Granite Asia's Jixun Foo Unveils Where Asia's AI Edge is Emerging: Robotics, Data, and Beyond

In a recent interview, Jixun Foo, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia, shares insights on Asia's burgeoning advantages in the AI landscape.

Foo highlights how Granite Asia, formerly the Asia arm of GGV Capital which rebranded in 2024, is positioning itself at the forefront of AI investments across the region.

Asia's Unique AI Strengths

Asia's edge in AI is forming in areas like robotics and vast data resources, leveraging the continent's manufacturing prowess and population density.

Historically, Granite Asia has backed giants such as Alibaba and Xiaomi, building a track record of identifying category-defining companies.

The firm now seeks founders who combine technical depth with market intuition, particularly in applied AI solutions tailored for Asian markets.

Recent Investments and Partnerships

In February 2026, Granite Asia partnered with DBS to launch a $110 million AI-focused IPO fund, accelerating listings for high-growth AI firms.

Portfolio companies like Chemlex, Singdata, and Wiz.ai exemplify their bets on Singapore-based AI innovators founded by Chinese entrepreneurs.

This fund draws from investors across Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Europe, signaling strong regional momentum.

Future Outlook for AI in Asia

Foo envisions Asia leading in hardware-integrated AI and data-efficient models, challenging Western dominance in foundational tech.

Challenges remain in talent retention and compute access, but Asia's supply chain integration offers a competitive moat.

Overall, these developments could propel over 13,000 AI startups founded in Asia since 2015 toward global impact.

As capital markets revive, Granite Asia's strategy promises to fuel the next wave of AI unicorns.