As the global travel industry moves into 2026, demand remains resilient. Bookings continue to recover, intra-regional travel is accelerating, and Asia-Pacific is gaining prominence as both a source and destination market. Yet beneath this surface-level optimism, the operating realities discussed at MarketHub Asia, HBX Group’s flagship industry forum that convenes leaders across travel, hospitality, payments, and technology, point to a deeper recalibration underway.

The next phase of travel will not be defined solely by expansion. It will be shaped by how effectively the industry balances technology, artificial intelligence, and trust at scale, in a system where data volumes are exploding, regulatory environments are increasingly fragmented, and security risks evolve faster than governance structures.

Power and control in travel distribution

One of the clearest realities of global travel today is the concentration of power within its infrastructure layer. While innovation across platforms, experiences, and booking channels remains vibrant, control over payments and settlement remains in the hands of a few dominant networks.

Global payment providers such as Visa and Mastercard shape much of the industry’s commercial and operational framework. High commissions, opaque routing logic, and limited competitive alternatives are largely treated as fixed constraints rather than areas open to challenge. As a result, value creation in travel increasingly happens downstream of infrastructure control, not at the point of customer experience or product innovation.

Also Read: HeyMax’s US$11M raise signals a new era of programmable travel loyalty in Asia

This concentration has consequences that extend far beyond pricing. It determines how quickly new models can scale, how risk is distributed across ecosystems, and how trust is enforced across borders. Individual companies, regardless of size, have little leverage acting alone. Real change requires collective pressure, coordination across stakeholders, and a willingness to rethink the underlying rails that power global travel.

“We cannot compete with these giants on size alone,” David Amsellem, Chief Distribution Officer at HBX Group, said. “The only viable response is strategic alignment. By forming alliances and coordinating as an ecosystem, we can rebalance the market and preserve healthy competition. When competition is healthy, travellers benefit, innovation thrives, and regional players retain agency.”

He pointed to history as a cautionary guide. “We have seen what happens when markets consolidate too far. In social media, for example, dominance by a single player came at a cost. Privacy eroded, choice narrowed, and users paid the price. Contrast that with cloud computing. At one point, Amazon Web Services held close to 50 per cent market share. Had competition not emerged, the market would look very different today. Instead, the rise of Azure and Google Cloud rebalanced the ecosystem. Market share diversified, competition improved, and customers gained greater autonomy and choice.”

For Amsellem, the lesson is not that dominance should be countered with brute force. It is that it should be countered with coordination. Strategic alliances, not fragmentation, are what shift power. This is where HBX sees its role: to act as the ecosystem of reference, a platform where players, particularly across APAC, can align, collaborate, and maintain a competitive balance alongside these global giants.

Trust remains travel’s defining currency

Against this backdrop, one idea stood out, as Mark Antipof, Chief Growth Officer at HBX Group, put it: “travel has always been about trust.” The weight of that observation lies in what it implies: many of the industry’s most pressing challenges are not failures of innovation, but failures of trust reinforced by scale.

Antipof points out that trust in travel operates across multiple, interdependent layers: payments clearing correctly, identities being verified securely, refunds being processed fairly, data being handled responsibly, and recommendations reflecting reality rather than promotion. As travel becomes increasingly digital and interconnected, these trust dependencies multiply, raising the cost of failure across the entire ecosystem.

Also Read: Travel is back, and it’s more cutthroat than ever

The past year underscored how fragile these systems can be. Cybersecurity activity in 2025 reached record levels across industries, with phishing and malware incidents rising sharply and credential-stealing attacks tripling year-on-year. The rise of Phishing-as-a-Service and Ransomware-as-a-Service lowered the barrier to cybercrime, while deepfake-based scams surged by more than 1,500 per cent between 2023 and 2025, directly targeting identity and executive trust.

Hospitality, a critical layer of the travel ecosystem, was among the most affected sectors. In 2025, 82 per cent of North American hotels experienced a cyberattack during peak periods, most commonly targeting payment systems, guest Wi-Fi networks, and booking platforms. Each breach introduces friction, exposes sensitive data, and steadily erodes the trust that underpins the travel experience.

Evidence over brand in the algorithmic economy

As trust becomes harder to maintain, the way travellers evaluate credibility is shifting. Traditional markers such as brand reputation, polished imagery, and static reviews are losing influence in algorithm-driven environments.

Jiha Jung, Tripbtoz CEO and Founder, observed that travellers increasingly seek real-time, human-generated proof when making decisions. Influencer content, live experiences, and unfiltered perspectives now carry more weight than curated marketing assets.
Algorithms increasingly privilege evidence over reputation. Engagement signals, recency, and contextual relevance matter more than brand heritage. This aligns with findings from HBX Group’s Travel Trends 2026 report, which highlights a growing preference for experience-led, emotionally resonant travel shaped by social influence and community validation.

In this environment, influencers function less as promoters and more as intermediaries of trust. Their value lies not in reach, but in perceived authenticity, a commodity that is increasingly scarce.

AI in practice, not theory

Artificial intelligence now sits firmly in the realm of execution rather than ambition. The most credible discussions across the industry no longer frame AI as a distant, transformative promise, but as an operational requirement embedded into everyday decision-making.

Across travel, AI is being applied to concrete problems: improving pricing precision, detecting fraud, forecasting demand, and managing customer interactions at scale. These applications are practical, measurable, and largely invisible to travellers. They closely mirror developments in cybersecurity, where AI has already become essential for identifying anomalies and responding to threats at machine speed.

Agentic AI takes this a step further. Rather than supporting predefined workflows, agentic systems can perceive context, make decisions, and take action autonomously within set constraints. In travel, this means systems that can dynamically adjust pricing, reroute inventory, personalise offers, resolve service disruptions, or manage refunds in real time, without waiting for human intervention. The experience is no longer optimised before or after the journey, but continuously shaped during it.

Also Read: Online travel becomes 2025’s breakout winner as accommodation prices lift SEA’s GMV

However, the same capabilities that enable real-time optimisation also expand exposure. AI-driven personalisation, automation, and data processing increase the number of attack vectors available to adversaries. Deepfake fraud, automated credential harvesting, and adaptive malware demonstrate how speed, when left unchecked, can amplify risk rather than reduce it.

This tension becomes most visible as decision-making shifts into live environments. When systems are empowered to act, not just recommend, errors propagate faster, and trust can erode instantly. The implication is clear: sustainable progress depends on the alignment of technology, AI, and human judgment. Guardrails, accountability, and oversight are not constraints on innovation. They are what make agentic systems viable at scale.

Fragmentation as the industry’s defining constraint

If trust is the industry’s core challenge, fragmentation is its most persistent constraint. Travel spans finance, aviation, hospitality, technology, and regulation, each with its own incentives, standards, and timelines.

