Willis Wee launched Tech in Asia on 1 August 2010, in his third year at Singapore Management University. He had considered Facebook or LinkedIn but chose to build his own company.
The site grew into a regional reference on Asian startups. Annual conferences began in 2012 in Singapore, Tokyo and Jakarta. Wee later added Techlist, a platform linking investors and startups, plus jobs and subscriptions. In 2015 Eduardo Saverin backed the company, and a $6.6 million round led by Hanwha Investment and Securities followed.
In 2018 Tech in Asia launched a marketing agency and cut staff after mistakes in its expansion. In January 2024 SPH Media completed its acquisition.
In July 2025 the company wound down its Indonesian product and laid off 18% of its staff. On 31 March 2026 Wee and COO Maria Li resigned, and in April 2026 the company was folded into SPH Media's Features and Lifestyle division.