How Razer joined the X-Force

Razer’s commitment to the community has put the gaming company in the spotlight. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, it recently launched a manufacturing line to address the shortage of masks in Southeast Asia and set up a US$50 million fund to support its business partners.

To help readers learn more about these initiatives and how Razer was able to act quickly during a critical time, Tech in Asia organized a fireside chat with the company’s chief investment officer, Edwin Chan, and its chief strategy officer, LiMeng Lee.

During the one-hour virtual event, the two discussed the factors that helped the company strategize and implement a quick response to the effects of the pandemic. These include having businesses and offices across the globe, which helps alert the firm to imminent global issues; laying a strong financial, strategic, and technological foundation to ensure it is ready and secured for any crisis; and fostering a work culture that encourages employees to be decisive self-starters.

For companies that want to replicate Razer’s speed in adapting during a crisis, Chan and Lee advised leaders to be aggressive to avoid the cost of indecision but, at the same time, to stay vigilant. As the pandemic continues and new measures are implemented, they must think of backup plans for when the situation changes. According to the duo, while speed is important in launching a new project, knowing when to shut it down when it is not working is equally critical.

The two believe that the next era of startups and companies will give rise to businesses that digitize daily life: contactless deliveries, streaming services that also function as communication tools, and the robotic automation of food and beverage enterprises. Bubble tea served by robotic arms may soon be a possibility.

Startups always encounter new challenges, and the current situation amplifies this. By sharing Razer’s strategies on how to adapt faster, we hope that this event will help the Southeast Asian tech community pull through during this period.

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