AsiaStartupExpo Q4 2025 Unveils Investor Judges: Leading Voices in Venture Capital to Evaluate Asia’s Next Wave of Startups

Final edition of the year to spotlight AI, SaaS, DeepTech, B2B, Climate, and Consumer Tech innovations on December 4

The AsiaStartupExpo Q4 2025, the final edition of this year’s quarterly series, has announced its lineup of investor judges, representing a diverse mix of venture capitalists, angel investors, and ecosystem leaders across Asia and beyond.

Scheduled for December 4, 2025 (1:00 PM–3:30 PM SGT), the virtual event will feature ten carefully selected startups pitching live to a panel of distinguished investors. Each investor brings a unique perspective shaped by their experience in early-stage funding, venture building, and corporate innovation.

Organized by AsiaTechDaily, beSUCCESS, and IndiaTechDesk, KoreaTechDesk, the expo continues to provide a trusted platform for connecting promising startups with active investors and ecosystem partners.

A Stronger Focus and a Sharper Format

AsiaStartupExpo Q4 2025 builds upon the success of its earlier editions, introducing a refined structure and enhanced engagement between startups and investors.

This quarter, the focus areas include AI, SaaS, DeepTech, B2B Tech, Climate Tech, and Consumer Tech — sectors that continue to define Asia’s innovation story.

Each startup will deliver a four-minute pitch, followed by three to four minutes of investor feedback and discussion. At the end of the session, one startup will be selected as the AsiaStartupExpo Q4 2025 Winner, receiving a special recognition and prize to be announced during the event.

Meet the Investor Judges for Q4 2025

1. Anirudh Iyer, Xeed Ventures

At Xeed Ventures, Anirudh Iyer partners with early-stage founders to help build and scale technology-first businesses. With prior experience at 021 Capital, he focuses on evaluating investments, supporting portfolio companies, and developing growth frameworks.

Anirudh has worked closely with startups such as Spotdraft, Increff, Brightchamps, Nymble, SuperK, KreditPe, and Oro Money. His approach centers on learning from founders — their insights, challenges, and drive to solve real problems.

About Xeed Ventures:
Xeed Ventures is an early-stage fund backing exceptional founders redefining the future through technology. Supported by successful founders, seasoned operators, and reputed family offices, Xeed typically invests between INR 1–10 crores, providing not only capital but also strategic guidance and access to its extensive network.

2. Shubham Mittal, July Ventures

Shubham Mittal is part of the investment team at July Ventures, where he oversees deal sourcing, market research, investment evaluation, and portfolio management. His prior experience includes leading investment research and planning at Stan Professionals, where he managed teams working on investment banking, equity research, and consulting projects.

At July Ventures, Shubham plays a key role in identifying high-growth consumer and B2B startups, preparing investment memos, and supporting portfolio strategy and exits.

About July Ventures:
July Ventures invests in startups that redefine consumer and enterprise experiences, focusing on B2B, B2B2C, and disruptive solutions addressing global challenges. With deep operational expertise, strong governance mechanisms, and institutional backing, July Ventures aims to accelerate promising startups from early traction to sustainable scale.

3. Michelle Chang, Pegatron Venture Capital

Michelle Chang, Investment Manager at Pegatron Venture Capital, represents the venture arm of PEGATRON Corporation, one of the world’s leading design and manufacturing companies.

Pegatron’s venture arm invests strategically in startups aligned with its innovation roadmap — particularly those advancing manufacturing technology, hardware integration, and digital transformation. With its foundation in design, engineering, and vertically integrated manufacturing, Pegatron brings a unique operator’s perspective to venture investing.

About Pegatron Venture Capital:
Founded in 2008, PEGATRON Corporation combines EMS and ODM expertise to offer cutting-edge Design and Manufacturing Services (DMS). The company’s venture capital division extends this legacy into startup collaboration, supporting emerging technology companies that complement its core innovation strategy.

4. Charlie Streeter, Voluntas Group

As Managing Director of Voluntas Elevate APAC, Charlie Streeter leads the strategic expansion of Voluntas Group into Southeast Asia from Hong Kong. With more than 20 years of international experience in business development, finance, and leadership, he focuses on helping high-growth ventures expand across regional markets.

Charlie brings a dual perspective as both an investor and mentor, actively advising startups on go-to-market strategies, fundraising, and operational scaling. His work at Voluntas centers on integrating capital raising, acceleration, and strategic advisory under a single platform.

About Voluntas Group:
Voluntas Group is a global venture ecosystem operating across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the U.S., providing capital raising, strategic advisory, AI-driven acceleration, and M&A execution. It partners with founders to scale ventures, structure exits, and build long-term enterprise value.

5. Scott Lim, Angel Investor

Scott Lim is a Singapore-based entrepreneur and angel investor with a passion for using sports to improve lifestyles and foster community well-being. He is the founder of Star Tennis and Pickleball Academy Singapore, both dedicated to making sports accessible and enjoyable for all ages.

Beyond his ventures, Scott actively supports startups and enjoys networking with founders and business leaders across sectors. His investment interests include sports tech, wellness, and consumer innovation.

