Predictions for Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem

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Hi readers,

This was the first time I covered a Tech in Asia conference, and while our team was preparing, I felt anxious about what I had to cover.

When the list was finally out, my name was next to the presentation of Nick Nash, the co-founder and managing partner of Asia Partners. I was elated.

I had read about his rhinos over unicorns thesis and found it quite intriguing. That’s how the former Sea Group boss describes the humble and underappreciated companies that Asia Partners aims to invest in. So I was eagerly waiting for his presentation in this year’s conference.

And it was as exciting as ever with bold charts, numbers, and analyses. He talked about the hot IPO contenders and Covid’s effect on investments. But what grabbed my attention the most was his idea of subscription-based models taking over item-based purchases in developed economies, which he sees happening in Southeast Asia down the line. The way he tied it all together with the prices at which Netflix is available in different countries was quite relatable.

If you too are fascinated with bold predictions for the region, do give this a read.

— Samreen Ahmad, journalist at Tech in Asia

Top stories this week

Image credit: Timmy Loen

1️. 3 predictions by Asia Partners’ Nick Nash on SEA’s startup ecosystem
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3. To Shein or not to Shein: the billion-dollar question facing every ecommerce player
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5. Mapping SEA’s key digital banking players
Digital upstarts and banking stalwarts all want in, but not every market in the region is game – yet.