The Silicon Valley way? Not the only way

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Hello reader,

Our Tech in Asia Conference took place in Jakarta last week, and we had an amazing time. The energy was incredible, and I enjoyed meeting and hearing from startups trying to solve challenges and figuring out new ways of doing things. Just because something has been done in a certain way for a long time doesn’t mean it’s the only way, after all.

This rings especially true with how we conceive of our startup ecosystems.

For many, the Silicon Valley model is the gold standard of the tech and startup scene. But while this model has been successful, it’s important to remember that it is a product of a particular time and space.

There are definitely other approaches to fostering startup growth and fueling innovation, and we’ll dive deeper into one of them in today’s premium story.

Today we look at:

• The reasons why the Silicon Valley model is not what Southeast Asia needs (and what it should do instead)
• A Canadian maritime robotics startup making its foray into SEA
• Other newsy highlights such as Aramco’s AI investment plans and South Korea’s new crypto regulations

Premium summary

Silicon Valley ain’t the way to go

Image credit: Timmy Loen

There’s more than one model for a startup ecosystem. The Silicon Valley approach, where new companies challenge and replace incumbent ones, may not be what Southeast Asia’s nascent startup scene needs to thrive.

• A culture of collaboration: Southeast Asia could benefit from adopting a “David and Goliath” model of innovation. With this, small startups inject ideas and talent into large conglomerates, which in turn use their connections and other resources to help the new companies. This framework can be seen in markets like Japan and Korea.
• Win, win, win: Partnerships between startups and big corporations offer considerable advantages for both sides. Startups gain access to funding, resources, markets, and expertise, while large companies can tap into new ideas and technologies to stay ahead of the curve. However, this comes with certain risks.
• The big G: Governments need to play a much bigger role in facilitating these collaborations by extending their suite of startup policies to encourage innovation. Moreover, authorities should enforce proper legal frameworks to protect startups and big corporations and promote fair collaboration.

Read more: SEA needs to see the Silicon Valley model for what it is: flawed

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