JStories ー Whereas a lot of Taiwan was abuzz final week with main annual tech occasions like Computex and Innovex drawing tens of 1000’s, the capital metropolis of Taipei quietly hosted in the identical week a much more unique gathering: a strictly invitation-only summit for Asia’s subsequent era of entrepreneurs.
Dozens of Asia’s main entrepreneurs descended on Taipei for the inaugural F2SU Asia IPO Synergy Discussion board, a closed-door summit designed to information high-potential startups on their journey from regional contenders to world unicorns, with a specific eye on ringing the opening bell on the Taiwan Inventory Trade (TWSE).
Over 50 founders, C-suite executives, and startup ecosystem leaders from Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan attended the occasion held on the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Taipei.
With the post-ChatGPT “AI growth” fueling Taiwan’s ICT and semiconductor shares, its capital markets and the prospect of IPOs have been thrust into the limelight. F2SU, which stands for “A Buddy to Startups,” has rapidly positioned itself as the brand new launchpad for Asian startups in search of cross-border progress. The summit was co-hosted by GrandTech Cloud Companies (GCS) and TWSE.
F2SU Asia invited greater than 50 high-potential startup leaders from seven international locations and areas to Taipei in an try to assist them develop and presumably go public on the Taiwan Inventory Trade Picture by Toshi Maeda | JStories (Similar beneath)
Frankie Hsu, founder and chairman of GrandTech Cloud Companies (GCS), led the launch of the F2SU Asia summit
“F2SU was created to help the subsequent era of founders — providing steering from fundraising and world growth to technique constructing and recommendation earlier than and after IPO,” defined Frankie Hsu, founder and chairman of GCS. A serial entrepreneur who has efficiently led two firms to public listings in Taipei, Hsu mentioned it was his struggles that fueled his sense of mission.
“I’ve overcome many obstacles, which is why I’m enthusiastic about guaranteeing the subsequent era of entrepreneurs doesn’t must repeat these hardships,” mentioned Hsu. “I do know the ache factors, the pitfalls — and now I imagine it’s time to offer again.”
One of many discussion board’s headline audio system was Alice Chang, founder and CEO of beauty-tech pioneer Good Corp., who offered hands-on recommendation on scaling globally and navigating IPOs. Chang’s firm made headlines three years in the past when it went public as a unicorn (valued at over $1 billion) on the New York Inventory Trade. But, Chang emphasised {that a} U.S. itemizing just isn’t the one optimum path for Asian startups. “Taiwan stays a powerful candidate for IPOs popping out of Asia,” she famous.
Alice Chang, founder and CEO of beauty-tech pioneer Good Corp., offered hands-on recommendation on scaling globally and navigating IPOs. Good Corp. went public as a unicorn on the New York Inventory Trade in 2022
One other speaker, Jamie Lin, chairman of the main enterprise capital agency AppWorks, highlighted Taiwan’s attractiveness past electronics and AI provide chains — pointing to excessive market liquidity, strong price-to-book ratios, and vital overseas funding as key strengths.
Hsu agreed, including, “Taiwan not solely has bubble tea and semiconductors but in addition has a powerful capital market. The info speaks for itself.”
Mudzakkir Hatta, CEO of soon-to-be-unicorn Aerodyne in Malaysia, says his firm will fastidiously weigh its choices earlier than deciding on an inventory vacation spot
Aerodyne, quickly scaling its world drone operations, and KKday, constructing momentum with its progressive journey experiences platform, are each on a trajectory towards $1 billion valuations. They’re amongst 14 main Asian startups now formally backed by the Tokyo Inventory Trade as they weigh their IPO choices. For these firms, the F2SU discussion board appears to have provided sensible market insights as they take into account the place to go public.
Aerodyne’s CEO for the Malaysian market, Mudzakkir Hatta, advised JStories that this was his first go to to Taiwan, and that the F2SU summit gave him a invaluable take a look at some great benefits of an IPO in Taipei in comparison with Tokyo. Hatta mentioned the corporate will fastidiously weigh its choices earlier than deciding on an inventory vacation spot later this 12 months.
Using the momentum of the AI wave, Taiwan’s inventory market has outperformed most of its Asian friends in recent times. The TWSE is now actively courting overseas startups, branding itself because the “Asian Nasdaq” with specific strengths in small- and mid-cap shares, a streamlined and reasonably priced IPO course of, and regulatory flexibility — together with welcoming firms registered in offshore tax havens. Of the almost 1,000 firms listed on the TWSE, about 10 % are at present overseas corporations.
Edited by Desiderio Luna
Prime photograph: Toshi Maeda | JStories
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