Dear reader,
Despite the vibrancy of Southeast Asia’s tech landscape, women-led startups continue to face an uphill battle in securing funding. The latest data from Tracxn reveals a sharp decline in investment for female-founded ventures, even as overall startup funding in the region remains robust.
In 2024, these startups raised just US$198 million—only 6% of total funding in SEA and a staggering 65% drop from 2023. The absence of late-stage funding underscores the challenges women entrepreneurs face in scaling their businesses. While early-stage funding also declined, seed-stage rounds showed modest growth, highlighting resilience in the face of economic headwinds.
Several factors contribute to this disparity: a tough macroeconomic climate, a shift in investor focus toward profitability, and the under-representation of women in venture capital. Yet, there are bright spots—blockchain startups led by women saw significant gains, and initiatives like SG Women in Tech and the WAVES programme aim to bridge the funding gap.
With SEA lagging behind global peers in funding female founders, the region must take decisive steps to level the playing field. More inclusive investment strategies and stronger institutional support are essential to unlocking the full potential of women-led innovation.
Sainul,
Editor.
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NEWS & VIEWS
Venture capital remains elusive for women-led startups in SEA
Funding for women-led tech startups in SEA dropped 65% in 2024, highlighting persistent investment challenges despite ongoing diversity initiatives.
GoTo’s Q4 losses narrow to US$56M as adjusted EBITDA surges
This comes as the Indonesian tech giant’s revenue dropped marginally to US$255.3M, from US$261.4M the year before | For the last three months of 2024, GoTo’s adjusted EBITDA surged to US$24.3M from US$4.7M in 2023.
GlobalData acquires AI Palette to strengthen AI-driven consumer insights in CPG
AI Palette enables real-time identification of emerging consumer trends with contextual understanding and generates and screens product ideas within minutes.
Uber ends Foodpanda Taiwan acquisition
This follows Taiwan’s antitrust regulator’s rejection of the deal in December | According to Delivery Hero’s statement on Mar. 11, the decision requires Uber to pay a termination fee of approximately US$250M.
Binance nets US$2B from UAE-based MGX
MGX, launched by Abu Dhabi last year, has focused on AI and previously partnered with BlackRock and Microsoft for a US$30B AI fund | investment signals its expansion into cryptocurrency and blockchain.
Saudi-backed Scopely acquires Pokémon Go maker for US$3.5B
This acquisition includes the popular mobile game Pokémon Go, as well as other titles like Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now, along with the teams that develop these games.
Malaysian chipmaker firm SkyeChip targets US$226M IPO valuation
The company, founded in 2019, aims to launch the IPO potentially in H2 2025 at a valuation of over 1B ringgit (US$226M), according to sources | The potential IPO aligns with Malaysia’s push to expand its semiconductor sector.
Elevarm nets US$4.25M to boost smallholder horticulture farmers with AI agri-inputs
The investors include Intudo, Insignia Ventures, and 500 Global | Elevarm specialises in horticulture production of superior seeds, bio-based fertilisers, and environmentally friendly pest control solutions.
Agros lands US$4.25M Series A to scale climate-resilient farming in Indonesia
Gaia Impact, Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia, and Wavemaker Impact are the lead investors | Agros has expanded its operations to Indonesia, Cambodia, and Myanmar, supporting over 6,000 smallholder farmers.
Singapore grants bail in alleged US$390M Nvidia chip fraud
Two Singaporean men and one Chinese national were charged nearly two weeks ago with allegedly smuggling Nvidia chips and defrauding Dell and Super Micro by providing false information about the servers’ intended locations.
Meta and the Government of Singapore launch Llama Incubator Program
The Program is designed to build capabilities and drive innovation on open-source AI among startups, local SMEs, and public sector agencies in Singapore.
Choco Up, Wonder Capital join forces to launch US$50M private credit funds for APAC SMEs
The partnership has commenced with the closing of a US$10M private credit funding round to catalyse growth for e-commerce, SaaS, and tech businesses.
Okapi lands US$2M to expand its zero-upfront solar financing in SEA
The investor is Aquila, an IoT-powered sustainable finance company | The startup also offers Okapi Flow, a supply chain financing solution that provides procurement, logistics, and inventory financing for its solar installer partners.
Shoppable bags US$1.16M to tackle supply chain inefficiencies in Philippines using AI
The investors include Ignite House of Innovation, Tenco Capital, and Indelible Ventures | Shoppable’s Quotable AI automates quotes, invoicing, purchase orders, payments, financing, and product information management.
JigsawStack closes US$1M pre-seed round to transform AI deployment
UK-based Ada Ventures is the lead investor | JigsawStack offers access to fine-tuned, custom AI models that automate tasks across diverse technology stacks.
Antler introduces pre-seed programme AI Disrupt in response to fast-moving market
AI Disrupt is structured as a four-week sprint that aims to remove barriers for AI founders | Startups receive US$400K in pre-seed funding, along with AI perks valued at over US$650K from OpenAI, Nvidia, Nebius, and others.
