Southeast Asia’s digital growth story is unique because, unlike the US, it has always been about building in a highly fragmented market. Startups here did not have the benefit of starting in a large, fairly homogenous environment. Most started in their own respective countries, then built and adapted to the specific nuances of those countries – regulatory, cultural business practices, local markets and consumer behaviour.
Scaling across the region has never been a rinse-and-repeat exercise. It’s a process of adaptation and assimilation, grounded in local realities. This has shaped a generation of founders and investors who know how to localise deeply while still thinking regionally. As the region’s digital economy matures, it has become a hard-won advantage.
