Bringing Faith to the Marketplace: Reflections from APAC Redemptive Business Summit 2025

While there is no shortage of conferences in the business world, this one was different. It wasn’t just about scaling fast or pitching well. It was about asking the more difficult questions: What kind of impact are we creating with our growth? What legacy are we leaving behind? 

Opening Statement from John Choi (First Rate Connect), Kelly Arifin (Sovereign’s Capital), Chris Yeo (Digital Mission Ventures) 

Last month, we had the privilege of co-hosting the APAC Redemptive Business Summit 2025 with Digital Mission Ventures and Sovereign’s Capital. Over two packed days at Village Hotel Changi, more than 180+ entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across the Asia-Pacific came together to explore what it means to build businesses with purpose. 

Organizing Team from Digital Mission Ventures, Sovereign’s Capital and First Rate Connect 

Day 1: Faith Meets Work 

The summit opened with a panel on Faith & Work, tackling a question that cuts across industries: How do we bring what we learn on Sunday into Monday and the rest of our week? One panellist, Pastor Edric Sng, summed it up well: “We often chase the wrong goals or anchor our sense of purpose on unstable ground. It’s worth asking what we’re truly building towards.” The consensus was clear: we need more conversations about how faith and work intersect—and, more importantly, how market leaders can put that integration into practice. 

Panel: Faith & Work led by Estelle Kiora, featuring Panellists: Pastor Alistair Chiu, Edric Sng and Timothy Wong 

This theme carried through the day with the DMV Redemptive Labs Showcase, the APAC Redemptive Pitch Competition, and a founder panel titled Forged by Fire, featuring entrepreneurs who’ve built through adversity. 

Founders from the DMV Redemptive Labs Showcase and the APAC Redemptive Pitch Competition 

(First row from Left to Right: KREations, The Hub, glean, Second row: SpectrifyAI, iChurch, Style Theory) 

We saw 20+ diverse startups; spanning everything from mobility solutions for wheelchair users (Kangster) to smart bookkeeping software for accountants (HeyBen). The ventures were remarkably diverse but shared a common mindset—using business as a way to support and elevate those around them. 

On the other side of the coin, the investor panel explored what it means to invest with purpose, not just capital. Carmen Yuen highlighted how investors who truly walk alongside founders can create a ripple effect—shaping how those founders, in turn, lead others. The panel also acknowledged the tension and cost of redemptive investing, with Daniel Long and Samuel Richards emphasizing the need to rethink power, ownership, and what transformation really demands. 

Investor Panel: Multiplying Talents, led by Kelly Arifin, featuring Panellists Carmen Yuen (Vertex Ventures), Daniel Long (Olive Tree Estates) and Sameul Richards (Brightlight) 

Our first day concluded with a powerful fireside chat featuring Peter Ong, who served in Public Service for nearly four decades. His wisdom reminded us of three essential leadership principles: the importance of leading to serve, embracing our own imperfections as leaders, and guiding people in the right direction. 

Fireside Chat with Peter Ong 

Day 2: Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers 

Day 2 shifted the focus toward scale and systems. First Rate Connect introduced our latest cohort of companies— Vector Agent, Investbanq, Artius Global, and WMCockpit—each working at the intersection of innovation and long-term impact. 

First Rate Connect Showcase with our Cohort  

(First row from Left to Right: Charmain Tan from Vector Agent, Olzhas Zhiyenkul from Investbanq, Jacqueline Pang from Artius Global, Second row: Charis Chia from First Rate Connect, Christopher Morris from WMCockpit, Dominique Jooris from WMCockpit) 

A highlight of the day was our ecosystem builder panel: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Lessons & Opportunities in Surging Emerging Markets. We hosted three remarkable leaders: Jennifer Ho (Partner at Integra Partners), Brindha Selvadurai (Co-Founder of Hatch), and David Yi (Managing Partner at Ethos Fund). 

Ecosystem Builder Panel: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Lessons & Opportunities in Surging Emerging Markets.  

The panel made it clear that building in emerging markets requires more than just capital—it takes a deep understanding of local context, a willingness to challenge traditional VC dynamics, and a commitment to creating more equitable, trust-based relationships between investors and founders. 

The summit concluded with targeted breakout sessions, allowing participants to dive deeper into the intersection of faith and business in areas most relevant to them. For emerging founders, Pastor Edric Sng led a session on "Your Calling & Vocation in the Marketplace." Meanwhile, Tim Ong guided investors through "Vision & Value: An Impact Framework for Investors." 

Breakout Session with Pastor Tim Ong (Eagle Venture Fund Asia) 

We are deeply grateful to our partners, speakers, panellists, and every attendee who made this summit a truly transformative experience. These conversations may have started in one room, but they’re bound to grow—reshaping how business gets done across Asia-Pacific, one thoughtful venture at a time. Let’s keep building businesses that serve, restore, and renew. 

As panellist David Yi reminded us: “Brokenness is the precursor for healing”