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As a Singaporean, I feel proud whenever someone praises the city-state for punching above its weight.
But even champion boxers miss a punch or two: Much to the Lion City’s disappointment, its efforts to attract investments into autonomous vehicles seem to have missed the mark.
The lack of these startups in Singapore is strange, given the country’s reputation as a technologically advanced startup hub. As my colleague, Shadine, investigates in this week’s Big Story, there are numerous challenges that autonomous-vehicle players in the country face.
That doesn’t mean Singapore’s aspirations for self-driving vehicles have been nipped in the bud. Government initiatives and funding are a vital lifeline for the industry, and private players are also doubling down on the space.
They’re not the only ones digging their heels in for the long haul. In this week’s Making Waves, Tech in Asia spoke with Sequoia Capital Southeast Asia on how the VC firm plans to navigate the economic downturn.
— Tian Wen
THE BIG STORY
Roadblocks stall Singapore’s driverless car dreams
Image credit: Timmy Loen
Singapore was one of the first countries to pilot driverless cars. So why aren’t we seeing more autonomous vehicle activity from the city-state?
MAKING WAVES
Recession Run: Sequoia’s $850m plan during a downturn
Image credit: Timmy Loen
FYI
NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW
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