10 months ago

Indian Startups Expand to Southeast Asia, Led by Fintech

Indian Startups Expand to Southeast Asia, Led by Fintech
Startups eye SE Asia as next growth hub · financialexpress.com

Imagine India as a big garden where many innovative companies, like gardeners, have learned to grow.

Now, these Indian gardeners see another exciting garden called Southeast Asia that is growing very fast.

They believe their gardening skills, especially in helping people pay with phones (fintech), selling things online, and providing software for businesses, can work well there too.

This is because many Southeast Asian countries are also becoming more digital, similar to India.

It’s like finding a place where your special tools and techniques can help new plants grow even faster.

While it’s a great opportunity, each country in Southeast Asia has its own rules, like different fences and watering schedules, so the gardeners need to be careful and not use the exact same plan everywhere.

But overall, they are excited to bring their expertise to this new, promising region.

Key facts

SEA Internet Economy Projection (2030)
$600 billion GMV (up to $1 trillion with improved policy)
SEA Internet Economy (2024)
$240 billion GMV
Key Expansion Markets
Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
Leading Sectors
Fintech, Consumer Internet, SaaS, Edtech, Healthtech, AI
Indian Startups Expanding
Razorpay, Pine Labs, Lenskart, Oyo, HealthifyMe, Freshworks, MoEngage, CleverTap, StampMyVisa

Timeline

  1. US inflation shows a slight rise; RBI watches rate implications.

  2. Fed eyes rate cuts amid cooling inflation, weak jobs.

  3. September rate cut signal sparks stock market rally.

  4. Investors retreat from tech, crypto seeking safety.

  5. Indian VCs face tougher fundraising amid demand for clear exits.

Quotes

Shashank Kumar

co-founder of Razorpay

“India’s journey from cash to instant mobile payments has created one of the most advanced digital payment ecosystems in the world. Many Southeast Asian markets share similar payment characteristics, with growing digital adoption and demand for faster, more inclusive payment solutions.”
financialexpress.com

Swati Murarka

principal, Bertelsmann India Investments

“What worked in India, from payments infrastructure to consumer internet, can often be adapted with minimal friction.”
financialexpress.com

a company executive

an executive from StampMyVisa

“That’s exactly where our AI-first model can add value.”
financialexpress.com

Murarka

principal, Bertelsmann India Investments

“Each country has its own playbook when it comes to licensing, data privacy, and foreign ownership. Founders can’t apply a one-size-fits-all model.”
financialexpress.com

Sources

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