{
  "id": 5250049,
  "title": "Fintech, DeFi and applied AI define Southeast Asia’s new venture discipline",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/fintech-defi-and-applied-ai-define-southeast-asias-new-venture",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-03T05:09:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "e27",
    "slug": "e27",
    "url": "https://e27.co/fintech-defi-and-applied-ai-define-southeast-asias-new-venture-discipline-20260903/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Southeast Asia's startup market is no longer bouncing back, but rather settling into a more cautious phase. Investors are now seeking businesses that can demonstrate commercial urgency, strong unit economics, and a faster route from product to revenue, as noted by Minette Navarrete, President and Managing Partner of Kickstart Ventures. This stabilization differs from the previous rebound, indicating that the market is learning to operate without excess liquidity. Fintech, applied AI, and defensible commerce models have emerged as the primary areas where capital remains confident. Fintech continues to be Southeast Asia's most active and heavily funded startup sector, raising US$1.3 billion across 111 equity deals. Although the funding numbers are lower than in recent years, fintech has found a sustainable funding floor. Wealthtech, a sub-category of fintech, led the sector with 39 deals worth US$375 million. Other notable financings include Thunes, Endowus, and Syfe, among others. DeFi has also experienced a shift from speculative crypto ventures to practical applications in lending, cross-border settlement, custody, and tokenization. The focus has shifted towards building infrastructure that can reduce inefficiencies within existing capital markets, particularly relevant for Southeast Asia's fragmented payment rails and varying regulatory regimes. Meanwhile, the artificial intelligence category saw a decline in deal volume and funding, with only 20 deals and US$214 million raised in 2025. However, this downturn reflects a more measured market, with investors favoring applied AI solutions, such as document processing, customer service automation, and enterprise software, over expensive attempts to build foundation models.",
  "summary": "Southeast Asia’s startup market did not bounce back in 2025. It reorganised. After years in which capital chased super-app ambitions, consumer land grabs and speculative technology narratives, the region’s venture ecosystem has settled into a more sober phase. Funding has stabilised at a lower base, and investors are now looking for businesses that can prove […] The post Fintech, DeFi and applied…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "e27",
        "title": "Southeast Asia does not have one AI advantage – it has 11",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/southeast-asia-does-not-have-one-ai-advantage-it-has-11",
        "published": "2026-08-31T03:30:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tech in Asia",
        "title": "Indian consumer app AI Fiesta expands in Southeast Asia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/indian-consumer-app-ai-fiesta-expands-in-southeast-asia",
        "published": "2026-09-01T09:03:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}