Banking and payments introduce an additional layer of complexity. Regulatory requirements change dynamically, vary by jurisdiction, and directly influence how data can be stored, processed, and transferred. This makes scaling secure, compliant systems disproportionately difficult.

Fragmentation explains why many travel leaders are shifting focus from expansion to optimisation. Scaling a brittle system magnifies exposure. Modular architectures, continuous monitoring, and operational discipline are increasingly valued over rapid market entry.

It also explains why cybersecurity incidents propagate quickly. Breaches rarely exploit sophisticated vulnerabilities. They exploit seams between systems, vendors, and responsibilities.

Southeast Asia as a proving ground

These dynamics are particularly visible in Southeast Asia. According to HBX Group data, Asia-Pacific’s travel growth is being driven increasingly by intra-regional demand, favourable demographics, and rising middle-class consumption. At the same time, the region exposes operational weaknesses faster than more mature markets.

Regulatory diversity, uneven infrastructure, and rapid digital adoption create a high-pressure environment. Models that work here tend to be resilient elsewhere. Those who fail do so quickly.

Also Read: How Gen-Z travellers are driving the comeback of online travel agencies

Gen Z travellers amplify this effect. They expect connected journeys, value-led choices, and personalisation by default. Loyalty is fluid, trust is conditional, and switching costs are low. Economic and political uncertainty remains a real downside risk, reinforcing the need for systems that can adapt without undermining confidence.

As Javier Cabrerizo, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at HBX, observed, Gen Z uses AI and personalisation to discover what is trending and relevant to them. But once they arrive, they deliberately avoid the crowd, seeking hidden gems and local experiences instead. AI guides discovery, but individuality defines value.

For travel providers, this creates a tension: AI is essential for discovery and relevance, but value is ultimately measured by how effectively it enables individuality rather than conformity.

A recalibrated future

MarketHub Asia did not signal a slowdown in travel. It signalled a recalibration.

The industry is moving away from growth narratives built solely on scale and toward operating models grounded in trust, evidence, and resilience. Technology enables opportunity. AI accelerates execution. Security, often invisible, determines whether either can be sustained.

The next generation of travel leaders will not be defined by how quickly they expand, but by how well their systems hold under pressure. In an increasingly connected, data-rich world, discipline, not ambition, is becoming the industry’s most durable competitive advantage.

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Image credit: HBX Group

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Advancements in AI present healthcare professionals with both opportunities and challenges. AI can personalise healthcare through digitisation and advance research efforts, but in the hands of threat actors, it is a tool used for sophisticated cyberattacks.

There is no disputing that technology’s ability to streamline operational efficiency would be a welcome boon to Singapore’s healthcare industry, which faces the need to grow its workforce to 82,000 by 2030.  AI can help by increasing operational efficiency.

For example, in Thailand, N Health,  a healthcare services provider, modernised its ageing infrastructure with new, scalable technologies. This strategic upgrade has strengthened operational efficiency and resilience, enabling partner hospitals to deliver higher-quality patient experiences while supporting N Health’s regional expansion.

Healthcare systems are also under pressure to reduce staff burnout, reduce technology costs, stand out among competitors, and grow patient numbers and other revenue streams. At the same time, healthcare IT professionals have their hands busy fighting off ongoing cyber disruption campaigns. According to the 2024 Global Threat Intelligence report, threat actors use GenAI to enhance social engineering and phishing attacks and share false information. Data breaches caused by ransomware, extortion, and other tactics result in significant financial losses to victims.

That said, IT professionals can protect their organisation’s critical systems by levelling up their cybersecurity maturity and defending against cyberattacks by taking the following actions:

Build your AI strategy early

When integrating AI into your operations, it’s essential to start with a strategy that incorporates security and resilience from the beginning, as retrofitting these elements can introduce unnecessary challenges.

By aligning your AI use cases with your organisation’s specific needs—whether you’re a research hospital, a clinical facility, or both—you establish a solid foundation to achieve results. Once your use cases are defined, you can assess potential risks and address them by determining what data is required for your models, who needs access to it, and how to secure it effectively.

Given the complexities of AI in healthcare, collaborating with external IT and security experts can provide crucial insights. These advisors can help you design a robust, future-ready AI strategy that avoids common pitfalls. Ensuring you have the right expertise in place will keep your AI initiatives secure, accelerate adoption and drive progress without unnecessary setbacks.

Also Read: Bridging healthcare and cybersecurity: How women are challenging stereotypes in tech

Advance your cybersecurity maturity

Reducing your attack surface is also critical to limiting how threat actors can infiltrate and what they can access. With sensitive medical data at stake, Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency (CSA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Synapxe has introduced the Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme (CLS) for Medical Devices.

This scheme establishes essential security benchmarks for medical devices, guiding healthcare providers in procuring more secure equipment to enhance protection and ensure compliance. Taking these steps strengthens your defences while meeting regulatory requirements.

Real-time detection and response are further elements that are essential for safeguarding healthcare IT systems. AI-powered tools like Managed Detection and Response (MDR) enable you to quickly identify and mitigate threats. Manage AI-specific risks by implementing AI guardrails, such as those offered through AI Proxy services, and regular penetration testing to ensure your systems remain secure and reliable.

Recovery planning should address more than cyberattacks: Prepare for system failures or AI disruptions, such as faulty outputs from Large Language Models (LLMs). The ability to swiftly roll back AI systems to prior versions is critical to maintaining operations. A solid strategy includes regular backups of data and systems, well-defined incident response plans, and immutable vaults.

Protect backups to avoid costly recoveries

According to The State of Ransomware 2024 study, the average cost of cyber recovery, excluding ransomware payments, totalled US$2.73 million. The study also found that 98 per cent of organisations were able to recover encrypted data, with backups serving as the No. 1 recovery method.

It is crucial to protect your backups, given that 94 per cent of organisations impacted by ransomware in 2023 said threat actors attempted to compromise their backups during attacks. AI can strengthen your backup systems by automating backup scheduling, detecting anomalies like corrupted files or incomplete backups, and identifying and eliminating duplicate data.

Also Read: Showcasing the future of healthcare, the Estonian way

Safeguard healthcare data and restore operations faster

According to a 2025 Dell Technologies survey, 64 per cent of business and IT decision makers say recovering the business to meet Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) would be difficult after a cyberattack. You can position your healthcare IT system to avoid this challenge.

To better protect your data, you must plan, prepare and practice as if an attack is inevitable, with an emphasis on quickly restoring operations with minimal disruption. You can lead a swift recovery and minimise data loss by using these AI-integrated solutions:

• Immutable and isolated storage: Immutable backups cannot be altered or deleted. Storing backups in an isolated environment protects them from cyberattacks on your healthcare IT system.
• Data encryption: Encryption locks your data with a digital key, ensuring only authorised users can decode and access it.
• Data validation: Validation verifies the accuracy and integrity of data, guaranteeing your backups can be trusted and used when needed.

