Ed Barker is a Principal at Square Peg, a leading global venture capital firm, where he leads and supports investments across Southeast Asia, including companies like Pluang, StashAway, LottieFiles and Kula.

In 2020, Ed moved to Singapore to set up Square Peg's SEA office with Partner Tushar Roy. Before Square Peg, he was at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Square Peg has invested more than $250M in SEA. In the last two years, the total number of their investments in the region have doubled.

👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

Investing in and working with exceptional people building generational businesses.

🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

I love technology at work, but not at home. I'm not on Twitter, I don't have a TV, I strongly prefer physical books.

🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

In my first 'job,' I was providing basic IT services (building computers, racking and stacking servers, etc.) at a global bank. They were getting rid of several outdated pieces of equipment, which I got to take home, and refurbish.

As a young nerd, I couldn't think of anything more thrilling. It built on my existing passion for getting a hands-on understanding of tech and its possibilities, and this still energizes me in what I do today.

🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

At Square Peg, we invest across multiple themes — and we're especially excited about access to financial services, healthcare and climate solutions across the region, as well as globally-focused ambitious SaaS founders.

Personally, I learn a lot by doing, so I have also been playing around with some of the amazing tools coming out of the AI space right now.

💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

Always be curious, open-minded and eager to learn. That doesn't mean accepting everything at face value — but not being afraid to ask 'silly' questions, getting to the bottom of the 'why' and consistently updating your perspective.

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🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

I feel like I'm a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none! I could probably talk for hours about a wide range of things I know a small part about, and I love to learn by talking through with passionate people!

🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Anything written by Armando Iannucci (I'm Alan Partridge, The Thick of It, Veep…)

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🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Salted caramel. Hands down.