The Asia Innovation Summit 2025

On December 15th, the first-ever Asia Innovation Summit took place. While many look at summits as just a series of talks, for those of us on the planning committee, it was an experiment: Can we create a space where new ideas are brought forward that will allow Asia to maintain its growth and innovation capacity into the foreseeable future? The answer was a resounding yes.

The Power of the Shibuya Model

I had the privilege of presenting my new book and introducing the Shibuya Model. In the startup world, we often focus on "product-market fit" from a technical lens. But the Shibuya Model proposes something different: Cultural awareness is not a "soft skill", it is a strategic weapon. For startups in Asia to scale, they must navigate the complex tapestry of regional nuances not as a barrier, but as a competitive advantage for growth.

More Than Just a Talk

Beyond the keynote, the energy at the main panel and the intimate depth of the roundtable discussions I moderated proved one thing: the community is hungry for substance. We didn't just exchange business cards; we exchanged blueprints for the future.

What’s Next?

The venue was packed, the ideas were flowing, and the foundation is now officially laid. The talk of 2026 being "double the size" is more than just ambition, it’s a necessity. We have proven that when you provide a space for growth, the ecosystem will show up.

Thank you to everyone who was part of this first step. The Shibuya Model is out in the wild, the summit is a success, and the future of Asian innovation has never looked brighter.

Thanks for reading. Abrazos.

Diego Rojas