies to the development of unique teaching methods, the seven startups in today’s article are unearthing new opportunities in the field of education.

Jinsoo Choi

Market Trend

July 16, 2024

What You Need to Know from Citypreneurs 2024: UN-Backed Sustainable Urban Innovations

The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) successfully hosted the Demo Day for the 'Ulsan-UN City Problem-Solving Startup Competition: Citypreneurs 2024' on June 12 at UNIST's Industry-University Convergence Building.

WFUNA

250

Business Insight

July 12, 2024

How This Singaporean Fintech Company Is Processing Over S$18 Billion Annually and Creating a World Without Currency Borders

Over the years, M-DAQ Global has pioneered and delivered cutting-edge financial solutions, crucial for diverse industries such as stock brokerage, e-commerce, and global payments.In an interview with Asia Tomorrow, Richard Koh, the Founder and Group CEO of M-DAQ Global, delved into the inspirations that ignited his passion for eliminating currency boundaries over two decades ago. He shar

Jinny Kim

Business Insight

July 11, 2024

What Made API Holdings the First Unicorn in India’s E-Pharmacy Sector - Key Insights and Numbers

API Holdings is India's largest digital healthcare platform, specializing in online pharmacy services and comprehensive healthcare solutions. The company is an integrated platform of PharmEasy, a home delivery system from pharmacy to home, and Ascent, a system that aims to balance demand and supply by managing the procedure

Mytri Korsipati

Market Trend

July 9, 2024

TOP 10 Universities for Entrepreneurship in Asia‍

Asia is home to some of the world's leading universities in entrepreneurship education, fostering a new generation of innovators and business leaders. The following article highlights the best universities in Asia for entrepreneurship education, showcasing their significant contributions to research and their influence on the global entrepreneurial landscape. These institutions are ranked based on their exceptional research performance in entrepreneurship.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Business Insight

July 5, 2024

Gokigen Japanese: The Key Drive of Transforming Language Learning with Anime and Cultural Immersion

Gokigen Japanese, an innovative online Japanese language and culture learning service, has swiftly risen to prominence, marking its success with significant milestones within a short span of time. Founded in 2022 and operated by 27th Corporation, based in Tokyo, Gokigen Japanese has not only demonstrated the impact and potential of its unique service but also garnered prestigious accolades, such as the Chiyoda CULTURE x TECH Award, and participated in high-profile events such as SusHi Tech Tokyo

Mytri Korsipati

100

Market Trend

July 4, 2024

5 E-Commerce Startups of Asia with Exceptional Growth Strategies

The Asian e-commerce landscape is evolving rapidly, shaped by recent global events and economic shifts. Across the region, we're seeing intriguing developments: live commerce is gaining traction in Southeast Asia, super apps are reshaping the Indian market, and new technologies are transforming the shopping experience. Despite the intense competition from established players, several startups are making their mark with unique approaches and solutions.

Jinsoo Choi

How to Start a Business

July 2, 2024

Navigating Success in Vietnam: 3 Key Insights from a Korean Entrepreneur Leading a Marketing Agency in Vietnam

Meet Juhong Lee, the CEO of a digital marketing agency in Vietnam. With a career spanning marketing agencies, IT companies, foreign enterprises, and venture capital firms, he has accumulated a wealth of experience. Now, he runs a comprehensive marketing agency with a team of 40 people in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 lockdown, his company, C-Laps, is rapidly expanding.

NEVER SLEEP

100

Business Insight

June 28, 2024

Introducing Uzum: From Startup to Uzbekistan's First Unicorn with Over 13 Million Users in Just Over a Year

Uzum is an e-commerce startup that started as an online marketplace. The nation's first unicorn plans to expand its service to deliveries, finance, and business development. Uzum currently records over 8 million monthly active users(MAUs) and =9,000 merchants in its ecosystem. How did Uzum become Uzbekistan's first unicorn and the nation's representative startup in just a year?

Jinsoo Choi

How to Start a Business

June 27, 2024

“Be a Doctor” : Grueling Growth, Discrimination and Rethinking My Startup [Journey in Coding] #5

Despite facing discouragement from a family acquaintance, I persisted, raising prices and adapting my approach based on customer feedback. I also grappled with significant advertising costs, ultimately turning off ads and finding success through blogging and a fortuitous feature on Hacker News.

Angus Cheng

Business Insight

June 25, 2024

How a Japanese Startup Gained 1000+ Customers in Southeast Asia With a Data-Driven Approach

Founded in 2018 by Ami Sugiyama and Shusaku Hayakawa, SECAI MARCHE is a B2B online platform that connects farmers directly with restaurants in Southeast Asia. This innovative approach addresses the significant pain points in the supply chain for perishable goods, ensuring that fresh and high-quality products reach their destinations efficiently.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

June 24, 2024

The Next Billion-Dollar Unicorns in Asia : 5 Startups with Big Potential

The Asian tech startup ecosystem has been experiencing a remarkable surge in recent years, with a growing number of companies poised to become the next billion-dollar unicorns. Southeast Asia, in particular, has emerged as a hotbed for promising startups, with countries like Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam leading the charge.

