TIACON25 Main Stage - From deserts to deltas

Dive into a dynamic discussion on connecting the vibrant startup ecosystems of Southeast Asia (SEA) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This session from the Tech in Asia Conference 2025 explores the challenges and opportunities for cross-regional growth, investment, and collaboration. Learn how startups and established companies can leverage shared insights, capital flow, and market access to scale successfully in both regions. Key Discussion Points: • Bridging the Gap: Strategies for connecting founders and investors across diverse cultures and regulatory landscapes. • The Investment Landscape: Examining the flow of venture capital between SEA and MENA and identifying new funding opportunities. • Scaling Cross-Regionally: Practical advice for startups expanding their operations from Southeast Asia into the Middle East, and vice-versa. • Policy and Innovation: How government initiatives and partnerships (like Abu Dhabi ECA) are creating favorable conditions for international expansion. Speakers: Melvin Ng Senior Director, APAC Partnerships, Airalo Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke Group CEO, Cradle Aditya Aima MD of Growth Markets, and Co-MD, India/MENA of AnyMind Group Abdulla Almehsin Trends and Innovation Specialist, Abu Dhabi ECA Chen Huifen Editor, The Business Times (Moderator) #TechinAsia #SEAMENA #StartupEcosystem #VentureCapital #GlobalExpansion #MENATech ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loved this session? Be the first to get exclusive updates and early bird access for Tech in Asia Conference 2026! Sign up for early interest now: https://bit.ly/49UyVZx ================= Let's keep in touch: • FB: https://www.facebook.com/techinasia/ • IG: https://www.instagram.com/techinasia/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/techinasia Tech in Asia (YC W15) is the largest English-language technology media company that focuses on Asia. From the latest news to the hottest trends and the boldest startups to the strongest titans, we cover everything tech in the region. Our goal is to build and serve Asia’s tech and startup community. Apart from producing and delivering quality editorial content, we connect brands with early adopters via Studios, our advertising agency unit. We organize tech conferences and events across Asia, and we operate the region’s go-to startup and technology jobs marketplace. See you on https://www.techinasia.com 🙂