By advancing cybersecurity maturity with AI-enhanced backup and recovery methods, you can build a resilient and secure healthcare IT system that enables you to quickly recover from cyberattacks while minimising downtime. This can set you apart in the market and instil confidence among patients, healthcare professionals, partners and investors.

With the power of AI, healthcare professionals can continue delivering better patient care.

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In an era marked by unprecedented technological advancement and economic transformation, the healthcare technology sector stands at a critical inflexion point.

As we navigate the complexities of post-pandemic recovery and economic restructuring, healthtech has emerged not merely as a vertical within the broader technology ecosystem but as a fundamental driver of healthcare delivery, accessibility, and economic growth.

Market landscape: Exponential growth

The global healthtech market has demonstrated remarkable resilience and expansion, even amidst economic uncertainties. According to Grand View Research, the global digital health market size was valued at US$211.0 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.6 per cent from 2024 to 2030, reaching an estimated US$665.5 billion by the end of the forecast period.

This growth trajectory significantly outpaces many traditional economic sectors, signalling a fundamental shift in both healthcare delivery models and investment priorities.

Within this broader landscape, several sub-sectors demonstrate particularly compelling growth metrics:

• Telemedicine: The global telemedicine market size was valued at US$87.41 billion in 2022 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 24.0 per cent from 2023 to 2030.
• AI in healthcare: According to Bloomberg Intelligence, the AI healthcare market is projected to reach US$187.95 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 37.0 per cent.
• Digital therapeutics: Market valuation exceeded US$4.3 billion in 2022, with projections suggesting growth to US$32.5 billion by 2030.

The macroeconomic context: Healthcare as economic imperative

The expansion of healthtech must be understood within the broader economic context. Healthcare expenditures now constitute approximately 18.3 per cent of GDP in the United States and between 8-12 per cent in most developed economies, according to World Bank data from 2023. Two critical macroeconomic factors are accelerating healthtech adoption:

Demographic pressures and healthcare labour shortages

The World Health Organisation projects a global shortage of 10 million healthcare workers by 2030. With OECD populations aging rapidly (65+ increasing from 17 per cent to 27 per cent by 2050), technological solutions that amplify provider capacity and enable remote care have become essential.

Value-based care transitions

The Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services aims to have 100 per cent of Medicare beneficiaries in accountability-based care relationships by 2030. healthtech solutions supporting preventive care and chronic disease management are critical enablers of this economic transformation.

Also Read: Striking the right balance: Financial health, talent retention, and business growth

Six key trends shaping the future

• AI integration beyond diagnostics

AI is moving beyond imaging to transform entire clinical workflows. Nature Medicine reports AI-enhanced clinical decision support systems have demonstrated a 32 per cent reduction in diagnostic errors and 27 per cent improvement in treatment optimisation.

Google DeepMind’s breakthroughs in protein folding are accelerating drug discovery by an estimated 70 per cent, revolutionising therapeutic development.

• Ambient clinical intelligence

A 2023 JAMA study found physicians spend nearly half their time on EHR tasks. Ambient clinical intelligence technologies like Microsoft and Nuance’s DAX have shown 27 per cent productivity improvements, allowing physicians to see three to five additional patients daily.

• Digital therapeutics as standard of care

The Digital Therapeutics Alliance reports over 35 DTx products have received regulatory approval as of mid-2023. IQVIA Institute projects DTx interventions could generate healthcare savings of US$46 billion annually in the US by 2030.

• Decentralised clinical trials

Deloitte’s 2023 Life Sciences Outlook finds decentralised trials reduce costs by 15-20 per cent while accelerating recruitment by 30-50 per cent. This model has increased diverse participant enrolment by 33 per cent according to the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative.

• Healthcare ecosystems and interoperability

The healthcare interoperability market is projected to reach US$9.4 billion by 2028. Regulatory frameworks including the European Health Data Space and 21st Century Cures Act are accelerating this transformation.

Also Read: The most-funded healthtech startups in Southeast Asia: A decade in review

• Healthcare software development solutions

The healthcare software development market is projected to reach US$12 billion by 2027 (Grand View Research). This growth is fuelled by rising demand for patient management systems and telehealth applications. Innovations in AI and machine learning are enhancing diagnostics and care, while regulatory frameworks like HITECH are promoting secure and interoperable solutions.

Challenges and economic constraints

Despite promising growth, healthtech faces several constraints:

• Reimbursement frameworks

While telehealth reimbursement has expanded significantly—with 43 US states now having telehealth parity laws—many innovative healthtech solutions still face reimbursement challenges. A survey by the Digital Medicine Society found that 67 per cent of digital health companies cited reimbursement as their primary commercial obstacle.

• Data privacy and security concerns

Healthcare data breaches increased by 35 per cent between 2022 and 2023, according to a report from the Ponemon Institute, with the average cost of a healthcare data breach reaching US$10.93 million. These security challenges represent both an economic liability and a potential innovation barrier.

• Regulatory harmonisation

Fragmented regulatory approaches across global markets introduce friction into healthtech commercialisation. The FDA’s Digital Health Center of Excellence and the EU’s Medical Device Regulation provide frameworks within their jurisdictions, but global harmonisation remains elusive, creating additional costs for multinational deployment.

healthtech represents both a resilient investment sector and a catalyst for healthcare transformation. By addressing the fundamental challenges of access, quality, and cost, these technologies offer pathways to sustainable healthcare systems that align economic and human imperatives.

For forward-thinking organisations, the strategic imperative is clear: position for a future where healthtech becomes healthcare’s fundamental operating system rather than merely a component of care delivery.

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Ask someone to define clinical informatics, and you’re likely to be met with a blank stare — a reaction that outlines its niche status despite its growing importance in healthcare.

As the industry grapples with rising operational and technological challenges, clinical informatics has emerged as a critical enabler of innovation in healthtech, though it remains widely misunderstood. Even less common is the idea of a fully trained nurse venturing into this male-dominated field.

Clinical informatics in Singapore

Informatics is a translation discipline – it helps to transform different “languages” into one that can be used for effective communication. In that respect, clinical informatics employees, who are usually both medically-savvy and IT trained, serve as the bridge between healthcare and tech employees to help all parties speak and understand the same language.

Such collaborative effort underscores the importance of fostering a more inclusive discipline. Greater representation from women can bring a more empathetic and human-centered perspective to the field, balancing the process-oriented approach with a focus on compassion and patient-centric solutions. By embracing diversity, the field of informatics can unlock even greater potential to drive innovation and improve outcomes in healthcare.

