The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, and product management is no exception. AI has shifted from being a mere tool to becoming a strategic partner, fundamentally reshaping how products are designed, built, and delivered. With advancements in quantum computing, reasoning capabilities, and the potential advent of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the role of product managers is undergoing a profound transformation.

Advancements in AI technology

The AI landscape has evolved dramatically, progressing from basic algorithms to sophisticated systems capable of learning, adapting, and reasoning. Machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) are enabling AI to analyse massive datasets, extract insights, and make predictions with unprecedented accuracy. For product managers, this means access to real-time user behaviour analysis, market trends, and performance metrics that drive informed decision-making.

For example, AI-powered tools can now predict customer churn, optimise pricing strategies, and even suggest features that align with user needs. Platforms like OpenAI’s GPT models have also made it possible for product managers to generate ideas, create content, and refine product strategies faster and more effectively than ever before.

Quantum computing and AI in product management

Quantum computing is set to accelerate AI’s capabilities by solving complex problems at speeds unattainable by classical computers. While still in its nascent stages, quantum computing has significant implications for product management. For instance, quantum-enhanced AI could revolutionise optimisation tasks, such as supply chain logistics, resource allocation, or feature prioritisation in product development.

Imagine a scenario where a quantum-enabled AI system helps a product manager simulate multiple product roadmaps simultaneously, taking into account a myriad of variables such as user behaviour, competitor actions, and resource constraints. This level of computational power could reduce decision-making cycles from weeks to minutes, empowering product teams to stay ahead in hyper-competitive markets.

Also Read: The economic potential of neo-retail: The next productivity frontier

AI’s ability to reason

One of the most groundbreaking advancements in AI is its evolving ability to reason. Traditional AI systems operate based on predefined rules or patterns learned from data, but modern AI models are beginning to exhibit reasoning capabilities. These systems can simulate human-like decision-making processes, assess the context, and adapt their outputs accordingly.

For product managers, reasoning AI opens up new possibilities. It allows for more nuanced and dynamic interactions with customers and stakeholders. For instance, an AI system embedded within a product can understand the intent behind user actions and offer personalised solutions in real-time. This capability not only enhances user experience but also provides product managers with valuable insights into user preferences and pain points.

Additionally, reasoning AI can act as a co-pilot for product managers during strategic planning. It can identify potential pitfalls in product strategies, suggest alternative approaches, and even simulate the outcomes of various decisions, reducing risks and improving success rates.

The future with AGI capabilities

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) represents the next frontier of AI, where machines possess human-like intelligence and the ability to perform a wide range of tasks across different domains. While AGI is still hypothetical, its implications for product management are profound.

AGI-powered systems could autonomously handle complex aspects of product development, from ideation to deployment. Imagine an AGI that can:

• Conduct comprehensive market research in hours rather than weeks.
• Design and prototype products autonomously based on user feedback and industry trends.
• Monitor product performance and implement iterative improvements without human intervention.

AGI could also enable hyper-personalisation, where products evolve dynamically based on individual user needs and behaviours. For product managers, this means a shift from micromanaging tasks to overseeing high-level strategy and innovation. The role may evolve to focus more on ethics, governance, and ensuring that AGI aligns with organisational and societal values.

Transforming product management processes

AI’s integration into product management is streamlining processes across the board:

• Ideation and market research: AI-driven tools like chatbots and analytics platforms can gather user insights, identify gaps in the market, and even suggest product ideas. These tools reduce the time spent on manual research and ensure data-driven decision-making.
• Roadmap planning: AI can analyse historical data, user feedback, and market trends to help product managers prioritize features and plan product roadmaps. Tools like Jira and Aha! are already incorporating AI to enhance these processes.
• Design and development: Generative AI models, such as DALL-E and Codex, enable rapid prototyping and even assist in writing code. This accelerates the development cycle, allowing teams to test and iterate faster.
• User experience and feedback: AI systems can analyse user interactions to provide real-time feedback. For example, heatmaps generated by AI can reveal which parts of an interface users find most engaging or confusing, helping designers make informed improvements.
• Performance monitoring: AI-powered analytics platforms can track product performance metrics continuously, providing actionable insights to product managers. These platforms can also predict potential issues before they escalate, enabling proactive management.

