One More Scoop

CJ Looi is the co-founder and CEO of PixCap. There, PixCap's mission is to make 3D accessible to everyone, starting with graphic design. 3D opens up many possibilities for designers, including mockups, realistic visuals and animations. Yet, the complexity of accessing 3D technology remains a challenge. PixCap overcomes this by offering a vast library of 3D templates on the browser through WebGL, enabling brands and designers to customize mockups, icons and 3D animations at scale.Topics:[00:00:00] - Personal Growth and Family Dynamics[00:04:55] - Strict Upbringing and Video Game Influence[00:11:42] - Study Abroad and Startup Challenges[00:18:52] - Inspired Journey to Entrepreneurship and Tech[00:24:09] - Career Transition From Banking to Startups[00:31:19] - Transitioning to Entrepreneurship Through Internships[00:38:38] - Journey Through Tech Careers[00:48:35] - AI Motion Capture Technology Pivot[00:53:41] - Evolution of 3D Design Software[01:03:55] - Evolution of PixCap's 3D Tools[01:08:58] - The Challenges and Fulfillment of Startups[01:14:58] - The Three C'sLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Cj Looi's social media pages:Cj (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-looi/PixCap (Website): https://pixcap.com/index.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dhruv Arora is the Founder and CEO of Syfe, Asia's leading holistic digital wealth management platform empowering people to build their wealth for a better future. Built on the pillars of access, advice and affordability, Syfe caters to the different wealth needs of individuals with diversified proprietary portfolios, cash management solutions and brokerage. Syfe has grown quickly since launching in 2019, with nearly 5% of adult Singaporeans using the platform to achieve their financial goals.Licensed and operational in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia, Syfe has customers from 60+ countries. The company has raised $52M and is backed by leading global investors including Peter Thiel's Valar Ventures, Unbound, and partners from DST.Before starting Syfe, Dhruv was part of the early core team that built Grofers (now Blinkit)—a Softbank and Sequoia-backed e-commerce company acquired by Zomato for US$570M—where he led the Product, Growth and Consumer verticals.Topics:[00:00:02] – Dhruv's Childhood and Interests[00:09:35] – Career Path Discovery in Finance[00:11:06] – Navigating Career Challenges in Finance[00:19:04] – Investing Journey and Career Transition[00:27:34] – Career Transition and Entrepreneurship Exploration[00:31:35] – Startup Growth, Transition, and Learning[00:39:47] – Entrepreneur's Journey to Starting SAIF[00:48:33] – Navigating Startup Challenges and Employee Retention[00:56:22] – Finding Purpose Through Work and GrowthLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Dhruv Arora's social media pages:Dhruv (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/arora-dhruv/Syfe (Website): https://www.syfe.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Zhang is a Partner at TNB Aura, focusing on the fund's operations in research, investment, and portfolio management. Before TNB Aura, he worked at Fosun RZ Capital, where he focused on investments in Southeast Asia's growing tech startups.Joe's background includes venture building, technology consulting, wealth management, and engineering before he entered the VC field. He graduated as a top MBA student from the National University of Singapore and holds an Engineering degree from the same institution.Topics:[00:02:27] - Childhood Memories and Curiosity[00:06:24] - Boarding School Experience and Friendships[00:11:51] - University Experience[00:22:25] - Navigating Career Paths[00:35:39] - Leveraging Relationships for Career Advancement[00:42:38] - End-to-End VC Investment Approach[00:50:12] - Early Investments & Top-Down Approach[00:54:39] - Breaking Into Venture Capital IndustryLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Joe Zhang's social media pages:Joe (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/joe-zhang TNB Aura (Website): https://www.tnbaura.vc/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Gentry is the founder and CEO of Sprout Solutions, a SaaS startup building HR solutions for the Philippines. In 2023, they raised a $10.7M Series B. Before Sprout, Patrick was the co-founder of KMC Solutions and was working for a startup in Silicon Valley.Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCua Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stacie Chan is the Co-founder and Chief Business Officer at 1BStories, an AI storytelling company. She spent eight and a half years at Google leading product partnerships on Google's 1 billion user consumer products including Google News, Search, Web and Assistant. Before Google, she was an award-winning journalist in Silicon Valley, managing a team of 10 reporters for AOL's Patch.com. But that's not the most interesting part about Stacie. Fun fact: She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her voiceover acting work.Topics:[00:01:06] - Meet Stacie Chan[00:04:43] - Parental Support in Acting Career[00:07:34] - Expanding Horizons Through Animated Roles[00:10:49] - Navigating Career Changes and Unexpected Opportunities[00:19:49] - AOL's Patch[00:29:48] - Global Opportunities at Google[00:33:58] - Building a Company With Charismatic Vision[00:38:44] - Navigating the Fundraising Landscape[00:41:53] - Lessons From Big Tech to Startups[00:52:33] - Career Sacrifices and FulfillmentLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Stacie Chan's social media pages:Stacie (Twitter): https://twitter.com/staciechan?lang=en 1 Billion Stories (Website): https://www.1bstories.com/#home Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joan Yao is the Vice President of Investments at Kickstart Ventures Inc., the corporate venture capital arm of Globe Telecom. Prior to Kickstart, she was Investment Manager for Southeast Asia at LGT Venture Philanthropy, a global impact investing firm headquartered in Europe.Kickstart Ventures manages the Philippines' largest technology venture capital funds, investing globally in early- to growth-stage tech startups via three funds, including the Ayala Corporation Technology Innovation Venture Fund (“ACTIVE Fund”). Kickstart is a wholly-owned corporate venture capital firm of Globe Telecom, the Philippines' leading mobile operator.Topics:[00:05:29] - Losing a loved one[00:11:29] - Choosing a Major and College Experience[00:25:22] - The Link Between Finance and Narrative[00:34:21] - LGTVP - A Funny Misunderstanding[00:37:21] - Unusual Job Demands and Youthful Enthusiasm[00:41:39] - First Investment and Growing Friendship[00:47:36] - Decision Making Authority and Stereotypes[00:51:11] - VC and Tech Startups in Asia[00:58:16] - Investments in Agriculture and HRISLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Joan Yao's social media pages:Joan (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanyao/Kickstart Ventures (Website): https://kickstart.ph/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rishab is Partner, Seed investments