Singapore/Taiwan Road Trip

NEWS

October 8 2024
2 minutes
Words: Thomas Schneider

Thomas recently returned from a trip to Singapore and Taiwan, connecting with LPs and attending two major industry events—the Milken Institute Asian Summit and SuperReturn Asia. These platforms provided valuable opportunities to discuss the evolving venture landscape and to explore potential partnerships with family offices, institutional investors, and corporate venture arms.

A common theme encountered during the trip was the heightened interest in Europe’s venture landscape, particularly from Asian investors looking to diversify their portfolios. This aligns with the rising demand for fund-of-fund solutions, which can provide diversified exposure to high-growth companies while mitigating some of the risks inherent in direct investments.

Key themes discussed during the conferences:

  • Despite very attractive valuations, investors continue to avoid China, amid economic slowdown, real estate crisis, geopolitical tensions and capital outflows.
  • Many risks persist in the economy (debt level, geopolitical, wealth inequalities driving political instability) and the importance of geographical diversification.
  • AI will drive massive gains in productivity and lead to a new wave of company creation and innovation.
  • Natural disasters induced by climate change could represent up to 12% of global GDP in the coming years.
  • Liquidity bottleneck for PE, increased use of NAV financing, continuation funds and secondaries.

Looking Ahead

As we continue to build relationships in the region, we are excited about the opportunities on the horizon. This trip has reinforced the importance of staying connected with our LP network, adapting to their evolving needs, and fostering collaboration across geographies.

Whether it’s a family office diversifying its portfolio or a corporate venture arm seeking strategic synergies, we are committed to helping our LPs navigate the complexities of venture capital investment with confidence.