Saemin Ahn Sees Southeast Asia Struggling to Attract Venture Capital

Saemin Ahn, managing partner for international investment at Rakuten Capital, expects Southeast Asia to struggle for investor attention for two to four years, citing the region’s company-building path and public-market results. Ahn described conventional venture capital as a difficult fit for the region. Good startups get “a lot less oxygen,” he said. He said companies may need a capital mix that combines equity with structured financing, including mezzanine or tranche financing, debt and credit. Ahn said Rakuten Ventures began with an exclusive focus on Southeast Asia before broadening its geographic reach about three years later.

Source: TokenPost