Non-profit Endeavor, which supports entrepreneurs with potential for economic and social impact in their respective regions, recently concluded its Endeavor MatchCAP Asia 2024, an exclusive investor roadshow held on May 13-14 in Singapore. The event is a joint effort between Endeavor offices in the Asian region which includes Endeavor Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
The event enabled entrepreneurs and investors to connect, collaborate, and drive innovation in Southeast Asia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Over two days in Singapore, attendees from various industries engaged in one-on-one meetings, sparking meaningful conversations and forging valuable relationships.
The event featured a learning session led by innovation economy-focused international law firm Gunderson Dettmer, providing valuable insights for early-stage founders. Following this session, participants proceeded to their scheduled one-on-one meetings. The second day of the event saw continued interactions between entrepreneurs and investors, fostering discussions and strategic planning aimed at advancing growth and impact within their respective ventures.
Endeavor Philippines notably played a key role in leading and organizing the event, highlighting the Philippines’ importance and leadership within the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem. The non-profit’s Philippine office took charge of sponsorships, finance, marketing & communications, and administrative matters. Endeavor Philippines notably initiated the first editions of MatchCAP.
With support from Aspire, BNI Ventures, Carta, Cooley, DBS, and Gunderson Dettmer, Endeavor MatchCAP Asia 2024 facilitated over 700 introductions, involving 160 companies, with 70 startups and 90 investors in attendance. Noteworthy among the participating companies were 13 from the Philippines, including Endeavor companies such as Angkas, Edamama, Tonik, and uHoo, alongside others like Lista, Salmon, 1Export, Buildhub, Cocotel, 40hammocks, Clout Kitchen, Hey Roomie, and Swarm.
Manny Ayala, Endeavor’s Regional Managing Director for Asia, expressed his satisfaction with the event’s outcome, stating, “We are thrilled to see the growing interest in Endeavor MatchCAP Asia this year. This year’s event surpassed all expectations, with double the number of participants and 5 times the number of curated connections made versus last year. It is evident that there is a growing appetite within the ecosystem for meaningful connections, and MatchCAP continues to serve as a catalyst for fostering these relationships.”
“Endeavor MatchCAP Asia 2024 has not only strengthened the entrepreneurial ecosystem but has also laid the foundation for future collaborations and partnerships that will drive economic growth and prosperity across Asia,” he added.
Previously, Endeavor Phiippines guided investments into local startups with Endeavor Catalyst, a rules-based, co-investment fund, set up to invest in high-Impact entrepreneurs. Among the notable investments are Growsari, empowering sari-sari stores; Kumu, the largest social entertainment app; Mineski Global, a leading eSports organization; Sprout Solutions, a pioneer in HR and payroll software; and SwipeRx (formerly mClinica), revolutionizing healthcare through its pharmacy network.