Bigger Pic: ASEAN angels reset expectations heading into 2026

AngelCentral’s latest review of its 140-member network reveals how angel investors are reshaping their strategies in a softer 2025 fundraising climate. With startup funding down 21.6 percent year on year, angels are leaning away from high-growth moonshots and toward startups that show quick profitability, real margins and sustainable growth. Yet optimism hasn’t disappeared; seasoned angels remain active, follow-on rounds are gaining traction, and AI startups still draw the strongest interest. Huang Shao-Ning, AngelCentral’s Chief Angel shares what this shift means for founders, where opportunities remain in ASEAN, and how new angels are navigating an investment landscape that rewards discipline over hype.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.