Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: Kheng Lian Ho: Law to Turn Capital Managing Partner, Buying Flash Coffee Thailand & Turnaround & Emerging Fund Manager Advice - E498
Kheng Lian Ho, Managing Partner at Turn Capital, and Jeremy Au discussed:
1. Law to Turn Capital Managing Partner: Kheng’s disciplined childhood as a 11-year old Singapore national badminton athlete laid the foundation for her early legal carer For six years, she practiced restructuring and cross-border litigation in Singapore and Hong Kong, drawn to the intellectual challenges but stifled by routine and limited personal connection. Seeking more impactful, people-centered work, Kheng left her law career to do angel investing, be a venture partner at Vectr Ventures in Hong Kong, facilitated deal sourcing and capital markets, and founded the Open Circles community to connect entrepreneurs across Southeast Asia. Building on her extensive network and operational expertise, Kheng co-founded Turn Capital alongside Joseph Phua and Shang Koo. With a focus on acquiring and transforming underperforming consumer tech companies, Turn Capital leverages 40 combined years of experience to revitalize these businesses and guide them back to profitability.
2. Buying Flash Coffee Thailand & Turnaround: Her fund strategy is a. acquired former VC-backed startups plagued by high costs and inefficiencies in social, entertainment, media, and e-commerce sectors b. limited number of acquisitions for deep hands-on business engagement and c. balanced goal of 3-5x returns over five years. Their first acquisition, Flash Coffee Thailand, showcases this method: by reducing the original 46 outlets by half, the team swiftly brought operations to break-even, paving the way for sustainable expansion and long-term growth. Acquiring majority operational control is key to execute rightsizing and achieve profitability within nine months. She shares that they bring an external, objective eye, vs. founders, board and executives that may not be able to reach a consensus to execute the turnaround internally.
3. Emerging Fund Manager Advice: By 2023, Turn Capital successfully raised over $20 million, backed by prominent investors such as Kee Lock from Vertex Ventures, Peng Ong from Monk’s Hill Ventures, and Twitch cofounder Kevin Lin. Kheng underscored the importance of a distinct and well-defined investment strategy to stand out in the competitive market. Kheng leveraged her established network to attract high-profile investors, emphasizing the value of relationships cultivated over time. She recommends first-time fund managers tap into their existing networks, especially those who have financially benefited from past collaborations, as they often become key supporters during fundraising. Unlike her prior advisory roles where rejection felt indirect, leading as a general partner made setbacks personal, demanding strong emotional resilience. To maintain balance amidst the pressures of high-stakes investing, Kheng incorporates daily hot yoga, meditation, and the support of close friends into her routine.
Jeremy and Kheng also discussed how her personal identity has shifted over time, what it meant to turn away from the legal career ladder and what she likes about being a fund manager.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/CVYrqpCC708
#StartupAcquisition#VentureCapital #SoutheastAsia #FundManagement #FlashCoffee #EmergingMarkets #InvestmentFund #BRAVEpodcast
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: Silicon Valley Talent Vortex, Southeast Asia Time Machine & Sea Turtle Migration with Adriel Yong - E493
Jeremy Au and Adriel Yong discussed whether Southeast Asian founders should move to Silicon Valley, and why "sea turtle" professionals are returning from America (and China) to Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam. San Francisco and New York are global tech talent vortexes, where non-American founders are attracted to their deep VC funding pools and a multi-generational legacy of founder support since the 1950s, e.g. the "father of VC" Georges Doriot of America Research & Development Corporation (ARDC). America's large ecosystem also holds transformative appeal for deep tech and frontier tech founders, as well as higher pricing power for both SaaS and consumer brands. In contrast, Singapore has the same GDP per capita (US$88K) as America, with a better quality of life for families looking for healthcare, public safety, education and housing. Southeast Asian diaspora returning to their home countries should be realistic about Asia's higher number of working hours compared to America and EU, fragmented markets, regulatory challenges and less mature economies. Savvy international founders have a "time machine" mindset: visualizing the country's future in 10-20 years, seeing the industry as it actually is and then building the companies that make sense for this decade and geography.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/oFuGltYTOMA
#SoutheastAsia #SiliconValley #GlobalExpansion #VentureCapital #TechFounders #Diaspora #DeepTech #EmergingMarkets #BRAVEpodcast
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: Adrian Tan: Laid-Off To HR Founder, Writing “No More Bosses” & Solopreneur Work-Life Challenges - E492
Adrian Tan, Author of “No More Bosses” & Chief Marketing Strategist at Marketing Sumo, and Jeremy Au discussed:
1. Laid-Off To HR Founder: Adrian’s career in HR began as he navigated the volatile job market of the early 2000s. After layoffs from tech companies during the dotcom bubble and another setback in 2003 with the SARS epidemic, he sought greater stability by starting his own recruitment business in 2004. Over the next 11 years, he grew this business through multiple economic cycles, worked hundred-hour weeks, and learned on the job. He reflected on a missed opportunity during a lucrative growth phase to scale his business, which he now views as a turning point that could have changed his career path. This built his resilience and industry insights, which later shaped his journey as an independent HR consultant.
