Are founders in Southeast Asia ready for prime time? - Tech for Good

Issue 66 - June 28, 2021

Happy Monday!

This week it’s all about startups, UX, and funds in Southeast Asia. I’m sharing a few resources that highlight Southeast Asia’s readiness to enter the global startup economy. I’ve had a front row seat to Cambodia’s startup economy’s growth over the last 10 years, we still have a long way to go, but it’s amazing to see the progress in such a short period of time.

There are a few startup programs and funds getting ready for their summer and fall batches, so this is a great time to get your pitch decks, metrics, and minimum viable products ready.

As always, have a great week! If you have anything you’d like me to consider for this newsletter, please send me an email.

Jesse

What’s interesting this week…

Why I think founders in Southeast Asia are ready for prime time

Brian Ma of Iteraive shares his thoughts on the SE Asia startup scene and why he thinks now is the time for startups in the market to get funding and scale like crazy. He also announces that his startup program through Iteraitave is now accepting applications for their upcoming program.

Bakong digital payment app uptake proving slower than hoped

Bakong, Cambodia’s first integrated payment system, was launched last year. It was designed to allow customers to perform a number of functions, such as using an e-wallet and making mobile payments, online transactions and financial applications all from a single app. The NBC is now reporting that they have had less uptake than expected with only 100,000 Bakong digital wallets registered.

I helped pioneer UX design. What I see today disturbs me

Jesse James Garrett is a pioneer in the user experience design space. After 20 years of working on UX design and methods, he shares his thoughts on what is happening in the industry, the challenges we face as designers, and what we can do to help fix a broken system.

She Loves Tech Competition

She Loves Tech is now accepting applications for their global startup competition. Startups that are accepted into the competition will get access to a startup bootcamp as well as opportunity for funding and cash prizes.

UNICEF Innovation Fund - Funding for AI and ML Startups

The UNICEF Innovation Fund is looking to make up to $100K equity-free investments to provide early stage (seed) finance to for-profit technology start-ups that have the potential to benefit humanity. Applications are due August 2, 2021.