New data released today by Angel Investment Network (AIN), the world’s largest online angel investment platform, challenges the “young tech prodigy” stereotype, revealing that the drive for Unicorn status in Asia-Pacific is being led by a generation of highly experienced, mid-career entrepreneurs. This research highlights the important role of Asia Pacific founders in shaping the region’s innovation landscape.

According to the AIN Asia Pacific Founder Survey 2026, 70% of founders in the region are over the age of 45. Far from seeking a quiet “second act,” these mature entrepreneurs are doubling down on hyper-growth: 39% of startups still hold the ambition of becoming a “Unicorn” (a US$1 billion valuation). Notably, the ecosystem of founders across Asia Pacific is maturing quickly.

Founders with second jobs versus committing full time

The data reveals that Asia Pacific founders are more likely than their Western counterparts to commit full time to their venture. While 50% of US founders maintain a secondary job to support their venture, 56% of Asia Pacific’s founders are working on their startups exclusively. In particular, many Asia Pacific founders are showing exceptional dedication to their startups as their primary commitment.

Only a minority are splitting their time, with 21% working full-time and 23% part-time elsewhere. This suggests that the region’s older founders are leveraging significant personal experience and savings to focus entirely on their $1B ambitions, just like we see with Asia Pacific founders throughout the survey.

The death of “local-only” fundraising in Asia Pacific

The survey highlights a total shift toward globalised capital. A significant 72% of Asia Pacific startups are now seeking a mixture of local and international investors, with 27% targeting international backers exclusively. Only 1% of founders are now looking solely within their local borders for funding. This is a clear signal that Asia Pacific ventures are being built for the global stage from day one—a trend highly influenced by Asia Pacific founders taking a global-first attitude.

Optimism amidst sacrifices met

Despite the high-pressure environment, optimism remains the dominant sentiment among startup leaders in the region, and this is especially true for Asia Pacific founders who show remarkable perseverance.

• 59% of founders report feeling optimistic about the year ahead (41% very optimistic).
• However, this ambition comes at a cost: 22% cite mental health as their biggest non-financial sacrifice, followed by friendships (19%), family (19%), and sleep (18%).

The due diligence gap

While founders are aggressive in their fundraising, the data reveals a critical vulnerability in the region’s deal-making process. 25% of founders admit to performing no due diligence on investors beyond a cursory online search. Only 30% conduct comprehensive checks, such as legal verification or founder references, leaving many at risk of “bad fit” capital. On reflection, it is crucial for Asia Pacific founders to improve their investor vetting to ensure long-term success.

“The ‘Unicorn’ dream is alive and well in Asia-Pacific, but it is being driven by experience rather than youth,” says Mike Lebus, Founder of Angel Investment Network. “We are seeing a new breed of ‘Global-First’ founders who are over 45, highly committed, and looking far beyond their home markets for capital. However, the data also shows a worrying gap in due diligence. In an era where cashflow is the number one challenge for 78% of startups, finding the right investor, not just any investor, is the difference between scaling or struggling.”

On the back of the findings, AIN is launching a new content series dedicated to improving the efficiency of fundraising, giving founders back time to focus on their business. This is a valuable resource for Asia Pacific founders navigating today’s market.