2. Writing "No More Bosses": Adrian’s new book, No More Bosses: The Journey to Sustainable Self-Employment, draws from his own pivot to freelancing. He received a LinkedIn message from a Penguin editor, which he initially believed to be a scam. He wrote the book to inspire mid-career professionals, especially in high-cost cities like Singapore, to explore independence. Real-life case studies include Nancy Lai who launched a D2C baby products business, showing that solopreneurship can be successful with strategic planning.
3. Solopreneur Work-Life Challenges: Adrian shared the ups and downs of self-employment, noting that while independence provides autonomy, it demands discipline and structure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he struggled with maintaining boundaries as he worked from his dining table, often working late into the evening. To maintain work-life balance, he set smartwatch reminders like “World’s Greatest Dad” at 7pm to ensure he prioritized family time. However, he stressed that the goal in self-employment is not just income, but optimizing time and flexibility, which he values more than the financial stability offered by corporate roles.
Jeremy and Adrian also talked about the importance of fully outlining chapters before beginning to write, the role of perseverance in professional development, and how personal branding landed him multiple opportunities.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/uYV1E3Ls5WQ
#CareerResilience #SelfEmployment #CareerPivot #Solopreneurship #GrowthMindset #NoMoreBosses #WorkLifeBalance #CareerTransitions #BRAVEpodcast
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: Indonesia: 109 Member 48 Ministry Cabinet Coalition, Temu Ban, TikTok & Bukalapak & VC Investments with Gita Sjahrir - E491
Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed:
1. 109 Member 48 Ministry Cabinet Coalition: With the inauguration on October 20, 2024, President Prabowo Subianto expanded the cabinet from 34 to 48 ministries, the largest since 1966. Prabowo's coalition-building strategy is to accommodate political allies and unify the seven-party coalition behind him. They drew comparisons to Germany’s coalition politics, emphasizing the importance of coordination between Indonesia’s national and regional leaders for effective governance.
2. Temu Ban, TikTok & Bukalapak: In early October 2024, Indonesia banned Chinese social commerce platform Temu, similar to TikTok Shop which then had to acquire Tokopedia. The Indonesian government also requested Apple and Google to block the Temu app to prevent local downloads. Other nations, including the United States and EU, are scrutinizing Chinese exporter practices, with the US tightening tax exemptions on low-cost imports in 2023. Gita explained that while such protectionism shields MSMEs, Indonesia’s core issues (e.g., complex bureaucracy, high business costs, lack of raw materials and a multi-year backlog for trademarks) remain unaddressed. She argued that easing these foundational barriers would create a fairer, more sustainable advantage for local businesses, rather than just temporary protection from foreign competition.
