日本と東南アジアの架け橋を築く

Building Bridges Between Japan and Southeast Asia

Last week in Tokyo, ZVC, in collaboration with Cento Ventures, hosted an exclusive event bringing together key industry leaders and fellow investors to explore bridging opportunities between Japan and Southeast Asia (SEA). It was an incredible opportunity to connect with Japanese industry leaders keen on the SEA market while showcasing Finfra, SeedFlex, and Monit—promising startups driving fintech innovation in the region.

Through this event, we also had the chance to share ZVC’s perspective on the SEA market and why we “still” see immense potential in the region—even during these current challenging circumstances. Here are key insights from Janice Sa:

Why does ZVC invest in SEA?
SEA stands out as one of the few regions in the world experiencing sustained, rapid economic growth. On a macro level, factors like GDP expansion, an increasing young population, a growing middle class, and rising infrastructure investment create a strong foundation for long-term development. Especially, the digital economy continues to grow at double-digit rates, presenting significant opportunities for startups leading digital transformation—and the investors supporting them.

Why early-stage fintech?
SEA’s fintech sector generated $33 billion in revenue in 2024, growing at a 22% CAGR, already becoming a significant contributor to the regional economy. Yet, the sector still has vast room for expansion, given the persistent challenges such as credit gaps, which present opportunities for new players to scale and innovate. Despite recent market corrections and setbacks, we firmly believe that the core fintech opportunity remains intact. The industry is undergoing a healthy adjustment phase, making this an opportune time for investors to back long-term winners. Founders who start their ventures in difficult times often demonstrate exceptional conviction and resilience. We aim to identify and support these founders at the early stage.