Finding the next big thing: AIBC Asia 2025

The second day of AIBC Asia 2025 at SMX Manila brought much-needed clarity to the realities of startup innovation, moving beyond the surface-level excitement that often surrounds new ventures. The panel, “Tech Treasure Hunt: Uncovering Goldmines in Startup Innovations,” set out to distinguish genuine breakthroughs from fleeting trends in today’s competitive market. 

Moderated by Leah Callon-Butler, Director at Emfarsis and a respected figure in Web3 investment and strategic communications, the discussion featured Laura K. Inamedinova, Chief Global Ecosystem Officer at Gate.io, and Dom De Leon, Executive Director at DEVCON Philippines. Both panellists have a track record of supporting early-stage ventures and growing tech communities across Asia and internationally.

The new startup landscape

Laura K. Inamedinova, recently named Forbes 30 Under 30 in Blockchain and Principal at Gate Ventures, has overseen investments in more than 40 projects and built cross-border partnerships that have helped Gate.io Ventures become a significant player in decentralised infrastructure and DeFi. Dom De Leon, Executive Director at DEVCON Philippines, has doubled the reach of the country’s largest developer community and launched programmes that empower regional tech talent, while previously helping launch over 10 startups across three continents.

The session opened with a frank assessment of the fundraising climate. “The biggest issue I see right now is that a lot of founders, especially those who are newcomers, still fall for media hype, saying that crypto is such an easy way to fundraise. Everyone wants to pour money. There is so much capital. And yes, that was 2016 or 2021, but not anymore,” said Inamedinova. De Leon added, “In the Philippines, we’re after those funding opportunities, but we hope to become more of a builder market. We’re seeing more Web3 product managers and marketers emerging locally, which is a promising shift.”

Spotting value and avoiding red flags

The panel didn’t shy away from sharing the hard truths about what makes a startup investable or not. Inamedinova was clear: “Founders don’t understand the token can be an underlying part of your business, but it has to have a proper utility. It must not be a nice-to-have.” She also cautioned, “The biggest red flag is when founders cannot take constructive criticism and get defensive. If you don’t respect my opinion, why did you come to me?”

De Leon, reflecting on the Philippines’ unique landscape, pointed out, “A lot of the startups now, especially in the Web3 space, are younger ones, the Gen Z, the web3 natives. The reference red flag is not enough homework, some haven’t learned from what failed before, like the FTX collapse. It’s the same energy as 10 years ago, but not enough focus on falling in love with the problem instead of the solution.”

5 critical insights from the panel:

• The fundraising game has changed: investors are looking for real utility, not just hype or copycat projects.
• Token models must be justified by genuine business need, not just as a marketing ploy.
• Local founder advantage matters, teams that solve real problems in their own markets have a better chance of scaling globally.
• Red flags for investors include defensiveness, lack of research, and overreliance on incentives to drive adoption.
• Sustainable success comes from founders who learn from failure, adapt quickly, and focus on long-term value creation.

Constructing the next cycle

The panel closed with a call for founders and investors to tune out the noise and focus on the fundamentals. As Inamedinova put it, “If you’re building something that’s not done before, and you have a particular target audience ready to give you money before you even launch, you will succeed.” De Leon echoed this, highlighting the importance of community, resilience, and a willingness to learn from the past.

This panel on the second day of AIBC Asia 2025 offered high-value insights into what it takes to identify, nurture, and scale true startup goldmines in a rapidly changing tech landscape. AIBC Asia 2025 is the best summit to be for hot trends and discussion on the emerging tech industry that brings speakers from around the world. Stay informed with AIBC News for exclusive coverage, timely insights, and real time updates on the future of Blockchain and tech.