GoRocky and AYA Pay Win the ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Pitch for Sustainability

■Introduction

The ASEAN-Japan Business Leaders Summit serves as a vital platform to connect emerging business leaders from ASEAN and Japan, addressing pressing social challenges and fostering innovation for a sustainable future. ASEAN, recognized as a global growth center, faces various social issues, including inequalities, while Japan grapples with challenges such as an aging population but leverages its wealth of experience and assets from decades of development. Against this backdrop, the summit aims to cultivate meaningful connections among next-generation business leaders who are poised to drive transformative change. The summit culminated on 20th December 2024, with impactful pitch sessions and a panel discussion, showcasing innovative ideas and fostering dialogue among leaders.

■Winner Report:

The ASEAN-Japan Business Leaders Summit reached its pinnacle with an electrifying pitching session under the theme of Sustainability. A vibrant gathering of innovators and industry leaders from ASEAN and Japan, the summit served as a unique platform to foster co-creation and collaboration in addressing global challenges. Emerging as winners of the pitch competition were Kiyanusch Braun, founder of GoRocky, and Myat Min Htin Kyaw, leader of AYA Pay. Their groundbreaking solutions captivated the judges and audience alike, showcasing the potential of innovation to drive sustainable change.

■Judges:

Three distinguished judges, each with a wealth of expertise in venture capital and entrepreneurship, presided over the competition:

• Vy Le: General Partner at Do Ventures. A trailblazing entrepreneur with deep insights into Vietnam’s evolving tech ecosystem, Vy has shaped transformative investments in startups across Southeast Asia.

  
  

  

  
  

• Masahiko Honma: Co-founder and General Partner of Incubate Fund. With decades of experience in venture capital and startup development, Masahiko has supported numerous companies from inception to IPO.

  
  

  

  
  

• Hiroaki Okahashi: President and Managing Director of MIYAKO Capital. A champion of industry-academia collaboration, Hiroaki has been instrumental in fostering innovation and supporting ventures across Japan and beyond.

  
  

  

  
  

■The Presenters and Their Pitches

The competition featured five talented entrepreneurs presenting bold, innovative ideas:

1. Yong Xun Ong (Malaysia): Creator of JomStudy, a mobile app revolutionizing education for Malaysian students. Yong Xun’s pitch emphasized his vision to expand the platform across ASEAN, providing affordable and accessible educational tools for all.

   
   

   

   
   

2. Kiyanusch Braun (Philippines): Founder of GoRocky, a pioneering men's health platform offering end-to-end treatments for stigmatized conditions. Kiyanusch highlighted his plans to expand into chronic care and establish a digital health ecosystem across ASEAN and Japan.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Sochenda Aok (Cambodia): Founder of Zerow, a green media platform promoting sustainable consumption and climate action. Sochenda shared her vision of creating impactful content and campaigns to inspire youth and expand the zero-waste movement across ASEAN.

   
   

   

   
   

4. Lydet Pidor (Cambodia): CEO of Tech for Kids Academy, Lydet presented his mission to bridge the gap in technology education for underserved students, aiming to train 70 million students across ASEAN and Japan in AI and digital literacy.

   
   

   

   
   

5. Myat Min Htin Kyaw (Myanmar): Leader of AYA Pay, Myanmar’s first in-house developed digital wallet. Myat Min’s pitch focused on financial inclusion, talent development, and cross-border collaborations to expand access to financial services in unbanked communities.

   
   

   

   
   

■Results:

After a rigorous evaluation, Kiyanusch Braun and Myat Min Htin Kyaw were declared winners of the Sustainability pitch session. Their visionary solutions and compelling presentations demonstrated exceptional potential for co-creation and impactful change.

• Kiyanusch Braun (GoRocky): Kiyanusch’s innovative men’s health platform impressed the judges with its end-to-end approach to healthcare and its sustainability-focused expansion into chronic care. His vision for creating a digital health ecosystem resonated strongly with the summit’s theme of co-creation.

• Myat Min Htin Kyaw (AYA Pay): Myat Min’s commitment to financial inclusion through AYA Pay showcased a practical and scalable model for empowering unbanked populations. His emphasis on cross-border collaboration and talent development highlighted opportunities for ASEAN-Japan partnerships.

The ASEAN-Japan Co-Creation Pitch for Sustainability highlighted the power of innovation to tackle pressing societal challenges. As winners, Kiyanusch Braun and Myat Min Htin Kyaw demonstrated the transformative potential of technology and collaboration to create a more sustainable future. Their achievements underscore the importance of fostering partnerships and shared visions to drive impactful change across ASEAN and Japan.

■Join the Movement

The ASEAN-Japan Business Leaders Summit is not just an event but a call to action for fostering innovation, collaboration, and transformative solutions to shared challenges. As we continue to build a stronger, more connected future, we invite businesses, organizations, and individuals to join us in driving impactful change across ASEAN and Japan. To explore collaboration opportunities or to become part of this dynamic initiative, please contact PoliPoli’s secretariat at:

asean-japan-business-leaders-summit@polipoli.io 

Together, let’s shape a future of sustainable growth and shared prosperity.