May Jang

Business Insight

June 21, 2024

10 Key Points from Good Food Technologies' Rapid Growth with Plant-Based Meals 'Plant Sifu' in Hong Kong

Good Food Technologies has been rocketing through the vegetarian food industry with its outstanding plant-based meat technology. Founded in 2020 in Hong Kong, the plant-based meat alternatives for Asian cuisine is their product, called Plant Sifu. Plant Sifu developed a plant-based pork substitute using konjac, coconut oil, and soybeans and utilized a technology called AROMAX™ as the base for an accurate and satisfying substitute for real meat.

Mytri Korsipati

Market Trend

June 20, 2024

5 Asia Startups Unlocking New Travel Experiences

Asia travel startups with exceptional services and growth. From curated experiences to unique offerings, the startups in today’s letter are changing the travel industry landscape. These companies also overcame the unprecedented hardships of COVID-19, which makes them even more noteworthy.

Jinsoo Choi

Business Insight

June 18, 2024

Interview with Go2Joy : 3 Crucial Lessons on Building the Largest Hotel Booking Platform in Vietnam

In this interview, we feature Simon Byun, the CEO of Vietnam's No.1 hotel booking service, Go2Joy. Go2Joy is Vietnam's largest hourly hotel booking service, catering to the needs of the young generation.

NEVER SLEEP

Business Insight

June 17, 2024

Transforming Asian Education: Kit Wong’s 10-Year Journey from Finance to Creativity

It seems that education fixated on exams in the Asia region fails to unlock students' potential or enhance the meaning of life. Recognizing these crucial issues, Kit Wong decided to make a bold career change from banking to social entrepreneurship to address these problems.

Jinny Kim

How to Start a Business

June 14, 2024

A Cool Idea and Costly Lessons: The Rollercoaster Ride of My App Development [Journey in Coding] #4‍

This is around the time I came up with a very cool idea. Actually the idea was implemented in May 2021, but that month had a lot of stuff going on, so I’ve rolled the “very cool idea” into this month instead. At the time I had a problem. It was coming to the conclusion that a generic bank statement converting algorithm did not exist.

Angus Cheng

Market Trend

June 13, 2024

Tokyo, Singapore and Beyond: Discover the Powerhouses of Asia's Startup Ecosystem [Startup Genome 2024]

Asia's startup ecosystem is witnessing unprecedented growth and transformation, driven by a combination of government support, venture capital investment, and innovative entrepreneurial spirit. Here’s an in-depth look at some of the key ecosystems within Asia according to Startup Genome report 2024.

Jinny Kim

How to Start a Business

June 12, 2024

Considering Expansion to Japan? Here’s Advice from a Korean-Japanese Professor with Entrepreneurial Experience

In an interview with Asia Tomorrow, Professor Rie Kang of Hosei University shared her journey as a successful Korean-Japanese entrepreneur, her transition to academia, and insights into Japanese business culture. She emphasizes the unique opportunity for Korean startups to enter the Japanese market.

Asia Tomorrow Original

How to Start a Business

June 11, 2024

From Solopreneur to Team Builder: How Bootstrapper Can Overcome Hiring Hurdles

For the past six years, I've been bootstrapping my business. For a bootstrapper like me, not breaking even means my family cannot afford the living,, which translates to the business failing. This approach has its pros and cons. While it means we can survive like weeds, it also means growth is slow.

Dongsub Lukas Shin

Business Insight

June 10, 2024

Olea's Journey: Bridging $1.7 Trillion Global Trade Gaps with Blockchain, AI, and Key Partnerships

Finding thebest ways to implement supplier-to-investor supply chain and global tradethrough next-generation innovative technology, Olea has become an acceleratingventure for the Asian trading industry. Olea is a joint venture that was formedin 2021 with Standard Chartered, a banking group in Singapore, and Linklogis, asupply chain financetechnology provider based in China by Amelia Ng, the CEO of StandardChartered, and Letitia Chau,the Deputy CEO.

Mytri Korsipati

Market Trend

June 7, 2024

A Country Where Young People Don't Start Businesses: Can Japan Change? [Bridging Continents] ‍

‍"A country where young people don't start businesses" This is a phrase I've often heard when seeking advice on entering the Japanese market. It suggests that Japan's prolonged economic stagnation has forced young people to choose safer options, reducing uncertainty.

Dae Eun Park

Market Trend

June 6, 2024

10 Artificial Intelligence Startups to Spotlight in Asia

The AI market in Asia is expected to reach $62 billion in 2023 and grow at an annual rate of approximately 19.46% from 2023 to 2030, reaching $215.3 billion by 2030. Furthermore, the Asia Pacific AI market is projected to grow by 28.58% between 2024-2030, resulting in a market volume of $298.4 billion in 2030.

