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In focus
- Software startups race to matter in hardware-ruled Taiwan
- Tech fatigue? This Indonesian VC is focusing on consumer brands
- How to get your insights published on Tech in Asia
Hello reader,
One of the roles Tech in Asia’s Insights section plays is diving into Asian tech ecosystems that our reporters don’t always cover in depth.
As a small and scrappy newsroom, it’s tough for us to cover the entire continent in as much detail as we do in Southeast Asia. Getting insights from locally based experts like VCs, founders, or other stakeholders helps us broaden our coverage and serve our readers better.
On a personal level, I love editing these stories, as I always come away having learned something I wouldn’t have otherwise. Take today’s first Top Story on Taiwan by a local startup consultant.
From the piece, I learned that Taiwan’s software sector is set to hit a market volume of US$5 billion this year. That may sound impressive, but it’s less than a fifth of what chipmaking giant TSMC’s revenue was for the first quarter of 2025.
That disparity highlights how far behind software startups are compared to the country’s hardware giants. It’s a gap rooted not just in economics but in culture, talent pipelines, and the kinds of success stories the ecosystem is still waiting to see.
Our second Top Story, meanwhile, dives into a VC who’s moving away from backing flashy tech firms in favor of gritty, cash-generating consumer brands.
Billion-dollar valuations may get headlines, but sometimes steady dividends and a loyal customer base are the real power plays.
Peter Cowan, engagement editor
Top Stories
1️⃣ Why Taiwan’s software startups struggle to match its chip giants
Image credit: Timmy Loen
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently called Taiwan the “center of the computer ecosystem.” So why is the country’s software startup scene still nascent?
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