Tech in Asia started as a social media blog. 5 years on, here’s a look at its culture.

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The Tech in Asia team in its Singapore headquarters. Photo credit: Ian Soo

• Tech in Asia was founded in 2011, and has grown into a thriving tech startup.
• Here’s a look at its office and culture in its Singapore headquarters.
• What’s in the pipeline for Tech in Asia.
• Tech in Asia is hiring an iOS engineer. Join them here.

Even within the team, few know that founder Willis Wee pitched to Tech in Asia’s first investor in McDonald’s. More specifically, the outlet in Bras Basah Complex.

“It was like love at first sight,” said Willson Cuaca, co-founder and managing partner at East Ventures, and the investor in question. “I saw a lot of potential in the idea,” he said, “and one week later, we closed the deal in Coffee Bean.”

“It was more like a casual chat though,” said Willis. “At that time, I didn’t know much about funding and raising capital. So when Willson reached out to me, I just came down wanting to know more. During the meeting, he asked many questions about the business, and if we could send him our deck and projections. So like any young, enthusiastic entrepreneur, I did.”

Tech in Asia, then called Penn Olson, closed its seed round of US$150,000 the following week.

“Although it might not seem like much now, but as a 25-year-old just out of school then, we were like, ‘Wow, that’s so much money.’ It meant the world to us, that someone would put that much money behind what we were doing.”

That was in February, 2011.

Today, Tech in Asia is a thriving tech startup with over 100 employees in eight countries across Asia. What started off as a social media blog with its founder wanting to “pen” something “awesome” (Penn Olson) is now a media, events and jobs platform with a multi-million-dollar sales and marketing team, and which has since gone on to raise a total of US$6.3 million in disclosed funding.

Here’s a sneak peek at what goes on behind the scenes at Tech in Asia’s headquarters in Singapore.

Inside Tech in Asia Singapore

Located in Bugis along Rochor Road, the entrance to the Tech in Asia office is easy to miss. Its strategic location at the edge of the central business district allows for the fine balance between affordable rent and close proximity to clients’ offices in town. Photo credit: Sim Yanting.

The Tech in Asia culture

What’s in the pipeline for Tech in Asia?

Join Tech in Asia