May Jang

How to Start a Business

June 5, 2024

“Why Do Key Talents Leave?” 3 Key Points Often Overlooked by Startup Founders, Executives

In startups, I believe the essential key talents are those who "do not just stop at ideas but execute them to achieve results", and "can provide constructive dissent within the organization". Particularly, those who can raise healthy objections and questions are crucial for startups. As startups receive more investment and grow, they begin to form their own domains, and inevitably, "politics" starts to take root.

Junhyuck Lee

Business Insight

June 3, 2024

Navigating Challenges in Deep Tech: Umami Bioworks' Journey in Cellular Agriculture

Umami Bioworks, a Singapore-based biotech startup, is making significant strides in the production of sustainable seafood. Under the leadership of Mihir Pershad, founder and CEO of Umami Bioworks, the company focuses on creating cell-cultivated seafood, aiming to transform the seafood supply chain by offering a sustainable and reliable alternative to wild-caught fish.

Jinny Kim

How to Start a Business

May 31, 2024

Why My App Didn’t Make Money Initially and What I Learned [Journey in Coding] #3

It took me until May 7th 2021 to get the app ready to start processing payments. I met up with a friend called Koushal for lunch. At lunch I told him “The app is ready to start making money, how much do you think it’ll make in the first seven days?”

Angus Cheng

Market Trend

May 30, 2024

AI Powerhouses of Southeast Asia: 5 Horsemen of Change

There are also AI companies in Asia with an exceptional focus on specific areas. These startups are interested in resolving practical problems, from fishing to patient diagnosis. Since Asia is still in the early stage of AI adoption, more notable AI startups are expected to emerge shortly.

Jinsoo Choi

Business Insight

May 29, 2024

From Trash to Triumph: How This Startup Makes a $10 Billion Impact on Waste Management Business Across Asia?

RecyGlo, a B2B tech startup founded in 2017, exemplifies this spirit by providing innovative waste management and data analytics solutions that help businesses reduce their environmental impact and comply with regulatory requirements.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

May 27, 2024

3 Key Trends Shaping Japan's Startup Future: Insights from SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024

On May 15-16, the "SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024" event took place in Tokyo, Japan. As an entrepreneurship education startup, underdogs participated to promote Korea's education content and services to the global market. In this article, we share our insights into Japan's startup ecosystem gathered from the event.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Market Trend

May 24, 2024

10 Fintech Startups to Spotlight in Asia‍

Our listicle highlights some of the most promising fintech startups in Asia that are poised to shape the future of finance in the region and beyond. From digital banks and neo-lenders to insurance tech and wealthtech platforms, these startups are redefining the rules of the game and ushering in a new era of financial empowerment for the masses.

May Jang

Business Insight

May 23, 2024

What Brought this Silicon Valley Guy to Vietnam : Strategy to Tap into $260 Billion Savings Market

This Vietnamese startup founder's vision was clear: providing a convenient and reasonable fintech product to Vietnameses. In order to do so, 1Long is building the platform for the customers to keep their savings with various options, not limited to the deposit with a fixed amount of money for a predetermined period of time. If the team can pioneer the banking deposit system in the early stage of the market, it might be a winning game for the startup.

Jinny Kim

How to Start a Business

May 22, 2024

Product-Market Fit: Understanding a Well-Known yet Hard-to-find Key to Success

Product-market fit, often termed PMF, is a crucial concept in the startup world. It's the sweet spot where your product perfectly meets your target market's needs. Marc Andreessen, founder of a16z, explained the concept as shown below in 2007:

Jinsoo Choi

How to Start a Business

May 20, 2024

Inside the Vision of a Young Japanese Entrepreneur: Building a Business Around Indoor AR Technology

In this issue of HAPPEN story, we introduce Shota Imamura, CEO of "Nefront", a company developing the indoor AR cloud service IndooAR. Besides his involvement as an ambassador for TSUKUBA CONNÉCT and a session commentator, he has also been selected for an acceleration program through connections from Venture Café.‍

Venture Café Tokyo

How to Start a Business

May 17, 2024

Inside Fukuoka's Global Startup Center: Real Cases and How-to for Market Expansion in Japan

ZIPANG visits the Global Startup Center in Fukuoka. Fukuoka is well-known as the birthplace of SoftBank. In this interview, we explore the unique appeal of Fukuoka City with Mr. Shimada from the Fukuoka Global Startup Center, discussing how the city is attracting global entrepreneurial talents and capital.

ZIPANG

How to Start a Business

May 16, 2024

From Concept to Launch: The Birth of Bank Statement Converter [Journey in Coding] #2

The journey of Angus Cheng and his collaborator, Dom, from conceiving the idea of a PDF-to-CSV bank statement conversion app to its initial launch and subsequent improvements. Despite initial setbacks with ad placements and algorithm limitations, they eventually launched the app, iterated on its functionality, and started gaining users and revenue.

