e27, the top media platform for tech and startups in Asia, has launched Echelon X, poised to be Southeast Asia’s flagship tech and startup event. Scheduled for May 15-16 at the Singapore EXPO, this 10th-anniversary edition aims to empower startups by enabling new business connections, uncovering fresh opportunities, and stimulating a flow of investments throughout the region’s tech landscape and beyond.
Deepening tech resilience and collaboration
Echelon X is designed to bolster the tech ecosystem’s resilience through enhanced collaboration, knowledge exchange, business matching, and collective innovation. This year, the focus is on more established startups, with over 100 noted speakers from influential entities such as Coffee Meets Bagel, Moomoo SG, Ninja Van, YouTrip, Addo, Meta, Google Cloud, NTT, Nir Eyal, BRI Ventures, Fazz Financial, and Vertex Ventures taking the stage.
These speakers will share their expertise on topics vital for mature startups, including artificial intelligence, sustainable growth, agile business practices, resilience, and future-proofing strategies.
Strategic partnerships and programme highlights
A key event at Echelon X will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between e27 and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Group. This pivotal agreement, set to be formalised on May 15 at the Pitch Stage, aims to drive growth and innovation across the regional startup ecosystem by leveraging e27’s extensive media network and NTT Group’s significant regional presence. This collaboration will offer startups enhanced support, greater visibility, better access to capital, and improved networking opportunities.
Additionally, the TOP100 programme remains a central element of Echelon. This programme is specially curated for startups across the region to secure visibility, mentorship, and funding opportunities. For the first time, the TOP100 will also include participants from beyond the traditional Southeast Asian borders, encompassing startups from India, Bangladesh, and Taiwan.
51 shortlisted startups will actively engage at Echelon X, showcasing their innovative ideas at exhibition booths and on the Pitch Stage. This platform will also feature presentations from other startup groups and global accelerators such as Antler and Plug and Play APAC.
Among the notable startups in the TOP100 are Careera from Singapore, Fina Fintech from Laos, Edge Tutor from the Philippines, dentall Co. Ltd. from Taiwan, The Mango Jelly from India, and PriyoShop from Bangladesh.
Government support and market context
The event will be graced by Mr. Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Communications and Information, who will deliver welcome remarks on May 15 as the guest of honour.
This year’s conference is particularly timely, given the ongoing funding slowdown across Southeast Asia and Singapore’s enduring status as the region’s top startup investment destination. According to the latest ‘Singapore Venture Funding Landscape’ report, Singapore-based startups were involved in 63.7% of all equity deals in 2023 across Southeast Asia, with a marked rise in deep tech investments.
“It is our utmost privilege to be able to organise the Echelon conference year after year,” stated Mohan Belani, CEO and Co-Founder of e27. “Over the past decade, we have seen the tech ecosystem growing exponentially, with Echelon being the must-attend conference for all things tech and startup. We have seen many revolutionary founders take the stage and showcase their innovative solutions to the world, and are excited to see what the future will bring, especially with the rise of disruptive technologies, new generations of founders, and strong support from ecosystem partners.”
