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News all about the emerging markets, trends, and all things that caught our attention.

Get to know our Founders and their visions for the world. 

We talk with founders of our portfolio companies to explore stories behind what makes who they are today.

Japan's largest tech conference "IVS" has been held since 2007 and is now in its 16th year. Following the IVS mission "Trigger the next generation" IVS has evolved into one of the largest communities, both in terms of history and scale, for leaders of Internet companies in Japan.

Announcing the Winners of IVS2022 LAUNCHPAD NAHA

From Joe’s Desk: MetaSaaS and Music’s Future in the Metaverse

A Conversation With Our New Partner, Akihiko Okamoto

Headline's spotlights in Asia - Discover the latest news about Headline.

Blog Asia | Headline

The Latest from the Headline World

We’re exploring the multiple aspects of this ongoing trend, which has been coined in various terms such as FinTech Enablers, Embedded Finance, FinTech-as-a-Service, and Modular Finance.

All series on Embedded Finance, Evolving IPO Landscape, Virtual Banks....

Tracy Lin, CEO of Taiwan Taxi, is taking the industry giant into the digital era.

“We are impressed by Taiwan Taxi’s human-centric operational excellence and expect to work with Tracy to bring their business to the next level,” said Joseph Huang, partner at Headline Asia.

“In 2021, our cab business fell 80% due to Covid, but the company overall did not suffer a loss, mainly because we provide multiple services that are able to address different needs.” said Tracy Lin.

“We aim to create a lifestyle ecosystem in Taiwan and we are working fast. I also believe that by leveraging our partnership with Headline, we can turn 55688, a local Taiwan app, into an international platform in the near future.” said Tracy Lin.

What Can Tracy Lin Do with 80 Million Rides? Taiwan’s Next Superapp

With a 24% market share, Taiwan Taxi is the largest taxi company in Taiwan. Its subsidiary Taiwan Intelligent Life Co. operates 55688, Taiwan’s biggest and most popular taxi service app.

What Can Tracy Lin Do with 80 Million Rides? Taiwan’s Next Superapp | Headline

Founder Spotlight: Tracy Lin, CEO of Taiwan Taxi

We’re following up on the amazing achievements made by the latest three LAUNCHPAD winners.

LAUNCHPAD Winners: Where Are They Now? | Headline

Most startups in Japan exit by IPO, or going public. And 2021 was the year in which we witnessed some major changes in Japan’s IPO market.

Cornerstone investments (also known as anchor investments), are when an investor, usually a large institutional or sovereign investor, reaches an agreement to subscribe for a fixed monetary amount of shares in an IPO.

A Look into the Evolving IPO Landscape in Japan — Part I

Evolution 1: Cornerstone investment (Anchor investment)

A Look into the Evolving IPO Landscape in Japan — Part I | Headline

Among the investors that invest in companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, about 28~31 percent are foreign investors.

※Cornerstone investment (also known as anchor investment): An agreement by an investor, usually a large institutional or sovereign investor, to subscribe for a fixed monetary amount of shares in an IPO.

※Global Offering: Under this structure, the company and its underwriters need to prepare all the necessary documents and follow the legal processes in each country to be compliant with local regulations. The pro is that the company can raise funds from investors in any country, but the con is that the cost is high and the process is time-consuming.
※Rinpo-type Global Offering: With this structure, the company and its underwriters are able to just use the documents they had already created for the Japanese investors to pitch to international investors. The pro is that it is much easier and less complicated than Global Offering, but the con is that most international investors cannot read Japanese materials and tend to show less interest in companies that cannot afford Global Offering. In addition, there are also a number of other legal restrictions.

A Look into the Evolving IPO Landscape in Japan — Part II

Evolution 2: Global offerings and foreign investors

A Look into the Evolving IPO Landscape in Japan — Part II | Headline

The market cap (the value of the company) at IPO is getting higher. In 2020, no company had a market cap at IPO over JPY 10 billion, but in 2021, there were five.

A Look into the Evolving IPO Landscape in Japan — Part III

Evolution 3: Market Cap, IPO size, and PS Ratio

A Look into the Evolving IPO Landscape in Japan — Part III | Headline

There are some qualitative changes that would also change the dynamics of Japan’s IPO market.

※SPAC: A special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) is a company that has no commercial operations and is formed strictly to raise capital through an initial public offering (IPO) for the purpose of acquiring or merging with an existing company. It is also known as a “blank check company”.

