Investment boom not over for startups

Unicorn zone: The region may be seeing an inflection point following the emergence of a dozen unicorn companies. — Reuters

SOUTH-EAST Asia has seen a sharp increase in venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) capital investment in the past few years. According to Bain & Co, the number of recorded VC deals for 2017 rose to 524, four times the level of 2012, and PE deal value rose 75% to US$15bil (RM62bil).

While there seems to be a more cautious sentiment in the tech sector, VCs opined that it is early days yet for the investment boom in the region, paving the way for more unicorn companies – startup company valued at over US$1bil – to emerge.