Angus Cheng

Market Trend

May 15, 2024

How Startups are Becoming Key to UN’s Sustainability Efforts : Interview With the Leader of WFUNA in S. Korea

WFUNA has been recognized for focusing on global citizenship education. However, the WFUNA Seoul office has gone beyond typical campaigns and educational efforts, engaging in community-based programs and impact startup acceleration. Notably, through the ‘Citypreneurs’ startup support program, it has consistently focused on entrepreneurs who address urban issues and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Jinny Kim

Business Insight

May 13, 2024

Singapore’s Delivery Startup Growth : Practical Playbook for Market Expansion (Deliver.sg)

Enter Deliver.sg, a rising star in the Singapore delivery startup landscape, quickly capturing this underserved market. Launched in 2020 initially focusing on food delivery, Deliver.sg has since diversified its services to include transporting vaccines and pharmaceuticals, and even offering a subscription model for delivering infrastructure. Today, the company manages about 190 deliveries daily.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

May 10, 2024

3 Powerful Lessons from Mongolia's Rapidly Growing Startup Ecosystem [Bridging Continents]

For the Korean startup scene, Mongolia might seem an unfamiliar country. However, Mongolia is quickly emerging as a prominent player in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem among Asian countries.

Dae Eun Park

Market Trend

May 9, 2024

10 Biotech Startups to Spotlight in Asia

The investments in the Asian biotech sector remained above pre-pandemic levels in 2023, with Series A funding accounting for almost half of all startup funding. The future outlook for the Asian biotech startup ecosystem is promising and optimistic as well. Let’s take a glimpse at the 10 rising biotech startups in Asia. Number is irrelevant to ranking.

May Jang

How to Start a Business

May 8, 2024

How I Came Up With an App Idea & Turned the Product into a Business [Journey in Coding] #1

I spent some time on HSBC’s internet banking site and realised all they could give me were PDF bank statements. I tried to copy and paste the data into a Google Sheets document but it didn’t work. I then thought “Angus you are a computer programmer, program the computer to do this for you”

Angus Cheng

How to Start a Business

May 6, 2024

From Leading DX at a Textile Company to Founding an Upcycling Startup in Japan : Who is Ryota Nanaba?

After becoming fascinated by startups and joining NAGOYA CONNÉCT as an ambassador, This Japanese startup founder transitioned into a role supporting startups, and started his own business in September 2023. What kind of HAPPEN happened?

Venture Café Tokyo

Business Insight

May 3, 2024

Meet the Change Maker: Who Is Jessica Novia & How Her Startup is Revolutionizing the Fight Against Climate Crisis

Launched with the ambitious goal of restoring the climate balance, the Indonesian startup CarbonEthics is devoted to enhancing blue carbon ecosystems—key areas where coastal and marine environments like mangroves and seagrasses absorb carbon dioxide, thereby mitigating the effects of global crisis.

Jinny Kim

How to Start a Business

May 2, 2024

10 Steps to start a business and scale it : Case of underdogs (Entrepreneurship Education Company)

underdogs is a South Korean startup that has grown its entrepreneurship education as a major service since 2015. By nurturing coaches who have experience starting businesses, underdogs have been planning and operating educational programs, events to provide practical entrepreneurship education. Let's break down the journey of how this education startup started and expanded its business into 10 stages.

Asia Tomorrow Original

How to Start a Business

May 1, 2024

Startup Sales Secrets: How Battle Card Gives You a Competitive Edge in B2B Sales

A sales battle card can be an answer for you. The tool used by significant startups including Relate and Hubspot, is a customizable template that concisely displays your competitiveness. The card mainly shows core features, key values, pricing, and comparative advantage. With exceptional conciseness and consistency, the sales battle card will boost your B2B sales and your team’s efficiency.

Jinsoo Choi

Market Trend

April 29, 2024

The Future of Shopping: 4 Fashion Tech Startups in Asia Transforming the Retail Business

The traditional distribution structure, once centered around physical stores, is being reshaped through online and mobile platforms. This restructuring is spearheading attempts to redefine 'the future of shopping' across the entire retail sector.

Asia Tomorrow Original

How to Start a Business

April 26, 2024

10 Steps to start a business and scale it : Case of NOVI Health (Personalized Healthcare Service)

NOVI Health is a healthcare startup established in Singapore in 2019, providing personalized health management services with medical and nutrition specialists and health coaches. This tech startup in Singapore aims not only to provide medical services such as drug prescriptions but also to enhance accessibility to holistic approaches to chronic disease treatment.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

April 25, 2024

10 ESG startups to spotlight in Asia

The landscape of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) startups in Asia is experiencing a dynamic evolution, marked by significant strides in integrating sustainability into the core of business practices and innovations. Let’s take a glimpse at the 10 rising ESG startups in Asia.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Business Insight

April 24, 2024

Inside the K-Beauty Explosion: How One South Korean Startup is Reshaping Global Cosmetic Market

'Signature Label', a K-beauty startup, is challenging the competitive global market by facilitating easier international expansion for Korean cosmetics brands. It positions itself as a K-beauty incubator, assisting brands from distribution to branding. The company has even launched its own K-beauty brand, 'ZIGTAG', to demonstrate the overseas potential of K-beauty products.

