Forget pitch decks and product launches — today’s savviest young entrepreneurs in Asia are starting with group chats. From Discord servers to Telegram groups, a new generation of founders is flipping the startup script: launching not with formal funding rounds or structured accelerators, but by growing informal startup communities that spark loyalty, feedback, and market validation long before the first product drops.
Consider a 15-year-old entrepreneur in Thailand who started with nothing more than a YouTube channel and a Discord server. Within months, the group evolved into a vibrant community with over 400,000 Instagram followers, fueling entrepreneurial discussion and laying the groundwork for a new company. This isn’t a hypothetical — it’s the story of @realfourz, founder of VI Media, whose community-first strategy became the bedrock of his business.
This approach reflects a broader shift: where startups once began with business models and funding decks, many now begin with followers, feedback, and fluid experimentation. Social messengers like Instagram Broadcast Channels, Reddit forums, and Telegram groups are becoming the frontlines of idea testing and market shaping, particularly within informal startup communities.
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Why Informal Communities are Growing
Several underlying forces are making this model not just possible but optimal for young entrepreneurs. COVID-19 normalized remote collaboration and async communication. Meanwhile, platforms like Notion, Figma, and Zapier now enable no-code building, reducing the need for formal infrastructure.
The startup journey can feel isolating, especially for first-time founders. Informal startup communities offer belonging, motivation, and real-time accountability. They also lower the barrier to entry, allowing entrepreneurs to build an audience and gather early feedback long before launch.
Leonard Ang, co-founder of Sip & Scale, highlights that “informal channels are becoming essential, especially for early-stage teams. You can’t build in a vacuum, and these spaces force you to stay grounded and close to the people you’re building for.”
He recalls how a casual growth hack mentioned in a Telegram group sparked a low-cost experiment that yielded strong results. Other founders, he notes, have validated B2B ideas by first reframing them for consumer communities — an agile mindset that might not surface in traditional startup paths.
Informal Doesn’t Mean Ineffective
The outcomes of these informal startup communities go far beyond conversation. In fact, they’re becoming strategic launchpads for:
- Hiring: Many youths are turning to Discord and Twitter to explore job opportunities rather than relying solely on LinkedIn. Some founders note that Discord’s real-time interaction model creates a space where work speaks louder than resumes — a sharp contrast to traditional job platforms (as discussed on Medium).
- Feedback: These networks offer real-time, context-rich feedback that surpasses traditional user interviews. The University of Zurich found that Discord allows fast follow-ups and threaded discussions, ideal for solving complex problems.
- Funding: While not investor-led, these communities increasingly attract angel investors and pre-seed VCs. Platforms like LvlUp Ventures even launched their own Discord community to connect founders with funders and exclusive startup perks.
Sara Lebow of eMarketer adds that one-to-many messaging tools on Instagram and Discord help founders cultivate trust and transparency — qualities valued in today’s digital economy. According to a 2024 HubSpot survey, 86% of social media marketers view active online communities as critical to strategy.
What This Means for the Ecosystem
From Indonesia to Malaysia, informal startup communities are reshaping what entrepreneurship looks like. A recent study by Dr Carmen Leong and Dr Felix Tan at UNSW Business School shows how digital platforms like WhatsApp can unlock growth for marginalized microbusinesses, particularly among women without access to formal financial services.
Based on that research, Moses Lo, founder of Xendit, launched a P2P payment platform via WhatsApp that enabled small businesses to send and receive money with greater flexibility. His case illustrates how digital platforms can remove barriers for entrepreneurs in underserved markets.
This signals a shift that investors and ecosystem builders can’t ignore:
- Venture Capitalists may perceive startups without digital communities as disconnected or untested.
- Accelerators risk overlooking grassroots founders who are growing in stealth within niche online circles.
- Corporate Innovation Teams benefit from the raw consumer insights these communities offer.
Getting Started: From DMs to IRL
Informal startup communities rely on engaged founders and consistent interaction. But as they scale, there’s a risk of dilution. Sustaining momentum requires founders to:
- Explore Outside the Usual Networks: don’t just build for your imagined audience — build with them. Reddit threads, Telegram chats, or even niche Discord channels can lead to customer insights or unexpected collaborators.
- Go Beyond Digital: eventually, the community needs to transcend the screen. Founders should consider in-person meetups, workshops, or pop-ups to deepen engagement.
Final Thoughts: Your Next Unicorn Might Be Lurking in a Group Chat
Informal startup communities are no longer fringe; they’re fast becoming the new normal. Whether it’s hiring, fundraising, or product testing, these organic ecosystems offer agility, authenticity, and reach.
For entrepreneurs across Asia, especially those outside traditional startup hubs, they provide the kind of visibility and traction that institutions alone can’t offer.
The next unicorn might not come from a boardroom. It might come from a pinned message in a Discord server.
Editor’s Note:
This article was contributed by NewInAsia editorial fellow Eunice Chua, a Singaporean writer and researcher passionate about sustainability, environmental justice, and cross-cultural collaboration. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Global Affairs and Public Policy at Yonsei University, South Korea.
To pitch your story or share insights on innovation, leadership, or impact in Asia, contact the NewInAsia editorial team.
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