The Global Venture Investment Summit held during APEC SME Week 2025 in Jeju, South Korea, brought together more than 250 participants from over 17 countries. The event highlighted the increasing importance of cross-border collaboration, addressing liquidity pressures, funding gaps, and the need for stronger partnerships among regional investors and startups. Minister of SMEs and Startups Han Seong-sook emphasized the importance of APEC’s venture market to the global economy, which accounts for more than 70% of global venture investments.
Korea’s involvement in hosting the summit was significant in terms of ecosystem diplomacy, positioning the country as a connector economy, bridging the startup ecosystems of various APEC nations. One of the major themes of the summit was the need for greater cross-border capital flows. Chair of the Hong Kong Venture Capital Association stressed the importance of collaboration between countries, noting that technology knows no borders.
Le Hoang Uyen Vy, Chair of the Vietnam Private Capital Association, highlighted the funding gap for Series B and C stages, critical for scaling startups. Another central topic of discussion was the current liquidity crunch in the venture market, particularly for startups in later stages of growth. Troy LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO, discussed how delays in exit opportunities are creating a ripple effect across the entire investment cycle.
However, some discussions offered a more optimistic perspective, highlighting how secondary markets are emerging as a solution to the liquidity crisis.
Cross-border collaboration and venture growth
Asia’s emerging markets face unique challenges in securing funding, particularly where private capital still lags behind economic demands.
Leaders in the region emphasized the importance of government-backed funds in addressing early-stage capital needs, but they stressed that such funds alone cannot fill the void. Governments must work in tandem with private investors to create a thriving ecosystem that can support startups through all stages of growth. The summit also highlighted Korea’s evolving role in the Asia-Pacific venture ecosystem.
As the country continues to bolster its reputation as a global innovation hub, it is increasingly seen as the central point where startup ecosystems from across Asia converge. The summit’s focus on Korean startups, particularly in sectors like AI semiconductors and autonomous driving, revealed the breadth of innovation occurring in Korea and its potential to lead in global venture capital. The Global Venture Investment Summit 2025 in Jeju revealed both the challenges and opportunities facing venture capital in the Asia-Pacific region.
As Asia’s venture market continues to evolve, the lessons learned from the summit will shape the future of venture capital in the region. For investors, startups, and policymakers, the path forward lies in stronger regional cooperation and greater alignment across funding stages. Korea’s central role in this transformation positions the country at the heart of a collaborative future in venture capital.
