Cross-Border Fundraising: How APAC Startups Raise from Global VCs
Most startups say they want to raise funding from global VCs. But very few understand what actually makes an APAC startup interesting to investors outside their home market.
Global investors are not just looking for a good product. They are looking for bigger market ambition, stronger founder signals, cross-border scalability, clean storytelling, and proof that the company can become relevant beyond one country.
This event brings together APAC and US-based investors, along with founders who have already raised from global VCs, to unpack what really happens behind cross-border fundraising.
We’ll discuss what global investors look for, why some APAC startups break through while others stay local, how founders should position their market opportunity, and what it takes to build trust with investors across regions.
For founders thinking beyond their local market, this is a practical conversation on how to become globally fundable.
Venue: Online Via Zoom
Agenda:
-Welcome & Introduction
-Speakers Introduction
-Panel Discussion
-Q&A Session
Featured Speaker:
- Martin Tobias, Managing Partner @ Incisive Ventures- Martin Tobias is the Founder and Managing Partner at Incisive Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in B2B software startups reducing friction at scale. As a 3X venture-backed CEO who previously raised over $500M, Martin brings both founder and investor perspectives to startup growth and fundraising.
- Arzu Tekir, General Partner @Treeo VC- Arzu founded Urbanite Venture in Miami and previously served on the executive leadership team of the World Resources Institute Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. She has supported $30M+ in fundraising initiatives, helped raise $10M for tech companies, advised angel investor networks, and launched the U.S. chapter of Arya Investment Platform.
- XIAOXI GUO, COO &Co-Founder @I.W.G inc- Since 2017, Xiaoxi Guo has been developing the Medical AI market across the APAC region. As Co-Founder & COO of I.W.G Inc., Xiaoxi is helping build a SaaS platform for modern healthcare collaboration, integrating LLMs for automated report generation, workflow optimization, and smoother communication across medical teams.
Moderator:
- Erdinc Ekinci - Founder, Investment Lead of Co-capital.vc, Co-Founder, CEO of Openfor.co, Managing Director of Founder Institute Japan/Korea/Taiwan
- Yu Li Shein, Co-Founder & COO of Openfor.co, Co-Director of Founder Institute Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, Venture Scout of Decile Hub
Who should attend
APAC founders planning to raise funds from global investors
Early-stage startups exploring cross-border fundraising
Founders building globally scalable startups
Entrepreneurs preparing for US or international VC conversations
Investors and ecosystem builders interested in APAC startup growth
Startup teams looking to expand beyond their local market
What you will learn
What global VCs look for in APAC startups
Why do some startups successfully raise internationally
How to position your startup for cross-border fundraising
Common mistakes founders make with global investors
How founders build trust with international VCs
What signals make a startup globally fundable
Lessons from founders who raised funding from global investors
About Ecosystem Organization:
- Openfor.co: It is a non-equity incubator and ecosystem builder, starting at the individual level. We run a month-to-month virtual incubator that makes Silicon Valley grade startup-accelerator support accessible to the 99% which other accelerator don't provide. It is the entry point in a three-layer ecosystem: Openfor.co for the 99%, the Founder Institute as the selective venture accelerator, and Co-Capital as the curated investor community. In parallel, we operate complex multinational seven-to-eight-figure programs with later-stage startups, enterprises, and governments. The mission: make the venture ecosystem accessible, and the world a more entrepreneurial place.
-Co-Capital: Co-capital is a strategic VC-as-a-Service firm pre-seed to Series A stage, focused on seeking strong partner alignment. Specializing in GTM expansion, venture building, and marketing-led growth, working with elite entrepreneurial talent and scalable startups preparing for global GTM and investment readiness. Powered by a 300+ individual expert network and delivered in close collaboration with Founder Institute and Openfor.co, enabling fast momentum and execution.
- Decile Hub: Decile Hub gives emerging managers the tools to operate at institutional scale. Our unified platform combines AI assistance, automation, and expert guidance to help you close faster, operate smarter, and scale efficiently.
- Founder Institute: The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 9,000 entrepreneurs raise over 2BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.
- Founder Capital: Founder Capital is a venture capital firm focused on investing in FI’s best-performing pre-seed full-time founders who have already demonstrated traction. This layer supports founders who are building full-time, executing consistently, and showing early signs of market validation. It provides capital, strategic guidance.