Grow Asia launches Innovation Challenge 2025 to drive agritech in Philippines
The Grow Asia programme aims to support smallholder producers of coconut, cacao, and coffee in SEA, with an emphasis on the Philippines.
DeepSeek denies rumours about R2 model launch
A Reuters report previously said that DeepSeek was accelerating development of R2 model, moving the release from May | The model is expected to improve code generation and support multilingual reasoning beyond English.
VentureTECH invests in Malaysian SaaS firm POMEN to accelerate its growth
This partnership aims to accelerate POMEN’s growth and enhance its innovative platforms, further digitalising the ecosystem for connected services and operations.
FEATURES & INTERVIEWS
How a former Singapore police officer turned life’s hardest lessons into a swim academy
Athanasius Pang, an ex-police officer, overcame personal and financial struggles to build Dip Swim, a resilience-focused swim academy.
SEA’s US$325B e-commerce surge: What it means for merchants and payment providers
SEA’s digital payments and e-commerce market is booming, driven by mobile wallets, BNPL and cross-border transactions.
Yan Lim on women’s thought leadership: AI-driven insights help, but authenticity remains key
For women leaders, Yan Lim points out that AI-driven insights can help refine messaging and target audiences more effectively.
Geraldine Wong of GXS Bank: An inclusive environment for women in AI requires a multi-faceted approach
GXS Bank recognises AI’s power to drive financial inclusion, but only if it is built on principles of fairness and ethics.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The art of capital allocation: 5 pillars for a future-proof startup
In the intricate landscape of capital allocation, startups shape their path to success with a clear vision and strategy.
Is mentorship a powerful tool for solving startup challenges and addressing economic concerns?
A supportive ecosystem that develops and grows companies enabling them to attain their full potential, can be created by effective mentorship.
Levelling the digital playing field: How to get more women-led businesses online in Southeast Asia
Women entrepreneurs still face significant challenges, including limited access to capital, networks, and relevant business skills.
What did we learn from failing to raise VC funding?
Securing funding from venture capitalists is not assured, with statistics indicating that less than one per cent of startups receive such funding.
Founder etiquette: Questions best left unasked
Today I am here to talk about those questions that you must never ask a founder, no matter how strongly you feel the urge to.
Investing for her future: Why women should take control of their finances
In a society where women still face systemic barriers to economic empowerment, taking control of one’s financial destiny is an act of defiance and liberation.
Clean cap tables, happy VCs: How SPVs streamline startup fundraising for future success
SPVs help founders raise small checks from angel investors while keeping a clean and attractive cap table for future VC rounds.
Navigating fundraising: Recognising objections vs. rejections
Distinguish between objections and rejections in fundraising, maintaining resilience in the startup landscape.
Charting a clear course: Building effective communication in SEA’s hybrid work era
Between hybrid and remote teams, problems of communication can be a source of endless frustration for employees and managers.
How to generate winning startup ideas
Looking into industries that are inefficient or outdated for problems and inefficiencies is a great starting point for startup ideas.
Women in tech: It’s time to reframe the conversation
To make an impact in a male-dominated industry, women in tech are going through a quest of self-discovery and reframing.
How I leverage tech as a parent and business owner
I love being a mom and I love running a business, but most of all, I love being efficient: Penny Choo, Co-Founder of BloomThis.
Navigating the shift: From ‘growth at any cost’ to embracing sustainability in today’s startup landscape
Investors are increasingly cautious, realising that prioritising growth at any cost is unsustainable, resulting in tougher fundraising for startups.
Are we stressing ourselves out amidst AI adoption
This article discusses how leaders can adopt AI while maintaining team well-being and fostering a balanced, supportive workplace culture.
AI transforming LinkedIn content: Our custom GPT journey
We plan to refine our custom GPT further, exploring broader applications in storytelling and thematic content.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Trump raised a fist, I’m raising the future of threat detection
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Navigating Malaysia’s regulatory landscape: First quarter 2025 insights
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When tariffs danced with Bitcoin and markets held their breath
From tariffs to crypto reserves, March 12 saw major market shifts; here’s a breakdown of what’s driving global risk sentiment today.
From digital-first to citizen-first: Ushering in the next phase of Singapore’s smart nation vision
A successful Smart Nation goes beyond digital transformation, focusing on seamless, citizen-centric experiences that anticipate needs.
Space is making it rain—and not just on Mars
Space tech is now a trillion-dollar industry, powering AI, finance, and climate solutions—businesses investing early will lead the future.
Global markets in flux: Tariffs stir the pot, CPI cools the heat
Global markets teeter as US tariffs spark trade tensions, shifting risk sentiment in a high-stakes financial chess match.
Bridging healthcare and cybersecurity: How women are challenging stereotypes in tech
Women are breaking barriers in cybersecurity, bringing diverse expertise to healthtech and shaping a safer, more inclusive digital future.
The post Ecosystem Roundup: VC hurdles for women-led startups in SEA | GoTo narrows Q4 losses | GlobalData buys AI Palette appeared first on e27.