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Putra Muskita · · 4 min read

Turning point for Thai tech?

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Hello reader,

As a reporter covering Indonesia’s tech industry, it’s been hard to escape talk about the eFishery scandal. Many people in the industry and outside of it have described it as “one rotten apple spoiling the whole barrel.”

I’m not here to debate the merits of that statement. But it’s important to remember that the inverse is also true: One good company can make all the difference.

That’s what is currently brewing in Thailand. Compared to neighboring countries, its local startup scene has been stifled by the conglomerates dominating its business world.

But one firm could change all that. Local edtech company SkillLane recently filed for an IPO – the first tech firm in the country to do so in over a decade.

In this week’s Big Story, Kid Parchariyanon – the CEO of Bangkok-based corporate innovation firm Rise – writes that SkillLane’s IPO could put Thailand on the regional map.

More importantly, it lets startups find exits aside from conglomerate acquisitions, as well as unlocks late-stage funding for other founders. Read more below.

— Putra


THE BIG STORY

Image credit: Timmy Loen

Can one upcoming IPO transform Thailand’s tech ecosystem?

Thai startups have struggled with limited late-stage funding and few exit options. SkillLane’s IPO might finally break the pattern.


3 Trends to keep an eye on

Hot stocks, earnings reports, restructuring, pressure from activist investors, and more.


2 Eye-popping facts


The one you didn’t see coming


Asia’s leaders must align now to navigate what’s next


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Putra Muskita

Covering ecommerce and fintech for Tech in Asia. Drop me a line: 1putra.muskita@techinasia.com or Twitter @putramuskita.