A specialist nurse turned IT professional in clinical informatics

I have spent six years as a full-time Emergency nurse at Tan Tock Seng Hospital before 2015, where I immersed myself in the complexities of patient care. Over the years, as Singapore’s public healthcare system grappled with rising healthcare demands and the unprecedented challenges of the 2020 global pandemic, I witnessed firsthand how healthtech innovations became a game-changer for healthcare professionals. These advancements not only enhanced patient care but also transformed the way healthcare teams operated.

One of the most pressing pain points I have observed was the considerable amount of administrative tasks, which can sometimes take time and energy away from direct patient care. I began to see how healthtech solutions could alleviate these inefficiencies, enabling healthcare professionals to focus on what truly matters — delivering exceptional care to patients. This realisation sparked my growing interest in the potential of healthtech to reshape Singapore’s healthcare landscape.

Also Read: How the tech industry can become friendlier for women

Driven by a desire to make a broader impact, I took a bold step and pursued a postgraduate degree in clinical informatics — a field that was still in its early stages and far from mainstream recognition. I see a symbiotic relationship between healthcare and technology. For healthtech to be effective, I believe that it should be clinically relevant and designed to address real-world challenges faced by healthcare professionals.

My journey in healthtech took a significant leap in 2015 when I joined the Clinical Informatics Team and saw the development of many national healthtech initiatives. My fondest experience was with HealthHub – Singapore’s national digital healthcare platform which serves to provide patients with equips citizens with information on medical conditions, medical listings and secure access to health records at their fingertips.

Once, I witnessed how the app kept my family member informed and reassured during a medical episode, while also significantly easing the workload for healthcare providers. It was a testament to how technology could create meaningful, human-centred solutions.

Empowering more women to chart their dreams

I believe that adaptability is important for women to succeed in today’s fast-paced technological landscape, and many women in the field demonstrate a strong ability to adjust to changing technologies.

As a passionate advocate for nurses in healthcare and women actively planning their careers, I notice that many misconceptions still exist. Women often encounter challenges such as the balancing dual roles, experiencing imposter syndrome, and facing gender-specific biases.

I am grateful for the strong peer support within my team at Synapxe as I navigate my career transition. I believe my contributions help address what an all-male team might find challenging — bringing empathy into our thought processes, which can sometimes be overlooked in complex IT scenarios.

I hope to share more success stories of women in technology to encourage young girls and women to pursue their dreams in unconventional fields. One inspiring figure would be Dr. Caroline Hargrove, who invented the F1 simulator and later moved into healthtech, where she created AI-driven telehealth applications to improve health outcomes. She is one of the many role models I hope more women will look up to and emulate.

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Since 2020, life has been tough for a lot of people. The COVID-19 pandemic may have started as a health crisis, but it quickly became something deeper—something invisible.

Behind the masks and lockdowns, many of us were struggling emotionally. And while we’ve slowly moved forward, the truth is: mental health issues have quietly gotten worse in Southeast Asia, and not enough people are talking about it.

This isn’t just a global problem. It’s a regional one. And for many in ASEAN, it’s a silent battle.

The numbers we can’t ignore

Let’s talk facts. According to the World Health Organisation, cases of depression and anxiety worldwide rose by 25 per cent in the first year of the pandemic. In Southeast Asia, a 2021 regional study found that nearly half of the people surveyed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore showed signs of severe anxiety or depression.

In Malaysia alone, over 37,000 people called mental health hotlines in 2020. The following year, suicide cases rose to 1,142—nearly double the previous year. These aren’t just numbers. These are people who felt overwhelmed, helpless, and unheard.

In the Philippines, mental health hotline calls nearly doubled in one year, with hundreds expressing suicidal thoughts. In Singapore, poor mental health rose from 13.4 per cent in 2020 to 17 per cent in 2022. In Thailand, the suicide rate climbed to 7.97 per 100,000 people—just shy of WHO’s “alarming” threshold of 8.

Vietnam reported that about 15 million people—around 15 per cent of its population—are living with mental health conditions. Even more alarming: over 3 million children in Vietnam need mental health support.

Young people are struggling too

A generation is growing up under pressure. In Malaysia, 26.9 per cent of teenagers were reported to have depression in 2022, compared to 18.3 per cent five years earlier. In other ASEAN countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, educators and social workers are seeing more signs of anxiety, self-harm, and emotional distress among young people.

And many are suffering in silence. They look okay on the outside, but deep inside, they feel alone.

Why is no one talking about this?

Here’s the honest truth: people don’t talk about mental health because of stigma.

In many ASEAN cultures, mental health is still seen as taboo. If someone admits they’re depressed, others may say they’re weak or overreacting. In some families, the mindset is: “Don’t talk about problems—just keep going.” But bottling up emotions doesn’t heal anything. It only makes things worse.

The second reason is access. There simply aren’t enough mental health services in Southeast Asia. Most countries spend less than three per cent of their health budget on mental health. Some spend as little as US$1 per person per year.

In Indonesia, there are only about 1,200 psychiatrists for a population of 270 million. In the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, the numbers are just as low. Even Singapore, which has better healthcare, only has 4.4 psychiatrists per 100,000 people. The WHO recommends 10.

This means many people who need help simply can’t find it—or can’t afford it.

The sad reality: Mental health isn’t “profitable”

Mental health care is often ignored because there’s no big money in it.

Governments are more likely to fund projects that boost the economy. Businesses prefer campaigns that improve productivity. But therapy? Support groups? Mental health education? These things don’t generate quick profits.

But ignoring mental health comes at a cost. Economists estimate that untreated mental illness could cost ASEAN countries up to 4.8 per cent of GDP due to lost productivity. People who are depressed or anxious often can’t focus, can’t work, or burn out quickly. So, in reality, caring for mental health actually saves money.

Still, the real cost isn’t financial—it’s human. It’s the father who feels too ashamed to ask for help. The teenager who thinks no one will understand. The friend who hides their sadness with a smile. Every day, someone is silently struggling—and some of them don’t make it through.

What can we do?

You don’t need to be a doctor or politician to make a difference. Start with the people around you.

• Check in: Send that message. Make that call. Ask someone, “How are you really doing?” Not just the usual “I’m fine” stuff. Give people space to talk. It might feel awkward, but your small action could mean the world.
• Listen without judging: When someone opens up, don’t interrupt. Don’t try to fix everything. Just listen. Say things like, “That sounds tough,” or “I’m here for you.” What people need most is to feel heard and accepted.
• Normalise the conversation: Talk about your own mental health struggles. Be honest when you’re feeling down. When we open up, we give others permission to do the same. The more we talk, the less taboo it becomes.
• Help them take the first step: If someone is in deep distress, help them reach out for support. Look for local helplines, counseling services, or online resources. Offer to go with them or make the first call together. Sometimes, people just need a little help to get started.
• Speak up in your community: If you’re in a workplace, school, or organisation, speak up for better mental health policies. Suggest wellness programs, mental health days, or anonymous counselling. Show your leaders that this matters.

