For any growing company, the prospect of partnering with a global industry leader is both thrilling and intimidating. These partnerships can change the trajectory of a business, unlocking new markets and technologies overnight. But how do you, as a smaller, agile player, even get a seat at the table with a corporate giant, let alone navigate the complex negotiations to forge a deal that is mutually beneficial? Drawing from my experience building strategic alliances in Southeast Asia, this post will offer a practical playbook on how to successfully engage, negotiate, and launch partnerships that last.

The key to unlocking electric mobility in Southeast Asia lies not with electric cars, but with electric motorbikes, which are the dominant form of transport in nations like Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The primary barrier to adoption is the lack of suitable charging infrastructure - current car-centric charging stations are impractical for motorbikes. Instead of traditional charging, a standardized battery swapping infrastructure, which would offer a faster, cheaper, and more convenient solution for the light, removable batteries used in electric motorbikes, is much better.