BEYOND Expo is counting down to its grand opening on August 26, 2021, at the Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Centre. The industry forums and networking sessions — BEYOND Virtual (online) and on-site stages — will run concurrently to accommodate the global audience and on-site attendees.

Co-organized with our global partners, BEYOND Virtual will present more than 10 online sessions with over 40 distinguished speakers for three days. Grab your FREE three-day online pass with the code: BEYOND2021XVirtual to gain full access to these sessions.

The confirmed schedule of the BEYOND Virtual will be released on the BEYOND official website by August 15. Meanwhile, check out the confirmed speakers, topics, tentative dates, and times below. 

 

Entering a SPAC-tacular era | August 27 | 16:00 – 17:00 GMT+8

The special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), one of the hottest trends on Wall Street this year, has become a genre of its own. Whether it is here to stay or just hype, TechNode Global has put together a panel of subject experts to discuss the benefits and downsides of SPAC and what the future holds for so-called “shell” companies.

  • Mohamed Nasser Ismail, Global Head of Equity Capital Markets, Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX)
  • Marcus Yeung, Founder & CEO, SEAbridge Partners 
  • Drew Bernstein, Co-Managing Partner, Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk
  • Aaron Tsai, Founder, MAS Capital

 

The NFT boom: The popularity behind non-fungible tokens | August 27 | 16:00 – 17:00 GMT+8

After the hype of the NFT boom early this year, speculation states that it will soon go bust. However, as with any hyped market, the future is always tricky. TechNode Global has put together a panel of NFT enthusiasts and analysts to explain the surreal popularity behind the NFT industry, its ups and downs, as well as the challenging question: Is it boom or just hype?

  • Kelly Choo, Partner, True Global Ventures
  • Zach Burks, CEO & Founder, Mintable
  • Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Chairman, Animoca Brands
  • Hikaru Kasai, Venture Partner, Elevate Ventures

 

Game on: The evolution of esports and gaming | August 27 | 16:00 – 17:00 GMT+8

The professional esports and gaming industry has evolved from a grassroots endeavor to a billion-dollar industry. From our panel of gaming experts, developers, and investors, we will learn how the fast-evolving landscape of esports and gaming will impact the global entertainment trend.

  • Kin Wai Lau, Co-Founder & President, ESPL
  • Tryke Gutierrez, CEO, Tier One Entertainment
  • Kelly Chiew, Senior Public Relations Manager, MOONTON Games
  • Allan Phang, Chief Marketing Officer, Galaxy Racer

 

Vietnam’s startup landscape: Opportunities and challenges | August 27 | 1700 – 18:00 GMT+8

Vietnam is fast becoming a tech startup hub in the ASEAN region. The local government has set the ambitious goal of having at least 10 unicorns by 2030 and becoming a technology startup center in Southeast Asia. Is Vietnam on track to achieve this goal?

  • Dr. Cuong Nguyen Huu, Partner, FPT Digital
  • Dr. Phạm Hồng Quất, General Director, National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship &Commercialization (NATEC)
  • Vy Le, Co-Found & General Partner, Do Ventures
  • Kevin Tung Nguyen, Founder, JobHopin 
  • Doan Kieu My (Kimiko), Founder, YellowBlocks

 

The future of retail  | August 27 | 1700 – 18:00 GMT+8

Automated solutions are revolutionizing the retail sector. The panel looks at existing and future use cases in the coffee segment, including coffee robots, 5G cafes, and automated coffee corners. These are all aimed at increasing convenience for the customer while empowering baristas and nutritionists to focus on what they do best: create new recipes, educate customers on the drinks served, and deliver the best human-friendly customer experience.

  • Wei Xiaodong, GM of Migu 
  • Andrea Pozzolini, President and CEO, Rhea Vendors Group
  • Special guest from Bear Paw Café
  • Fu Sheng, Founder of OrionStar, Chairman & CEO of Cheetah Mobile
  • Claudia Vernotti, Co-Founder & Director, ChinaEU

 

Building resilience: How does innovation empower Malaysian businesses to boost the economy?  | August 28 | 13:00 – 14:00 GMT+8

In the face of uncertainties due to the global pandemic, Malaysians see innovation as a necessity to boost the recovery of Malaysian businesses, and ultimately the economy. Organized by WORQ, this panel will discuss the changes and opportunities that arose during the pandemic via tech innovation in Malaysia. 

  • Gopi Ganesalingam, Vice President, Tech Ecosystems and Globalisation of MDEC 
  • Yeoh Chen Chow, Co-Founder, FAVE
  • Joseph Lee, Managing Partner, Kairous Capital
  • Rob Sewell, Chief Technology Strategy Officer, Maxis
  • Stephanie Ping, Co-Founder & CEO, WORQ