Building through borders: A founder’s perspective on a fragmented world
For much of the last decade, “going global” was almost a rite of passage for startups. The formula seemed straightforward: build a product that solves a real problem, raise capital, expand into new markets, and let globalisation create the scale. Technology was increasingly borderless, capital flowed relatively freely, and businesses assumed that the world would […] The post Building through…
Building businesses in a fragmented world has become a daunting challenge for entrepreneurs. The assumption that technology and capital flows would create an ever-more interconnected global landscape has evolved. Geopolitical tensions, trade restrictions, and sovereign strategies have shifted the landscape, forcing founders to reconsider their expansion strategies.
A founder of a platform that tracks corporate events and strategic actions across listed companies shares his perspective on navigating this new reality. While he hasn't abandoned international ambitions, he has redefined what "going global" truly means in today's climate. The most significant decision he made was investing more deeply in understanding the broader context surrounding corporate decisions, rather than merely focusing on market expansion.
This shift has led to a greater emphasis on explaining why each corporate event matters, with additional context provided through impact assessments and strategic analysis. This approach has become increasingly valuable as geopolitical fragmentation intensifies. Founders must now consider regulatory compatibility from the outset, as different jurisdictions introduce their own approaches to data residency, AI governance, cloud infrastructure, and digital sovereignty.
For businesses building AI-powered products, these decisions become strategic rather than technical. The shift towards geopolitical fragmentation also presents opportunities, particularly for Southeast Asia. The region's adaptability and ability to operate across multiple legal systems, languages, cultures, and regulatory environments make it an attractive middle ground.
Companies in this region have developed the capability to connect different markets and understand diverse customer needs, positioning them well in an increasingly fragmented global economy. Investors today are more interested in the resilience of a business model than rapid market expansion, focusing on supply chain dependence, regulatory exposure, customer concentration, and operational flexibility.
Founders are advised to build platforms that can adapt to these changing conditions, rather than merely optimising for rapid market expansion.
Written by urgent.news from e27's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
