We have a fascinating conversation with Craig Dixon co-founder and general partner of Accelerating Asia. Craig has spent the last decade within the startup ecosystem in South East Asia as both an entrepreneur and now as a venture investor. In this episode, we cover a whole host of topics including:

• The journey from entrepreneur to fund manager
• The Accelerating Asia program
• Investing in Bangladesh and frontier markets
• How timing affects a fund's internal rate of return
• The mechanics of the Singapores VC FM license
• Venture capital incentives and founder alignment
• Why and how founders should master storytelling
• Introducing Safe notes in South East Asia and why founders should use them
• The importance of ESG and impact investing

Craig Dixon is the Co-Founder, Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) and Program Director for Accelerating Asia, which provides innovation consulting for organizations looking to engage with startups, runs Singapore’s only independent startup accelerator program and manages the associated venture capital firm Accelerating Asia Ventures.

Previously, Craig was the EiR and Program Manager for the muru-D Singapore startup accelerator. Craig arrived in Singapore in 2013 after his startup, Zumata received funding from Wavemakers Partners, the National Research Foundation and 500 Durians.

He is also an Angel investor, speaker and blogger on startup topics. Craig has been involved in over 50 investment rounds in startups as either a founder, institutional investor or Angel investor. He has a passion for building a more efficient startup ecosystem in Southeast Asia, focusing on standardization of investment terms and fairness between startup founders and investors.

Prior to beginning a career in startups, Craig lost his way for a time and spent 8 years as a banker and getting his MBA from the University of Maryland and HKUST.

Accelerating Asia is an accelerator VC that runs programs for early-stage startups and investors. Licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Accelerating Asia’s early-stage VC fund focuses on pre-Series A startups with untapped potential that are 6-18 months away from institutional funding. Accelerating Asia invests up to US$250,000 in pre-Series A startups, and the current portfolio covers over ten countries in Southeast and South Asia.

While most angel investors and startup programs in the region focused on ideation-minimum viable product stage startups, and venture funds focused on solid product-market fit, startups with a robust product at early stages of customer traction are often overlooked. That is where Accelerating Asia comes in. Our accelerator and venture capital model is designed to support pre-Series A startups to fast track growth and drive success, unlocking the potential in them.

At the core of the work we do is the guiding belief that entrepreneurs are one of humanity’s greatest catalysts for positive change. Currently, applications for Accelerating Asia Cohort 5 will close on 30 June 2021.

• Accelerating Asia : https://acceleratingasia.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigbristoldixon
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigdixon88

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedjalil/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/yo_jalil
• Email: mo@metapair.com