What's happened
Two entrepreneurs share their journeys: one left corporate life to build a supply chain startup in Southeast Asia, overcoming early setbacks; the other started a restaurant in Hong Kong, thriving during the pandemic. Both stories highlight resilience and regional opportunities.
What's behind the headline?
Regional Opportunity and Resilience
Both stories exemplify how regional dynamics foster entrepreneurship. The Southeast Asian startup scene offers access to a fragmented supply chain market, which Baskit aims to modernize. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's resilient hospitality sector, exemplified by Momentai, benefits from local tourism and pandemic-induced travel shifts.
Personal Transformation and Risk
The entrepreneurs demonstrate a willingness to leave secure careers or take significant risks. The Baskit founder faced rejection from over 50 VCs but persisted, raising $5.5 million and embracing responsibility for others' money. The Hong Kong restaurateur scraped together savings and faced visa uncertainties, yet thrived during the pandemic.
Future Outlook
Both stories suggest that regional opportunities will continue to attract entrepreneurs willing to innovate and adapt. The success of Baskit indicates a growing digital economy in Southeast Asia, while Hong Kong's hospitality scene remains resilient, driven by local and regional tourism. These narratives underscore the importance of resilience, regional focus, and adaptability in entrepreneurship today.
What the papers say
The stories are drawn from Business Insider UK articles published on September 18 and 22, 2025, and the South China Morning Post article from September 12, 2025. The first article details the journey of a corporate executive turned startup founder in Southeast Asia, emphasizing resilience after early setbacks. The second recounts a Hong Kong-based entrepreneur's rise from hospitality to restaurant ownership, thriving during the pandemic. Contrasting perspectives highlight regional opportunities and personal risks, with Business Insider emphasizing entrepreneurial resilience and the SCMP focusing on local hospitality innovation. These sources collectively illustrate the diverse pathways to entrepreneurship in Asia, driven by regional economic shifts and individual determination.
How we got here
Both stories reflect the growing entrepreneurial spirit in Asia, driven by regional economic growth and shifting career priorities. The first entrepreneur transitioned from corporate roles at AB InBev to founding Baskit, aiming to digitize supply chains. The second entrepreneur, a former hospitality worker, launched a successful restaurant amidst Hong Kong's vibrant food scene, capitalizing on pandemic-driven travel trends.
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Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is a metropolitan area and special administrative region of the People's Republic of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta of the South China Sea.