Pico and Founders Factory to cultivate tech start-ups in Asia

Global brand activation specialists Pico Group has announced it is joining with Founders Factory, leading start-up accelerator and venture studio, to launch a new venture-building initiative in Asia. Over the next three years, the initiative will cultivate technology start-ups in areas including Web3, martech and event activation. Two distinct types will be targeted: ‘start-up accelerator’ will focus on assisting pre-seed and seed stage start-ups to scale and expand; while ‘venture studio’ will identify and help jump-start new start-ups. Through the collaboration, Pico says it aims to create a vibrant brand activation ecosystem for start-ups and innovations with the potential to move the industry forward. Pico has already transformed into an ‘Experience-Led, Digital-First’ brand activation company and sys it now aims to complement that with Founders Factory’s approach to create opportunities to build next generation technologies in the Asia market, bringing entrepreneurs access to investment, bespoke operational support and an industry network. This collaboration also marks Founders Factory’s expansion into Asia. To date, the company has created over 80 start-ups from scratch and invested in a further 220 via its accelerator model in Europe, North America and Africa. Jean Chia (pictured), group president, Pico, said: “New technologies, techniques and behavioural trends since the pandemic have opened up whole new horizons for engagement with audiences and customers, giving rise to new start-up opportunities in event activation technologies, Web3, martech and other areas. We are thus delighted to collaborate with Founders Factory to nurture new technologies and build further on our audience engagement and experience leadership.” Henry Lane Fox, Founders Factory CEO, added: “We’re excited to be partnering with Pico to invest in the fastest growing digital economy in the world. We believe our venture building model can allow the very best regional entrepreneurial talent to build breakthrough companies in the fastest and most capital efficient manner possible.”