The international financial magazine Forbes has announced its “2024 Asia 100 to Watch” list, featuring the most promising emerging companies across the Asia-Pacific region. PopChill, Taiwan’s leading pre-owned luxury trading platform, was honored as the only Taiwanese company to make the list.
Now in its fourth year, the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list highlights 100 fast-growing startups from 16 countries and regions, spanning 10 industries including space technology, e-commerce, and medical innovation. This year, India led the ranking with 20 companies, followed by Singapore (15) and China (10).
Despite a challenging fundraising environment in the Asia-Pacific region — reaching its lowest venture capital level in nearly seven years — these 100 companies have continued to rise rapidly, showcasing strong market potential and growth momentum. Among them, 83 companies have successfully raised new funds since 2023, attracting a total of over USD 2 billion in investment. This underscores that securing capital to accelerate market expansion remains the defining growth strategy among these emerging startups.
Since its founding in 2021, PopChill has raised a total of NT$200 million (approximately USD 6 million) and expanded into the Hong Kong market in the second half of 2023.
As the only Taiwanese company on this year’s list, PopChill is dedicated to using technology to improve efficiency in the luxury resale industry. Each item sold on the platform undergoes rigorous authentication and quality inspection before being delivered to the buyer, greatly enhancing consumer trust. The company also collaborated with Taiwanese celebrity Ariel Hu (Karen Hu) as brand ambassador, further boosting brand awareness. Currently, PopChill’s annualized gross merchandise value (GMV) is estimated at NT$700 million, and the company plans to expand into other Asian markets later this year.
This recognition by Forbes not only highlights PopChill’s excellence and resilience amid global challenges but also demonstrates Taiwan’s growing competitiveness in the international startup ecosystem.