at Jungle and heads up First Cheque@Jungle. He has a passion for building businesses and working closely with entrepreneurs through key inflection points in their journey. As an angel investor with 15+ companies in his portfolio, Rishab loves rolling up his sleeves and working with these founders on product, go-to-market and fundraising aspects of their journey.Jungle Ventures is a Singapore-based venture capital firm focused on early to growth-stage investments in Southeast Asia and India, with a focus on building long-lasting businesses. Jungle partners with the region's most exciting founders to build high-growth, capital-efficient technology businesses, and supports their growth from seed to unicorn to IPO. The Jungle portfolio includes regional and global category leaders like Kredivo, Moglix, Pomelo, Livspace, builder.ai, Sociolla, and more.Topics:[00:03:23] - Education, Sports, and Regret[00:08:35] - Choosing University and Pursuing Dreams[00:14:48] - Impacts of Undergrad Experience in Texas[00:17:53] - Interning at Motorola and Immigration Challenges[00:24:49] - Building Relationships and Embracing Diversity[00:27:08] - Career Transition and Pursuing Higher Education[00:31:11] - Considering Future Work Opportunities in Asia[00:41:23] - Entrepreneurial Journey in Different Startups[00:46:59] - Opportunity to Join Jungle Ventures[01:00:42] - Balancing Work, Family, and InvestmentsLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Rishab Malik's social media pages:Rishab(Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/rishabmalikJungle Ventures (Website): https://www.jungle.vc/ First Cheque (Website): https://www.jungle.vc/first-cheque Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fandy Cendrajaya is the Founding Partner of Kopital Ventures, a pre-seed and seed-focused fund based in Southeast Asia that is looking to invest in 40 Companies in the next three years. Before Kopital Ventures, Fandy was an angel investor and F&B entrepreneur.Topics:[00:02:08] - Childhood and challenges growing up[00:04:45] - Journey Towards Education and Self-Realization [00:09:12] - Painful Lessons in Failing School [00:12:50] - Education Opportunities in the US[00:31:05] - First Successful F&B Venture [00:38:29] - Becoming an Angel Investor[00:42:04] - Hardest Part of Angel Investing [00:46:50] - Micro Fund for Early-Stage Investments Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Fandy Cendrajaya's social media pages:Fandy (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/fandy-cendrajaya-903b92152/Kopital Ventures (Website): https://kopitalventures.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abhay Saboo is the co-founder and CEO of CoLearn, one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing K-12 edtech platforms. By providing access to the best teachers across the country for just $7/month through cohort-based live classes, CoLearn is gradually increasing the motivation of Indonesians to learn.Before CoLearn, Abhay founded Viva Health - one of Indonesia's largest primary care chains, with 100+ pharmacies and clinics spread throughout the islands of Java and Bali.He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.Topics:[00:00:00] - Passion for Education and Healthcare[00:05:25] - Childhood Hobbies and Memories of Malls[00:09:26] - Education and Study Abroad Experiences[00:12:58] - Tutoring and Choosing Electrical Engineering[00:20:31] - Studying at Georgia Tech, Feeling at Home[00:24:17] - Georgia Tech Co-Op Program and International Experience[00:31:05] - Working at GE Healthcare[00:39:21] - Entrepreneurship, Education, and Retail in India[00:49:26] - Longevity and Growth of Businesses[00:55:38] - Vipassana Meditation and Life's EpiphanyLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Abhay Saboo's social media pages:Abhay (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/abhay-saboo-3700218Website (CoLearn): https://www.colearn.com/ Website (Viva Health): https://vivaapotek.co.id/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reinaldo Tendean is the co-founder of Finku, a personal finance app that serves 700,000 Indonesians. Their app solves the inefficiencies of financial planning through seamless tracking, spending analysis and help support Indonesians receive access to financial products as well. In 2022, they raised the $2.8M seed, led by B Capital. Topics:[00:05:51] - Considerations in Choosing an Engineering Major[00:08:26] - Trash's Impact on Floods and Careers[00:12:09] - Exploring Waste Management Startups[00:22:46] - Exploring Career Options[00:25:30] - Pursuing Soccer at a Lower Level[00:34:09] - Career Planning in Consulting[00:39:55] - Building a Personal Finance Startup[00:44:05] - Building Confidence in a New Product[00:50:26] - Balancing People Management With Leniency and Strictness[00:54:54] - Evolution of an End-to-End Financial ServiceLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Reinaldo Tendean's social media pages:Reinaldo (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/reinaldo-tendean Website (Finku): https://www.finku.id/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris is the founder of Klikit, with an enterprise technology stack. Klikit helps restaurants, bars, and hotels become far more efficient in their day-to-day operations by providing an all-in-one operating system for them to manage their key and core services. Previously VP at Gojek and the first APAC Head of Growth for Uber Eats, Chris leads a team across APAC, servicing thousands of brands and millions of orders every single year.Topics:[00:06:29] - Juggling Degrees and a Startup Job[00:15:02] - Challenges and Localization in Uber Eats[00:24:37] - Seeking Like-Minded Driven Individuals[00:28:29] - Challenges in Building klikit[00:33:18] - Tips for Solo Founders[00:37:09] - Overcoming Cancer in Early Career[00:40:38] - Finding Clarity in Diagnosis[00:51:10] - Platform Monopoly Creation in SaaS Companies[00:55:21] - Limited Second Order Thinking in Tech[01:01:36] - Personal Goals Outside of WorkLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Chris Withers's social media pages:If you are a founder struggling, Chris is open to chatting. Feel free to connect with him on Linkedin or email.Chris (Linkedin): linkedin.com/in/chrswthrs Website (klikit): https://klikit.io/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wing Vasiksiri has raised two solo-GP seed funds focused on Southeast Asia. He is currently the founder and general partner at WV, having previously founded iSeed SEA in 2020. He partners with founders at the earliest possible stages with a focus on Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Previously, he was an operator on the Venture team at AngelList, where he built products to serve fund managers and angel investors in Silicon Valley.Download Wing's Thailand Payments Sector report for free here: forms.gle/25oK5Y8EPte17ZRs8Topics:[00:03:12] - Influences on Career [00:06:23] - Career Paths, and Berkeley Experiences[00:14:56] - Entrepreneurship and Dropout Rates at Berkeley [00:22:34] - The Role of Chance and Randomness [00:26:38] - 500 Startups Portfolio Strategy and Expansion [00:36:01] - First-Time Fund Manager Experience in Venture [00:42:56] - Fundraising Challenges for Venture Capital Funds [00:48:35] - Surprising Sales Aspects in the Job [00:54:18] - Importance of Transparency in Startup Failures[00:59:48] - Thai Payments Report[01:05:02] - Becoming a Jiu Jitsu Black Belter in 10 years Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Wing Vasiksiri's social media pages:Wing (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasiksiri/Website (Personal): https://www.wingvasiksiri.com/Website (iSeed Asia): https://www.iseed.vc/home Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ying Cong Seah is the co-founder and Head of Labs for Glints. He is responsible for new products and market development. He currently leads the Vietnam marketplace. At 21, he dropped out of Wharton Business School to run Glints full-time; building and leading the data, product, and engineering teams since 2015. Ying Cong is passionate about running high-trust, high-functioning engineering and product teams.Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCua Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Motte-Muñoz is the founder of Philippine EdTech, Edukasyon.ph, and also serves as a founder and CEO of a new venture called EDGE Tutor, which was spun out of Edukasyon. EDGE Tutor is a platform that offers comprehensive tutor support solutions, from sourcing and screening, to training and retaining highly qualified tutors. They recruit licensed teachers in emerging markets, starting with the Philippines. And after a thorough selection and onboarding process, they provide continuous training and place them in tutoring companies in 20 plus countries globally.Topics:[00:00:00] - Academic Pressure in MBA Programs [00:01:50] - Introduction to Henry and his ventures [00:05:28] - Upbringing and Dual Heritage [00:09:07] - Importance of Dual Roots [00:09:40] - Impact of Moving and Restarting [00:13:39] - Dreaming of Journalism and Finance [00:14:57] - Balancing Dreams and Financial Security [00:15:28] - Pragmatic Job Search in the UK [00:16:45] - College Life and Hobbies [00:20:18] - Challenging Experience in Investment Banking [00:27:28] - Taking an MBA [00:30:05] - MBA as a Transformative Experience [00:32:35] - Philosophical Focus in Business School [00:35:57] - Post-MBA Career Choices [00:40:51] - Gender Divide in Leadership [00:42:30] - Spinning Out EDGE Tutor [00:44:24] - Transitioning Roles [00:48:48] - Dealing with Toxic Star Performers [00:54:45] - Getting to Know Each Other Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Henry Motte-Muñoz's social media pages:Henry (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/henrymottemunozWebsite (Edukasyon): https://www.edukasyon.ph/Website: (EDGE Tutor): https://www.edgetutor.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kosuke Sogo is CEO and co-founder of AnyMind Group, and oversees the expansion and growth of the company and its business units in globally. AnyMind Group is a technology company for the business supply chain that provides software and solutions for end-to-end commerce enablement. Before founding AnyMind Group, he was Managing Director, APAC for MicroAd Inc, and the youngest-ever director for the company.Topics:[00:00:01] - Introduction and Business Development Strategy [00:01:39] - AnyMind Group and Kosuke's Background [00:02:24] - Childhood and Inspiration [00:07:40] - Moving to Tokyo and University Life [00:09:06] - Internship Experience and Career Choices [00:18:37] - Opportunities in Jakarta, Indonesia [00:21:15] - Starting AnyMind Group [00:23:42] - Meeting his Co-founder and Early Days [00:26:13] - Global Approach to Product Development [00:32:20] - Acquiring Companies and Identifying the Right Opportunities [00:38:30] - Role of the CEO [00:39:25] - Company Alignment [00:41:11] - Company Stages [00:42:27] - Adapting to External Factors [00:45:24] - Why Kosuke did a skit pretending to be an employee[00:57:50] - Importance of Team Structure and Fair Evaluation [00:59:24] - Continuous Challenge of Hiring the Right Team [01:00:13] - Differentiation through Future Vision [01:01:42] - Personal Life Goal - Contributing to Education [01:03:28] - Closing Thoughts and Gratitude Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Kosuke Sogo's social media pages:Kosuke (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/kosuke-sogoWebsite: https://anymindgroup.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adrian Li is the founder and managing partner of AC Ventures, formerly known as Convergence Ventures. AC Ventures is an early stage, Indonesia-focused tech VC fund. They manage five funds with an AUM of over $500 million and a portfolio of over 120 businesses. Investments led for the fund include Payfazz, Koinworks, Julo, Stockbit, Xendit, Astro, Carsome, and more. But that's not the most interesting part. Adrian's first startup was Idapted, where as CEO and co-founder, he raised two rounds of funding, led the company to be the largest live online English training service in China of all places, and also exited the company.Topics:[00:00:00] - Childhood Influences and Personal Journeys[00:11:08] - Boarding School Experience and Oxbridge Goals[00:14:47] - Academic Study and Goal Setting[00:23:28] - Backpacking Through Remote China (aka, the scariest trip of his life!)[00:33:25] - Failed Entrepreneurial Attempt With Essay-Exchange Website[00:36:09] - The Struggles of Investment Banking[00:38:45] - MBA to Starting a Venture in China[00:46:14] - Testing English Language Product in Beijing[00:49:20] - Entrepreneurship and Investment in Indonesia[00:56:20] - Entrepreneurship, Advice and Personal Goals[01:01:41] - Benefits of Physical Fitness for LifeLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaVisit Adrian Li's social media pages:Adrian (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/adrianmliWebsite (Personal): https://www.adrianli.me/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Tan is the co-founder of Tin Men Capital, a venture capital firm that invests primarily in B2B technology startups focused on Southeast Asia. Before Tin Men, Jeremy started as a first class chemical engineering graduate from Cambridge trying to break in the world of finance. He worked his way up and had a 17-year long career in corporate, landing senior executive roles at global multinationals like Morgan Stanley, Trafigura Group, Puma Energy and more. Outside of work, Jeremy's also a father and loves soccer.Topics:00:00:00 - Overcoming the Fear of Failure00:02:26 - Modest Beginnings and Childhood Memories00:07:21 - School Life and Pursuing Higher Education00:10:41 - The Turning Point of Getting into Cambridge00:11:16 - Reflections on the Journey00:15:45 - Jeremy's Shift in Mindset00:16:32 - Jeremy's International Friend Group00:17:27 - Jeremy's Aspiration to Become a Refinery Engineer00:20:40 - Jeremy's Career Transition into Finance00:25:05 - Jeremy's Experience Living Abroad00:31:47 - Building Deeper Relationships in Business School00:33:01 - Feeling Inferior at Harvard vs. Cambridge00:34:35 - The Importance of Articulation and