It starts with us

In ASEAN, we pride ourselves on being close-knit, family-focused, and community-driven. But real care goes beyond giving food or money. It’s about showing up emotionally. It’s about making sure no one feels alone.

Mental health issues are growing in our region. The numbers don’t lie. But behind every statistic is a person—a story—a life. And every life matters.

Even if big institutions are slow to act, we can lead the change in our own homes, schools, and social circles. Let’s make kindness normal. Let’s make it safe to say “I’m not okay.” Let’s remind our loved ones that they matter—not for what they do, but for who they are.

So today, take a few minutes to reach out. Listen. Care. Because sometimes, that’s all it takes to save a life.

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Mental well-being is a big issue across the world. In Singapore, mental well-being costs nearly US$16 billion a year, accounting for about 2.9 per cent of the nation’s GDP, while in Malaysia, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health found that one in three Malaysian adults aged 16 and above has a mental health condition.

Organisations and businesses aren’t the only ones affected, and caregivers are at risk. A study in Singapore revealed that 72 per cent of mental health care caregivers felt exhausted, and three in four needed temporary separation from the people they cared for.

The pandemic shined the spotlight on mental well-being and helped chip away at the stigma. This has also resulted in tech advancements in the space. Even as tech improves, we believe the human connection should always be the underlying foundation that guides the way. Here are some of the touchpoints in the space.

Mental well-being touchpoints we see so far

Some touchpoints connect individuals to healthcare providers. Telehealth solutions have come a long way and are a prime example of this. Medical records, medications, prescriptions are treatment plans are synced across the board. This has reduced the risk of spreading contagious diseases while cutting down on travel and waiting times, making it especially helpful for people living in remote areas.

Other touchpoints connect individuals with themselves. Across wearables and thousands of wellness apps, we see them cover a few bases. Some apps promote a mindful, active lifestyle, covering meditation, fitness, and yoga. Others track sleep and nutrition and provide assessments and information to help people get through the hard times. These options provide individuals with different gateways that could lead them to seek professional help.

The Village approach to well-being: An untapped touchpoint

We humans are social creatures, and close relationships are integral to our survival. A research article cited that 308,849 individuals across 148 studies revealed humans with relatively strong social relationships increased their likelihood of survival by 50 per cent. The CDC has reported that loneliness and social isolation significantly increase a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, including smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.

Also Read: ‘HUGgy’ng innovation: Dolbomdream’s tech vest aims to bridge mental healthcare gap

Despite the growth of social media and the many connections people have on the platforms, an international study has shown that people using social media to maintain their relationships feel lonelier. Social media facilitates social contact, but it doesn’t meet the quality of connection of those who are on it for that reason.

We propose the Village approach to well-being. Each individual in the village has close friends and family. A tight-knit group with strong bonds. Everyone in the village is trusted to be open, honest, and proactive in their thoughts, feelings, and interactions with one another. The Village approach to well-being is a manner that possesses the potential to support the individual’s physical and mental well-being.

The touchpoint connecting the individual with their village can be improved. With the Village approach to care as the framework, we can vastly enhance the well-being of the space and the mileage from our well-being solutions.

Though professional help is readily available, and society is more open, factors such as cost, timing, and availability of therapists prevent people from reaching out. There are also concerns regarding having treatment on official records that dissuade people from seeking help, fearing the ramifications it could have on their professional lives.

The Village approach to well-being involves helping individuals identify and curate their villages. The need to share sensitive data points safely and privately is essential to encourage proactiveness and engagement. With the previous touch point, the individual has to either deal with their challenges alone or seek professional help.

The village becomes a sounding board and support group, serving as scaffolding to proactively help individuals with those challenges. This middle ground can identify and resolve issues earlier, which takes a heavy load off caregivers at home and the healthcare system.

Everyone has a different baseline. A video from Norwich Football Club for World Mental Health Day shows how the signs can be hard to spot, even for close ones. With curated villages, the individual can be forthcoming and honest, allowing accurate assessments to gauge their moods and mental states.

The individuals in a village can share how they feel, and others can share their observations of how the individuals feel as well, to see the difference and gain perspectives. Notifications can be sent when there are changes in the individual’s mood so the village can intervene and support.

Also Read: The rise of generative AI in digital mental health solution

The Village approach to care can also be a counterbalance to social media. People on social media tend to share the parts of their lives they want people to see – the wins and the highlights, and this has led to pressures that result in a negative effect on mental health. The village provides a forum to listen intently and engage in real conversations, as well as a safe space to share losses or lowlights, normalising daily challenges and overcoming them.

Ultimately, through the village, the individual will have access to their accountability partners for their well-being and deepen their connections through activities, community events, and multiple touchpoints in the real world.

Tech and the lifelong journey of mental well-being

As tech improves, knowing its place and context for our mental well-being is essential to support and enhance human connection, not replace it.

We should also look at mental well-being tech and the Village beyond a solution and preventive measure. For high-at-risk individuals, the village is a safety net, for individuals who are doing well, the village is a trampoline.

No matter where anyone is at, it should always be worked on. Professional athletes and high-performing individuals know the value of accountability partners, no matter where anyone is in life, mental well-being can and should always be worked on.

We must be wary of bad tech and how much of our bandwidth it can occupy. Ironically, the success marker of good tech for mental well-being in the future could be a solution where anyone can be a user and act as a catalyst for human connection so everyone uses it as little as they need to.

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This article was first published on March 13, 2024

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The Asia‑Pacific (APAC) cybersecurity sector saw a notable slowdown in 2025, with investor appetite shifting from breadth to depth as funds and corporates pick fewer, more mature targets, according to data from Tracxn.

While the regional market has accumulated meaningful capital over the last several years, the 2025 picture is one of moderation: total capital raised in APAC reached US$8.35 billion to date, but annual inflows have decelerated sharply from the peak years.

Also Read: From fraud fighters to zero-trust builders: SEA’s cyber stars

Tracxn’s dataset shows funding peaked in 2021 (about US$1.7 billion that year) and has tapered since. In 2025, the region attracted US$185.2 million, representing a 27.7 per cent year‑on‑year decline from 2024. The number of rounds also contracted to 43, down 27.1 per cent year‑on‑year, suggesting investors applied far stricter filters on deal quality and go‑to‑market proof points.

The picture in APAC diverged from global trends: worldwide cybersecurity funding expanded to US$14.6 billion in 2025, a 41 per cent year‑on‑year uptick, even though the number of global rounds fell to 457 — a 13.5 per cent decline.

In short, the world pumped more capital into fewer, bigger bets; APAC pulled back.

