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A*GN Platinum Fireside Chat with Mr. Jixun Foo
New Rules of Winning in Asia Tech
Organised by A*STAR Global Network (A*GN) and co-organised by A*STARTCentral (ASC) and Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE). We came together to bring the exclusive fireside chat with Mr. Jixun Foo, Senior Managing Partner at Granite Asia, held at the SMU Administration Building.
This session was moderated by Professor. Cyndi Zhang, Associate Professor of Strategic Management and Academic Director, Chinese Executive Master of Business Administration (CEMBA). A huge thank you to Mr. Anthony Chong from A*STARTCentral for emceeing the event and keeping the energy high and spirited.
Pre-Event Small‑Group SMU Students' Discussion with Mr. Jixun Foo
SMU students had the opportunity to engage in a small‑group discussion with Mr. Jixun Foo, in a closed‑door session designed for open conversation and candid exchange.
In this more personal setting, Mr. Foo shared reflections from his journey across venture investing, company building, and cross‑border growth in Asia - offering students a realistic look at:
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Navigating early career choices in tech and innovation
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What investors look for beyond pitch decks
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The realities of scaling companies across markets, cultures, and regulations
VIP Reception
A*STAR Global Network (A*GN) and Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE) held a VIP reception where it brought together senior management, invited guests, and partners from both organisations, providing a platform for informal interaction and setting a collaborative tone for the fireside chat that followed. The gathering reflected the strong partnership between A*GN and SMU IIE in fostering dialogue across research, innovation, and industry.
Opening Remarks by Professor. Lim Sun Sun, Vice President (Partnerships and Engagement), Lee Kong Chian Professor of Communication & Technology
Prof. Sun highlighted that “winning” in Asia tech means more than speed or scale. It requires leaders who are locally fluent, able to exercise sound judgment as technology moves faster than policy, and who see governance and compliance not as constraints, but as sources of long‑term competitive advantage - supported by strong collaboration across academia, research, industry and investors.
Opening Remarks by Mr. Ng Choon-Peng, President of A*GN, Senior Director (Commercial Strategy and Partnering) Essex Bio-Technology
Mr. Choon shared that Asia’s technology ecosystem is at a critical inflection point. As artificial intelligence accelerates innovation, it is also reshaping how companies grow and operate across borders. Founders today are not only focused on building cutting‑edge technology, but are increasingly required to navigate complex regulatory environments, cross‑border data flows, and rising expectations around responsible and trustworthy innovation.
Fireside Chat
An energising and thoughtful conversation that explored what it truly takes to build and scale category‑defining companies in today’s AI‑driven landscape, drawing on Mr. Foo’s two decades of investing experience across Asia - from early bets to shaping landmark strategic combinations.
What stood out most was the clarity and candour around:
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Building enduring companies beyond hype
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Navigating growth, cycles, and resilience in Asia tech
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The realities behind venture success - discipline, timing, and conviction
These insights came together to paint a candid and practical picture of venture building in Asia - one defined by resilience, disciplined growth, and a clear‑eyed understanding of what truly drives long‑term success.
Audience Q&A
Following the fireside discussion, the session was opened to the audience for a Q&A segment, where participants posed insightful questions on navigating capital, compliance, and cross‑border growth in Asia’s rapidly evolving technology landscape. The exchange reflected strong interest from the audience and enabled deeper exploration of practical considerations and strategic perspectives shared during the conversation.
Token of Appreciation
At the close of the programme, tokens of appreciation were jointly presented by A*STAR Global Network (A*GN) and Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE) to both the speaker, Mr. Jixun Foo, and the moderator, Prof. Cyndi. This gesture recognised their time, thoughtful contributions, and the engaging exchange they facilitated during the fireside chat, and underscored the appreciation of both organisations for their support in making the session a meaningful and insightful one for the audience.
Dinner and Networking
The evening concluded with a dinner and networking session, where attendees continued conversations sparked during the fireside chat in a more informal setting. This segment provided a platform for participants to deepen connections, exchange perspectives, and explore potential collaborations.