Communication Skills00:37:01 - Transitioning from Finance to Venture Capital00:39:57 - The Journey to Starting Tin Men00:46:32 - Balancing Work and Family Life00:47:24 - Choosing Between Startup and MBA00:49:06 - Being True to Yourself00:52:22 - Bridging the Gap with Parents00:55:28 - Personal Life and RelationshipsLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Jeremy Tan's social media pages:Jeremy (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremytanpz/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dondi Hananto is a Partner at Patamar Capital based in Indonesia.Before Patamar Capital, he made early stage investments through Kinara Indonesia and prior to that spent 13 years in commercial banking. He started his career at HSBC and 2 other Indonesian banks, where he served in various roles including business development, credit, and risk managementTopics:[00:02:21] - Embracing technology in the 80s[00:07:29] - Studying abroad in Singapore[00:11:34] - Shaping the way we learn[00:14:14] - Living in a diverse dorm[00:19:10] - Singapore vs. Indonesia lifestyle[00:23:41] - Double major in IT and marketing[00:29:11] - Getting into credit risk[00:32:37] - Equity investment in Southeast Asia[00:38:43] - Finding what you truly enjoy[00:43:22] - The toughest part about being a VC[00:47:09] - Trust and collaboration in startups[00:53:27] - Politics in the company[00:57:21] - Starting a unique businessLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Dondi Hananto's social media pages:Dondi (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/dondihananto Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vamsi Krishna is Co-founder and CPO at Multiplier, a global employment platform that allows businesses to employ compliantly in markets where a legal entity has not been established.He leads the product development of Multiplier, ensuring that the infrastructure, platforms and automation processes remain reliable and effective at all times.Topics:[00:00:00] - Roller Coaster of Emotions [00:00:40] - Multiplier's Mission [00:03:12] - Childhood and Boarding School [00:07:09] - Boarding School Experience [00:13:50] - Working Culture in Japan [00:15:21] - Joining Funding Societies [00:20:07] - Early Days of Multiplier [00:22:20] - Lessons Learned in Product [00:27:50] - Flexibility in Roadmapping [00:28:59] - Delegation and Trust [00:31:24] - Importance of Hiring the Right Team [00:32:26] - Sacrifices and Emotional Roller Coaster [00:34:15] - Personal Interests Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Vamsi Krishna's social media pages:Vamsi (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/vamsi-krishna-38534b5b/Multiplier (Website): https://www.usemultiplier.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amit Saberwal is the Founder and CEO of RedDoorz, Southeast Asia's largest and fastest-growing online hotel management and booking platform.He began his career in the traditional hospitality industry at notable hotels across India. Then, he joined the travel tech scene with India's largest online travel company, makemytrip.com, where he was the Chief Business Officer – Hotel and International Markets. In his role, he played a key part in the leadership team that was instrumental in shaping the company, growing it to IPO stage in three years and getting it listed on NASDAQ in 2010 with 85,000 properties globally.Founded in 2015, RedDoorz has grown into a regional powerhouse with operations in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines– with a vision to build the region's leading new-generation multi-brand accommodations platform. This new multi-brand approach comprises affordable, popular economy brands, lifestyle concepts, and in-demand long-term stays.Topics:[00:03:45] - Importance of family influence[00:06:04] - Diving to see unique aquatic animals[00:12:21] - Transitioning from traditional hotels to an online travel company[00:19:03] - Embrace new opportunities and take risks[00:24:22] - Entrepreneurship requires decisive decision-making[00:34:11] - Adaptation is key for success[00:36:27] - Resilience and alignment drive success[00:42:33] - Value: Clear direction, strong leadership[00:50:25] - Reading and movies as escapism[00:55:10] - Making a meaningful impact quietlyLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/itsAmandaCuaVisit Amit Saberwal's social media pages:Amit (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-saberwal-05b7233/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeep Kline is a Founding Partner at MrPink VC, a LATAM-focused fund. She also is an operating executive and is currently president and board of directors at AHEAD Medicine, a life science company in the US. And before AHEAD Medicine, she is also a senior executive at Intel, where she pioneered, launched, and scaled the company's first Android-based tablet device globally. Apart from that, she also founded SeaSky Lab, an organization that brings knowledge and resources from Silicon Valley to Asia for tech entrepreneurs and is also a current faculty at UC Berkeley. Topics:[00:00:00] - Overcoming Failure and Rising Back Up[00:05:31] - The Influence of Family and Education [00:11:14] - Embracing Failure and Finding Opportunities [00:13:59] - Learning from Failure and Seeing the Bigger Picture [00:15:19] - Conclusion: Embracing Failure and Moving Forward [00:16:53] - The Importance of Failure and Learning[00:18:29] - Dreaming of Making an Impact[00:21:49] - Taking Risks and Overcoming Rejection[00:27:11] - Transitioning to the Private Sector[00:30:42] - Making an Impact with Technology[00:34:55] - Impact at a Global Scale[00:35:54] - Pioneering the Low-Cost Tablet[00:39:29] - The Mindset of Engineers[00:43:24] - Venture Capital and Broad Impact[00:47:09] - Founding Mr. Pink[00:53:11] - The Lifecycle of Venture Capital Funds[00:54:10] - Impact Investing and Teaching[00:55:13] - Investing in Emerging Markets[00:56:33] - Balancing Work and Personal Life[00:58:10] - Personal Life GoalsLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Jeep Kline social media pages: Jeep Kline (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeepkline/Jeep Kline (Twitter): https://twitter.com/jeep_klineMedia Interview (Website): techsauce.co/en/saucy-thoughts/jeep-kline-world-bank-silicon-valley MrPink VC (Website): https://mrpink.vc/en/home-english/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hester Spiegel is the Co-founder of Epic Angels, the largest female only angel investor network investing in startups in APAC and the founder of the school 42 campuses in Germany. Before becoming a founder and entrepreneur, she had an international career with Price Waterhouse Coopers and Deutsche Bank. She currently lives in Singapore and is a mom to two boys under 10.Topics:[00:00:26] - Tech can unlock unique skills[00:10:36] - Embrace cultural diversity and curiosity[00:11:15] - Stay open-minded, ask, and be curious[00:15:48] - University life in Amsterdam [00:24:23] - Education system needs digital transformation[00:31:42] - Education system needs to change[00:37:19] - Adapting to change is crucial[00:47:13] - Building a female-led startup community{00:52:33] - Supporting women in startup investing[00:56:42] - Building Epic Angels while juggling other work[01:01:57] - Flexibility and community drive success[01:03:14] - Teaching kids about entrepreneurshipLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Hester Spiegel social media pages: Hester Spiegel-vdSteenhoven (Linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/hesterspiegelvandensteenhovenEpic Angels (Website): https://www.epicangelnetwork.