Jinny Kim

Business Insight

April 22, 2024

How a Japanese Student Organized a Baseball Tournament for 1,000 Players 2 Years After COVID-19 Cancellations

Yuto Otake started a project to bring back the summer Koshien (well-known for nationwide high school baseball tournament) of 2020, which was lost due to the effects of the coronavirus. He says he learned a lot from Venture Café Tokyo regarding starting a business, starting a project, and managing it.

Venture Café Tokyo

How to Start a Business

April 19, 2024

Meet Jumbotail: Indian Startup with over $160M Investment and 50,000 Clients in 9 Years

Jumbotail is an India-based B2B commerce startup founded in 2015. The company serves over 50,000 clients and has achieved a total investment of $160.4 million. So, how did Jumbotail discover rocket growth opportunities in daily mom-and-pop stores? How did the startup define market problems and design solutions?

Jinsoo Choi

Market Trend

April 18, 2024

Two Side of Aging Society with Startups : Active Seniors & Elder-focused Ventures

According to a UN report, the global population's average age is progressively rising. As a result, aging is bringing two impacts to the venture business ecosystem: the trend of 'active seniors' who venture into entrepreneurship after their 50s, and the emergence of startups targeting the senior market.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Business Insight

April 17, 2024

This Vietnamese Startup Is Building a Platform with Real Time Tracking of Fashion Manufacturing : Here’s How They Do It

Inflow has developed an on-demand platform that tracks the textile manufacturing process in real time. Inflow anticipates that technology and products can simplify and streamline Vietnam's clothing production process. By digitizing the production process, the platform makes it easier for global brands to find and decide on manufacturing partners, and for manufacturers to optimize their production processes and try self-production.

Jinny Kim

How to Start a Business

April 15, 2024

Establishment of a Japanese Corporation and Partnership Process [Entry into Japan] 4

Partnership does not simply mean utilizing an agency. Creating new businesses based on relationships with companies that have a solid footing in Japan and finding a direction that can generate synergies between both parties become the most important.

Kyumin Na

Business Insight

April 12, 2024

Time to Change? Director of the most vibrant startup community in Japan reveals signs of Japanese venture trends

There are those who say the rules of the game are changing. Ryusuke Komura, a director at Venture Cafe Tokyo, is one of the prominent figures who says, "Japan needs entrepreneurship". Venture Cafe Tokyo, which hosts 'Thursday Gatherings' where entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, and university officials all come together, was established in Japan in 2018 with the aim of fostering innovation within Japan through connections.

Jinny Kim

220

Market Trend

April 11, 2024

10 AI startups to spotlight in Asia

Asia has a significant number of AI startups, totaling 2,686, indicating a robust and expanding ecosystem. The region's startups are part of a global trend where AI technologies are increasingly influencing various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and retail, showcasing Asia's critical role in the global AI landscape ‍

Asia Tomorrow Original

Market Trend

April 10, 2024

ESG Insights with Iris Liu: Unveiling Taiwan Mobile's $160M Strategy

Iris Liu, VP at Taiwan Mobile (TWM), has been instrumental in guiding the company towards being a leader in sustainability within Taiwan's telecom sector since joining in 2014. Her efforts focus on sustainability, brand management, and public relations. Under her leadership, TWM emphasizes inclusive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) planning and annual strategy updates.

CAPS

Market Trend

April 8, 2024

Investing in Korean SME and Local Brands : What is the Blueprint of NEWKIDS Investment?

In Korea, a national policy has been initiated to connect private investment and loans with support programs not only for startups and venture businesses but also for small business owners and local brands. Recognized for its expertise in investing in over 30 social ventures, local brands, and early startups, NEWKIDS Investment has been selected as a partner in a large-scale project that matches private investment funds and loans with investee companies.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Business Insight

April 5, 2024

Who is Bhavish Aggarwal? A Man Behind India's First AI Unicorn and Its Own Version of Uber, Tesla

Named Krutrim, this startup was founded in April 2023 and received over 50 million dollars in investment within a year. In December 2023, it garnered attention by unveiling "Ola Krutrim". Bhavish Aggarwal, one of the co-founders of Krutrim, is also the co-founder and CEO of Ola Cabs, a leading mobility app in India. Currently, Bhavish Aggarwal's primary focus is actually on Ola Electric, a new venture that manufactures and sells electric two-wheelers.