Early‑stage resilience, late‑stage drought

Stage‑level analysis reveals a nuanced internal dynamic. Early‑stage investments (seed and Series A equivalents) accounted for the lion’s share of 2025 activity in APAC, with US$138.8 million deployed, up 15 per cent year‑on‑year. That suggests venture investors retained an appetite for early product‑market experiments in cybersecurity, provided founders could show rapid adoption or defensible data moats.

By contrast, seed rounds as a category declined 34 per cent year‑on‑year to US$25.1 million, and late‑stage funding collapsed to US$21 million, a 78 per cent year‑on‑year drop.

The late‑stage drought is particularly striking: it points to a scarcity of crossover and growth capital available for scaling cybersecurity companies in the region, forcing many to either seek offshore capital or stretch to profitability sooner.

Geography of capital: India dominates

India, Australia, and Singapore held the ground in APAC funding in 2025, with funding heavily concentrated in a handful of markets. India led the region with US$116 million raised, followed by Australia with US$32.1 million and Singapore with US$24 million.

Also Read: Why Flexxon thinks software-only cybersecurity is no longer enough

The Indian figure underscores the country’s accelerating enterprise digitisation and chronic security needs across finance, fintech, healthcare, and public‑sector projects. Australia’s placement reflects a robust security vendor scene and strong crossover investors, while Singapore continues to punch above its weight as a regional security hub, buoyed by a mature professional services base and government emphasis on cyber resilience.

Segment winners: application security and data protection surge

Segmental winners in 2025 point towards enterprise pain points being monetised through AI and automation. Application security software attracted US$46.1 million (a dramatic 922 per cent increase from US$4.5 million in 2024) driven by startups that combine automated offensive testing, attack surface management and AI‑assisted remediation.

India-based FireCompass, a continuous automated red‑teaming and attack surface management player, and Protectt.ai, focusing on mobile app and AI security, were among the most funded in this category.

Data security platforms also made a leap, securing US$43.1 million — up 130.5 per cent from US$18.7 million in 2024. Startups such as QuintessenceLabs, which brings quantum‑enhanced cybersecurity capabilities, and Pantherun, an Indian innovator with a patented data protection algorithm, drew significant investor interest. The surge in data security reflects enterprises’ strategic shift from perimeter defence to protecting the data and models that power digital services.

Website security software, previously neglected by investors in the region, recorded US$20 million in 2025 — all attributable to Kasada, the Sydney‑based anti‑bot and scraping defence firm, which closed a US$20 million Series C. That single transaction highlights a broader trend: focused, revenue‑generating point solutions with clear ROI on defence spend continue to attract concentrated capital.

Notable names: Kasada, FireCompass, CloudSEK and the long‑tail leaders

On a deal basis, 2025’s largest rounds in APAC were led by Kasada (US$20 million Series C), FireCompass (US$20 million Series B), and CloudSEK (US$19 million Series B). Kasada’s raise is emblematic of demand from large digital platforms for robust bot‑defence as attackers weaponise automation and cheap compute to scale attacks.

Looking at historical funding across the region, Tracxn shows Acronis as the most capitalised cybersecurity company to date, with US$658 million raised. That is followed by Cloudwalk (US$504 million) and Druva (US$475 million) — names that underscore the diverse paths to scale in APAC, from endpoint and backup solutions to AI and imaging companies with wider market ambitions.

What this means for 2026: higher quality, deeper enterprise integration

Tracxn’s outlook suggests 2026 will not be a return to the frothy, high‑round environment of 2019–2021, but rather a transition to healthier, more focused expansion.

Also Read: Singapore’s AI adoption surges, but data complexity raises security risks: Report

Several tailwinds support this: enterprises across APAC continue to digitise, regulatory pressure for cyber resilience is rising (particularly in finance and critical infrastructure), and the attack surface is ballooning with cloud, APIs and AI deployments.

Key areas to watch include:

• Application security and attack surface management: enterprises seek continuous, automated defences as software delivery accelerates.
• Data security platforms and model protection: the proliferation of AI systems creates new vectors that require both cryptographic and behavioural defences.
• Identity‑led architectures: zero‑trust and identity verification will remain top priorities as workforce and customer interactions decentralise.
• AI‑driven threat detection: startups that can reduce mean time to detect and respond by leveraging cross‑organisational telemetry will find receptive buyers.

Investors will gravitate towards companies that demonstrate product maturity, enterprise traction and clear paths to profitability or substantial annual recurring revenue. The late‑stage capital gap may persist unless crossover and growth funds re‑enter the market; absent that, promising founders will increasingly pursue strategic partnerships, M&A exits or US and European capital sources.

Regional implications: a proving ground for global players

For Southeast Asia, the 2025 data carries actionable lessons. Markets such as Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia are fertile testing grounds for identity, payments and cloud security products that can scale regionally. The rise of serial founders and the repatriation of talent from global hubs can accelerate build‑outs of enterprise‑grade vendors.

However, to emulate more mature ecosystems, APAC needs a stronger pipeline of later‑stage investors willing to finance scaling security firms across time zones and regulatory regimes.

The 2025 contraction is not a setback so much as a correction. Tracxn’s figures reveal that capital is not fleeing cybersecurity; it is being more deliberately allocated. The companies that win in 2026 will be those that turn the complexity of modern attack surfaces into repeatable, enterprise‑grade services with measurable ROI.

For those firms, APAC remains a vast market of unmet demand if they can prove they can deliver results at scale.

The post Global cybersecurity heats up, and APAC cools off appeared first on e27.

When we talk about AI in biotechnology, the conversation usually revolves around science: faster drug discovery, protein folding breakthroughs, or personalised medicine. But the real story is bigger than science. It’s about how ethics, governance, economics, politics, and society intersect at this new frontier.

Ethics: Who gets a cure, and who doesn’t?

AI can now generate millions of molecular candidates in weeks. AlphaFold 3 takes us further, predicting how proteins interact with DNA, RNA, and small molecules. That’s revolutionary for discovery. But who benefits? If incentives remain profit-driven, rare diseases and those affecting poorer regions may still be ignored.

There’s also the dual-use dilemma: the same AI that designs a life-saving drug could be misused to generate harmful compounds. Ethics here isn’t just about dataset bias—it’s about responsibility for outcomes. And it’s not abstract. Imagine a parent in a low-income country watching global headlines about “AI-discovered cures” while their own child has no access. The technology promises universality, but the distribution risks being anything but.

Governance: Science sprints, law walks

Regulation is scrambling to keep up. The EU AI Act now classifies biotech applications as “high risk,” demanding strict oversight. In the U.S., the FDA has introduced Predetermined Change Control Plans (PCCPs), allowing developers to declare in advance how AI systems may evolve post-approval.