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cha-Ly Koh is the Founder and CEO of Urbanmetry, a data company that cleans and analyses large amounts of city data, through its proprietary algorithms. Trained in city planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cha-Ly hopes to help governments, city planners, corporations and urban dwellers by providing insights into the city with big data. Since its founding, Urbanmetry has provided intelligence to various listed companies and government agencies including Sime Darby Property, Sunway Property, UEM Sunrise, Naza TTDI and so on.Topics:[00:00:00] - The Addictive Experience of Doing Something Different.[00:03:36] - Urbanmetry: Digitizing the Experiential Part of the City.[00:07:28] - Cha-Ly's Educational Journey and Passion for Challenging Paths.[00:12:22] - Following in the Footsteps of a Successful Cousin.[00:14:12] - UWC's Value in Seeing Things Differently.[00:16:39] - Mahindra UWC Experiences.[00:18:33] - Adventures in Darjeeling.[00:20:29] - Lifelong Relationships from UWC.[00:22:48] - Choosing Architecture and Physics.[00:26:28] - Transition to Urban Planning.[00:32:34] - The Frustration with Decision Making.[00:33:55] - The Importance of Data in Decision Making.[00:35:23] - The Lack of Data-driven Decisions.[00:39:39] - The Consequences of Ignoring Demand.[00:41:07] - Urbanmetry's Role in Decision Making.[00:48:47] - The Importance of Resilience and Experimentation in Entrepreneurship.[00:49:45] - Overcoming Challenges in the Early Stages of Urban Metric.[00:53:41] - Life at Urbanmetry Now.[00:55:22] - Balancing Work and Family Life.[00:57:52] - Personal Happiness and Hobbies. [01:05:25] - Pursuing a PhD.[01:06:33] - Diving Deep into Minds.[01:07:02] - Privilege of Education.[01:07:12] - Gratitude for the Conversation.Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Cha-Ly Koh's social media pages:Cha-Ly Koh (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/cha-ly-kohUrbanmetry (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/urbanmetry/Urbanmetry (Website): https://www.urbanmetry.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Lim is Head of Rainmaking Expand at Rainmaking APAC, a venture development firm recently acquired by consulting firm Bain and Co. that builds new startups and helps the world's most promising startups scale in new markets.Through Rainmaking Expand, Brian and his team help growth-stage companies seeking to enter new markets internationally scale up by securing successful commercial outcomes and creating new revenue streams.Topics:[00:00:08] - Flexibility and autonomy drive motivation[00:06:19] - Parents' support and openness matter[00:16:05] - Tech career opportunities at Intel[00:16:32] - Technology is an enabling layer[00:22:25] - Flexibility and autonomy drive motivation[00:28:37] - Cultural awareness is crucial[00:34:57] - Common pitfalls in market expansion[00:41:28] - Impact drives meaningful outcomes[00:43:01] - Helping companies scale and succeed[00:51:30] - Exploring local food in Osaka[00:56:06] - Japanese food and culture appreciation[01:01:55] - Importance of happy relationships outside workLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Brian Lim's social media pages:Brian Lim (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianlimdaqing/Rainmaking APAC (Website): https://rainmakingapac.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susli Lie is a Partner at Monk's Hill Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in early-stage tech startups in Southeast Asia.Before Monk's Hill, Susli co-founded ErudiFi, a Y Combinator backed tech-enabled education financing company with presence in Indonesia and the Philippines.Born and raised in Jakarta, Susli is a mom of two and is an advocate for supporting women in tech.Topics:[00:00:00] - Intentionality in Personal and Professional Life [00:01:15] - Childhood and Opportunities [00:07:21] - Studying Abroad and Divergent Path [00:10:35] - Studying in the US[00:14:20] - Striving for Excellence [00:19:43] - From consultant to chief of staff [00:22:39] - Influencing without authority [00:30:36] - Finding the Right Co-Founder [00:34:52] - Early Days of Danacita [00:40:07] -Challenges of being a female founder[00:44:57] - VC is a people-driven business[00:47:43] - Personal goals outside of work Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Susli Lie's Social Media Pages: Susli Lie (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/susli/Monk's Hill (Website): https://www.monkshill.com/team-members/susli-lie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sagar Khatri is the Co-founder and CEO of Multiplier, a comprehensive platform to take care of your global teams' payroll, taxes, social contributions and local insurance policies. They last raised a $60M Series B in 2022.Topics:[00:02:23] - Childhood in small town India.[00:04:21] - Resilience and drive for achievement.[00:05:07] - Influence of parents on success.[00:08:32] - Opportunities and drive shape success.[00:09:43] - How IIT Bombay shaped me.[00:12:09] - Creating a well-rounded profile for success.[00:12:48] - Becoming the head of placements.[00:15:20] - Ethical practices in candidate evaluation.[00:19:06] - Learning from a charismatic person.[00:20:26] - Shift in mindset towards startups.[00:23:06] - Starting my own business.[00:25:31] - Global HR solution for businesses.[00:26:36] - Multiplier's global reach.[00:31:13] - Sacrifices of being a founder.[00:33:04] - Importance of responsible financial management.[00:35:27] - Decentralizing decision making.[00:37:22] - Outside interests and hobbies.[00:42:00] - Politics as a personal goal.Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/. Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Sagar Khatri's social media pages:Sagar Khatri (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/sagar-khatri-53529359Sagar Khatri (Email): sagarkhatri1193@gmail.comMultiplier (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/usemultiplier/Multiplier (Website): https://www.usemultiplier.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alfredo Molinas was CEO of FoodRazor, a Singaporean F&B startup that he joined in 2020. FoodRazor got acquired by fellow F&B startup OrderEz earlier this year. Before joining FoodRazor, Alf finished off his MBA at INSEAD and spent over 7 years working in Asia at Rakuten and Education First.Topics:[00:02:00] - Childhood adventures and interests[00:05:27] - Being a global citizen[00:08:11] - Taking harder classes at HL[00:10:31] - Importance of critical thinking skills.