Jinny Kim

Business Insight

April 3, 2024

This India startup aims to deliver healthy meal from home-chef to your door : Here’s how they did

Praba Santhanakrishnan, Co-founder and CEO of Cookr, states that three factors(speed, price, quality of healthy diet) can be achieved in balance. You might be able to get a healthy home-cooked meal with an online payment and a motorcycle delivery within a day or so. How are they planning to become a game changer for India’s food problem? Asia Tomorrow met Praba and listened to his journey from Silicon Valley to India’s promising D2C platform.

Jinny Kim

Business Insight

April 1, 2024

Why tech startups should focus on the Japanese market now : Advice from Cross-border Expert

In the future, how many more cross-border startups will be established and grow in the Japanese market? What should startups from overseas, including Korea, consider when entering Japan? Asia Tomorrow caught up with Ryeoil Kim to learn more about venture investment in Korea and Japan, his focus on helping startups enter the market, and his insights on the characteristics of the Japanese market and new businesses overseas.

Jinny Kim

How to Start a Business

March 29, 2024

Japan Startup Trends 2024: Here's Why Global Companies Should Expand in the Japanese Market

I think the change in Japan compared to 2023 was that there were more recruitment, investment market, global expansion, research sector, and startups (including re-startups) as the Japanese startup industry became more active. This made me recognize that there will be further changes in 2024, and I should take advantage of this trend.

ZIPANG

Market Trend

March 28, 2024

The Philippine Venture Capital Landscape: An Emerging Powerhouse in Southeast Asia

Revealed on Wednesday, March 20, the Philippine Venture Capital Report 2024, a collaborative endeavor between Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Foxmont Capital Partners, underscores this remarkable trend. As the Philippines cements its position as a dynamic player in the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem, this analysis reveals key trends and opportunities shaping its venture capital landscape.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Business Insight

March 27, 2024

Is it time to consider Philippines as an emerging center of startup innovation in Asia? Here’s the reasons

As a cross-border expert, Kotaro Adachi, founder and CEO of TechShake, has emphasized that there are opportunities to expand the business in the SEA market including the Philippines for both international entrepreneurs and startup founders in the Philippines.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

March 25, 2024

Increasing English Proficiency in Japanese Business: A Global Perspective [Entry to Japan 3]

The number of "foreign-affiliated" companies in Japan is increasing. There is also a trend of employees moving to foreign-affiliated companies, which offer higher salaries compared to Japanese companies. Global companies need to conduct business with people from various nationalities. Naturally, English is required to communicate with team members from different countries.

Kyumin Na

How to Start a Business

March 22, 2024

Don't miss this : 3 things startups often overlook when starting a business in Japan

Do you now have a better understanding of the steps involved in establishing a Japanese corporation? There are actually some "pitfalls" here and there. In this article, we will summarize the points you should pay attention to.

Starsia

Business Insight

March 20, 2024

Expanding to Southeast Asia : 3 Reasons why you fails in SEA market

Of course, the reason I'm writing about this today isn't to share pessimistic opinions or spread fear, like "don't go there" or "you're doomed if you go there". I think Asian startups should go global, and they should definitely keep the Southeast Asian market in mind. But there are many reasons why overseas founders or foreign founders fail in Southeast Asia. I'm going to cover just three of them.

Seok (Luu) Lyu

How to Start a Business

March 19, 2024

Singapore startup with baby retail : Case of KeaBabies from bootstrapping to $58m in revenue

Derived from the phrase "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps", bootstrapping has the advantage of minimizing the risks of dependency, control, and other disputes that can arise when raising money from outside investors, while allowing the founder to run the business independently and in line with his or her original vision. Take KeaBabies, for example, which has generated $20 million in sales in four years with just $23,000 in personal investment.

Asia Tomorrow Original

How to Start a Business

March 18, 2024

Tips for startups entering the Japanese market : How to establish a corporation in Japan

As well as the needs in Japan, many global startups may consider establishing a Japanese corporation in order to make a full-fledged entry into the Japanese market. In this article, we will explain the "practicalities" and "points to note" of setting up a corporation in Japan.

Starsia

Market Trend

March 15, 2024

Why Korean startup founders should start a business in Japan now

In this series of articles, we will summarize the current state of the Japanese market, practicalities of establishing a local subsidiary in Japan. For Korean startups considering expanding into the Japanese market, we will also cover matters that will be necessary after the startup has entered the Japanese market.

Starsia

How to Start a Business

March 13, 2024

South Korean startup founder met his Bangladeshi employees for the first time after an 18-hour flight

After an 18-hour flight, a Korean startup founder met his Bangladeshi employees for the first time. It was a challenge for the founder, who had been doing everything from hiring, team building to running the business remotely. What did he see and learn during his three-day trip from South Korea to Bangladesh?

