Visited the Start-up Asia event in Singapore which was held 1-4 February. For me the first time to attend such an event in Asia, so had high expectations and really looked forward to it. Met some really nice entrepreneurs, heard some great pitches, and was able to do a fair bit of networking. There are definitely differences between the Asian start-up scene and the American and European one (where I am more familiar with). Funny enough not as much in ideas and markets, but I guess more cultural. At first I missed seeing a certain level of “eagerness” in entrepreneurs. I guess I’m more of less come used to the norm of cocky go-getters.
What surprised me most is that there were a significant number of female entrepreneurs. That is a good development; think that woman have been far underrepresented in the entrepreneurial arena. Apart from that was surprised to see a number of entrepreneurs relatively coy. With this I mean I perceived them as reluctant in engaging in a conversation, even though I had asked them to. Luckily that turned around after the closing day panel I was a member in.
The Singapore start-up event resulted in a few requests for mentorship, one investment and a possible investment in another. An excellent result, and guess we’ve had our first dip in the Asian ocean and developed a taste for more. Would like to thank Minghoa Teoh and Willlis Wee of Penn-Olson for organising a great event in Singapore and look forward to attending it again in future.