In a world increasingly powered by artificial intelligence, it is human connection that still drives progress. This belief came alive at the Asia Startup Expo Q2 2025, a high-impact virtual event hosted by KoreaTechDesk under the leadership of beSUCCESS Media Group, in collaboration with AsiaTechDaily and USTechTimes

The showcase brought together a cross-border network of innovators, investors, and thought leaders focused on advancing AI, SaaS, and D2C Consumer Tech startups across Asia. From deep-tech insights to founder spotlights and sharp investor feedback, the event celebrated the spirit of entrepreneurship and global collaboration.

Spotlight on Deep Tech: Keynote Highlights

Ritesh Kumar, Principal Scientist, CSIR-CSIO
In a compelling keynote, Ritesh Kumar explored the sensory frontiers of AI—particularly in decoding taste and smell. Backed by over 15 years of R&D and collaborations with Tata Consumer Products and Foodpairing Belgium, he showcased how AI-driven electrochemical sensors are powering electronic noses and tongues.

“AI is a wheel we’ve set rolling for humanity—it’s now up to us to steer it toward a world where even the senses of taste and smell can be digitised, democratized, and made meaningful.”

His call to action? For Indian startups to lead in sensory AI—spanning applications in food, healthcare, pharma, agriculture, and security.

Devendra Singh Parmar, Global Fintech & AI Expert
In his keynote “Beyond the Buzz: AI’s Real Role in Fintech Innovation”, Devendra cut through the hype with practical insights from his leadership experience at HSBC and State Street.

“AI in fintech isn’t just about disruption—it’s about building systems that are fair, inclusive, and ready for the real-world complexity of trust, risk, and regulation.”

He laid out three clear mandates for fintech founders:

• Inclusion & Sustainability: Use AI to deliver low-cost services and meet ESG goals.
• Smart Engagement: Deploy AI agents like Bank of America’s Erica to enhance customer experience.
• Responsible Innovation: Embed ethics, data privacy, and compliance from day one.

Stories That Scale: The Global Branding Panel

The panel “Helping Asian Innovation Speak to the World” brought together top communications and branding experts:

• Jeanhee Lee, VP, BitSensing (South Korea)
• David Claxton, Founder, Wise Up PR (USA)
• Urška Vračun, Business Development Consultant (EU)

Their collective advice for startups: blending local authenticity with global relevance is the key to scaling beyond borders.

Key takeaways:

• Tailored Messaging:
  David underscored that effective storytelling is never one-size-fits-all.

“Messaging has to be nuanced—local, regional, international, and sectoral. The most impactful PR is rooted in consistency and relationships—not automation.” – David Claxton

• Human-Centric Narratives:
  Jean described BitSensing’s shift from technical specs to impact-driven storytelling.

“We moved from showing how powerful our radar is, to showing how it makes life better. That changed everything.” – Jeanhee Lee

• Cultural Sensitivity & Clarity:
  Urška cautioned against misaligned UX and overly AI-generated messaging.

“We can tell when something is purely AI-generated. Users want to know there’s a human behind the message.” –Urška Vračun

• Strategic PR:
  All panelists agreed—global visibility comes from long-term investment in relationships, not quick hacks or spammy press blasts.
• AI with a Human Touch:
  ChatGPT and similar tools are valuable, but storytelling still demands authentic, empathetic human input.

Founder Showcase: A Glimpse into Asia’s Startup Future

The startup pitch segment was a highlight of the event, spotlighting emerging leaders from across Asia with bold visions and powerful tech.

Presenting Startups Included:

• Rio Julian, Co-Founder & CEO – Kataliz AI (Indonesia): AI solutions for personalized learning
• Carol PKU, Co-Founder & CEO – StartupLinkX (China): A platform for startup-investor matchmaking
• Adam Rubin, Founder – OmniWave (Singapore): Deeptech applications in fintech security
• Shubber H Ali, CEO – AI (USA): Voice-first AI for enterprise productivity
• K M Abir Mahmud, CEO – Campus365 (Bangladesh): AI-powered school management software

Each founder received live investor feedback, visibility to global audiences, and mentorship support, reflecting the Expo’s goal of not just showcasing startups—but supporting their next leap.

Investor Jury: Guiding the Next Wave

The participating startups benefited from the insights of an expert investor jury, who brought strategic clarity and honest, constructive input.

Investor Jury Included:

• Sunay Kumat, VP – Investment Banking & Angel Investor (India):
  With deep experience in capital markets and tech investing, Sunay brought a sharp eye to pitch scalability, monetization models, and market-entry strategies.
• Mohd Akhtaar, Head of Accelerator & Partner – VC (Singapore):
  Known for his focus on halal innovation and impact investing, Akhtaar shared invaluable guidance on product-market fit, founder resilience, and growth strategy for emerging markets.

Both investors emphasized the importance of vision, discipline, and storytelling—not just technology—for attracting long-term capital.

Looking Ahead: The Future is Collaborative

Asia Startup Expo Q2 2025 wasn’t just a showcase—it was a reminder that in the age of machines, it’s still people, purpose, and partnerships that make innovation matter.

Stay tuned for more events, collaborations, and founder journeys as we continue building an innovation ecosystem without borders.

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