The newest names leading genAI in SEA

We refresh SEA's genAI power list and unpack why relying on third-party models isn't necessarily a weakness.

Read from your browser Daily Newsletter Welcome to Tech in Asia's daily newsletter, your essential dose of Asia's tech and startup buzz. Subscribe to this newsletter or send story tips to editors@techinasia.com. Ensure our articles appear in your Google searches: IN FOCUS Regional genAI leaders to have on your radar Why "renting" AI models may not always be a disadvantage Deliveroo serves up last of food delivery orders in Singapore Hello Betamax, We've received a ton of feedback since we released our first iteration of prominent people in Southeast Asia's generative AI space last September. Since then, we've added over a dozen new names to the list based on community recommendations and as new AI startups surfaced. While much of the recent conversation has shifted toward robotics and AI agents, the genAI space is still a flurry of activity, from AI companions for language learning to tools that drive search visibility on LLMs. Whether you subscribe to the belief that AI wrappers will struggle to survive or that relying on third-party AI models free up precious engineering resources for other product development tasks - a thought we explore in today's second featured story - we hope this list continues to serve as a useful starting point for you. If you know someone who should be included in this list, do send them our way. Melissa Goh, senior editor TOP STORIES 1️⃣ Movers and shakers in Southeast Asia's genAI space (Update) It's a great time to be building in AI. The sector continues to take the lion's share of startup funding in the region. Over US$2.3 billion poured into 680 Southeast Asian AI startups in the 12 months to June 2025, according to a report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company. Whether you're a builder or looking to connect with like-minded people, this list is for you. 2️⃣ AppLovin CPO on how renting AI can be a waiting game Ge Xiaochuan argues that by outsourcing the hardest work to other companies - by using ready-built models developed by third parties - the advertising company's engineering team can focus on building for its users and expanding the business. His comments come amid Google vice president Dareen Mowry's view that LLM wrappers may struggle to survive and should develop deep moats around a specific sector or be horizontally differentiated. SPOTLIGHT So long, farewell, Deliveroo The curtains will fall on Deliveroo's food delivery service in Singapore on March 4. This comes with parent company DoorDash's retreat from three other Asian markets - Japan, Qatar, and Uzbekistan. In several impassioned conversations about food delivery experiences over the past month - as often happens in Singapore when the topic turns to food - Deliveroo came up as the clear favorite among the three main operators here. Friends and people I spoke with noted the platform's smaller selection of restaurants but superior service standards compared to the other major players. One even noted a regular food delivery staff with whom she'd become friendly with over the years. I'd even made a mental note to try it out again myself soon. Unfortunately, in a competitive space with slim margins, choice and selection outweigh service standards. Farewell, Deliveroo. You'll be missed. HWWC BUSINESS FORUM'S GRAND FINALE Why discipline beats motivation when the stakes are highest. In partnership with At the upcoming HSBC Women's World Championship Business Forum, we are dedicating our final session to the ultimate test of leadership: execution under pressure. Join Yip Pin Xiu, Singapore's most decorated paralympic champion, and Gavin Lee, the history-making head coach of the Singapore Men's national team, as they unpack how elite performers prepare before the heat turns up. Moderated by local radio station MoneyFM 89.3's assistant program director Zia-ul Raushan, this session reveals why discipline, and not motivation, is the true foundation of sustained elite performance in high-stakes environments. As an exclusive bonus, attendees are invited to a special photo opportunity with these national icons immediately following the session. With only less than 48 hours to go, this is your final call to join 600+ leaders this Friday. Get one of the remaining seats today. ADS VANITY METRICS ALMOST FOOLED US. It's a familiar story for many marketers: the pressure to generate leads results in a quick investment in paid ads. Our experiment generated impressive charts but an empty sales pipeline. 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