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Startups

WeWork shock has investors wary of Southeast Asia startup bubble

Nosebleed valuations and huge cash burns taint image of high-flying unicorns

WeWork operator We Company postponed its initial public offering after slashing its market value.   © Reuters

SINGAPORE -- Southeast Asia has attracted a flood of private capital that has underwritten a slew of high-value startups in the region, like ride-hailing giants Grab and Go-Jek. But investors are starting to question the valuations of these highfliers after huge markdowns slammed a number of U.S. startups in their public debut.

Just a day after WeWork operator We Company postponed its IPO after slashing its market value, key players from Southeast Asia's private equity and venture capital firms gathered in Singapore for the two-day Asia PE-VC Summit. Organized by DealStreetAsia, the firms discussed trends and challenges facing the region's startups.

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