Globally, startups, particularly late-stage ones, are facing many challenges. Growth has been disrupted (owing to various macro-economic factors, including the Russia-Ukrain war and inflation), and VC investments have depleted, forcing companies to cut costs by firing employees and scaling back operations.
As the crisis unfolds, survival has become a top priority for startups, but how to navigate the rough sea and salvage the business is the question lingering in their mind. They struggle to find and connect with the right people and get the right advice on survival strategies.
Late-stage startups may have enough ammunition and experience to tide over the crisis, but early-stage startups, particularly those with limited resources, may not have such a luxury.
This is where startup events like Echelon become crucial.
Echelon, e27‘s flagship event, is staging a comeback after a three-year hiatus –the last event was held in 2019, just months before the pandemic hit. With over a decade of experience organising one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent tech events, Echelon is back in a new avatar to serve startups in the region and help them navigate the rough sea. The two-day event will be held at Resorts World Sentosa from October 27-28.
The attendees get countless opportunities to meet and connect with investors, corporates, governments, and entrepreneurs. They can seek partners to collaborate and build productive relationships with 500 of the most influential decision-makers and industry leaders from the Southeast Asia tech and startup ecosystem.
Besides, they can gain insights through discussion sessions featuring veteran and upcoming entrepreneurs and ecosystem enablers to shed light on today’s tech landscape and the future of startups in the region.
What to expect on Day 1
The Echelon agenda is being designed to suit the journey that a company may have to go through to grow.
We begin the first day of Echelon by exploring the state of the Southeast Asian tech startup ecosystem today. Through a panel discussion, we will look at fundraising trends and changes in customer behaviour that may affect how companies should approach their growth strategies. This panel aims to answer the big questions: What kind of opportunities are available in the market? What are the possible hurdles?
After that, we will go deeper into the different aspects of fundraising. We will learn from notable founders about their fundraising experience, especially during tough times like a pandemic or recession. We will also learn more about maintaining investor relations and how the pandemic has changed; this will include information on the platform that we can use to supercharge this process. And lastly, we will also look at the alternatives to VC funding available in the market.
Now, what happens after a company has successfully secured a funding round? That is when companies are executing their plans to grow.
This is why the next sessions will focus on Market Access. Here, we will learn the difference between Grab and Gojek’s models of scaling and growth. Should you look for regional Tier 1 city expansion or go deep into one market?
You will also learn about breaking away from the cash-burning model and setting up a presence in a foreign market –one of the most popular ways to grow in the region.
On Day 1, we will also hear from our sponsors about the role of payment services and finance in helping companies expand regionally.
At the end of Day 1, hopefully, you will be more equipped to get on the next part of your entrepreneurship journey. We are very excited to welcome you back to Echelon 2022.
Stay tuned!
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Echelon 2022 aims to provide intimate and focussed discussions on key topics and business matching services to facilitate business-driven connections during the two-day event. e27 will curate and invite key stakeholders of startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem enablers to drive towards fruitful business outcomes at Echelon.
The 2022 Echelon edition will be colocated with SWITCH at Resorts World Sentosa on 27 to 28 October 2022. Learn more here
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