Also Read: Balancing innovation and regulation: The rise of AI in APAC’s fintech sector

Challenges and ethical considerations

While AI offers immense potential, it also presents challenges, especially as we approach Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Ethical concerns around data privacy, bias, and decision transparency must be addressed. Product managers will need to ensure that AI systems are designed and deployed responsibly, balancing innovation with ethical considerations.

Moreover, as AI takes over routine tasks, the human aspect of product management—empathy, creativity, and leadership—will become even more critical. Product managers will play a key role in ensuring that AI technologies are not only efficient but also aligned with user needs and societal values.

The road ahead

AI is not just a tool for product managers; it’s a transformative force reshaping the domain. With advancements in quantum computing, reasoning AI, and the potential of AGI, the future of product management looks both exciting and challenging. As AI continues to evolve, product managers will need to adapt, embracing new technologies while upholding the human-centred principles that drive innovation.

In this AI-driven era, the role of a product manager will transcend traditional boundaries. It will require a blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and ethical stewardship to harness the full potential of AI. By doing so, product managers won’t just create better products—they’ll shape the future of technology and its impact on society.

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As the fintech industry continues its rapid evolution, South Africa is emerging as a hub for innovation and a promising investment destination for Southeast Asian markets. This burgeoning partnership between regions, poised at the forefront of a new era in fintech, opens the door to groundbreaking cross-continental collaboration, uniting Southeast Asia’s fintech expertise with South Africa’s potential for digital transformation.

A growing market with untapped potential

South Africa’s fintech landscape is a rich ground for innovation, with an estimated 19 million unbanked individuals and a significant portion of the population underutilising financial services. While over 80 per cent of adults have access to banking, only 30 per cent engage in regular transactions. This gap represents an immense opportunity for disruption through digital payment solutions.

Various companies are addressing these challenges by providing a secure, user-friendly platform that bridges traditional banking and emerging technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency. This approach aims to empower underserved communities and facilitate digital transactions, setting a new standard for financial inclusion.

A conducive environment for growth

South Africa’s regulatory framework is uniquely positioned to support fintech innovation. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and initiatives like the Intergovernmental fintech Working Group (IFWG) foster an environment that balances innovation with consumer protection.

Fintech companies in South Africa have adopted a collaborative approach, working alongside traditional banks and tech giants to expand accessibility. For instance, Capitec Bank’s CapitecPay has seen remarkable adoption, demonstrating how innovation and collaboration can drive financial inclusion.

As South Africa’s coolest bank, according to the Sunday Times NextGen awards, Capitec Bank saw an increase in digital innovations that make banking simpler and more intuitive as the key driver, with a 27 per cent increase to 791 million in digital transaction volumes from Mar 2022 to Aug 2022.

This year Capitec Bank started integrating with Copilot for Power BI, exploring Copilot Studio, and graduating with Azure OpenAI. It streamlined several processes across various departments in the bank. With Copilot and Azure OpenAI Service, Capitec’s employees save one hour per week, enhancing efficiency and driving innovation across departments.

Also Read: 2024 fintech highlights: The startups dominating Southeast Asia’s financial landscape

Unlocking Southeast Asia’s potential

Southeast Asia, with its fintech powerhouses like Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, has much to offer South Africa. Specifically, Singapore’s advanced digital payment systems and regulatory frameworks, can offer South Africa invaluable lessons in promoting secure and efficient transaction methods. Indonesia’s success in mobile financial services and inclusive banking practices can serve as a blueprint for enhancing financial access in South Africa.

