PwC and SLASSCOM to support Sri Lankan tech companies to expand into South East Asia

Program mentors Max Blein and Patrick Yeo and SLASSCOM Vice Chairman Ashique M. Ali

Given Singapore’s reputation as a regional hub with strong connectivity across South East Asia and a business-friendly environment, technology companies are increasingly looking to expand into the country.

As such, with the aim of helping Sri Lankan technology companies gain access to a lucrative pipeline of new customers, marketing channels and business opportunities, PwC Sri Lanka along with its ecosystem partner SLASSCOM, has organised a unique session on diversifying into South East Asia, to be held on 8 September.

PwC Sri Lanka and SLASSCOM are collaborating with PwC Singapore’s Venture Hub to help connect the Sri Lankan ecosystem with South East Asian ecosystems and stakeholders and vice versa. 

Globally known as SCALE, this program is structured into three main sections, the first of which is a hands-on masterclass consisting of a number of top industry speakers educating attendees on an assortment of related topics. The second is an interactive mentorship section that offer participants opportunities for 1-on-1 consultations with industry experts on their company’s journey to globalisation, that will comprehensively cover strategies on overcoming challenges, finding the right opportunities and working on growth plans. The final portion of the program allows attendees to join PwC’s illustrious alumni network and utilise its extensive connections to gain and build the right relationships in the South East Asian ecosystem, from potential investors, and customers, to key government agencies to drive commercial opportunities.

The masterclass sessions will be led by PwC’s resident experts, covering all aspects a company requires to understand, from launching and scaling in the South East Asian market, to common pitfalls to be avoided. They will also highlight specific business aspects, such as visa, tax, culture and media. Other key areas covered will range from building an international expansion strategy, market opportunities identification, competitive ‘go to market’ strategies and pricing strategies.

The panel of advisors and mentors comprise of PwC Venture Hub lead Patrick Yeo, counting over 19 years of experience across Europe and Asia. Well-versed in the fields of technology and innovation and equipped with in-depth expertise in private equity and venture capital industries, he is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to provide financial advisory services to scale-ups and is also responsible for building PwC Singapore’s investment portfolio.

PwC Venture Hub Managing Director Max Blein with his 15+ years of experience in strategy and business advisory, will focus on supporting tech businesses with their growth acceleration and fundraising, whilst Louise Broderick, utilising her in-depth knowledge of Blockchain technology and its applications, will guide and help start-ups to grow in the region and advise businesses on go-to-market strategies. Ted Seo an expert on corporate tax, tax risk management and tax structuring for fast-growing start-ups and SMEs, will guide the audience on liaising with various stakeholders and developing new business opportunities.

Outlining the value that can be derived from the program, PwC COO and Advisory Leader Channa Manoharan stated, “Against the backdrop of matured markets getting increasingly saturated, Southeast Asia’s rapid growth makes it an attractive one for tech companies looking to scale up and Singapore is a leading contender. Our specially curated program is therefore set to groom local enterprises into global champions and is aimed to be a springboard for entrepreneurs and start-ups with ambitions of growing their business in international markets.”

SLASSCOM Vice Chairman Ashique M. Ali added, “At SLASSCOM, one of our key goals is to assist the growth of Sri Lankan tech companies and elevate them to reach global recognition. We are keen to partner with this initiative, as opening a gateway into South East Asia would be a critical step forward in building pathways for Sri Lankan tech companies to establish a strong presence in regional markets.” 

The main intention of both PwC and SLASSCOM is to utilise the program as a platform to help local tech companies sharpen their strategies, build new capabilities and expand their networks, so that they can grow into highly competitive global companies in their respective fields.