Promise, this one doesn’t suck.

Welcome to TechThrive — your Next-Gen venture studio and go-to platform for decoding the future of the economy.From AI trends to consumer behaviour shifts, we’re tracking what matters and who’s being overlooked.

We’re building a culture rooted in innovation, collaboration, and equity, with a commitment to amplifying diverse voices, elevating overlooked ideas, and creating real opportunities across borders.

This isn’t just a newsletter; It’s a growing ecosystem, connecting Asia to the world.

KICKING OFF WITH A POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP UNESCO X TechThrive

What started as a platform for discussing women’s health and technology quickly became something much bigger. As our community grew, so did our clarity of purpose.

The AI sector saw a staggering rise in investment, from $2.5 billion to $25 billion in a single year. As the conversations deepened, one thing became painfully clear: these dollars weren’t necessarily scaling the future. They were building a system that was never built for all of us to begin with. The same patterns of exclusion of gender imbalance, unequal access, and missing voices were being coded into the very algorithms meant to drive us forward.

Building a future without half the population on the table isn’t innovation, it’s exclusion.

Introducing the first episode of our newly rebranded Podcast Series of Ctrl +Alt +Thrive, “Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Gender Equity.” This collaboration serves as a powerful call to action for creating equitable, ethical, and inclusive AI systems. Featuring:

🎙️Eunsong Kim, Chief of the Social and Human Sciences Sector, UNESCO South Asia’s voice on ethical AI and intercultural dialogue.

🎙️Dr. Bhavani Rao R, Dean at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality, and Chair of the South Asian Chapter of the Women for Ethical AI Network.

  Check out the podcast!

Keeping up with tech isn't just for nerds- it's for the next generation of founders, flexors, and those trying not to be left behind. In a world where a new product drops every scroll, staying in the loop isn’t optional; it’s survival. Check these innovations out to get inspired, innovate or even flex at your next coffee chat.

• One thing our generation is getting right? The constant push to create spaces that actually include everyone. UK-based Strolll’s Cue Markers uses augmented reality to help patients with neurological disorders overcome mobility issues like shuffling or freezing of gait. Tech that moves us- literally.

• Seen that mystery gadget that NBA players are gripping courtside? It’s the Nice Rocc Palm Cooling Device- a fitness recovery tool designed to rapidly cool your body through your palms, where heat escapes fastest. Maybe, muscle recovery is the real MVP for levelling up your performance (and not limping for 3 days after leg day)

• Period trackers these days feel more like guesswork than “Why did I just eat the whole packet of fudge?” Incora understood the assignment with smart earrings that understand your unique cycle and deliver real, actionable health insights. Finally, period tracking that’s as on point as your snack regrets.

• Spanish brand Loewe is now squeezing more out of sustainability, quite literally, as they turn orange peels into high-end T-shirts. While bio-based fabrics aren’t new in the industry, seeing a luxury house embrace them signals that circular fashion is no longer niche, it's couture.

• AI influencers are serving face and buzzwords. From ‘sustainability’ to ‘culture preservation’, creators are building digital personas that tick every trend box and might just rewrite the future of marketing. But here’s the glitch: the criticism believes that these algorithm-friendly avatars might be enough to get people to click on the products, but not enough to build that connection with humans to make them stay.

• Why do we think the above? Klarna once made headlines for replacing 700 workers with its AI chatbot, but it is now backpedalling and bringing back the ‘human touch’. The cost savings were real, but cutting corners only works until the bot can’t read the room. (The creatives can sigh in relief)

• From Veo 3 (turning prompts into polished films) to Beam (videos so real you’ll flinch) and Jules, the coding wingman you wish you had in CS class - Google’s latest AI lineup is doing the most.

What's the bottom line, though? Fancy tech doesn’t cut it for Gen Z and startups. They expect AI that delivers real value, or it’s just empty hype.

INDIAN GIRL IN SPOTLIGHT Pranjali Awasthi

• Started coding at the age 7, thanks to a push from her engineer dad.