[00:11:22] - The satisfaction of mathematical proofs[00:15:10] - Studying math and philosophy[00:16:00] - Exploring new opportunities and experiences[00:18:30] - Safari on horseback[00:23:03] - Sports and cultural organizations[00:26:07] - Campus life and city safety[00:32:45] - Corporate Japan was hilarious[00:34:11] - Assigned to the legal department[00:38:07] - Discovering entrepreneurship during MBA[00:41:43] - Hiring challenges during COVID[00:45:17] - Loyalty to the vision[00:50:03] - Using Food Razor at Dubai World Expo as an auditing tool[00:54:54] - Lessons learned from startup[00:58:43] - Graduating from elite universities[01:01:27] - Starting a family and triathlonsLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Alfredo Molinas' social media pages:Alfredo Molinas (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/alfredomolinasAlfredo Molinas (Website): alfmolinas.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daan van Rossum is the Founder and CEO of FlexOS, a Work Tech startup that helps hybrid and remote managers level up their leadership game. The company raised $1 million from investors including DO Ventures, VIK Partners, Vulpes Ventures, Hustle Fund, Wing Vasiksiri (iSeed SEA), and Plug and Play Ventures, who previously backed Paypal, Dropbox, Webflow, Nerdwallet, and more.Topics:[00:00:00] - Democratization and hard work.[00:05:08] - First job selling vacuum cleaners.[00:08:08] - Dropping out of school.[00:10:08] - Online food ordering.[00:14:05] - Local version of Netflix.[00:17:00] - Proving legitimacy through job search.[00:20:18] - Global conference and the future.[00:25:31] - Applying to different offices.[00:29:56] - Late teens and early twenties.[00:30:15] - Generation gap and cultural expectations.[00:34:29] - Personal stories and inspiration.[00:38:07] - Bringing personal development to work.[00:41:10] - Managing difficulties and staying challenged.[00:44:14] - Finding your true passion.[00:48:06] - Wanting things that make us happy.[00:51:06] - Work as a source of happiness.Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Daan van Rossum's social media pages:Daan van Rossum (Linkedin): https://vn.linkedin.com/in/daanvanrossumDaan van Rossum (Twitter): https://twitter.com/DaanWorksFlexOS (Linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/company/flex-os Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Sng is a Partner at Gentree Fund, a Philippine VC firm anchored by the Sy Family, and focused on Philippine startups and Southeast Asian startups looking to enter the Philippine market. Before Gentree, Mark was a VC at Go-Ventures, a Gojek backed VC fund and also held roles at Gojek and TAEL Partners.Topics:[00:02:01] - Singaporean upbringing and academic success.[00:05:50] - Swimming and cross-country enjoyment.[00:08:23] - Understanding loan restructuring process.[00:10:00] - Multiple internships in finance.[00:13:28] - Second internship opportunities.[00:16:01] - Internship program and training.[00:19:03] - The biggest startup exit.[00:21:01] - VC fund operations and relationships.[00:24:07] - Being energized in the VC industry.[00:27:44] - Information asymmetry and access.[00:31:23] - Go-Ventures mandate and fund increase.[00:37:00] - Philippine digital economy potential.[00:39:00] - Funding trends in the Philippines.[00:42:12] - Burning money for growth.[00:46:05] - Cycling and road bike accident.[00:49:37] - Personal life and goals.[00:51:30] - Running routes in Singapore. Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaVisit Mark Sng's social media pages:Mark Sng (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/mark-sng-a3b3ab48Gentree Fund (Website): https://www.gentree.asia/Gentree Fund (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/gentree-fund/about/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timothée Grassin is the Co-founder and CCO of TendoPay, a Philippine startup that offers employee benefits. They were recently acquired by Tonik, a Series B fintech in the Philippines. Before TendoPay, Tim founded two agencies focused on design and advertising.Topics:[00:00:00] - Raising Money in the Philippines[00:01:10] - Tim's Background[00:06:07] - Growing Up in Kenya[00:10:01] - Going to Canada[00:15:07] - Starting TendoPay[00:14:35] - Finding His Passion for Finance and Entrepreneurship[00:21:04] - Creating Stinson Design[00:25:04] - Selling Stinson Design[00:26:19] - Building an Agency[00:28:14] - The Rise of SaaS[00:29:02] - Candy Banners' Inception[00:32:34] - Managing Multiple Businesses[00:33:01] - Discovering the Philippines[00:38:09] - The Birth of TendoPay[00:41:48] - Adjusting to Life in the Philippines[00:44:45] - Building Tendo Pay in the Philippines[00:47:13] - Challenges of Running a Startup in the Philippines[00:49:12] - Raising Money for Tendo Pay[00:51:32] - Managing a Team in the Philippines[00:55:05] - Life after Acquisition[00:57:08] - Emotional Attachments to Selling a Company[00:59:18] - Financial Planning after a Successful Exit[01:01:31] - Angel Investing[01:02:26] - Personal Goals outside of WorkLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Tim Grassin's social media pages:Tim Grassin (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/timgrassinTendoPay (Website): tendopay.ph TendoPay (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/tendopay/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ami Sugiyama and Shusaku Hayakawa are the Co-founders of Secai Marche, a farm-to-table startup based in Malaysia. Since it was founded in 2018, Secai Marche has been bridging the gap between F&B retailers, hotels, restaurants, and cafes by connecting them directly with farmers in Japan and Malaysia. Before Secai Marche, Ami was at Deloitte and was previously in the tea importing and exporting business and had owned a successful cafe Shu, on the other hand, was a senior manager at Deloitte, supporting companies venturing into the global agriculture sector. He has also held positions as a managing director for agriculture companies in both Japan and Hong Kong.Topics:00:00:00 - Typical farming supply chain00:07:55 - How Shu and Ami met00:09:26 - Why they quit Deloitte to start Secai Marche00:16:47 - Introduction to Farm Direct00:21:31 - Finding the Right Co-Founder00:25:07 - Building the Infrastructure00:28:17 - Impact on Farmers and Restaurants00:32:53 - Spending Time with Farmers and Restaurants00:34:54 - Malaysian Farming Industry00:41:01 - Expansion to Singapore00:44:17 - Starting a Business in a New Country00:47:41 - Personal Lives of Founders00:52:17 - Childcare in Japan vs. Malaysia and the Philippines00:53:45 - Remote Work and Wider Options for Women 00:54:21 - Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship00:56:05 - Personal Goals Outside of Work00:57:16 - Making Something from Start to FinishLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Ami Sugiyama's social media pages:Ami (Linkedin): https://my.linkedin.com/in/ami-sugiyama-96984715bSecai Marche (Website): https://secai-marche.co.jp/Visit Shusaku Hayakawa's social media pages:Shusaku (Linkedin): https://jp.linkedin.com/in/shusaku-hayakawa-bb61325/en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winnie Chua is the