These are steps forward, but they reveal a deeper challenge: science is sprinting, while law is jogging behind. Worse, regulations are fragmented. The EU enforces precaution; the U.S. experiments with flexibility; China pushes rapid state-backed adoption. Companies may exploit these gaps, moving data and trials to whichever jurisdiction offers the lightest touch. Governance isn’t just slow—it’s uneven.

Also Read: AI, advanced therapeutics, and the geopolitical balancing act in biotech

Economics: The monopoly question

AI should lower the cost of early-stage discovery. In theory, that democratises innovation. In practice, it risks concentrating power. Training and deploying frontier models requires massive compute and proprietary datasets—resources controlled by a handful of tech and pharma giants. Smaller labs risk becoming dependent, licensing access rather than innovating independently.

The economic implications ripple outward. Will insurers reimburse AI-designed treatments differently? Will costs actually fall for patients, or will monopoly pricing persist? Alphabet’s Isomorphic Labs, which has already signed multi-billion-dollar partnerships with major drugmakers, embodies this tension: breakthrough efficiency paired with concentrated control.

Politics: Biotech as geopolitical strategy

COVID-19 taught nations that control over vaccines and treatments is not just a health issue—it’s sovereignty. Governments are now pouring billions into AI-biotech ecosystems. Whoever leads in this space doesn’t just sell cures; they wield geopolitical leverage.

Emerging technologies like quantum computing add another layer. Quantum promises to simulate molecules and chemical interactions at scales classical computers can’t touch. Partnerships such as Boehringer Ingelheim with Google Quantum AI are early signals. For countries, this isn’t just about innovation—it’s about future control over health, defense, and economic power.

Social impacts: Access, trust, and equity

Let’s say AI shortens discovery cycles tenfold. Who gets the new drugs first? Wealthy nations with purchasing power? Patients with premium insurance? Without careful policy, AI risks widening global health inequities between the Global North and South.

Trust is another fault line. How comfortable will people be taking a treatment designed largely by machines? In healthcare, perception shapes adoption as much as efficacy. Review articles note that even when accuracy improves, social acceptance cannot be assumed.

There’s also the question of data. AI-driven biotech relies on genomic and clinical datasets. Who owns this data? Are patients fully consenting to its use? And when genomic data flows across borders, what protections follow it? Without clear answers, privacy and trust will become major bottlenecks.

Also Read: Asia-Pacific governments step in as private biotech investors pull back

Workforce and culture: Who gets left behind?

AI’s acceleration raises uncomfortable questions about the people inside the system. If algorithms handle much of early-stage drug design, what happens to thousands of researchers who once did that work manually? There’s a risk of deskilling, where human expertise erodes as machines take over the hardest parts of the pipeline.

Yet there’s also an opportunity. New roles are emerging: data stewards, model auditors, bioethics officers. The biotech workforce could shift from “pipette in hand” to “oversight of AI-wet lab loops.” Whether this is empowering or displacing depends on how institutions prepare now.

The real blueprint

The future of AI in biotechnology isn’t just about algorithms—it’s about design. A resilient blueprint must embed ethics, governance, economics, politics, and social equity from the start.

Because the promise is enormous: faster cures, more resilient health systems, breakthroughs against diseases that have long eluded us. But the risks are just as stark: monopolies, inequity, regulatory arbitrage, public mistrust, and workforce disruption.

For innovators, leaders, and policymakers, the central question is simple but urgent:

Can we design a biotech future where AI serves not only markets, but humanity?

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Each year, millions of lives across Asia are sustained by blood transfusions, yet many countries in the region continue to experience recurring shortages. According to the World Health Organisation, 40 per cent come from high-income countries, despite these countries accounting for 16 per cent of the world’s population. In Asia, where demand outpaces supply, this imbalance is starkly felt.

Why people hold back

As a regular blood donor, I’ve come to appreciate both the urgency of the need and the depth of public hesitation that surrounds blood donation. When I ask friends why they don’t donate, the answers are strikingly similar: “It must be painful” or “I’m worried I won’t qualify.”

The truth is, the procedure itself is far less intimidating than people assume. However, one obstacle remains—screening potential donors for low haemoglobin levels. The WHO estimates that anaemia affects an estimated 571 million women and 269 million young children worldwide, with the highest prevalence in South and Southeast Asia.

In fact, up to 15–20 per cent of potential donors are turned away in some Asian countries due to low haemoglobin counts. Pre-screening usually involves a finger-prick blood sample. While minor, it acts as a psychological barrier for many. For those living with Sensory Processing Sensitivity, which includes about 20 per cent of Singapore’s population—myself among them—that single fingertip prick can be particularly painful even hours after testing.

Also Read: Healthtech in South and Southeast Asia – Seeing beyond the “obvious”

Reimagining screening through technology

The gap is what motivated me to create an app with a non-invasive haemoglobin scanner. The idea was simple: if people could check their haemoglobin levels quickly and painlessly before visiting a donation centre, we could remove one of the main barriers to participation. And by scanning their lips.

According to a retrospective study of the Singapore Blood Transfusion Service, about 14.4 per cent of prospective blood donors were deferred either temporarily or permanently at the pre-donation screening stage. Among the top reasons for deferral were a low haemoglobin count, alongside factors such as recent medication use and recovery from a flu or fever. This means that one in seven Singaporeans presenting to donate blood are turned away.

The first wave of feedback was eye-opening, not just from prospective blood donors but also from individuals who regularly require blood testing for medical reasons, as well as inactive donors who shared that they might be more inclined to donate if pre-screening felt less invasive. And fast. Both groups shared that an easier, pain-free haemoglobin check could be a meaningful help in reducing anxiety, encouraging participation and lessening care costs.

Developing Genesis1 is not just about convenience. It is about using advanced technology – specifically, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – to normalise blood donation and reframe the experience as empowering rather than intimidating. What struck me most was that modern technology could transform the act of giving blood from something intimidating into something empowering.

Beyond donor centres

From a healthtech perspective, the potential extends far beyond donor centres. Anaemia often goes undiagnosed, particularly in communities with limited access to healthcare. A portable, easy-to-operate tool could empower clinics, schools and even self-help groups to screen populations at scale, turning what is currently a reactive diagnosis into a proactive measure.

For governments and Non-Governmental Organisations managing national blood banks and public health campaigns, this kind of solution could optimise donor pools, reduce deferral rates and ultimately help build more resilient healthcare systems.

Also Read: The most-funded healthtech startups in Southeast Asia: A decade in review

Small shifts, big impact

The strength of health innovation in Asia lies in its scale. With large and varied populations, even a slight increase in active donors results in a significant impact. Think about it.

A five per cent increase in active donors translates into thousands of lives saved annually. By reducing barriers to eligibility screening, the application takes a small but significant step towards closing the supply gap, particularly in regions like Thailand and Indonesia, where shortages can mean the difference between life and death.

