The orginial article can be found here

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Our fourth annual Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list showcases small companies and startups in Asia-Pacific that grabbed investors’ attention—and their checkbooks. Collectively, these firms have drawn over $2 billion in total investments to date, with 83 of them raising money since the start of 2023–even as venture capital funding in the region hit a seven-year low last year. Some companies we’ve spotlighted tell a story of steady growth, underscoring that success is not an overnight feat. Others have quickly gained traction to secure a foothold in some of the world’s hottest industries, such as spacetech, biotech and robotics, where a race is on to corner the first-mover advantage.

This varied mix of 100 companies share one common trait: a strong innovative streak. Their offerings range from AI navigation systems for space exploration to cutting-edge cell therapies to advanced healthcare diagnostics. There are fintechs addressing the needs of the unbanked and retailers using digital channels to tap a new generation of consumers. Companies from 16 countries and territories are represented on this year’s list, operating in a total of 10 industries, such as enterprise technology and robotics, finance, and manufacturing and energy. India, a hotbed of startups, has the biggest presence this year with 20 companies, followed by Singapore (15), mainland China (10), Japan (9) and Indonesia (8).

Fintech startup Emerge Group offers digital banking services to small businesses in New Zealand. Using Emerge’s app, companies can quickly open an account, get virtual debit cards for their employees, track expenses and integrate their finances with accounting software. Before Emerge, cofounders Jamie Jermain and Jovan Pavlicevic started a pocket money app called SquareOne to teach Kiwi kids about financial literacy.

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