Opening Keynote Chat: The case for Asia Venture Capital amidst funding drought

  • Jenny Lee, Senior Managing Partner, Granite Asia
  • Shailendra Singh, Managing Director, Peak XV
  • In conversation with Joji Thomas Philip, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, DealStreetAsia

The venture capital funding drought that has plagued SE Asia for the past two years shows little signs of letting up. The total volume of equity funding in Southeast Asian startups declined in the second quarter, reversing the upward trend of the previous two quarters.  Against the backdrop this backdrop, venture-backed companies are in survival mode. They are racing towards profitability, and tightening their belts through marketing cuts and workforce reductions. Does the challenging funding climate raise concerns about recovery in 2025? Will investors’ cautious approach linger?