Dongsub Lukas Shin

Business Insight

March 11, 2024

How a 10-year tech startup is using AI, blockchain to solve a global climate crisis

Carbon credit trading is an emerging market, aligned with the climate crisis and ESG trends. However, it is not very accessible for individuals to participate in carbon trading. Phantom Yun, the founder of Sovereign Wallet and CO2 Network, set out to solve this problem. The startup is building a platform that allows individuals to trade carbon credits on a small scale using a blockchain that provides identity verification.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

March 8, 2024

This tech startup in Singapore won the first prize in Tech in Asia for pitching about ESG SaaS business

Handprint, a Singaporean Tech startup which is focusing on ESG SaaS subscription service, won the 1st prize in Tech in Asia conference. Who is Handprint, and what point lead it to the winning startup?

Asia Tomorrow Original

Business Insight

March 6, 2024

Why this Bangladeshi founder built a mental care app for young generation

How is Relaxy solving the mental health problem in Bangladesh through its mobile app? What inspired her to start a business with such a service, and how is she expanding the business globally? Asia Tomorrow caught up with Jahnnobi Rahman to learn more about Relaxy's founding story and plans for the future.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

March 4, 2024

Japanese social media trends in 2024 : How to understand the different digital dominance in Japan?

Home to 123.3 million people, Japan stands as one of the most advanced economies in the world and the first industrialized country in Asia. With its robust digital infrastructure, the country supports a thriving internet economy. Explore the dynamic world of social media in Japan, and uncover unique trends, preferences, and habits of Japanese social media users.

Standard Insights

Business Insight

March 1, 2024

How tech startup in South Korea expands its business into Japan, Europe with paper furniture?

What is paper furniture? What does selling paper furniture look like? How to expand this business to a global market is uncharted territory. That's why the challenge PaperPop founder Daehee Park is taking on is so unique and meaningful.

Jinny Kim

Business Insight

February 29, 2024

Here's how this woman founder in India has fought to bring 1.6 million girls back to school

Established in 2007, nonprofit Educate Girls is focused on addressing this gap and mobilizing communities for girls’ education in India’s rural areas. The organization’s Founder and Board Member, Safeena Husain shared what motivated her to start Educate Girls, her journey to piloting the first Development Impact Bond (DIB) in education, and the far-reaching impact of innovative models like hers.

CAPS

How to Start a Business

February 28, 2024

If you're considering to startup a business in Japan, this community is a must to visit

When overseas startups enter Japan, "networking with locals" is a common concern for both major corporations and startups alike. I visited Venture Cafe Tokyo, an organization run by CIC Tokyo, which aims to be the first home for startups expanding. While talking with Ryusuke Komura, Director of Venture Cafe Tokyo, he explained how the organization helps global startups network and share knowledge when setting up business in Japan.

ZIPANG

Business Insight

February 27, 2024

How LinkedIn succeeded in early customer acquisition and monetization without relying on an ad business

LinkedIn is a professional social networking service for business that was acquired by Microsoft in June 2016 at a valuation of over $30 trillion. Right now, three people are hired every minute around the world on LinkedIn. How did it become the world's most popular social networking platform for business professionals? Let's dive in and start analyzing LinkedIn!

PRODUCT LAB

Business Insight

February 26, 2024

How the IPO structure in Japan affects the strategy of startups entering into the market in Japan [Entry into Japan 2]

IPO. What an exciting word to hear. It's the ultimate way to exit, and a clear demonstration of a company's success. Today, with the help of Ayaka S., IPO/IB Specialist at MUFG in Japan & Younsun Ko and Tomomichi Takao(髙尾知達), CLO at Funds, let's unravel the IPO structure.

Kyumin Na

Business Insight

February 23, 2024

This Japanese founder is connecting Asia with social innovation for 15 year : Here's how he achieves his goal as an entrepreneur

Starting his career as a musician in high school, Ryosuke has since traveled the world solving social problems. In order to understand business and capitalism, he joined some of the biggest companies in the world, including McKinsey Hong Kong. He later founded very50 to focus on tackling social issues through entrepreneurship. Here's how he built a sustainable business and social impact.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

February 22, 2024

Problem of training Japanese people to become startup founders : Trends of entrepreneurship education in Japan

Unlike South Korea, where entrepreneurship is already recognized as a career, Japanese people are still quite unfamiliar with the idea of starting a business. And the Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to make entrepreneurship more accessible to Tokyo citizens through "early education" at the elementary and junior high school level.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Market Trend

February 21, 2024

Venture capital market in Asia declines in 2024? Here's some data to understand the current status.

The venture capital market is frozen. High interest rates, wars, and economic downturns have all contributed to a decline in startup investment, especially in Asia. The question is, could Asia's venture capital market continue to slump in 2024? In this article, we'll discuss the current state of the Asian venture capital market and startup scene, as well as the signals to watch for going forward.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

February 20, 2024

Understanding Singapore's startup ecosystem : What makes SG the 'Silicon Valley' of Asia?