Co-founder and CPO of full-stack insurtech startup PolicyStreet. Founded in Malaysia in 2017, they recently raised a $15M Series B and are active across markets in Southeast Asia and Australia.Topics:[00:00:00] - Background and Childhood[00:04:50] - Choosing a Safe Career Path[00:09:06] - Studying Overseas[00:11:51] - Challenges of Studying Overseas as a Woman[00:16:17] - Moving Back to Malaysia[00:18:27] - Career Growth at Allianz[00:21:51] - Working in Germany[00:26:22] - Overcoming Fear and Doubt[00:29:04] - Being a Woman[00:32:23] - Embracing Femininity in Leadership[00:34:07] - Embracing Your Natural Inclinations[00:36:29] - Corporate vs. Startup[00:41:50] - Sacrifice and True North[00:48:12] - Managing People[00:52:14] - Female Founder Challenges[00:59:01] - Growing Policy Street[01:02:51] - Future Plans[01:04:26] - Hai Di Lao Model[01:06:30] - Scaling Up[01:09:10] - Founder's Imposter Syndrome[01:11:09] - Personal Life AchievementsLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaVisit Winnie Chua's social media pages:Winnie Chua (LinkedIn): linkedin.com/in/winniechuaPolicyStreet (Website): https://www.policystreet.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bhavik Vashi is the Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Carta, a software company that aims to create more ownership in the world by creating a central registry of private assets, providing infrastructure for innovators, and enabling more liquidity.Carta is privately-held, with top-tier investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Ventures, among others, and was last valued at more than 7B USD as of its Series G fundraising round in 2021, which was supported by their own private capital markets platform called CartaX.Prior to Carta, Bhavik spent nearly a decade at Anaplan, across a variety of different roles and regions, where he helped build and scale the company from Series C through an IPO in 2018 and an eventual sale to Private Equity for 10.4B USD in 2022.Topics:00:02:22 - Childhood, growing up in the US, and passion for basketball. 00:06:35 - Early career and interest in tech. 00:15:53 - Career Focus00:17:37 - Consulting vs. Audit00:24:22 - Transition to Anaplan00:27:54 - Career Milestones00:29:57 - Early Days at Anaplan00:39:05 - Big Mistakes 00:42:32 - Prioritizing Character and Motivators, 00:43:54 - The Future of Work00:45:08 - Traveling for Business in China00:50:43 - Working in APAC and Problem Solving00:55:11 - Leading at Carta00:56:50 - Bhavik's Leadership Style00:59:18 - Carta's Expansion Plans, 01:01:03 - Bhavik's Daily Routine01:04:59 - Shifting Priorities01:10:37 - Personal Goals: Career in government, or non-profit organizations to make an impact.Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Bhavik Vashi's social media pages:Bashik (Linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/bhavikvashiCarta (Website): https://carta.com/sg/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yu Taniguchi is the CEO of TableCheck, a restaurant booking and guest experience platform with more than 8,000 clients worldwide and 237+ Michelin-starred restaurants in its portfolio. Their motto is ‘Dining Connected' and their mission is to help restaurants and hospitality operators connect directly with diners while building guest loyalty and driving revenue.How did Yu Taniguchi's childhood and working as a salesperson, shape his entrepreneurial approach as TableCheck's founder and CEO? What were the challenges he faced while working for a startup in Japan? How did he identify the need for a restaurant booking and guest experience platform, and what inspired him to found TableCheck?Topics:[00:01:32] - Childhood and Education[00:05:59] - Dropping out of High School [00:13:14] - Thinking Outside the Box [00:17:47] - Becoming a CEO at 23[00:19:47] - Managing a Startup [00:22:06] - Starting a Company [00:27:40] - Passion for Restaurants [00:29:32] - TableCheck's Global Expansion [00:32:10] - TableCheck's Clients and Global Challenges [00:37:36] - TableCheck's Early Days and Fundraising [00:40:05] - Approaching the Japanese Market[00:44:16] - Helping Restaurants Obtain More DinersLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Yu Taniguchi's social media pages:Yu (Linkedin): https://jp.linkedin.com/in/yutaniguchiTableCheck (Website): https://www.tablecheck.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tanuja Rajah is currently a Partner at M Venture Partners (MVP), an early-stage venture capital firm based in Singapore. Prior to joining MVP, she embarked on her own entrepreneurial journey by founding a dating startup called LoveSprk. Additionally, Tanuja has worked as a launch manager at Entrepreneur First, a renowned global talent investor and also served as the Programme Director at the Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC). Throughout her career, Tanuja has collaborated with numerous companies and founders in diverse sectors such as enterprise internet, deep tech, consumer retail, and blockchain. She is an entrepreneur herself and holds a PhD in Immunology from Monash University.Topics:[00:00:00] - Building Relationships and Influence [00:01:19] - Childhood and Love for the Arts [00:04:15] - Studying Genetics and Immunology[00:11:25] - Doing a PhD [00:17:16] - Starting a lifestyle business [00:20:11] - Regrets and Closure [00:27:51] - Shutting Down the Startup[00:33:20] - Joining Entrepreneur First[00:35:33] - Successful Founder Dynamics [00:42:18] - Challenges of an Emerging Fund [00:46:27] - Mental shifts in VC [00:49:13] - Building a relationship with founders [00:52:26] - Assessing market structures [01:00:08] - Unwinding activitiesLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Tanuja Rajah's social media pages:Tanuja Rajah (Linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/tanujarajahM Venture Partners (Website): https://www.m-venturepartners.com/M Venture Partners (Linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/company/m-venturepartners Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grace Sai is the Co-founder and CEO of Unravel Carbon, an enterprise software that helps companies track and reduce their carbon emissions, backed by Sequoia and Y Combinator.Grace is a 2 times exited founder, a VC, a Kauffman Fellow, and is widely regarded as a node of the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Asia.How did a dream kickstart Grace's journey building 3 startups? How has her experience as a two-time exited founder shaped her journey today, and what did she learn? What does Unravel Carbon actually do?Topics:[00:00:00] - Shifting Away from Doing Things Directly [00:08:10] - Childhood and Early Vision of Success [00:11:25] - Living abroad in Singapore [00:12:15]- Formative experience in junior college [00:17:23] - Starting Books for Hope [00:21:27] - Starting a Social Enterprise [00:23:19] - Oxford MBA Experience [00:29:06] - Impact Hub Singapore [00:31:24] - Lessons from Acquisitions [00:38:40] - Unravel Carbon's Mission [00:40:00] - Reducing Carbon Emissions for Enterprises [00:45:25] - Importance of Disclosing Greenhouse Gas Numbers Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Grace Sai's social media pages:Grace (Linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/gracesaiGrace (Twitter): https://twitter.com/GraceSaiUnravel Carbon (Website): https://www.unravelcarbon.