It’s already been a month since I embarked on the Asia Tomorrow editor’s journey! I sincerely appreciate every reader for spending time on Asia Tomorrow’s content.

As you all know, a game-changing AI product was introduced worldwide. Sora by OpenAI, which can create realistic and stylish videos just by typing prompts. The astonishing outcomes made me wonder, “So what will I do in the middle of this AI revolution?”

The answer was simple. Focusing on enhancing my content-related abilities and asking more questions about the current startup scene. Even though AI can do (almost) everything, it still requires prompts from humans. And good prompts come from exceptional perspectives and curiosity.

These are the fundamentals I will pursue for better content, especially Asia Tomorrow. I hope this week’s news will be helpful for your business success.

• Japan’s Ambitious Plan of Supporting 100,000 Startups by 2030

• Asia Venture Capital Trend of 2024 and How Can We Prepare

• Identifying Who, Where, and What of Our Customers

• Minimum Viable Test: A Reasonable Alternative to MVP

• Miniwiz, a Taiwanese Startup Revolutionizing Eco-Friendly Construction

• How ADVASA Introduced Cashless Payment in Cash-Centric Culture

Resources for Startups

👉 Japan is Planning to Invest more than 100 trillion ¥ to Enrich its Startup Environment

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“We will promote bold investments and reforms to concentrate our country’s people and money in fields like startups and innovations.” Just as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed, Japan is aggressively attracting entrepreneurs worldwide. The country is undergoing significant changes like adopting electronic contracts, streamlining administrative works, and supporting corporate-startup matching programs. Since Japan is also undergoing digital transformation, opportunities are abundant. Find out more about why we should focus more on Japan.

👉 Understanding Asia Venture Capital Market Trend: How to Discover Opportunities in Time of Chaos

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The world economy is in disarray. Geopolitical conflicts are far from peaceful ending. Superpowers are fighting over global hegemony. These are the reasons venture capital companies are going through a significant downfall. Asia’s Venture Capital market is no exception, which states startups must develop a different game plan. However, there are still untapped opportunities in global-scale issues, digital infrastructure, and resolving social challenges. Discover more in the article by underdogs Originals.

Stories for Starters

👉 Who are Our ‘Real’ Customers and How Can We Understand Their Needs

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Accurately understanding customers and proposing value is vital in starting a successful business. However, figuring out how to locate clients and develop a convincing product/service is confusing. SaaSCatch, a South Korean startup media, shares its experience of trial and failure in connecting with the right customers through a six-stage approach. If you are having customer-related difficulties, this is your essential article.

👉 Minimum Viable “Test”: A More Controllable, Less-Risk Method for Product Development

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Experimenting with a product only with essential features is the most common concept of testing a business’s full-scale product. Design-preneur and content creator homebodify proposes a better alternative: Minimum Viable Test. Unlike MVP, the new method focuses on testing hypotheses and applying user feedback in real-time. Beginning your startup with minimum testing will make your entrepreneurial journey more accessible, more efficient, and with less risk.

Stories of Entrepreneurs & Changemakers

👉 From Waste to Possibility: Taiwan-based Startup’s Dedication to Environmental-Friendly Economy

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Miniwiz is an upcycling technology startup with remarkable records. The company participated in multiple installation projects with Nike, a modular healthcare facility supporting COVID-19 patients, and Taiwan’s first fully recycled classroom. Arthur Hwang, founder and CEO of the startup, emphasizes that ‘reusing’ resources is an advanced way of environmentally friendly construction. How did he discover the niche possibility in an already competitive ESG business? The article will give you insights about how technology-based startups can gradually develop.

👉 Cashless in a Cash-Centered Country: ADVASA’s Story of Growth from a Flexible Wage System to an HR SaaS

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ADVASA, a fintech startup that provides flexible wage payment service, became a $1.5 billion unicorn in just five years. The company found out the demand for flexible salary distribution was increasing. ADVASA also discovered that people working in fluctuating environments have difficulties maintaining financial stability. The Japanese company overhauled its solution into a corporate welfare management system based on these findings. ADVASA’s success is worth reading, given that the unicorn landed a cashless service in a cash-preferred culture. 

How did the mail treat you today?

It’s already the end of February. Time flies, right? I am sure you have done your best to keep up with your New Year’s resolution. Some of them might have worked, while others not. I want to tell you, please do not be disappointed in yourself. It’s still February, so we still have ten months to go. You can achieve your entrepreneurial goal, and you will. Asia Tomorrow will be your reliable source of content for your success.

Collaboration with the underdogs team is also available! underdogs will be your partner in the format below:

• Get your story published on Asia Tomorrow and get yourself noticed.

• Be interviewed by professional journalists on Asia Tomorrow.

• Join a training program for Asian entrepreneurs as a coach.

• Are you looking for an entrepreneurship program? Let us know if you’re interested in or need it!

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The vision of underdogs is to change the world by fostering underdogs who turn possibilities into reality.