PRHUB Integrated Marketing Communications, one of India’s leading full-service, independent integrated marketing communications firms, announced today that it will collaborate with Singapore-based APRW to launch a specialised communications practise aimed at start-ups looking to expand within and beyond the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The new practise will be run by IPREX, a leading international communications network with more than 100 communications partners throughout the world. Xavier PRabhu, Founder and Managing Director of PRHUB & Regional President for APAC and Member of the IPREX Global Board, and Anu Gupta, Director of APRW, will co-chair the event.
The APAC start-up ecosystem has seen unprecedented growth in the past few years. According to market intelligence firm Preqin start-ups in APAC have secured US$152 billion in venture capital deals within the first nine months of 2021, matching the previous record of US$152 billion set in 2018. As per Statista research there were close to 200 unicorns in APAC with only the US possessing a greater number of unicorns. The vibrancy and diversity of APAC’s start-up ecosystem indicates a c for start-ups to expand regionally and beyond through targeted communication campaigns and strategies. The specialised communications practice will provide a full suite of communications services for start-ups by leveraging IPREX’s global network of communication partners and tapping upon the expertise of Xavier and Anu. As communications veterans, both bring a deep understanding of the start-up ecosystem in the region coupled with industry expertise. They’ve also worked closely with several regional start-ups located in India and Singapore.
Commenting on the new practice, Julie Exner, IPREX Global President, said,“ Spread across India, China, Indonesia and Singapore among other countries in the region, there is absolutely no doubt that the start-up ecosystem in the APAC is one of the most dynamic and thriving ecosystems globally. APRW and PRHUB are highly established partners with deep understanding of the ecosystem. With their expertise and support from other partners in key markets, I am confident that the new practice will be a success and bring start-ups to greater heights.”
In his comments, Xavier PRabhu, Founder & Managing Director, PRHUB and IPREX Regional President for APAC, said, “Many start-ups are looking to scale beyond their home markets and leverage the many opportunities that APAC has to offer. As they grow, they will require communication agencies who can provide holistic regional communications strategies to boost their visibility and strengthen their reputations. Our practice will be able to offer a global network of esteemed communication partners with a huge repertoire of capabilities and expertise. PRHUB with its SAARC and APRW with its South east asia reach are also perfectly poised to offer the widest available coverage for any start-up looking at multiple markets in the region.”
Added Anu Gupta, Director, APRW-Singapore, “More than ever we see growing linkage between markets in the region. The linkage between India and Singapore is so strong and deep that at times one cannot even distinguish or separate. Indonesia is emerging as a go to market for most start-ups in the region. China has had huge success with some of the world’s largest start-ups coming from there. Japan and Australia are witnessing a surge in start-up activity. So, the timing of this practice is apt and the value we bring to the start-ups looking to grow in the region and beyond, immense. Look forward to working with Xavier and other partners in the region to making this practice a success and ofcourse with start-ups across the region in fuelling their growth plans.”