• That early spark turned into serious momentum: by 13, she was doing machine learning research at a neuroscience lab.

• By 16, she had launched Delv.AI, a tool that uses AI to help researchers extract relevant information from dense academic papers and saving hours of manual work.

• Delv AI quickly grabbed attention, raising around $450,000 (Rs 3.89 crore) from investors like Backend Capital and Village Global. By October 2023, it was valued at about Rs 100 crore. But the hustle didn’t stop there.

Now, at 18 she is building Dash - an AI assistant that she calls “ChatGPT with hands”, automating tasks via Claude and no-code workflows. Dash topped Product Hunt, secured a spot in Y Combinator’s Summer 2025 batch, and is reshaping mundane work into frictionless human creativity.

Why are we talking about her?

Pranjali had the drive as well as the skills, but she also had access to the right mentors who believed in her. Talent thrives with guidance. That’s what we want to create.

We want to build an ecosystem for young individuals with untold innovations, looking for a platform to make them feel seen and amplify their ideas.

Think your innovation stands out? Pitch it to us for a chance to be featured in the TechThrive newsletter and get your breakthrough in front of thousands of tech enthusiasts across Asia.

Recently, Fortune released the 2025 Most Powerful Women list, and to our surprise, not a single woman from India made it to the list. Despite India being a pool of talent and a hub of startup ecosystems, several factors still hold them back from gaining recognition in leadership roles.

In India, women make up nearly 48% of university graduates, but only 33% of entry-level corporate roles, and the numbers drop off a cliff from there: just 24% at the managerial level, and a mere 13% in executive roles. That “broken rung” early in the career ladder isn’t a metaphor- it’s a bottleneck with real consequences.

And yet, while these women are being overlooked in boardrooms and skipped over in Forbes-style lists, they’re quietly architecting alternative power structures. There are women leaders in India building infrastructure for inclusion.

Priti Rathi Gupta is building LXME, India’s first women-led finance app, helping women move from saving to wealth creation through community, smart learning, and accessible investment tools. Ruchi Kalra, through Oxyzo, is unlocking credit for women entrepreneurs in Tier 2 and 3 cities. Meanwhile, Radha Vembu, without a single VC dollar, has scaled Zoho into a global software giant valued at ₹50,000 crore, becoming India’s top first-generation female wealth creator. And at HCLTech, Roshni Nadar Malhotra is expanding India's tech influence globally while driving AI innovation and increasing women’s representation in leadership to over 30%. These women may be absent from international power lists, but they are building something more enduring- an infrastructure for equity.

A PEEK INTO WHAT’S TRENDING IN THE WORLD OF MARKETING, CULTURE & CONSUMPTION

This generation’s consumer behaviour is not a black and white landscape. On one hand, we have a changed definition of ‘drip’, as we see Gen-Z copping dupes that deliver the same look minus the sticker shock. Meanwhile, those with more disposable income are doubling down on luxury splurges like limited editions of Labubu dolls or designer Stanley tumblers, turning everyday essentials into status symbols.

Digital Déjà Vu

Amid growing digital lives, consumers are again craving nostalgic authenticity. It’s not just bootcut jeans that made a comeback; Gen-Z is mixing the new tech with retro finds, from curating cassette-tape playlists on Spotify to rocking disposable cameras at festivals. Thrift flips and upcycled threads aren’t just sustainable moves now, they’re style statements. In 2025, planet-savvy is the new trend-savvy, and it’s a direction worth celebrating.

PROTEIN THIS, PROTEIN THAT

What started as gym-bro fuel is now everyone’s favourite food group, especially when it’s got bold packaging and celebrity backing.

Khloé Kardashian launched Khlōud, a high-protein popcorn that markets itself as both indulgent and "clean girl". Combining snacking with a positive perception of nutrients has been the biggest branding tool in this industry.

It won’t be surprising to see a Protein Popcorn + Diet Coke become the next big cinema combo(replacing the guilt that comes with munching on a giant bucket of cheese popcorn).

Who’s leading the savoury snack aisle similarly in India?