3. VC Investments: Indonesia has already attracted interest in green joint ventures (JVs), particularly with China. Jeremy highlighted MAKA Motors, founded by former GoJek CTO Raditya Wibowo, as a local player advancing EV production, while Gita mentioned Toba’s push for renewable energy. They underscored the cultural importance of home ownership, noting that many Indonesians aspire to own land despite its often low financial returns, which drives prop-tech startup Rukita. Rekosistem is also a key startup addressing waste management in Indonesia’s growing urban areas. They also discussed the pressures faced by Indonesia’s “sandwich generation,” who often support both aging parents and their own families, and how these dynamics shape housing affordability and socio-economic mobility.
Jeremy and Gita also talked about the film “Home Sweet Loan, which explores Indonesians’ struggle with housing affordability, the influx of green investments into EV battery production and the regulatory challenges surrounding the rise of online gambling among youth.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/HSHyuZG3nkI
#IndonesiaCabinetExpansion #TemuBan #SocialCommerce #MSME #YoungDemocracy #FinancialLiteracy #SandwichGeneration #Indonesia2045 #BRAVEpodcast
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: Arthur C. Clarke’s “Crazy” 1974 Prediction, 10X vs. Status Quo & Tech Marketing Principles - E490
Jeremy Au explored the evolution of technology marketing and how marketers have adapted to communicate complex innovations effectively. He began by referencing sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke’s 1974 “crazy” prediction about how their room-sized computers would eventually shrink to the size of briefcases and that people would eventually be able to work from anywhere in the world. Early software marketers like WordStar focused on explaining and promoting “groundbreaking” features, such as moving text blocks—capabilities that were previously unimaginable with typewriters. Jeremy emphasized that while technology continues to advance, the core human desires for status, security, and convenience remain unchanged. Companies like Apple, with products like the augmented reality Vision Pro and Apple Watch, and Dyson have mastered the art of blending functionality with premium status to appeal to early adopters and affluent consumers. He concluded by noting that despite the shifting landscape of technology -from floppy disks to cryptocurrency and AI companions - the fundamental marketing strategy endures: simplify the message and prioritize solving immediate consumer needs, a timeless approach evident in both historic and modern claims of achieving 10x disruptive improvements vs. the pain of the status quo.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/vBO5phsZIHs
#TechEvolution #MarketingInnovation #AITrends #BusinessGrowth #FutureOfTech #ProductivityBoost #ConsumerPsychology #MarketingStrategy #BRAVEpodcast
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: Tina Amper: Geeks on a Beach, 12M Filipino Diaspora Reverse Culture Shock & Burnout to Community Leader - E489
Tina Amper, Strategic Director of Geeks on a Beach, and Jeremy Au discussed:
1. Burnout to Community Leader: Tina shared her experience of migrating from the Philippines with an engineering degree from the University of San Carlos to California’s booming tech industry in the 1990s. She excelled in product marketing and business development roles, but ultimately burned out after years of travel and high-intensity work. By 2010, her mother's declining health prompted her to take a sabbatical and return to her hometown Cebu, which was being transformed by the growing business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. This proved to be fertile ground for her exploration and cultivation of a thriving local tech community.
2. Geeks on a Beach: Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) launched in 2013 and started as a casual idea between Earl Valencia, cofounder of IdeaSpace and QBO, and Paul Pajo, a Filipino tech evangelist, to create a tech conference blending work and leisure on the beach. With participants ranging from 400-500 people annually, GOAB has become a key platform for fostering collaborations between startups, investors, and business leaders. Tina emphasized the importance of support from government bodies like the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
3. 12M Filipino Diaspora Reverse Culture Shock: Tina's return to her motherland after living in the US involved overcoming reverse culture shock while also reconnecting with her roots. She shared her advice for the 12 million strong Filipino diaspora considering a return home. She discussed how she personally found her purpose by contributing to the local tech community through initiatives like TechTalks.ph.
