What Japanese Founders Can Learn from Southeast Asian VCs: A Real-World Look from Singapore
Introduction:
Many Japanese founders are surprised when they experience how different the startup investment scene is outside Japan. During a recent fundraising-focused accelerator in Singapore, I attended a reverse pitch session with nearly 20 VCs—and what I observed was the opposite of what many founders encounter in Japan.
From the strong presence of women VCs and entrepreneurs, to the emphasis on regional presence over nationality, and the openness to pre-revenue startups with bold global visions, the differences were clear. This blog shares key insights from that experience to help Japanese founders better understand what it takes to raise funds in Southeast Asia—and why adapting to a global mindset is now essential.
Notes on Southeast Asia VC Landscape
At the fundraising-focused accelerator I’m attending in Singapore, we had a reverse-pitch session from about 20 venture capital firms a couple of days ago. This time around, the VCs in the room typically invest up through Series A and B. Rather than judging what’s “good” or “bad,” here are my quick takeaways on how they view the region:
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Living in Southeast Asia matters
More than headquarters location, nationality, or team size, VCs want to see founders physically based in the region. Our company is US-headquartered, I’m Japanese, but I hold a Singapore startup visa and run a local entity here. -
English is the default—everyone thinks global
All discussions were in English, and every founder here is aiming at the global market from Day 1. -
Many VCs are former founders themselves
With personal startup experience, these investors grasp our challenges immediately and move conversations along quickly. -
Strong representation of women
It wasn’t just assistants—female GPs and founders were very active both on the VC side and among the presenting startups. -
Region-focused funds abound
You’ll find VCs specializing in the Philippines, Indonesia, North America, Japan, China, Taiwan, India, Europe, Australia/NZ, and more. Founders need to “choose” as well as be “chosen.” -
Early-stage friendly
Even with zero traction or just USD 100K ARR, a compelling growth story and clear differentiation can win you investment—uncapped SAFEs were on the table under the right terms. -
Follow-on rounds are common
Many firms expressed willingness to lead or participate in subsequent financing. -
Fintech bias this time
Since Aspire (a fintech accelerator) hosted the session, there were fewer life-science or Web3 pitches than you might see elsewhere.
It’s certainly not true that “if you go to Singapore, you’ll automatically raise funding,” but I hope this on-the-ground perspective is helpful for fellow founders navigating the Southeast Asian ecosystem.