Malaysia’s regulatory innovations in fintech, particularly in areas such as peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding, can inspire South Africa to streamline its regulatory processes and foster a conducive environment for fintech startups. By investing in South Africa’s digital transformation, Southeast Asian investors can tap into a market primed for growth while sharing valuable expertise in financial inclusion.

The rise of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services in South Africa highlights the growing demand for flexible payment options. Services like BOS.Pay integrates such innovations, ensuring businesses stay competitive while meeting the evolving needs of consumers. This enhanced consumer experience not only aligns with current market trends but also positions businesses at a competitive advantage, offering tailored payment options to customers.

Moreover, the adoption of BNPL services plays a crucial role in fostering financial inclusion by providing individuals with limited access to traditional credit avenues the opportunity to make purchases and manage their finances in a more inclusive and user-friendly manner.

Overcoming challenges together

While opportunities abound, challenges remain. Regulatory complexities, technological disparities, and cultural differences require a nuanced approach to collaboration. Many fintech firms are well-positioned to navigate these obstacles, offering adaptable solutions that resonate with diverse markets.

A vision for global financial inclusion

The partnership between Southeast Asia’s investment acumen and South Africa’s fintech ingenuity holds immense promise. Together, these regions can unlock new levels of financial accessibility, driving digital transformation and fostering inclusive growth.

Through collaborative efforts, shared challenges can be transformed into opportunities, reshaping the landscape of fintech innovation and advancing the vision of global financial inclusion.

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FazWaz, a proptech company based in Thailand, has picked a controlling stake in Lifull Connect, a leading real estate aggregation network headquartered in Japan.

This strategic move comes after Lifull Connect’s acquisition of FazWaz in 2023.

With Lifull retaining a key shareholder position, this transition marks a significant step for both organisations.

Michael Kenner, Managing Director of Lifull Connect, stated, “Capitalising on Lifull Connect’s global infrastructure and our entrepreneurial spirit, we are strategically focused on M&A and raising new capital to drive unprecedented growth. This transition is the perfect platform for achieving our vision of becoming the world’s leading PropTech company.”

Lifull Connect was established in 2019 through the merger of Trovit and Mitula, previously listed on the ASX, and has since grown into the largest aggregation network in real estate. Over the years, the company has evolved from offering aggregation services to direct engagement with property markets, serving hundreds of millions of users globally.

Also Read: FazWaz raises funding to globalise real estate e-transactions

Lifull Connect’s operations are structured across three key regions: Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America. In Southeast Asia, the focus is on growth through transactional platforms and property portals. Europe will continue to benefit from Lifull Connect’s established leadership in real estate aggregation. And in Latin America, the company will expand portal-driven solutions in high-growth markets.

Lifull, one of Japan’s leading proptech companies, will remain a key shareholder supporting Lifull Connect’s global mission. The transition was celebrated at Lifull’s headquarters in Japan, with both companies’ leaders reflecting on Lifull Connect’s journey.

The company is now set to accelerate its expansion through strategic mergers and acquisitions and new capital investments.

FazWaz is a real estate platform that provides brokerage services to make buying, selling, or renting a property easy. The company’s vision is to make buying a property as simple as booking a holiday.

In 2020, FazWaz raised an undisclosed amount of investment in an acceleration funding round led by CAV Investment Group, an investment company for Simon Baker, ex-CEO REA Australia and ex-Chairman of Mitula.

Both FazWaz and Lifull Connect are committed to using technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to enhance the real estate experience globally.

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Indonesia’s tech startup ecosystem experienced a significant downturn in funding during 2024, according to the ‘Indonesia Tech Annual Report 2024’ released by the startup data intelligence platform Tracxn.

The total amount raised was US$323 million, a 75 per cent drop from the US$1.3 billion raised in 2023 and a staggering 90.05 per cent decrease from the US$3.24 billion raised in 2022.

This decline indicates a challenging year for the Indonesian tech sector, with funding drying up across all stages of investment.

