New data from Angel Investment Network (AIN) is challenging long-held assumptions about who is driving Asia-Pacific’s startup boom, revealing that the region’s entrepreneurs are overwhelmingly older, more experienced, and still hungry for billion-dollar success.

According to the AIN Asia Pacific Founder Survey 2026, 70 per cent of founders in the region are over 45, overturning the popular image of the “young tech prodigy” leading the charge. Far from stepping back into retirement or pursuing quieter ventures, these mid-career entrepreneurs are doubling down on high-growth ambitions. The survey found that 39 per cent of startups still aim to reach “unicorn” status—a valuation of US$1 billion.

Conducted online with 83 startup founders in Hong Kong and Singapore in November and December 2025, data from the survey also suggests these entrepreneurs are more likely than their Western counterparts to commit fully to building their companies. While 50 per cent of founders in the US maintain a secondary job to support their ventures, 56 per cent of Asia-Pacific founders are working exclusively on their startups.

Only a minority split their time, with 21 per cent working full-time and 23 per cent working part-time elsewhere. The survey indicates that older founders may be drawing on personal savings, established networks, and years of professional experience to focus entirely on scaling their businesses.

Despite the intense pressure of pursuing hyper-growth, optimism remains high. The survey found that 59 per cent of founders feel optimistic about the year ahead, including 41 per cent who described themselves as very optimistic.

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Still, the ambition comes with significant personal sacrifice. Mental health was cited by 22 per cent of respondents as their highest non-financial cost, followed by friendships (19 per cent), family (19 per cent), and sleep (18 per cent).

Due diligence gap

Funding trends are also evolving rapidly, with entrepreneurs in the region increasingly looking beyond domestic markets for investment. A striking 72 per cent of Asia-Pacific startups are now seeking a mix of local and international investors, while 27 per cent are targeting international backers exclusively.

Only one per cent of founders are relying solely on local fundraising.

The shift highlights how Asia-Pacific entrepreneurs are positioning their ventures for global growth from the outset, rather than building locally first.

The survey also revealed a key vulnerability in fundraising practices: a due diligence gap. While entrepreneurs are aggressively pursuing investors, 25 per cent admitted they perform no due diligence beyond a quick online search. Only 30 per cent conduct comprehensive checks such as legal verification or speaking with other founders.

The report warned that in an environment where cash flow is the top challenge for 78 per cent of startups, choosing the right investor can determine whether a company scales successfully or struggles.

On the back of the findings, AIN announced it is launching a new content series aimed at improving fundraising efficiency and helping entrepreneurs focus more time on building their businesses.

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The lead image in this article was generated by AI.

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