East Ventures Cautiously Optimistic on Southeast Asia Tech Ecosystem Recovery in 2026

East Ventures, a pioneering venture capital firm founded in 2009, remains cautiously optimistic about the Southeast Asia tech ecosystem heading into 2026.

Managing Partner Roderick Purwana highlighted the firm's disciplined approach amid 2025's challenges like tighter liquidity and governance scandals.

East Ventures' 2025 Achievements and Resilience

Despite market headwinds, East Ventures onboarded new portfolio companies and facilitated key liquidity events, including its first GP-led secondaries and FORE's successful IPO on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

The firm invested in over 300 tech startups across Southeast Asia, emphasizing sustainable growth and positive societal impacts through ESG practices.

2025 marked a shift toward ecosystem stewardship, with cross-industry collaborations and founder programs building resilience and maturity.

Strategic Focus for 2026 Growth

Looking ahead, East Ventures plans to prioritize AI-first, healthtech, consumer tech, and climate tech sectors while remaining sector-agnostic.

Capacity building will strengthen execution, governance, and talent to enable sustainable scaling and credible liquidity pathways.

Indonesia's structural advantages, including vast domestic demand and rapid digital adoption, position it as a key opportunity hub.

The regional tech down-cycle, lasting 24-30 months, is transitioning to a rational phase demanding proven unit economics and robust governance.

By fostering trust through performance, East Ventures aims to create a pipeline of high-quality startups ready for recovery.

This outlook underscores the long-term potential of Southeast Asia's tech landscape despite global uncertainties.