VC funding trends

The report highlights a consistent decline in funding across all stages:

• Late-stage funding saw the most dramatic drop, with only US$71.2 million raised in 2024. This is a 91.95 per cent decrease compared to US$884 million in 2023 and a 95.84 per cent decrease compared to US$1.71 billion in 2022.
• Seed-stage funding also experienced a sharp fall, with a total of US$30.3 million in 2024. This represents a 61.54 per cent decrease compared to US$78.8 million in 2023 and an 85.57 per cent drop compared to US$210 million in 2022.
• Early-stage funding fared slightly better but still declined to US$221 million in 2024. This is a 32.18 per cent decrease from US$326 million in 2023 and an 83.24 per cent drop compared to US$1.32 billion in 2022.

Looking at the funding trends in the second half of 2024 (H2 2024), the total of US$107 million was 50.39 per cent lower than the US$215.7 million raised in the first half of 2024 (H1). This also represents an 86.07 per cent drop from US$768.3 million raised in H2 2023.

Also Read: SEA fintech sector faces 23% funding drop in 2024; payments and crypto shine

The fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4) saw a slight increase of 1.89 per cent with US$54 million compared to US$53 million in Q3 2024 but is still 81.36 per cent lower compared to the US$289.8 million raised in Q4 2023. These figures highlight a continuous downward trend in funding for the Indonesian tech sector throughout 2024.

Sector-wise performance

Despite the overall downturn, some sectors performed better than others in attracting investment in Indonesia:

Fintech, enterprise applications, and insurtech were the top-performing sectors in 2024.

• Fintech received US$189.5 million in funding, which is still a significant decrease of 68.45 per cent compared to US$600.5 million in 2023 and a drop of 89.27 per cent compared to US$1.8 billion in 2022.
• Enterprise applications secured US$94.6 million in 2024, a 32.65 per cent decrease compared to US$140.5 million in 2023 and a 90.83 per cent drop compared to US$1 billion in 2022.
• Insurtech stood out with a 431.58 per cent increase in funding to US$50.5 million in 2024, compared to US$9.5 million in 2023, although this was still a 28.39 per cent drop compared to US$70.5 million in 2022.

IPOs and exits

The report reveals a decline in exit activity as well:

Only one company, Topindoku, went public in 2024, raising US$34.9 million.

There were no new unicorns created in 2024 compared to one in 2023.

Tech companies in Indonesia saw nine acquisitions in 2024, a 25 per cent decrease from 12 in 2023 and a 55 per cent decrease from 20 in 2022.

Key acquisitions include IDEAL, RajaOngkir, and Gredu.

The average funding raised before the IPO was only US$6 million, a significant drop from US$514 million in 2023.

Year-on-year funding trends

The overall funding trend shows a sharp decline:

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for funding over the past three years is -54 per cent and over the past five years is -32 per cent. The number of funding rounds also decreased, from 58 in 2024 to 97 in 2023, a 40 per cent drop.

First-time funded companies also declined to 24 in 2024 from 34 in 2023, representing a 29 per cent decrease.

Series A+ rounds dropped from 48 in 2023 to 29 in 2024, a decline of 39 per cent.

City-wise funding trends

Also Read: 2024 fintech highlights: The startups dominating Southeast Asia’s financial landscape

Funding is heavily concentrated in Jakarta, which accounts for 85.36 per cent of all funding in Indonesia:

• Jakarta received the lion’s share of funding with US$275 million in 2024.
• Klaten was a distant second with US$20 million, followed by Cilandak with US$17.5 million.
• Other cities, such as Yogyakarta (US$3.5 million) and Bandung (US$2.5 million) received significantly less funding.
• Jakarta also dominates in cumulative funding with US$22.9 billion, with Tangerang at a distant second with US$1 billion in all-time funding.