From fear to solidarity

The broader vision is clear: technology should serve as an enabler, not a gatekeeper. By designing tools that are intuitive, affordable and scalable, we can influence public attitudes towards blood donation and tackle one of the region’s most urgent yet solvable healthcare challenges.

Innovations like Genesis1 can help reshape public health attitudes across Asia. If people start to view health checks as accessible and painless, blood donation will feel less like a test of endurance and more like an act of shared responsibility. That shift, from fear to solidarity, could help cultivate a culture where giving blood is not unusual, but expected.

Blood donation is fundamentally an act of solidarity. By combining that human kindness with thoughtful innovation, we can ensure that fear and inconvenience never stand in the way of saving lives.

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Breaking into any industry as a startup in Asia is no small feat, but healthcare is in a league of its own. Known for its sky-high barriers to entry, strict regulations, and entrenched systems, healthcare is one of the hardest industries to disrupt and build in, especially in a region as diverse and dynamic as Asia.

Yet, for entrepreneurs willing to take the leap, the potential for massive impact and lucrative rewards make healthcare an industry worth exploring. Let’s delve into why healthcare is so tough to crack, the opportunities hiding within these challenges, and why startups should still consider this as a game-changing frontier.

Why healthcare is so challenging to disrupt

Entering the healthcare industry as an entrepreneur is not for the faint-hearted. Unlike sectors that thrive on rapid innovation and quick market entry, healthcare demands a meticulous, patient-centered approach. The industry is tightly regulated, highly capital-intensive, and deeply entrenched in legacy systems. For startups, this means navigating a minefield of challenges before making an impact.

Here are the key barriers that make healthcare one of the most difficult industries to disrupt:

• Regulatory complexity

Healthcare is one of the most tightly controlled sectors globally and Asia’s regulatory landscape is especially intricate. Each country enforces its own rigorous approval processes for new technologies, drugs, or devices. Entrepreneurs must invest significant time and resources into navigating these frameworks, with timelines often stretching into years before a product or service can be commercialised.

• High capital requirements

Building a healthcare startup demands substantial funding. Unlike industries where a lean MVP (Minimum Viable Product) can validate ideas, healthcare innovation requires clinical trials, certifications, and compliance testing—all of which are time-intensive and costly. Startups need to be prepared for a long runway to achieve profitability.

• Fragmented markets

Asia’s diversity is both a blessing and a challenge. While it offers enormous market potential, each country’s healthcare infrastructure, patient demographics, and consumer behaviour differ widely. Entrepreneurs must create hyper-localised solutions while maintaining scalability—a balancing act that’s easier said than done.

• Consumer trust and adoption

In healthcare, trust is paramount. Patients, providers, and regulators are cautious about adopting unproven solutions. Startups must focus on not just innovation but also credibility, ensuring that their offerings meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.

Also Read: Decoding digital preferences: A glimpse into the future of health tech ecosystem in SEA

Why startups should still take the leap

While the barriers are steep, the rewards for healthcare entrepreneurs who succeed are unparalleled. The healthcare sector is ripe for disruption in Asia, with several drivers creating fertile ground for innovation:

• Unmet Needs and Inefficiencies: The region is plagued with challenges such as uneven access to care, long wait times, and underfunded healthcare systems. These inefficiencies represent opportunities for startups to step in and create transformative solutions.
• Digital Transformation: The pandemic accelerated digital adoption in healthcare, opening doors for telemedicine, AI-driven diagnostics, and healthtech platforms. Entrepreneurs can now leverage technology to address age-old challenges more effectively.
• Growing Middle Class: As incomes rise across Asia, there’s an increasing demand for high-quality healthcare services. Startups focusing on affordability, accessibility, and convenience can cater to this expanding demographic.
• Social Impact and Legacy: Few industries offer the chance to create as much tangible, positive change as healthcare. Entrepreneurs venturing into this space have the opportunity to build companies that save lives, improve well-being, and shape the future of medicine.

Key opportunities for startups in healthcare

Despite the significant challenges, the healthcare industry in Asia presents immense opportunities for entrepreneurs who are willing to innovate and persevere. The region’s growing population, rising healthcare demands, and increasing adoption of technology have created fertile ground for startups to address critical gaps in care.

By identifying unmet needs and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, startups can disrupt traditional healthcare models and create transformative solutions. Here are some of the most promising opportunities in the healthcare sector for entrepreneurs:

• Telemedicine and virtual care: Platforms like Halodoc (Indonesia) and Practo (India) have shown that connecting patients and doctors remotely is not only viable but highly scalable. Entrepreneurs can explore niche markets, such as mental health support or specialised consultations, to carve out a unique space.
• AI-powered diagnostics: Artificial intelligence is revolutionising diagnostics by improving speed and accuracy. Startups can focus on creating affordable diagnostic tools tailored to specific markets, like rural areas where access to medical expertise is limited.
• Personalised medicine: With advances in genomics, startups can deliver tailored healthcare solutions, from customised treatment plans to preventive care, allowing patients to receive more effective interventions.
• Preventive healthcare and wellness: Wearable technology, health monitoring apps, and digital platforms promoting preventive care are gaining traction. These solutions appeal to tech-savvy consumers seeking to take charge of their health.

Startup survival tips for healthcare entrepreneurs

To thrive in this challenging yet rewarding space, consider these essential survival strategies:

• Play the long game: Healthcare is a marathon, not a sprint. Be prepared for long lead times and plan your funding runway accordingly. Investors with deep industry knowledge can be invaluable partners.
• Localise and scale thoughtfully: While the ultimate goal may be regional or global scale, begin by deeply understanding and solving the problems of a specific market. Once proven, expand strategically to new geographies.
• Build credibility from day one: Trust is everything in healthcare. Collaborate with established healthcare providers, hire domain experts, and prioritise data security and regulatory compliance to build confidence with all stakeholders.
• Embrace collaboration over competition: Healthcare is not an industry where disruption is synonymous with destroying incumbents. Often, startups succeed by working alongside established players to create synergies.

Also Read: What telemedicine and health tech holds across SEA amidst COVID-19

Why the healthcare industry needs entrepreneurs

The healthcare industry is overdue for innovation, particularly in Asia. It’s a space crying out for fresh ideas, bold thinkers, and courageous doers. While the challenges may seem insurmountable, they also act as a moat, ensuring that only the most committed and visionary entrepreneurs enter.

For those willing to invest their time, effort, and ingenuity, the rewards extend far beyond financial gain. They include the satisfaction of making a meaningful impact, improving lives, and leaving a legacy.

In healthcare, the stakes are high—but so are the rewards. If you’re an entrepreneur ready to take on one of the hardest industries to disrupt, Asia’s healthcare market is waiting for you. Will you answer the call?

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