Jeremy and Tina also explored various community archetypes of lurkers vs. champions, paid membership communities vs. casual tech meetups and financial sustainability strategies.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/5qsT5Ia-zXg
#GeeksOnABeach #Philippines #FilipinoDiaspora #Cebu #Startups #TechConferences #CommunityBuilding #StartupInvestments #TechMeetups #BRAVEpodcast
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: Singapore Vetoes Allianz $4.4B Insurer Acquisition, NTUC 1961 History & Income Cooperative Mandate & Trump vs. Kamala Impact on Southeast Asia with Shiyan Koh - E488
Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed:
1. Singapore Vetoes Allianz $4.4B Insurer Acquisition: They discussed the Singapore government’s veto of the NTUC Income and Allianz merger, primarily over concerns of an undisclosed plan for $2B capital withdrawal post-merger. This case illustrated the delicate balance required between pursuing financial strategies and adhering to a social mission, especially in a cooperative structure transitioning to a corporatized entity.
2. NTUC 1961 History & Income Cooperative Mandate: They expanded on the broader historical role of National Trade Unions Congress with the People’s Action Party since 1961, vs. the now-defunct leftist Singapore Association of Trade Unions (SATU). The central workers' union is the parent organization of NTUC Enterprise, which is a holding entity of multiple cooperatives and mission-based corporations like NTUC Fairprice (supermarkets), First Campus (childcare) and Income (insurance). They referenced analysis on other successful single-country insurer cooperatives benchmarks from former NTUC Enterprise & NTUC Income CEO Tan Suee Chieh.
3. Trump vs. Kamala Impact on Southeast Asia: Jeremy and Shiyan debated how the US election’s potential outcomes could lead to dramatically different White House policies on free trade, capital gains and China relations - leading to significant ripple effects on Singapore & Southeast Asia. This highlights the deep interconnectivity of American political decisions with regional economic outcomes.
Jeremy and Shiyan also touched on the impact of US interest rate cuts on global markets, the acceleration of Chinese companies entering Southeast Asia, and Singapore's higher number of work hours vs. America and the EU.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/GUbKMFvcHw4
#VentureCapital #VC #NTUCAllianzDeal #Entrepreneurship #FinancialGovernance #DemoDay #CorporateVsCooperative #EconomicPolicy #USChinaTrade #BRAVEpodcas
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: David vs. Goliath: Startup Disruption, Incumbent Scale & Asymmetric War For Customers - E487
Jeremy Au breaks down the "David vs. Goliath" dynamics of startups challenging industry giants. Startups face unique marketing challenges but can thrive by focusing on experimentation and innovation, creating entirely new market categories. Just like the rise of oat milk and nicotine vapes, disruptive marketing turned once-unknown products into billion-dollar industries. He covers the case study of Southeast Asian unicorns Grab and Gojek who leveraged their agility to outmaneuver Uber and local taxi fleets in Singapore and Indonesia.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/VYFW8vz2Y00
#StartupMarketing #DavidVsGoliath #MarketingStrategies #StartupSuccess #BusinessDisruption #Entrepreneurship #VEntureCapital #BRAVEpodcast
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: Michael Chua: Consultant to Award-Winning Actor at Age 50, AI Disrupting Filmmaking & Climbing the 'Third Mountain' - E486
Michael Chua, Award-Winning Actor, and Jeremy Au discussed:
1. Consultant to Award-Winning Actor at Age 50: Michael had a long and successful career as a technology consultant traveling across Europe. At the age of 50, he was talent-scouted through a Facebook photo to become an actor. His curiosity exploring a new creative field quickly blossomed into a successful career, with over 400 acting credits and several awards, including Best Actor and Best Film at the Singapore International Film Festival. He shared his experience learning to act in films like Ilo Ilo which won the prestigious Camera d'Or award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and the 50th Golden Horse Awards in 2014. He also discussed his experience acting in popular YouTube shows like Titan Academy led by JianHao (7.5 million subscribers).
2. AI Disrupting Filmmaking: Michael spoke about AI’s productivity improvements, e.g. LED backdrops replacing traditional green screens and automating processes such as color grading and sound editing. However, he emphasized that AI avatars of actors are truly disruptive, which raises the bar for all human actors. He warned that mid-tier actors who can't convincingly convey emotion may be replaced by AI, while top-tier performers will continue to thrive as their unique human qualities become more valuable. He also reflected on how the need for authenticity in performances becomes even more critical in the director’s role, especially in a world increasingly swamped by AI-generated content.