Top investors

The report identifies key investors in the Indonesian tech ecosystem:

• East Ventures, AC Ventures, and Alpha JWC Ventures were the overall top investors.
• Antler, 500 Global, and East Ventures were the top seed-stage investors.
• Argor Capital Management, Openspace Ventures, and MUFG Innovation Partners were the top early-stage investors.

Among VCs, East Ventures led the most number of investments with five rounds, while 500 Global added 24 new companies to its portfolio.

Conclusion

The Indonesian tech startup ecosystem faced considerable challenges in 2024, with a significant decrease in funding across all stages and a decline in exits. While some sectors, like insurtech, showed positive growth, the overall trend indicates a period of adjustment for the market. The concentration of funding in Jakarta remains prominent, highlighting the need for broader regional development in the tech sector. The lack of new unicorns and a decrease in acquisition activities reflect the difficult conditions Indonesian tech companies face.

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To successfully navigate the ‘Valley of Death,’ it is crucial to comprehend its intricacies and understand why this journey is an unavoidable part of the growth trajectory for most climate tech startups.

Hardware: The heart of climate solutions

It is unsurprising that the most promising climate tech startups are concentrated on hardware. Climate change is a tangible, real-world challenge that necessitates physical solutions. While software can facilitate optimisation in human interaction with the physical environment, it cannot fundamentally address issues if the underlying hardware infrastructure remains dependent on fossil fuels.

As a prominent climate-focused investor notes, “Climate cannot be solved with SaaS alone.” Startups focused on hardware require substantial resources and extensive timeframes, rendering them high-risk ventures for investors.

A report by Congruent Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank surveyed over 50 experts to identify key players in North American climate tech. Nearly all startups focused on hardware, defying the typical VC preference for software. Most of the top 50 companies were in manufacturing, materials, and energy, with agriculture and food underrepresented despite their significant carbon footprint.

According to TechCrunch, early-stage climate tech startups often succeed in proving their technology at a small scale but face substantial obstacles in commercialisation, primarily due to the prohibitive costs of constructing a first-of-its-kind facility. In the Congruent/SVB report, 28 per cent of companies raised less than US$50 million, while an equivalent percentage secured over US$500 million—indicating that successfully crossing the Valley of Death can yield significant rewards.

Nonetheless, the commercialisation journey is prolonged; climate tech startups often require a decade or more to mature, especially when hardware development and refinement are involved.

Hardware is hard: Why the fallen… fell?

The commercial Valley of Death has claimed numerous climate tech startups, with Running Tide, Arrival, and Ambri being among the recent casualties.

Running Tide, an ocean carbon removal company, faced a dramatic decline in the demand for carbon credits. Despite partnerships with major corporations such as Microsoft and Shopify, and the successful removal of 25,000 tons of CO₂, the declining voluntary carbon market undermined the company’s capacity to sustain its operations.

Electric vehicle manufacturer Arrival encountered challenges of its own. Burdened by development delays, macroeconomic pressures, and unsuccessful financing attempts, the company grappled with overwhelming liquidity issues. Despite aggressive cost reductions and workforce layoffs, Arrival was ultimately unable to secure sufficient capital to surmount these obstacles.

Battery innovator Ambri, known for its liquid-metal battery technology, also succumbed to the Valley of Death. Ambri’s attempt to raise US$300 million for manufacturing faltered after losing its lead investor, and a last-resort US$50 million bridge loan failed to materialise. Though this particular case has made a comeback after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, successfully reviving its operations in August.

Also Read: Funding the green transition: Southeast Asia’s climate tech leaders of 2024

Each of these cases illustrates the difficulties inherent in scaling hardware-centric operations without stable financial backing. High costs, fluctuating demand, and missed funding opportunities were significant contributors to their respective failures.

Why must the valley be bridged?

