Innovation Without Borders

Khailee Ng

Managing Partner, 500 Global

500 Global’s latest research on The Rise of the Next shows that the pathway to the next $30 trillion in the tech sector requires a balance between innovating for the estimated incoming 3 billion users while catering for the usage of the current 5 billion users.

The global tech stack, comprising affordable software and hardware, has facilitated the emergence of tech giants, with a combined market cap of $30 trillion today. By 2040, an estimated 3 billion new internet users are anticipated to join online platforms, contributing an additional $30 trillion.

Ventures can address the penetration gap between the Rise 30 and developed markets by expanding beyond the US and China markets and venture into the Rise 30, which comprises 30 emerging economies.

The economic development of countries can only succeed if there is ownership over what is produced by the countries, a process that should be facilitated by stakeholders, particularly state-owned investors.

Ethan Lin

Co-Founder and CEO, Klook

Klook, a leading platform for travel synthesis, focuses on authentic travel experiences in its growth strategy.

Experience is the new travel currency. Current tourism in APAC is at 75% of the pre-Covid levels. This recovery is catalysed by immersive experiences and mega events, underscoring the idea that experiences have become the new currency of travel.

AI technology plays a critical role in Klook’s operations. Klook is incorporating AI technology to personalise and generate content to accelerate growth, particularly through the use of its digital concierge, K.ai.

Travel is now intrinsically linked to social media, which Klook capitalises with their Klook Kreator programme, involving 13,000 creators who have garnered 1.8 billion views across 13 social media platforms.

Jan Nicholas

Executive Director, Consulting – Semiconductors, Deloitte Consulting (SEA)

In the current techno-economic revolution, semiconductor companies are the greatest beneficiaries of new technological advancements.

Geopolitical influences and macroeconomic risks are essential factors to consider when it comes to investing in semiconductors, which is why Southeast Asia is better positioned as an investment location for the semiconductor industry compared to the incumbents, USA and China.

The newly expanded companies and those that have announced sustainability ambitions need to be able to deliver their promises and develop collaboration platforms.

There is a global talent shortage within the industry and it is expected to worsen. Chipmakers can combat this by increasing flexibility, having more public-private partnerships (“PPPs”), increasing specialised training, and considering a non-traditional workforce.

Kelvin Teo

Co-Founder and Group CEO, Funding Societies

Funding Societies faced unique challenges during their innovation journey in Southeast Asia.

Innovators in Southeast Asia need to adopt a long-term perspective due to the nascent and fragmented nature of the ASEAN market.

A tribe is crucial for ventures to drive innovation as they will weather uncertainty together with shared core values.

Innovation requires a critical mass of talent which can only be accomplished through consistent rewarding of good leaders and team players.

Sophie Viger

Managing Director, 42

42 is revolutionizing the world of education through technological innovations, empowering everyone to learn, and sharing their education model globally.

The limitations of classical pedagogy are that it is rooted in a bureaucratic system that focuses on teacher centeredness, theoretical knowledge, and unidirectional information flow.

42 employs principles from philosophers and psychologists which focus on a student-centred curriculum, project-based learning, and gamification to cultivate intrinsic motivation.

To date, 37,000 students from diverse backgrounds have graduated from 42, where their employability was enhanced by the development of both hard and soft skills.