If the Feastival of Ideas had a spicy middle course, this was it.

By midday, the HEXPO 2025 crowd had already feasted on ideas, stories, and startup wisdom but Flavours Without Borders (APAC Edition) brought something extra to the table: global flair, cultural pride, and a reminder that innovation tastes different depending on where you’re from.

Flavours Without Borders

Hosted by HEX, this cross-border session featured Bass Sakdatorn, co-founder of Homm, and Emmanuella Grace, founder of Find Your Voice. Together, they served up a conversation that blended culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship into something fresh, real, and deeply human.

Bass, a Thai entrepreneur with a background in food innovation and hospitality, shared how Homm grew from a dessert passion project into a brand that celebrates Asian identity and flavour while thriving in a global market. His journey was a case study in balancing authenticity with adaptation, a theme that resonated across the entire Feastival.

Emmanuella, a performer-turned-founder from Find Your Voice, added a different layer of richness. She talked about helping leaders and creatives use their voices with purpose and confidence, breaking through cultural and personal barriers. Her message? Voice isn’t just sound, it’s presence, courage, and connection.

Together, they reminded the room that culture isn’t a constraint. It’s an advantage.

Entrepreneurship, like food, is universal but the seasoning depends on where you come from.

The Conversations That Connect

What made this session so special wasn’t just the speakers, it was the energy. Audience members from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia leaned in as Bass and Emmanuella swapped stories about navigating language barriers, stereotypes, and expectations while building businesses that stay true to who they are.

They showed that innovation doesn’t come from copying what works in Silicon Valley, it comes from embracing where you come from and turning it into your competitive edge.

The takeaway? The next global trend won’t come from one country. It’ll come from a collaboration of voices that aren’t afraid to cross borders.

Turning Up the Heat: Hot Take

Just when things were getting heartwarming, HEXPO turned up the heat. Enter “Hot Take”, hosted by Garry Williams from GRP.

Two mics. Ten spicy questions. Zero filters.

From “Are pitch nights just Tinder for startups?” to “Are shared workspaces just adult study groups?”, Garry fired off question after question that had the audience laughing, debating, and side-eyeing their founders.

It was everything a good HEX session should be, a mix of satire, self-awareness, and real insight. Beneath the jokes, there were real takeaways about community, burnout, and why founders sometimes take themselves a bit too seriously.

“Hot Take” reminded everyone that humour can be the best way to unpack hard truths, and that sometimes, the best ideas are born from the conversations we don’t script.

The Aftertaste

Between Flavours Without Borders and Hot Take, this part of HEXPO 2025 captured the perfect mix of heart and heat. It celebrated global creativity while reminding us to stay grounded, laugh at ourselves, and keep things real.

These sessions proved that the Feastival of Ideas isn’t just about building startups, it’s about building understanding, empathy, and connection across cultures.

Because whether you’re pitching dessert innovation or debating LinkedIn selfies, the truth is the same: we learn best when we share the table.