European venture capital firms Speedinvest, Planet A, and Norrsken VC have created the Climate Hardware Playbook—a guide to address common issues in fundraising, management, and product development for climate hardware startups. The playbook is based on interviews, surveys with 118 investors and 142 founder participants, covering 3600 climate hardware funding announcements in Europe between 2015 and 2023. It presents three main arguments for why bridging the Valley is critical.

First, inaction would subject the future generations to a more challenging existence. Second, there has never been a more opportune time to bridge the gap. We are at an inflection point where tighter regulation, declining cost curves, and corporate climate targets are creating a level playing field for climate hardware. With half of global GDP and a quarter of carbon emissions under net zero targets, companies—particularly those in hard-to-abate sectors—are under immense pressure to innovate and reduce emissions.

Third, despite limited data, current trends suggest promising returns for climate hardware solutions, as evidenced by recent exits of hardware-focused climate tech companies. Tesla’s growth, from a 2010 IPO valuation of US$1.7 billion to a major market player, and Ginkgo Bioworks’ US$1.1 billion acquisition by Occidental in 2023, are notable examples.

Additionally, Energy Impact Partners’ Climate Index, which tracks both software and hardware companies focused on sustainability, has outperformed the NASDAQ by approximately 2.8 times, underscoring the potential of investments in this sector.

From a portfolio perspective, incorporating hardware investments can mitigate risks inherent in a software-centric approach and balance investment timelines. Groundbreaking hardware innovations, often protected by patents, provide stability that retains value during market fluctuations—particularly attractive in today’s volatile economic climate.

Moreover, hardware may present unique entry points compared to more saturated software markets. Fewer venture capital funds invest in hardware, leading to less competition for deals. While SaaS valuations soared over the past five years, increasing 6.5 times from 2015 to 2021, hardware investments have remained underexplored, presenting a more favourable risk-return profile.

Consequently, the funding ecosystem is evolving, with new stakeholders addressing gaps in the climate tech funding stack. This includes infrastructure and growth-stage climate funds like General Atlantic’s Beyond Net Zero, KKR’s Global Climate Fund, and specialised real asset funds such as Generation’s Just Climate.

Climate tech venture capital firm Earth Venture Capital is also doubling down on climate tech, raising its second fund just two years after debuting Fund I. Defying expectations, Earth Venture’s first fund is among the rare 10% of VC funds launched in 2022 to generate positive returns, according to data from Carta.

Also Read: How to navigate the investment opportunity in climate tech sector

“Earth VC is building bridges across the abyss—connecting outlier deep-tech startups with the untapped potential of Emerging Asia, a region projected to contribute over 50 per cent of global growth by 2030. By targeting the dual frontiers of deep-tech and climate innovation, we are addressing a US$3.5 trillion market opportunity in sustainable technologies. In this race against time, our role extends beyond funding; we actively guide startups through the Valley of Death, bridging financial and market gaps to accelerate adoption,” stated Tien Nguyen, Founding Partner at Earth VC.

Atoms or bits: The future lays in equilibrium

Have we been overly focused on the digital realm at the expense of tangible innovations? Peter Thiel, one of the founders of PayPal, certainly believes so. He recalls that, in the 1960s, technology encompassed advancements across multiple domains—computers, rockets, supersonic planes, and the Green Revolution, among others. Today, “technology” is often synonymous with information technology, resulting in a narrow focus on software while neglecting the physical innovations that create substantive real-world impact.

Thiel emphasises the stagnation observed in many physical domains—from outdated subway systems to slower modes of transportation—and believes we need to reignite our ambition for progress in the material world. Genuine technological advancement necessitates more than writing code; it requires breakthroughs in energy, biotechnology, and manufacturing to address pressing real-world challenges.

The future of climate tech hinges on striking a balance between “atoms” and “bits”—leveraging the potential of digital tools alongside the tangible progress achievable only through physical technologies. For climate tech to cross the Valley of Death and lead us toward a sustainable and prosperous future, it will take visionary investors, determined founders, and a renewed focus on building the hardware our world so urgently requires.

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