​About the session 

​For Singapore-based startups, looking beyond our little red dot is a necessity for growth. But which Southeast Asian markets make the most strategic sense for your product, team and stage? How do you scale smartly while navigating regulatory hurdles and operational challenges?

Join us for an interactive fireside chat where we unpack the blueprint for Southeast Asia expansion - from the lens of a unicorn actively navigating the region in real time and a global investor backing high-growth bets across diverse SEA markets.

Expect unfiltered insights on market selection, scaling operations and what it takes to win in the dynamic markets of Southeast Asia!

​Featured Speakers 

​Tushar Roy, Partner at Square Peg

​Tushar Roy is a Partner at Square Peg, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies in Australia, Israel, and Southeast Asia. After investing across Australia and Southeast Asia for five years, Tushar opened Square Peg’s Singapore office in 2020 and is now focused on Southeast Asia. He has worked with founders across fintech, SaaS and AI and has a long-standing affinity for technology, having studied computer science and worked as a programmer while at university before obtaining 10+ years of advisory experience in technology and growth as a lawyer at Baker McKenzie and then as a management consultant at BCG.

Tushar has backed regional powerhouses like PropertyGuru, StashAway, Chope, Doctor Anywhere, and Kredivo.

​Ershad Ahamed, Head of SEA at Airwallex

​Ershad Ahamed is the Head of Southeast Asia at Airwallex, responsible for driving the company’s overall growth in the region, building local commercial teams and operations, and helping businesses leverage fintech solutions to expand internationally. Based in Singapore, Ershad brings extensive experience from high-growth tech companies, with a strong track record of driving both growth and profitability.

Most recently, he held senior management roles at Grab as Chief Commercial Officer, GrabFin Indonesia and Regional Head of Payments Acquiring, and was instrumental in building their payments and lending business. He has also held leadership positions in growth, marketing & go-to-market at Rakuten and Procter & Gamble.

​What you can expect 

​✨ Learn from Airwallex’s own journey across Southeast Asia - from key decisions to operational lessons of building a resilient business in a diverse, fast-changing region.

✨ Unpack what VCs like Square Peg are actively seeking in Southeast Asian startups to gain a clearer picture of investor expectations, key metrics and strategic positioning to effectively attract funding for your regional growth ambitions.

✨ Leave with practical strategies on market identification, regulatory navigation, and talent acquisition for your own SEA expansion.

​Programme Agenda

• ​4:30pm - 5pm : Registration & Light Bites

• ​5pm - 5:45pm : Fireside chat with Tushar and Ershad 

• ​5:45 pm - 7pm : Networking & Light Bites 

​Who Should Attend 

​Founders who are...

• ​Eyeing Southeast Asia expansion 

• ​Exploring how to set up a financial infrastructure that can support cross-border scale

• ​Seeking practical insights into go-to-market strategies across SEA markets

​
This is your rare chance to tap into the strategic thinking of a global VC leader with a formidable SEA portfolio and the operational realities of a Series F unicorn expanding in the region - RSVP today!