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KPMG & HSBC’s Emerging Giants in Asia Pacific report identifies potential regional unicorns and their growth drivers

  • Written by Telegraph Magazine

As the world’s growth engine, Asia Pacific’s technology-focused start-ups are leveraging innovations and new sector verticals to blaze a digital trail forward

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 18 July 2022 - KPMG and HSBC have released the Emerging Giants in Asia Pacific report, which examines new economy businesses across the region with strong potential to impact the global business landscape over the next decade.

Over 6,472 technology-focused start-ups1 with valuations of up to US$500 million2 were studied across 12 markets, with ten leading Emerging Giant companies identified in each market3. The report also names 100 Leading Emerging Giants within the overall Asia Pacific region.

Maturing technology-focused ecosystems in the Asia Pacific are producing billion-dollar companies at a rapid rate. With the International Monetary Fund predicting that the region's emerging markets and developing economies will grow 20 percent faster than the global average4, this year, Emerging Giants – fast-growing, influential and innovative start-ups with unicorn ambitions – are a leading indicator of the Asia Pacific's growth trajectory.

According to the report, the emergence of new sector verticals is attracting record-breaking investments, leading to a proliferation of larger, more valuable start-ups in the region.

Beyond the traditional sectors associated with new economy businesses such as FinTech or software-as-a-service, the report identified around 120 technology-related industry subsectors among these businesses, with blockchain, smart city, and sustainability and ESG verticals being most prominent. Additionally, six out of the 12 markets studied had average valuations of US$300 million or more among their leading Emerging Giants5.

"Fast-growing technology start-ups are the new wave of SMEs contributing towards economic growth and more. Looking ahead, the global push towards carbon-neutrality will be a major driver of innovation as traditional sectors go green, and Emerging Giants will likely play a key role in developing the technologies that can reduce carbon emissions and promote more responsible stewardship of the environment. Asia will be a crucial battleground in the fight for a more sustainable future," says Honson To, Chairman KPMG Asia Pacific and KPMG China.

"Emerging Giants in Asia Pacific excites us because we see the start-up ecosystem as complimentary to the established end of the financial services industry: they're a source of innovation, and invigorate both local and regional economies with their dynamism," says Surendra Rosha, Co-Chief Executive of HSBC Asia-Pacific.

"Over 9,300 start-ups and 12 unicorns currently call Singapore home - this is the highest total of any country in Southeast Asia. Correspondingly, we can expect the entrepreneurial impact of these enterprises to be significant in catalysing innovation here, while also giving a shot in the arm to boost economic strength and market confidence. The challenge forward will be to continue attracting unicorns to reside here. Strong ecosystem support will be needed, such as public and private programmes and incentives for 'hot sectors', an environment that attracts and grooms top talent, as well as a strong purpose across industries and the nation to solve priority problems and create measurable change for the world," says Ong Pang Thye, Managing Partner, KPMG in Singapore.

"From Singapore's position as a global and regional financial centre, we've observed increased interest in venture capital participation in Series A and B rounds of innovative firms in either B2B software or financial services sectors across Europe and Asia. HSBC is well-placed to connect these Emerging Giants to opportunities locally and internationally. Backed by our deep local experience, global network, and customer-tailored banking solutions, we have a proven track-record of helping businesses to grow domestically and subsequently, across borders," says Kee Joo Wong, CEO of HSBC Singapore.

Other key findings of the report include:

  • While a repeat of the record-breaking private investment levels in 2021 is unlikely, 1Q 2022 figures suggest that 2022 is on target to exceed both 2020 and 2019 funding levels in the Asia Pacific. Australia, Malaysia and South Korea have already seen deal values pass or nearly pass 2020 totals.
  • As the world's biggest fintech adopter, the Asia Pacific region has experienced a boom in financial services transformation within the last two years as fintech applications progress in tandem with user uptake. Considerable interest in cryptocurrencies has also led to a surge in crypto financial services providers and blockchain players.
  • Growing pressure for an ESG focus in business and investment strategies in order to meet climate targets will likely drive an explosive demand for green technologies and services across every industry, creating significant opportunities for Emerging Giants.
  • Top challenges faced by Emerging Giants include navigating regulatory complexity and securing technology talent. Formulating effective ESG and tax strategies, as well as leveraging government incentives and implementing management processes for distributed workforces, will be cornerstones of future growth.

"As the world's leading trade bank, we're always looking for ways to help our customers innovate, develop the solutions of the future and add value. As up-and-coming leaders who will shape industries in the next decade, Emerging Giants represent a vital building block for a sustainable and prosperous future for the region," says Dan Roberts, HSBC's Global Head of Business Banking.

"Asia Pacific's emerging giants are bold, ambitious and cutting-edge in the new platform and software applications they are offering. They are courageous about who they choose to partner with, which markets they are targeting, how they shape their business models, transforming company culture and mission statements. Perhaps most importantly, they are transforming and pioneering the technology landscape over the coming years, in addition to thinking about what is useful to their customers now," says Darren Yong, Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications, KPMG Asia Pacific.

The report also features interviews with start-up founders and executives across the 12 Asia Pacific markets, which offer insight into the challenges and opportunities that start-ups in the region face.

The Emerging Giants in Asia Pacific report can be downloaded at:
https://kpmg.com/emerginggiants
https://www.business.hsbc.com.sg/giants


1 Mainland China; India; Japan; Australia; Singapore; South Korea; Hong Kong (SAR) China; Malaysia; Indonesia; Vietnam; Taiwan and Thailand.

2 Valuations based on Pitchbook data current as of 30 April 2022

3 Consideration for these lists was based on estimated valuations and venture capital received based on Pitchbook data figures; as well as KPMG and HSBC analysis on the future growth potential of these companies.

47.3% vs 6.1% IMF, April 2022

5 Valuations based on Pitchbook data current as of 30 April 2022

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About KPMG

KPMG is a global organization of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited ("KPMG International") operate and provide professional services. "KPMG" is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organization or to one or more member firms collectively.

KPMG firms operate in 144 countries and territories with more than 236,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.

KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee. KPMG International Limited and its related entities do not provide services to clients. For more detail about our structure, please visit home.kpmg/governance.

About HSBC Singapore
HSBC Group's history in Singapore dates back to 1877 when its founding member, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, opened its first branch on the island. HSBC in Singapore offers a comprehensive range of banking and financial services including retail banking and wealth management; commercial, investment and private banking; insurance; forfaiting and trustee services; securities and capital markets services. One of the earliest banks to establish in Singapore, HSBC today is a prominent player in Singapore's financial services sector serving the banking needs of multi-national corporations, home-grown businesses, private banking clients, institutional and retail customers.