Tech in Asia

27/09/2025

🇻🇳 Vietnam is betting big on blockchain:

🔹 Named one of 11 “strategic technologies” by the gov’t
🔹 NDAChain protects citizen + gov’t data with blockchain
🔹 Banks like MB + Techcombank are building crypto exchanges
🔹 $120B in crypto trading volume last year — 4th globally in adoption

With regulation coming, will Vietnam create its own blockchain champions or just rein in the global giants?

Vietnam is betting big on blockchain, from citizen data to crypto exchanges, as new rules threaten to upend the country’s US$120 billion crypto scene.

27/09/2025

AI in Southeast Asia isn’t just theory — it’s being built, debated, and tested right now.

At Tech in Asia Conference 2025, these speakers will unpack the realities shaping the region’s AI future:
- Korawad Chearavanont, Amity Solutions
- Jerry Ye, Whale
- Edward Gunawan, Skystar Capital
- Fannie Soubiele, Google
- Yani Hornilla-Donato, Canva
- Alfonsius Timboel, Halodoc
- Nerfita Primasari, Superbank
- Tarita Lubis, Jobstreet by Seek
- Sherry Jiang, Peek
- Agrim Singh, Niyam AI
- Joel Neoh, First Move
- Oswald Yeo, Glints

🎟 You’ll find big-picture strategy on the main stage, hands-on frameworks in workshops, and unscripted debate at the unconference.

Thousands of founders, investors, and decision-makers are already in. Will you be in the room?
👉 Secure your pass today — prices increase soon
https://conference.techinasia.com/?utm_source=fb_tiaintl&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=conf25-session-consol-ai

27/09/2025

🇹🇼 Taiwan’s semiconductors are called its “sacred mountain” — but what’s next?

🔹 AI could be Taiwan’s new mountain — combining chipmaking, server manufacturing, and edge-device know-how.
🔹 90% of the world’s AI servers are built there, with Nvidia booking factories through 2026.
🔹 But challenges remain: AI talent shortages, thin funding, and the lack of a flagship AI company.
🔹 Taiwan’s future hinges on whether it can move beyond being a supplier — and become an innovator.

Will AI give Taiwan its next global tech giant?

As AI shifts from cloud to edge, here’s why Taiwan is positioned to become a global industry leader – and what it needs to overcome to get there.

27/09/2025

🎉 From Surabaya to Singapore: the rise of vibe coding in Southeast Asia.

Cursor, the AI coding tool built by Anysphere, is scaling across the region not through ads, but through grassroots developer meetups.
- Grab engineers demoed how they used Cursor to migrate payment infra 🚖
- Freelance devs in Surabaya hosted intimate 40-person vibe coding nights 👨💻
- Singapore saw Cursor’s largest global meetup yet — 500+ attendees 🇸🇬

For startups, tools like Cursor are redefining how teams operate:
👉 smaller engineering headcount, but faster documentation + onboarding
👉 early prototypes easier to build — though scalable products still take work

As pricing shifts and open-source rivals emerge, will Cursor keep its momentum? Or will community-led vibe coding outgrow the tool itself?

With just pizza money and some swag, Cursor built a large AI coding community in Southeast Asia with the help of volunteers. Can it keep the momentum?

26/09/2025

🌏 Southeast Asia’s AI scene is heating up.

We’ve mapped the builders, policymakers, and researchers shaping genAI in the region — from founders creating new applications to governments launching LLMs like Indonesia’s Sahabat-AI.

Key takeaways:
🔹 42 startup founders featured — 70% incorporated in Singapore
🔹 Antler leads early-stage AI bets with 51 deals (2023–Jul 2025)
🔹 “HQs” are becoming fluid — founders splitting time between US, China & SG

📊 Charts + full list 👇

From no-code robot design to multiagents systems for enterprises, SEA builders are racing to craft specialized AI applications on open-source foundations.

26/09/2025

🤖🚚 Why China’s growing robotics dominance could reshape the global economy, and why FOMO isn’t a good reason to build an AI firm.

🤖 No, we’re talking about robots that will move the world’s cargo, run warehouses, and even automate ports.

🚀 There is a big difference, and in this story, Palash Kala will tell you why starting up is still as difficult as it ever was.

🛒 TikTok’s algorithm will sometimes create product recommendations based on clothing or items seen in war footage.
-
Want to keep up with the ins and outs of the ecosystem in Asia? Sign up for free at techin.asia/newsletters

26/09/2025

💥 Is Indonesia’s startup scene in crisis — or on the edge of a comeback?
Funding crunches, unicorn struggles, founders under fire — the questions everyone is asking.

At Tech in Asia Conference 2025, these debates take center stage.
From Indonesia’s struggles to new VC playbooks and life after exits — be in the room where the future is decided.

🎟 Final days for 50% off tickets. Don’t miss your chance! 👉 https://conference.techinasia.com/?utm_source=fb_tiaintl&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=em-conf25-vid-startupeco

26/09/2025

🚼 From a US$30k seed to a US$76m global brand.

Singapore’s KeaBabies has:
🔹 Stayed profitable for 7+ years, hitting US$8.9m net profit in 2024
🔹 Reached 86% of sales in the US via an Amazon-first strategy
🔹 Remained fully bootstrapped — founders Ivan Ong & Jane Neo own 100%
🔹 Now eyeing US$100m revenue in 2025 with baby carriers, pillows & sleep essentials

👉 Can this family-run D2C brand fend off Amazon’s private labels?

Focusing on consumers in the US – and selling via Amazon – was key to the baby and maternity brand’s success.

26/09/2025

🏍️⚡️ From Grab to VinFast, everyone’s chasing Vietnam’s e-bike boom - here’s who’s positioned to cash in as petrol motorcycle bans draw near.

🏙️ Huge change is coming to the streets of Vietnam’s largest cities, as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City prepare for an imminent ban on petrol-powered motorcycles.

⚡ Grab, Be, and Xanh SM are all exploring how their rider-partners can pivot to EVs.

🔋 However, charging remains a concern.
-
Want to keep up with the ins and outs of the ecosystem in Asia? Sign up for free at techin.asia/newsletters

26/09/2025

🎁 Here's an unlocked premium article from us, to give you a taste of what subscribers get. All you need is a free account with us!

Why you should read it: Years after peak Axie Infinity mania, its creator is still making gains. Now, Sky Mavis is building an ecosystem beyond that game.

26/09/2025

An agricultural scientist argues agricultural giants target industrial farms, creating an innovation vacuum for 99% of farmers.

-
Want to keep up with the ins and outs of the ecosystem in Asia? Sign up for free at techin.asia/newsletters

26/09/2025

🇺🇸 US firms outside Big Tech are struggling to hire AI engineers. Their solution? Look East.

🔹 70% of US firms now outsource software & AI needs to Asia
🔹 Firms in 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇮🇳 India offer teams at 50–70% lower cost
🔹 Beyond savings, startups value speed, flexibility & “trusted” networks
🔹 From chatbots to AI-powered retail tools, Asian firms are moving up the value chain

👉 The new AI outsourcing wave looks a lot like BPO’s early days — but this time, it’s product innovation on the line.

US enterprises are outsourcing their software development needs to Asian firms, and these teams are shaping up to offer more than cost savings.