**Singapore**: Founders of Southeast Asian startups, like Paco Chan of Farmio Pte Ltd, reflect on their 2024 achievements and outline ambitious plans for 2025, focusing on AI-driven automation and expansion in high-demand markets, including Hong Kong and the broader region.
As the calendar year comes to a close, founders from Southeast Asian startups, including Paco Chan of Farmio Pte Ltd, are providing insights into their accomplishments and aspirations for the future. The reflections and plans for 2025 were shared in an interview, highlighting a landscape of growth and innovation in the region’s tech industry.
Founded in 2023 and based in Singapore, Farmio is a food tech and eCommerce company that operates within the food supply chain across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. Catering to retailers and food and beverage (F&B) businesses, the company also offers software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions aimed at facilitating digital transformation in the food supply sector. Currently, Farmio collaborates with international partners in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Ukraine, and Indonesia.
In discussing Farmio’s achievements throughout 2024, Chan described the year as pivotal, noting the company’s enhanced focus on AI-driven automation to optimise food supply chain processes. He stated, “Our advanced AI solutions enabled seamless business operations, connecting over thousands of F&B partners in Singapore through our technology.” This strategic shift towards AI not only validated the demand for technological improvements in traditional sectors but also resulted in Farmio processing tens of thousands of orders while significantly reducing reliance on human labour. Chan pointed out that one of the largest regional restaurant chains has successfully utilised their AI solution for over six months, underscoring the impact and validation of Farmio’s approach.
Looking ahead to 2025, Farmio plans to strengthen its AI-powered automation solutions and deepen its expansion efforts. With Hong Kong identified as a key market given its high labour costs, the company is set to initiate its entry with an emphasis on AI-driven supply chain optimisation. In Singapore, Farmio will continue to diversify its offerings by integrating further into different food verticals. Chan expressed gratitude towards Cyberport Hong Kong for their support in fostering connections with partners and investors who align with Farmio’s vision for digital transformation in traditional sectors.
In terms of market strategies, Farmio aims to enhance global collaboration and local adoption. The company envisions connecting more international partners to Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, leveraging AI solutions to remove barriers in cross-border business and facilitate smoother scaling for businesses involved.
When discussing the outlook for 2025, Chan expressed optimism regarding Hong Kong’s tech ecosystem, particularly in the realms of AI, automation, and supply chain innovation. “With its role as a major trade and logistics hub, there is an increasing demand for AI-powered solutions that can streamline operations and reduce labour-intensive processes,” he remarked, suggesting that government initiatives to support AI adoption could further accelerate growth in these areas.
Southeast Asia, according to Chan, remains a high-growth region, particularly in e-commerce, logistics, and food industries, where businesses are rapidly digitising their operations. He noted the significant potential for AI-driven supply chain automation, especially in burgeoning markets like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, where demand for operational efficiency is increasing. “We believe 2025 will be an exciting year for the change in AI supply chain intervention in a lot of traditional industries,” said Chan, reflecting his confidence in the trajectory of the tech industry in the region.
Source: Noah Wire Services