6. Kalyan Sivalenka, HAF

Kalyan Sivalenka is the Founder of Springforth Capital Advisors and an experienced investment professional with deep expertise in finance, investment banking, and asset management. A CFA Charter Holder from the CFA Institute (USA), Kalyan has built a reputation for ethical and strategic advisory in early-stage and mid-market investments.

Springforth Capital Advisors focuses on sectors such as Lifesciences, Logistics, Consumption, and IT, while its asset management arm, Springforth Investment Managers, invests in Food, Agri, and Logistics through a domain-expert-driven model.

About HAF:
HAF.VC is a sector-agnostic Category I AIF fund and a founder-investor collaboration platform created by the leadership of Hyderabad Angels. It brings together serial entrepreneurs and business leaders to help founders achieve their vision through hands-on mentorship and capital support.

7. Urska Vracun, Angel Investor

Urska Vracun brings cross-border experience as a startup mentor, angel investor, and business association leader. Based in Slovenia, she manages the Slovenia-Korea Business Association and is a member of the Epic Angels investment group.

She mentors startups and SMEs on international expansion and European market entry, helping founders build networks and identify reliable partners for collaboration. Urska’s deep understanding of European ecosystems makes her a bridge for Asian startups looking to expand westward.

8. Sunay Kumat, Angel Investor

Sunay Kumat serves as Vice President at an Investment banking firm. and is an active angel investor with a background in banking, equity, and derivatives. He holds an MBA in Finance from IBS Hyderabad and brings strong analytical and strategic skills to his investment approach.

With professional experience in financial services and investment banking, Sunay offers a practical and structured perspective to early-stage founders seeking to understand investor expectations, valuation strategies, and growth planning.

Format and Flow of the Expo

The AsiaStartupExpo Q4 2025 will follow a two-and-a-half-hour program consisting of three main segments:

1. Opening and Keynote Session – Featuring an industry leader sharing insights on Asia’s Startup Outlook 2026.
   
2. Startup Pitch Session – Ten startups present for 4 minutes each, followed by 4–5 minutes of investor Q&A and feedback.
   
3. Closing and Winner Announcement – One startup will be recognized as the AsiaStartupExpo Q4 Winner for innovation, scalability, and presentation impact.

Continuing the Legacy: From Q3 to Q4

The AsiaStartupExpo Q3 2025, held in September, brought together a diverse panel of investors and mentors who shared valuable insights with founders across Asia’s fast-evolving startup landscape. The event featured ten startups pitching across high-growth sectors such as AI, sustainability, SaaS, and consumer technology, drawing participation from investors with deep expertise in venture building, innovation, and global market expansion.

The investor panel for Q3 included Poom Tanthaprabha (SeaX Ventures), Siddharth Verma (Grayscale Ventures), Charlie Streeter (Voluntas Group), Vasudha Madhavan (Ostara Advisors), Nabeel Shariff (One Degree), Aviram Jenik (Rabbit VC), Ze Tian Go (Qualgro Ventures), and Sajju Jain (Angel Investor).

Each of them brought a distinct perspective — from frontier technologies like AI, robotics, and sustainability tech to the financial and operational realities of scaling startups in emerging markets. The discussions during the pitches were interactive and practical, allowing founders to gain feedback, refine their strategies, and explore post-event collaborations.

Encouraging Participation and Collaboration

With Asia’s startup ecosystem rapidly maturing, events like the AsiaStartupExpo play an important role in bridging early innovation with global capital. The rise of AI, SaaS, DeepTech, and Climate Tech has led investors to seek differentiated ideas and founders with a strong sense of mission.

The expo’s streamlined format allows for direct interaction between founders and investors, ensuring every pitch is both concise and insightful. For startups, it’s an opportunity to test their ideas, gain investor feedback, and build visibility through media platforms like AsiaTechDaily, beSUCCESS, and KoreaTechDesk.

Registration Details

• 📅 Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025
  
• ⏰ Time: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM (SGT)
  
• 💻 Format: Virtual (Zoom)

Startups: Apply to pitch and compete for the AsiaStartupExpo Q4 2025 Winner Recognition.
Investors: Register to join as a judge and interact with selected founders.
Partners: Explore sponsorship and collaboration opportunities.

🔗 [Register Now]

About AsiaStartupExpo

The AsiaStartupExpo series is jointly organized by AsiaTechDaily, beSUCCESS, IndiaTechDesk and KoreaTechDesk, platforms committed to connecting founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers across Asia. The quarterly event provides a curated space for early-stage startups to gain exposure, investor feedback, and growth opportunities.

Over the past year, AsiaStartupExpo has evolved into one of the region’s most consistent and founder-friendly pitch programs, helping startups build meaningful investor relationships while giving investors direct access to emerging innovation.

Looking Ahead

As the final edition of 2025, AsiaStartupExpo Q4 is set to bring the year to a close with renewed energy, actionable insights, and cross-border collaboration. With its expanded investor panel and the introduction of a winner recognition, the event continues to strengthen its role as a bridge between innovation and capital in Asia’s evolving startup landscape.