A Look into the Evolving IPO Landscape in Japan — Part IV

Evolution 4: SPAC, restructuring of boards, and others

A Look into the Evolving IPO Landscape in Japan — Part IV | Headline

Theodoric Chew, Co-Founder and CEO of Intellect tells us the rapid growth process of Intellect and the importance of mental health care.

“Headline’s approach in understanding a market [segment], as well as the business mechanics of what makes a startup successful in it, was exceptional and advanced in many ways.” — Theodoric Chew, CEO, and Co-Founder of Intellect.

“…That’s why I started Intellect, in order to tackle a problem I personally faced and know the majority of people in the world [also experience] or can deeply relate to..” — Theodoric Chew, CEO and Co-Founder of Intellect.

“Following what I shared earlier, we believe that in Asia, a big part of our mission and work is to [change] the perception of how people perceive mental health & wellbeing; from one that is clinical to one that is relatable and happening every day. That is what drives us to constantly work towards making mental health stigma-free.” — Theodoric Chew, CEO and Co-Founder of Intellect.

Founder Spotlight of Intellect: Theodoric Chew

Intellect is Asia-Pacific’s fastest growing startup that provides comprehensive mental health services.

Founder Spotlight of Intellect: Theodoric Chew | Headline

Newborn social media game-changers are coming.

The youth are leaving Facebook. Four new social networks you should look at.

Popular social media game-changers are going to take the industry-leading position.

The youth are leaving Facebook. Four new social networks you should look at | Headline

Popular social media game-changers among the young generation — Dispo, Poparazzi, Lapse, and Locket.

Founded in 2016, ICW (International Compliance Workshop) connects global retailers, manufacturers, and TIC providers to reduce supply chain hassles in worldwide sourcing and digitalizing the supply chain process.

“ICW builds a marketplace based on data is shaping up to be the cornerstone of B2B commerce in the future,” said Headline Asia Principal Brian Yen, who lead the investment. “E-commerce is driving supply chain innovation due to the increasing popularity of cross-border transactions. Quality control is a huge market and will be playing an even more important role in the future as the consumers demand transparency over the supply chain.” 
“Quality control is a huge market and will be playing an even more important role in the future as the consumers demand transparency over the supply chain.” — Brian Yen, Principal at Headline Asia

“I decided to leave my stable high-paid job in the Certification organization because I realized life is short and time is precious. It’s time for me to pursue my own dream so I can tell my father in heaven that I made it.” — Gary Lam

Founder Spotlight of ICW: Gary Lam | Headline

International Compliance Workshop offers brands a modern approach to product inspections and QC.

It’s our honor to announce that Koichi Maruo joined the Headline team in Asia as Advisor on June 1, 2021.

Introducing Headline’s New Advisor in Asia, Koichi Maruo

Hong Lu, Headline's partner tells us his greatest successes and regrets and what he wishes he knew at the beginning of his career.

"In fact, my first boss tried to give me some of his stocks, actually 20 percent of the company. I told him to give me a raise instead of the stocks. Well, that was how much I knew then. The good news was he still gave me his stocks and the bad news was no raise. My boss's name was Masa Son." - Hong Lu.

Headline’s Partner Hong Lu Gives His Best Piece of Investment Advice

Hong Lu tells us his greatest successes and regrets and what he wishes he knew at the beginning of his career.

Headline’s Partner Hong Lu Gives His Best Piece of Investment Advice | Headline

He tells us his greatest successes and regrets and what he wishes he knew at the beginning of his career.

As of May 10, Infinity Ventures in Asia and e.ventures in the US and Europe have rebranded together as Headline. Moving forward, Infinity Venture’s existing offices in Beijing, Taipei, and Tokyo will be known as Headline Asia. Headline will also have offices in San Francisco, Berlin, Paris, and São Paulo.

"What we’ll gain from further collaboration is we will have access to more global data and trends. With our shared network of information, we’ll have more rapid and more efficient insight into internet tech trends happening around the globe and that is what’s going to make us better VCs,” Infinity Ventures founder and Headline co-founder Akio Tanaka says, “The world is becoming more connected, ideas from one part of the world to another travel much, much faster today. There is no such thing as purely regional deals anymore. Every regional deal in the future will have an international angle. For VCs to find winners early, and opportunities that scale, you need international intelligence. That’s what we have had so far working with e.ventures, and that’s what we’re betting on further with Headline.”

“I am so excited about this new chapter in our relationship. Our technology, our team, and our global vision combine to fuel our founders with resources at every stage of their companies’ life cycles,” says e.ventures partner and Headline co-founder Mathias Schilling.

Headline