As the world’s growth engine, Asia Pacific’s technology-focused start-ups are leveraging innovations and new sector verticals to blaze a digital trail forward

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 18 July 2022 - KPMG and HSBC have released the Emerging Giants in Asia Pacific report, which examines new economy businesses across the region with strong potential to impact the global business landscape over the next decade. Over 6,472 technology-focused start-ups¹ with valuations of up to US$500 million² were studied across 12 markets, with ten leading Emerging Giant companies identified in each market³. The report also names 100 Leading Emerging Giants within the overall Asia Pacific region. Maturing technology-focused ecosystems in the Asia Pacific are producing billion-dollar companies at a rapid rate. With the International Monetary Fund predicting that the region's emerging markets and developing economies will grow 20 percent faster than the global average⁴, this year, Emerging Giants – fast-growing, influential and innovative start-ups with unicorn ambitions – are a leading indicator of the Asia Pacific's growth trajectory. According to the report, the emergence of new sector verticals is attracting record-breaking investments, leading to a proliferation of larger, more valuable start-ups in the region. Beyond the traditional sectors associated with new economy businesses such as FinTech or software-as-a-service, the report identified around 120 technology-related industry subsectors among these businesses, with blockchain, smart city, and sustainability and ESG verticals being most prominent. Additionally, six out of the 12 markets studied had average valuations of US$300 million or more among their leading Emerging Giants⁵. "Fast-growing technology start-ups are the new wave of SMEs contributing towards economic growth and more. Looking ahead, the global push towards carbon-neutrality will be a major driver of innovation as traditional sectors go green, and Emerging Giants will likely play a key role in developing the technologies that can reduce carbon emissions and promote more responsible stewardship of the environment. Asia will be a crucial battleground in the fight for a more sustainable future," says Honson To, Chairman KPMG Asia Pacific and KPMG China. "Emerging Giants in Asia Pacific excites us because we see the start-up ecosystem as complimentary to the established end of the financial services industry: they're a source of innovation, and invigorate both local and regional economies with their dynamism," says Surendra Rosha, Co-Chief Executive of HSBC Asia-Pacific. "Over 9,300 start-ups and 12 unicorns currently call Singapore home - this is the highest total of any country in Southeast Asia. Correspondingly, we can expect the entrepreneurial impact of these enterprises to be significant in catalysing innovation here, while also giving a shot in the arm to boost economic strength and market confidence. The challenge forward will be to continue attracting unicorns to reside here. Strong ecosystem support will be needed, such as public and private programmes and incentives for 'hot sectors', an environment that attracts and grooms top talent, as well as a strong purpose across industries and the nation to solve priority problems and create measurable change for the world," says Ong Pang Thye, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore. "From Singapore's position as a global and regional financial centre, we've observed increased interest in venture capital participation in Series A and B rounds of innovative firms in either B2B software or financial services sectors across Europe and Asia. HSBC is well-placed to connect these Emerging Giants to opportunities locally and internationally. Backed by our deep local experience, global network, and customer-tailored banking solutions, we have a proven track-record of helping businesses to grow domestically and subsequently, across borders," says Kee Joo Wong, CEO of HSBC Singapore. Other key findings of the report include:

• While a repeat of the record-breaking private investment levels in 2021 is unlikely, 1Q 2022 figures suggest that 2022 is on target to exceed both 2020 and 2019 funding levels in the Asia Pacific. Australia, Malaysia and South Korea have already seen deal values pass or nearly pass 2020 totals.

• As the world's biggest fintech adopter, the Asia Pacific region has experienced a boom in financial services transformation within the last two years as fintech applications progress in tandem with user uptake. Considerable interest in cryptocurrencies has also led to a surge in crypto financial services providers and blockchain players.

• Growing pressure for an ESG focus in business and investment strategies in order to meet climate targets will likely drive an explosive demand for green technologies and services across every industry, creating significant opportunities for Emerging...