When VC money meets real money – Mon, September 20 2021

For anyone who thinks Southeast Asia’s tech scene has been “flourishing” in recent years, strap yourself in. We’ve only had a small taste of the best part that’s still to come.

Homegrown tech giants are slated to go public one after another, with several putting up impressive market debuts. A dealmaking boom, fueled by mergers and acquisitions, is well underway. Even global investors are looking to our region for opportunities.

We’re at a point where local venture capitalists (VCs) are no longer selling pie-in-the-sky stories of theoretical valuations and potential liquidity. The returns have been demonstrated.

The moment comes just as Indonesian e-commerce platform Bukalapak went public on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX: BUKA.JK). The move gave Bukalapak the moniker of Indonesia’s first listed tech unicorn and…