Navigating SEA’s challenges the Garena way

For gamers all over the region, three words will forever be associated with the name Garena: League of Legends (or LoL). In 2010, the company was responsible for introducing the hit MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game to Southeast Asia, where the number of active players soon numbered in the millions. LoL is now the most-played online game in the world, and there is no doubt Garena can take at least partial credit for this staggering statistic in this region.

But don’t make the mistake of dismissing Garena as merely a games publisher. Over the course of the last three years, Garena has diversified into the electronic payments and eCommerce sectors with new products such as AirPay and Shopee. These additions to Garena’s repertoire have only increased its financial clout, with a valuation of US$3.75 billion making it the most valuable startup in Southeast Asia.

Connecting Southeast Asia to the digital revolution

Internet penetration rates in Southeast Asia are notoriously variable: figures range from 73 percent for Singapore to 1 percent for Myanmar. Coping with this disparity has proven to be a thorny issue for many tech startups looking to gain a foothold in the region, but Garena appears to have taken this in its stride. A number of ingenious strategies, including a unique business model anchored by its eponymous Garena gaming platform, have allowed Garena to cater to a wide range of users with differing levels of connectivity.

About Nick Nash

Nick joined Garena in December 2014 after a 12-year stint as General Atlantic’s Southeast Asian CEO, during which he spearheaded the equity firm’s first investment in a Southeast Asian company. That company just happened to be Garena. Since joining Garena, Nick has helped close its Series C and D rounds involving Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Khazanah, Temasek’s subsidiary SeaTown, GDP Venture and Mistletoe, bringing the total amount raised to over US$500 million.

Catch the conversation with Nick this May 18

With more than 320 million Internet users as of January 2017, there’s never been a more exciting time to tap into the region’s potential. And if you’re looking for something in the vein of advice or practical insights, we have just the thing.

Nick Nash will be holding a fireside chat at Tech in Asia Singapore 2017 on May 18. He’ll be delving deep into the success of Garena services AirPay and Shopee, how the company overcame the unique challenges of expanding rapidly in SEA and how the region’s digital economy and consumers are evolving.

In addition to Nick’s session, you’ll also gain access to a full two days of talks, seminars and network with some of the industry’s brightest luminaries. Book now with the promo code ‘tiasg15’ to enjoy 15 percent off for all conference passes – valid for three more days till April 7, 2359 (GMT +8)!