Great entrepreneurs aren’t born. They are made
A key question for investors has been on my mind for the past decade: Are great entrepreneurs born or made? Over time, I’ve developed a thesis to address this query, validating my ideas through various cases within the East Ventures ecosystem. The answer boils down to three key elements, which I call the three Cs: capacity, character, and capability. Capacity is innate. Like computers, some have faster processors and larger memories while others don’t. Having capacity is an advantage in entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, an entrepreneur’s capacity – unlike a computer’s – can’t be upgraded.
East Ventures, a pioneer in Southeast Asia’s venture capital scene, closes its inaugural GP-led secondary transaction with Coller Capital
East Ventures, a pioneering and leading venture capital firm in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, announced today that it has closed its inaugural GP-led secondary transaction. Led by a global secondary firm, Coller Capital, East Ventures offered limited partners in its East Ventures 5 L.P. (“EV5” or the “Fund”), liquidity, bringing the total distributions-to-paid in the capital (“DPI”) of the Fund to approximately 2.0x.
Minimizing the risk-reward of startup funding
The shrinking of venture capital funding over the past four years has not diminished East Ventures' commitment to funding startups in Indonesia. Bisnis had the opportunity to speak with Willson Cuaca, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of East Ventures, about the firm's future funding strategies for startups.
Indonesia’s MAKA Motors debuts first locally designed electric motorcycle, MAKA Cavalry
MAKA Motors, an electric vehicle company focused on accelerating Indonesia’s journey to self-sufficiency in automotive technology, has officially launched its first locally designed electric motorcycle, MAKA Cavalry. With this launch, MAKA Motors aims to redefine the riding experience for Indonesian consumers while advancing the electric vehicle ecosystem within the region, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
Startups can expect brighter 2025 after prolonged funding winter
Startups are expected to find it easier to secure funding in the year ahead after a tough 2024 which saw rising costs, muted investor interest and geopolitical developments hampering their growth. Industry players told The Straits Times that the local funding landscape is poised to be buoyant in 2025, driven by expected rate cuts and more investments targeting Southeast Asia.
East Ventures’ market outlook 2025: Thriving in the new transitions and realizing a “believable Southeast Asia”
As new leaders take the helm in major countries, the global economic and market outlook is clearer, and promising opportunities are on the horizon. Projections indicate that the global growth is set to stabilize at around 3.1% over the next five years, indicating a resilient recovery from the pandemic’s impact.
Unlocking the urban middle-class: Insights from Indonesia’s fast-growing consumer segment
Southeast Asia (SEA), a region populated by nearly 700 million people, is poised for remarkable digital economy growth over the next couple of years. The latest e-Conomy SEA 2024 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain&Company projected a 15% increase in GMV up to US$263 billion. This growth is also largely driven by the rising tech consumption within the region, where consumers are shifting towards digital services.
Willson Cuaca: “A tech winter? Not in tropical Indonesia”
Around 3,000 startups knock on the doors of East Ventures every year, hoping to join the ranks of unicorns like Tokopedia, Traveloka, and Carro, which have all been backed by the prominent VC firm. But if you think that presenting with a pitch deck would fly – think again.