Inside the Enterprise Decision Room: Why Good AI Deals Still Fall Through the Cracks

Most AI pilots never become contracts, and the product is rarely the reason.
Founders rarely get visibility into how enterprise AI decisions are actually made. Who shapes the decision? What creates confidence? Why do some solutions move quickly while others stall despite early interest?
This closed-door conversation brings together a founder, an investor, and both private and public perspectives to unpack how enterprises evaluate AI - and what founders often miss about the path from initial interest to adoption.
If you are selling to enterprises, or preparing to, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

What we will cover
The vetting gate: why AI faces more scrutiny, and more decision-makers, than any software before it.
Build versus buy: why enterprises increasingly build internally, and when they still buy.
Beyond the product: what enterprises really expect from AI vendors before they commit.
Across markets: how the enterprise AI sale differs between the US and Asia.

Speakers
Vinod Muthukrishnan is the Founder of CloudCherry, a former Vertex portfolio company acquired by Cisco, where he is now a senior leader. Having built and sold a company into a large enterprise, he brings a founder's perspective on what it actually takes to get bought — and where deals fall apart.
Puiyan Leung is a Partner at Vertex Ventures SEA & India, where she works with a portfolio of companies selling into enterprise across Southeast Asia and India. She brings the patterns she is seeing across the region on what separates deals that close from those that don't.
Chris Tao is General Manager, Enterprise Business at Microsoft ASEAN, working across Enterprise Commercial, Public Sector, and CTO segments to drive business growth and digital transformation. He brings the perspective of both buyer and seller to the table.
Tracie Teo is CEO of Codex Solutions, a joint venture between ST Engineering and HTX (Home Team Science and Technology Agency). She has spent much of her career working on technology delivery for complex public sector and mission-critical environments, and brings a practical perspective on what it takes for technology to move from a promising idea to something enterprises can actually adopt, trust, and scale.
Panel will be moderated by Belle Lim, Co-Head, APAC Worldwide Private Capital at Microsoft.

Agenda
1630 - 1700: Registration
1700 - 1800: Panel Discussion
1800 - 1900: Networking & Mingle
This is an invite-only event. As spaces are limited, please ensure you have an approved ticket before arriving.

Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India
Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a leading early-stage venture capital firm focused on partnering with high-growth startups across Southeast Asia and India. With a strong network and strategic expertise, they have invested in successful companies such as Grab, FirstCry, Nium, Licious, Kissht, Kuku FM, Abacus Digital, RPG Commerce and Patsnap, driving innovation and scaling businesses across various sectors.
Community Partner: Lorong AI
Lorong AI brings together government, industry, and research to build Singapore's AI ecosystem. A collaborative hub for AI practitioners connect, innovate, and shape the future of AI in Singapore throughout curated programs and a supportive community.