A financial hub and home to more than 80 of the world's top 100 technology companies, Singapore has a history of attracting startups, having surpassed Silicon Valley as the number one center for startups in a survey conducted by the US Startup Genome Project, with more than 300 startup partners.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Business Insight

February 20, 2024

This tech startup in Taiwan is turning trash into business : How it grasped opportunities

Arthur Huang is the Founder and CEO of Miniwiz, a circular upcycling technology company dedicated to transforming consumer and industrial waste into high-performance materials. His expertise in structural engineering and architecture has played a crucial role in Miniwiz’s groundbreaking initiatives in ESG engineering and upcycling since the company’s establishment in 2005.

CAPS

How to Start a Business

February 19, 2024

After starting a business, you need to work on this to get on the growth curve [Starting a business 5]

The data floating around the internet is rarely the actual data for your business. You can't count on the results of surveys, either. Customers say "I'll buy it if you have it," but they don't follow through. 'Saying' is enough to be taken with a grain of salt. So how do you collect real data?

SaaS Catch

Business Insight

February 16, 2024

Why Japan is rising as a hot spot for global startups? Here's the reason behind the trends [Entry into Japan 1]

Currently, the Japanese market is undergoing a period of growth and transition in the IT sector. You can see DT/DX advertisements everywhere in Tokyo. IT recruitment platforms like Green Japan are in high demand. Even in PRTimes, there is always news from IT companies.

Kyumin Na

How to Start a Business

February 15, 2024

Common mistakes of startup founders : What is the 'Staircase of Consumption'? [Starting a business 4]

You've found your customer, and you've got your item. Now you need to create a "staircase of consumption" so that your customer responds well to each step. The first step is the entrepreneur's character. In marketing, it is also called branding, image management.

SaaS Catch

Business Insight

February 15, 2024

Unlocking the Secrets of ADVASA: This Japanese Unicorn Startup is Revealing New Business Trends in Japan

Have you heard of ADVASA, the Japanese unicorn startup? Founded in 2017, ADVASA today is a startup with an estimated valuation of 230 billion yen ($1.5 billion). It's pioneering a unique trend called Earned Wage Access (EWA) in the Japanese market.

Jinny Kim

Market Trend

February 14, 2024

Understanding the trends in startup seed investment from 2020 to 2023

Over the past two years, the venture ecosystem has been undergoing a dramatic transformation. After record-breaking investment activity in 2021, the market slowed down in late 2022 and into 2023. This slump was not seen in all sectors. Here's a quick look at some of the most notable ones.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Business Insight

February 14, 2024

From Textiles to Transforming Lives: Inside Seema Aziz's Efforts to Build the Pakistan's Largest Educational NGO

Seema Aziz is the co-founder and managing director of textile company Sefam. In 1988 she founded CARE Foundation to build schools and provide quality education to underprivileged children in Pakistan. From the first school built in 1991, CARE now oversees the education of 300,000 children in 888 schools across Pakistan thanks to its innovative Adopt a School program.

CAPS

Market Trend

February 13, 2024

From Seoul to Singapore: How a Korean Startup Incubator Bet on Success in Southeast Asia

D·camp, known for incubating startups in South Korea, is building its global footprint. It has created a global team and opened a center in Singapore in the first half of 2023. Official events such as D-Day are also hosted overseas in Japan and Singapore. In 2022, more than 40% of all employees traveled abroad to build local networks.

Jinny Kim

How to Start a Business

February 12, 2024

Why So Many Startup Fail To Get Customers? Here's The Reason Founders Often Overlook [Starting a business 3]

We have found our customer's problem and we know where they are, now we have to turn our idea into something concrete. There are actually an infinite number of things you can offer to customers you meet online, but they can be categorized into 3 main categories.

SaaS Catch

How to Start a Business

February 10, 2024

As a Startup, You Must Know Who Your Customers Are And Where They Are Now [Starting a business 2]

Once you've found a customer or gotten them to come to you, you need to get them to buy something or do something - that's what makes it a business. Our goal is to eventually get a customer to buy something from us, but even if you find them the hard way, would they pay for something from someone they don't even know? Most will run away, so you need to pique their interest with a fresh idea before they go away.

SaaS Catch

How to Start a Business

February 9, 2024

What Kind of Misconception Startup Founders Often Got Trapped Into? [Starting a business 1]

A growing business always starts with a unique idea, not an item. It's important to come up with a specific product or service, but first you need to find an innovative idea and create a business model based on it. The most important role of a founder is to recognize the value of an idea and develop it.

SaaS Catch

Business Insight

February 8, 2024

In-House Innovation: The Untold Story of 7-Eleven's Global Takeover

When you hear the word "7-Eleven," what country do you immediately associate with it? You probably think of Japan, but 7-Eleven was actually headquartered in the United States. Today, we're going to explore the amazing in-house venture that took over the original.

Asia Tomorrow Original

Asia Tomorrow News Letter

Country

Most Viewed

Posts