A first for Asia's venture capital community.

For the first time, venture capital associations from Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan were united under the same roof to discuss the future of investment across Asia. The event was organized by the Taiwan Venture Capital Association and the Taiwan Private Equity Association.

Institutional investors and startup founders, all fueled by the aspiration and strong calling in their idea, gathered together looking to make connections with each other and potential partners.

I spent the day listening to industry leaders and emerging professionals share their insights on AI and deep tech, venture capital investment across Asia, digital assets and next-generation finance, and how the rapidly evolving technology ecosystem is shaping the region. Here's what stuck with me.

Stablecoins and the future of digital finance

One of the more insightful discussions I sat in on focused on the role of stablecoins in the future of finance. Not surprisingly, the professionals and representatives from this sector were particularly young compared to the others.

Panelists shared how Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are approaching stablecoin implementation, highlighting both the regulatory progress and the potential to transform cross-border payments, especially for the manufacturing and supply chain industries. It gave me a clearer sense of how I see the next generation of financial services taking shape across Asia.

The importance of cross-border investment

During the panel discussion on the future of venture capital in Asia, one of the strongest messages I took away was the importance of cross-border collaboration. Panelists repeatedly emphasized that the next generation of startups, AI, and deep tech won't be built by one individual region. Far greater potential can be achieved through regional partnerships, cross-border co-investment, and stronger investor networks.

It made me think about how Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan each bring unique strengths to the global market, from advanced manufacturing and semiconductors to AI, software, and deep tech. By building a more connected venture capital ecosystem, where investors co-invest, share expertise, and introduce trusted partners across borders, Asia has the opportunity to unlock far greater innovation than any one country could achieve alone.

Taiwan's thriving startup ecosystem

Taiwan is rapidly establishing itself as one of Asia's leading innovation hubs, and what stood out most to me was the strong commitment from both the public and private sectors to support entrepreneurship.

The government has made startup development a strategic priority, investing in the infrastructure, funding, and policies founders need to build, test, and scale their ideas. At the same time, a growing network of accelerators, incubators, investors, and startup communities is creating an environment where entrepreneurs can learn, collaborate, and challenge one another.

Seeing that combination of institutional support and a vibrant startup community made it clear why Taiwan is attracting more founders, fostering innovation, and strengthening its position as a key player in Asia's technology ecosystem.

What VCs are looking at today

I had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with some of the VCs and learn about the technologies they're most excited about. The direction of each conversation was tied to the background and investment thesis of the individual VC and the industry they come from, but a few themes consistently came up:

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  SaaS. Remains a reliable business model, valued for its recurring revenue and predictable cash flow.
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  Physical AI. AI integrated into robotics, autonomous systems, and intelligent hardware, a favorite among several investors, with many seeing it as the next major wave of innovation.
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  Industrial AI. Solutions that automate industry-specific workflows and solve practical operational challenges in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.

What was most interesting to me was that they didn't have one thing they agreed on as the “next big thing.” Instead, they were focused on advancing the existing technologies that solve real-world problems more efficiently and seamlessly.

The takeaway

Looking beyond technology, my takeaway is that what enables innovation to scale responsibly is the collaboration between startups, investors, regulators, and industry leaders, building an ecosystem where startups can really thrive.

It was a valuable opportunity for me to hear diverse perspectives on where innovation is heading and how these technologies are transforming industries across Asia.