Ranveer Singh backed SuperYou with his co-founder Nikunj Biyani, made a bold entry in the ₹25,000 crore chips market, outlining the brand’s mission to bring protein to the centre of everyday snacking habits. After a successful launch of their protein wafer bars, they managed to position their product line as a solution for the health-conscious Gen-z and Millennials and became one of India’s fastest-growing consumer brands.

SUBSCRIPTION SQUEEZE

Gen Z, being the quickest to cancel when value drops, the age of auto-renew-and-forget is officially over. Instead of paying for bloated bundles, they are questioning “What do I actually use?'‘ and cherry picking the genres that actually serve them. Armed with tracker apps, tight budgets, and high expectations, they’re shifting to niche, purpose-built platforms like anime-only streamers or wellness-focused newsletters. Subscriptions today are rented trust- one bad month, and you're out.

Honestly, it all comes down to the badge of “I AM PART OF SOMETHING NEW AND I CAN POST ABOUT IT.” Deconstructs viral skincare internship nailed that with their marketing campaign. With a ₹1 lakh stipend and a strong positioning of skincare as everyday self-care (not luxury), the campaign sparked massive engagement. The real win? Equal participation from men and women, marking a cultural shift in who sees themselves as part of this space.

Are You Buying Because Beyoncé Said So?

In 2025, ShopMy isn’t just another startup; it’s the new cool way we shop, powered by the influencers we trust. Fresh off a massive $77.5 million raise, ShopMy uses slick tech to turn creators’ everyday videos into instant shopping spots. Imagine scrolling through your favourite creator’s daily must-haves and being able to shop those exact products instantly, without ever leaving the post. In today’s market, the influencer’s personality and trustworthiness are often more valuable than the product itself. If your brand isn’t part of an influencer’s curated picks, you risk being invisible in a cluttered digital landscape.

From a consumer standpoint, this approach taps into a growing demand for authenticity and personalised recommendations. Shoppers no longer respond to generic ads; they want the “real deal” from voices they follow and trust. As ShopMy expands into new ad categories, it’s shaping a digital economy where personality and tech-enabled authenticity fuel growth.

Asia 2030-The Engine of Global Growth

🌏 Growth Outlook: Shifting Gears

• India, Southeast Asia, and South Korea are set for faster growth, driven by economic reforms and foreign investment.

• China’s growth is moderating as it pivots to a services- and consumption-led model.

• India and ASEAN benefit from a “youth dividend” with median ages under 30, unlike ageing China and Japan (40+).

💡 Innovation & Opportunity

• Asia is accelerating in AI, 5G, and digitisation, boosting productivity and opening new sectors.

• Southeast Asia’s digital economy could reach $600–1,000B GMV by 2030.

• Key investment sectors: Semiconductors, Internet services, Renewable energy.

🌐 Investment Implications

• Asian equities offer higher growth potential than developed markets, with projected returns of 6–8% annually in India and SEA.

• Local-currency bonds yield 2–3% real returns, with India offering 6–7% nominal.

• Infrastructure and real estate stand to gain from urban growth.

• VC funding reset in 2024 (~$66B, a 10-year low) could signal value opportunities in 2025.

🔎 Email for Full Access of the Report: “Asia’s Next Chapter: What’s Changing in Markets, Capital, and Growth Drivers” prepared by TechThrive.

Tech. Ethics. Equity. It All Converges This October

Join global leaders, technologists, and changemakers at the TechThrive Summit - Asia’s premier gathering of founders, creators, and investors. This dynamic event is where breakthrough ideas meet global capital and cross-border collaboration.

In October, we’re bringing together 5,000+ innovators, 200+ world-class speakers, and 500+ leading investors to shape the future across key sectors, including:AI, fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, women’s health, the digital economy, and consumer tech.

What to Expect:

• Global perspectives on ethical AI and digital inclusion

• Deep dives into tech-driven climate and health solutions

• Insight from UNESCO, Women4EthicalAI, and regional innovators

• Bold visions, grounded in equity and impact

🔗 Explore the summit →

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