"Spending on AI tools by founders rose 20% last year, according to an in-house study of over 37,000 regional SMEs by Aspire. Usage of Anthropic's Claude model grew by three times; usage of Cursor, an AI-coding tool, rose by 4.2 times. This suggests that startups are now using AI to code and build their core products, not just for administrative tasks."
"Thirty percent of new startups in Singapore were involved in AI, according to Aspire's data. The figure is even higher in the Chinese city of Hong Kong: Two-thirds of new businesses onboarded in late 2025 came from the AI sector. There's a high level of institutional readiness in both economies, as well as a new breed of founder who is leaning into a climate of intense global competition and disruption."
Asia-Pacific entrepreneurs are significantly increasing their investment in artificial intelligence, both through spending on AI tools and launching new AI-focused startups. Founder spending on AI tools increased 20% last year across over 37,000 regional SMEs. Usage of specific AI tools surged dramatically, with Anthropic's Claude model usage tripling and Cursor, an AI-coding tool, increasing 4.2 times. This shift indicates startups are using AI for core product development rather than administrative tasks. New AI startups are proliferating, representing 30% of new startups in Singapore and two-thirds of new businesses in Hong Kong. This growth reflects institutional readiness and a new generation of founders embracing disruption amid intense global competition.
#ai-adoption #asia-pacific-startups #entrepreneurship #ai-tools-and-spending #regional-business-growth
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