3. Climbing the 'Third Mountain': Michael described his transition from consulting to acting as climbing the "second mountain" and to directing as the most difficult "third mountain." Directing requires a broader skill set, balancing logistics with creative vision. His earlier career in technology consulting prepared him for this, giving him the ability to manage large, complex projects. As a director, he now oversees not just the actors but also the entire production, from lighting and sound to camera work and set design. Michael is determined to create films that resonate deeply with audiences while balancing the technical complexities of filmmaking.
Jeremy and Michael also talked about the pressures of privacy that come with being a public figure, the difference between influencers and actors, and the pros and cons of staying in Southeast Asia to tell culturally specific stories (vs. moving to Hollywood).
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/9eD505LYdlQ
#Acting #CreativeIndustries #Film #EntertainmentIndustry #FilmProduction #ArtificialIntelligence #CareerReinvention #FilmTechnology #BRAVEpodcast
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: China: US$1.1 Trillion Monetary Stimulus, Temu & Shein vs. USA De Minimis Tariffs & YouTube & Shopee Anti-TikTok Shop Alliance with Jianggan Li- E485
Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works, and Jeremy Au discussed:
1. US$1.1 Trillion Monetary Stimulus: Jianggan and Jeremy examined China’s recent monetary measures (equivalent to 6% of nominal GDP) boosting consumer confidence and stabilizing the housing and stock markets. The Politburo launched a $114 billion lending pool to support stock buybacks by asset managers and insurers, lowered the policy interest rate by 0.2% and reduced mortgage interest rates by 0.5%. They speculated that fiscal stimulus, including broader consumption voucher programs like the $72 million initiative in Shanghai, is likely to follow. These efforts are intended to stabilize China’s real estate market and restore confidence after a prolonged period of economic slowdown.
2. Temu & Shein vs. USA De Minimis Tariffs: They focused on the de minimis rule, which currently allows imports under $800 to enter the US tariff-free. Jianggan explained how Chinese platforms like Temu (Pinduoduo) and Shein have benefited from this loophole by shipping small goods directly to American consumers. The Biden administration’s efforts to close this loophole will harm low-income American consumers, reducing welfare benefits by $12-14 billion USD. Chinese exporters, particularly smaller ones, may also face challenges, though large platforms are adapting by increasing inventory stored in the US to mitigate this new tariff.
3. YouTube & Shopee Anti-TikTok Shop Alliance: They discussed China’s growing influence on Southeast Asia’s cross-border trade, with Vietnam emerging as a key hub for Chinese companies. Warehouses along the Vietnam-China border are facilitating live-stream sales directly to Vietnamese consumers. Additionally, the conversation touched on YouTube’s partnership with Shopee, which is seen as a strategic move to counter TikTok Shop. This partnership is expected to expand across Southeast Asia, with Indonesia positioned as a critical battleground in the e-commerce space.
Jeremy and Jianggan also touched on other relevant topics, including the impact of US interest rate cuts on global markets, the role of the Chinese Yuan in export competitiveness, and Vietnam’s strategy to navigating the USA-China rivalry.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://youtu.be/F9g72Q6_mGg
#China #SoutheastAsia #MonetaryPolicy #StockMarket #VentureCapital #VC #YouTube #Shopee #TikTokShop #BRAVEpodcast
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Learn from Southeast Asia's best tech leaders. Build the future, learn from our past & stay human in between. No B.S on success. Southeast Asia's #1 startup & venture capital podcast with 60,000+ listeners.
Hosted by Jeremy Au. VC & serial founder. Harvard MBA & UC Berkeley. Sci-fi nerd & dad of two daughters. Growth and personal growth solve all problems. The best feeling is coaching good humans to be great leaders.
Published on Monday, Wednesday & Friday 6am (Singapore Time). Monday: Weekly tech news & debate with Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund (40min). Wednesday: Changemaker interviews. Friday: Bite-sized insights and Q&As.
Community of listeners and guests across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia & the Philippines. Global top 10% podcast. Pro bono resources and training for founders.
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com