The ORIGIN Southeast Asia Conference, a premier gathering of tech leaders, innovators, and investors, concluded successfully on Thursday, May 22, at Cotai Expo, as part of the prestigious BEYOND International Technology Innovation Expo (BEYOND Expo).

Organized by TNGlobal, the conference brought together key stakeholders from Southeast Asia’s technology ecosystem to explore innovation, collaboration, and growth opportunities across the region.
The event featured a series of engaging panel discussions, each addressing the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping Southeast Asia’s tech landscape. Industry leaders, policymakers, and investors shared insights into the region’s rising digital economy, cross-border scaling, and the latest innovations driving growth.

Highlights of the Conference:

Decoding Southeast Asia’s Tech Landscape: What Now and What’s Next?

Moderated by Kapil Suri, Co-Founder of Startupnews.fyi, this panel explored the current state of Southeast Asia’s technology ecosystem. Key trends such as AI integration, fintech growth, digital infrastructure, and government policy were discussed, providing a strategic outlook for the future. The panelists also discussed the opportunities the region offer. Panelists including Safwan Nizar Johari, Acting Investment Consul of Malaysia Consulate General of Malaysia in Guangzhou & Acting Director at MIDA; David Bonifacio, Managing Partner and Head of Philippines at TNB Aura; Bobby Liu, Founder of Qrospay.
Safwan focuses on Malaysia’s government policies and initiatives to attract more investment into the country, the attractiveness and strengths the country has for investors, among others. David shared insights on investment landscape across the region, the potential and challenges he sees in various markets TNB Aura invests in. Liu shared the need for a regional payment system in the region, the opportunities and issues a startup could meet, based on his experiences at venture capital firm as well as his journey while building a startup.

Thailand’s Tech Frontier: Beyond the Buzzwords

From left: James Kwan, Executive Chairman of Jumpstart Media; Tanachai Kulsomboonsin, Co-Founder, Canvas Ventures; Oranuch Lerdsuwankij, CEO & Co-Founder; Techsauce Media and Supawat Suksantiswad, Principal, Xplor Ventures.Moderated by James Kwan, Executive Chairman of Jumpstart Media, this session delved into real innovations in Thailand’s tech scene, highlighting the nation’s transition to a digital-first economy.

Speakers including Tanachai Kulsomboonsin, Co-Founder, Canvas Ventures International; Oranuch Lerdsuwankij, CEO & Co-Founder, Techsauce Media and Supawat Suksantiswad, Principal, Xplor Ventures.
Thailand is rapidly transforming from a manufacturing-driven economy to a digital-first nation. But beyond the hype, what real innovations are taking shape? This session dived into Thailand’s evolving tech landscape, separating trend from traction.  Tanachai discussed about the emergence of pinktech in Thailand, the opportunities and potential it provides. Oranuch, fondly known as Mimie, shared her views on the hottest trends within the Thai tech ecosystem, strengths the country has in attracting investments, among others. Supawat shared insights on investment landscape from a corporate venture capital’s point of view, among other topics.

Grow Big or Go Home: Malaysia Tech’s Cross-Border Necessity

Moderated by Vallabh Rao, Director of beSUCCESS Media, the panel focused on the necessity for Malaysian startups to scale beyond borders to thrive in a competitive market. Speakers include Milan Dhingra, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Teleport (the logistics arm of Capital A, formerly know as AirAsia Group);
Adrian Hia, Partner, Kairous Capital; Ang Xing Xian, Co-Founder & CEO, Capbay. Malaysia’s tech startups often face a unique dilemma: scale fast beyond borders or risk stagnation in a limited local market. This panel unpacked the necessity of regional expansion, the realities of cross-border scaling, and the strategic decisions founders must make to build durable businesses.

A Vision for Regional Collaboration

The conference emphasized the importance of cross-border collaboration and innovation in driving Southeast Asia’s growth. By addressing challenges and opportunities collectively, the region is poised for a new era of technological advancement and economic prosperity.
ORIGIN Southeast Asia Conference provided an invaluable platform for investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to engage in meaningful dialogue. The event aims to promote regional partnerships in fostering innovation and creating sustainable growth opportunities.

About ORIGIN

ORIGIN Conference is TNGlobal’s premier international content track about the latest developments in the Asia tech and startup scene, where international industry leaders and technology innovators from across the region gather to share trends, experiences, and leadership lessons. Held annually as part of the BEYOND Expo, the conference brings together thought leaders and innovators to shape the future of the region’s tech landscape.

About TNGlobal

TNGlobal is a Pan-Asia tech platform offering premium tech news, industry insights, events, and tailor-made marketing solutions for startups, VCs, corporates, and other industry pioneers. With a vast network of partners in global innovation and entrepreneurship, TNGlobal facilitates cross-border partnerships and businesses. TNGlobal is a spin-off of TechNode, China’s leading innovation and entrepreneurship platform.

About BEYOND Expo

The BEYOND International Technology Innovation Expo (BEYOND Expo) is Asia’s leading annual technology event. Serving as a dynamic platform since 2021, BEYOND Expo not only showcases global technological innovations but also provides a unique opportunity to foster innovation upgrades across diverse industries and regions.

BEYOND Expo has attracted participation from Asia’s Fortune 500 companies, multinational corporations, unicorn companies, and emerging startups. Through a multifaceted approach involving expos, summits, and various activities, BEYOND Expo has successfully cultivated an innovative ecosystem, propelling collective development in the Asia-Pacific region and the global technology innovation industry.

ORIGIN Southeast Asia Conference 2025: Exploring Innovation and Collaboration at BEYOND Expo