beSUCCESS Media Group Spotlights Asia’s Deep Tech Opportunities at BEYOND Expo 2025

The BEYOND Expo 2025, held from May 21–24 at The Venetian Macao Cotai Expo, brought together Asia’s leading technology innovators, investors, and startups for four days of discussions, showcases, and deal-making. The event, which attracted over 30,000 attendees and 1,200 exhibitors, positioned itself as a key forum for exploring the future of frontier technologies across the region.

At the Global Investment Summit during the expo, a panel moderated by James Jung of beSUCCESS Media Group delved into the challenges and opportunities of investing in deep technology. Industry leaders examined how risk-taking, founder adaptability, and long-term vision shape the path from breakthrough science to global market impact.

Defining Deep Tech: Sectors and Challenges

The panel, titled “The Courage of Betting on Deep Innovation”, brought together Oh Hyoung Kwon of FuturePlay, Harry Wang of Linear Capital, and Harry Man of MPC (formerly Matrix Partners China).

Panelists highlighted that deep tech is distinguished not just by cutting-edge innovation, but by high scientific and technological barriers. The sectors discussed included:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
  
• Semiconductors and advanced computing
  
• Robotics and automation
  
• Quantum technologies
  
• New materials and frontier biology
  

These fields hold enormous potential but require years of research, product development, and scaling before delivering commercial returns.

As Harry Man noted, “Deep tech is deeper than AI… it’s about fundamental physics and chemistry.”

Investment Philosophies: Early vs. Later Stage

Each investor shared their approach to navigating these risks:

• FuturePlay, active since 2013, has invested in over 260 startups, focusing on early-stage AI, robotics, and healthcare solutions tailored to Korea’s aging population.
  
• Linear Capital, managing $2 billion in assets, started with AI and data-driven startups and expanded into frontier biology and materials discovery.
  
• MPC, with $10 billion in assets under management, traditionally focused on consumer internet but now invests in later-stage deep tech after companies demonstrate technical validation and initial product development.
  

Despite these differences, the panel agreed on one key principle: science-driven innovation must be paired with patient, strategic investment.

Founder Mindsets Across Asia

A major topic was how founder culture differs across regions.

• Korean founders often operate in a small domestic market, which compels them to adopt a global-first approach. They aim to build companies that can scale internationally from the start. As Oh Hyoung Kwon observed, “Korean founders know Korea isn’t big enough to build the next decacorn. Their mentality is built to expand globally.”
  
• Chinese founders, by contrast, benefit from a massive domestic market. This allows them to pursue long-term visionary projects. Harry Wang described it as a “technical romance,” citing DJI and Deepseek as examples of ambitious founders aiming for lasting impact.
  

Both approaches carry strengths and risks, but adaptability and openness to international collaboration were highlighted as critical for success.

Managing Risk and Founder Evolution

Investing in deep tech is inherently risky, but how do investors decide which companies to back?

• Harry Man (MPC) explained that later-stage investments allow more certainty: “The first five years are the hardest. But if founders can evolve beyond their technical roots, they can build enterprises.”
  
• FuturePlay and Linear Capital focus on early-stage opportunities. They prioritize technical excellence over immediate management skills. Harry Wang noted, “We don’t care if they lack management skills. What matters is the willingness to learn and transform.”
  

Oh Hyoung Kwon emphasized that early-stage founders must be world-class in their field and capable of attracting top talent. Other gaps, like PR or HR, can be supported by investors.

The panel agreed that a founder’s personal evolution sets the ceiling for the company’s growth.

Learning from Failure

Failure is part of the deep-tech journey.

• Oh Hyoung Kwon candidly shared that early-stage success rates are around 50%, with most failures linked to team management and founder adaptability.
  
• Harry Wang described failure as a “common friend,” noting that eight out of ten early bets may fail, but the few successes often pay off the entire fund. He stressed that nuanced judgment, shaped by experience, is crucial.
  
• Harry Man highlighted the cost of “misses”—promising companies overlooked early. He cited EV maker Xpeng, which recovered from a steep valuation drop thanks to its founder’s leadership.
  

The takeaway: investors must balance risk, patience, and founder potential.

Implications for Korea’s Startup Ecosystem

For South Korea, sessions like this reinforce the importance of global-scale ambition. With a limited domestic market, Korean startups need to combine technical mastery, leadership growth, and resilience to succeed internationally.

beSUCCESS Media Group plays a key role in connecting local startups with global investors, ensuring Korean ventures are not only innovative but also globally competitive.

Programs like Pangyo Techno Valley, KAIST, and TIPS are nurturing the next generation of frontier startups, equipping them with resources to tackle the complex, long-term challenges of deep tech.

The Takeaway: Patience, Vision, and Courage

The BEYOND Expo 2025 panel made one thing clear: deep tech success demands patience and bold vision. For investors, it means trusting founders through uncertain timelines. For founders, it requires technical excellence, leadership evolution, and the courage to pursue ambitious global goals.