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Florian Jaques is the Co-founder and CEO of Midstay, a tech platform for remote workers that helps businesses and individuals break through the isolation of working from home. Florian describes how he went from being a gamer to a business owner and how Midstay is working to solve the problems of working from home and traveling. He also talked about Midstay's platform, which matches users with people who have similar hobbies based on who they are and where they live.How did Florian's upbringing and his parents' professions shape his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for projects? How does Midstay's platform facilitate connections between remote workers and recreate the social interactions found in a traditional office setting? What specific challenges in the remote work and travel industry did Florian identify, and how does Midstay's platform aim to address these challenges?Topics:[00:00:01] - Team Retreats [00:04:45] - Florian Jaques's Passion for Gaming [00:10:25] - Making Money from YouTube Banners [00:14:38] - Flexible Learning and Remote Work [00:16:33] - Traveling at a young age [00:21:48] - Story of the music festival[00:27:43] - Deciding to stop the festival [00:29:45] - Staying in Bali during COVID-19 [00:32:17] - Staying Productive While Traveling [00:33:22]- Being a Digital Nomad and Settling Down [00:37:06] - Midstay's B2C Platform [00:39:09] - Midstay's B2B Expansion[00:42:25] - All-In-One Solution [00:45:59] - Breaking the Friction of Meeting New People [00:47:29] - Loneliness in remote work [00:46:45] - Recreating the social environment of work [00:50:40] - Challenges of Building a Startup [00:52:36] - Importance of Social Connections While Traveling Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Florian Jaques' social media pages: Florian (Linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/florian-jacquesFlorian (Twitter): https://twitter.com/floflojackMidstay (Website): https://www.midstay.com/Midstay (Twitter): https://twitter.com/mymidstay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicolas Bivero is the CEO and Co-founder of Penbrothers, a professional employer organization (PEO) that helps companies around the world scale and grow their businesses through building remote teams from the Philippines. Nicolas is passionate about creating meaningful work opportunities for Filipinos and bridging the talent gap in Asia's startup ecosystem. Under Nicolas' leadership, Penbrothers has grown rapidly, serving clients in a wide range of industries, from tech startups to e-commerce companies. The company aims to create 5,000 more jobs for Filipinos by 2026.How did Nicholas' experiences moving to different countries shape his approach to business? What are some of the biggest challenges that Penbrothers faced in building remote teams, and how did they overcome them? How does Nicholas balance managing the emotional demands of his role as a CEO, and what strategies does he use to maintain his well-being?Topics:[00:02:31] - Childhood and Moving [00:04:06] - Experience in Japan [00:06:07] - Adapting to New Environments [00:09:01] - Dreams of working in a multinational [00:11:57] - First trip to the Philippines [00:14:18] - Setting up a company in the Philippines [00:17:40] - Learning from a mentor [00:19:18] - Career path and founding Penbrothers [00:21:37] - Starting Penbrothers [00:26:05] - Growing the Business [00:28:54] - Funding the Company [00:30:06] -Challenges in Growing the Business [00:33:41] - Managing People and Emotions [00:36:57] - Evolution of Penbrothers [00:40:22] - Contributing to the Philippine Economy [00:43:10] - Personal growth through building a business Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Nicholas Bivero's social media pages:Nicholas (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-bivero-13700110Penbrothers (Website): https://penbrothers.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erik Jonsson is a Swedish entrepreneur who moved to Vietnam in 2011. He started his career in private equity before transitioning to entrepreneurship, Co-founding and being CEO of five ventures, including Zalora Vietnam and Adayroi. Currently, Erik is a Partner at Antler, a venture capital firm in Vietnam that invests in early-stage startups. He shares his experiences in the startup ecosystem and how Antler supports the next generation of entrepreneurs.What inspired Erik to leave his career in private equity and become an entrepreneur in Vietnam? How does Erik see the startup ecosystem in Vietnam evolving in the next few years? How has Eric's background in investment banking and private equity informed his approach to venture capital and supporting early-stage startups in Vietnam?Topics[00:00:00] - Eric's motivation to give back [00:04:26] - Eric's experience in investment banking [00:08:07] - Moving to Vietnam [00:09:27] - Learning Vietnamese[00:14:15] - Language Layers[00:16:34] - Life as an Expat in Vietnam [00:19:35] - Humility and Understanding [00:21:15] - The Rogue Employee[00:24:32] - Lessons from Failure [00:27:23] - Challenges of Being an Expat Founder in Vietnam [00:32:40] - Investing in Vietnam[00:35:22] - Setting up logistics hub in Hanoi [00:37:03] - Experience on Shark Tank Vietnam[00:41:53] - Coaching founders in Vietnam [00:43:49] - Joining Antler Vietnam [00:47:53] - Excitement of being a VC Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Erik Jonsson's social media pages:Erik (Linkedin): https://vn.linkedin.com/in/jonssonejAntler: https://www.antler.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Franco Varona is the Managing Partner of Foxmont Capital Partners, the Philippines' only independent VC firm.They recently announced the close of Fund 2 at $21M, which will invest in early-stage, Philippine-focused startups.Before Foxmont, Franco was the General Manager of Grab Philippines when it was first starting out in the country. He is also the co-founder of media company GMI Post and watch store Vintage Grail.What was it like for him to move to the Philippines as a Filipino-Canadian after being born and raised in Canada all his life? How did Franco's experience during the 9/11 attack in the US change his life? How did his experience as an entrepreneur help influence the start of Foxmont? Why does VC matter so much not just to the local startup ecosystem, but to the entire country?Topics[00:02:13] - Franco's early life in Canada[00:05:53] - Interest and hobbies growing up[00:08:20] - Impact of growing up with mostly female friends[00:08:34] - Growing up with girls[00:11:14] - Moving to the Philippines[00:15:51] - Meeting Jesse Maxwell[00:16:54] - Building Strong Relationships[00:20:01] - Meaningful Connections[00:23:37] - Leaving the Philippines[00:25:53] - Integration into Local School Culture[00:29:04] - Challenges with Local Curriculum[00:31:19] - Choosing Syracuse University[00:33:09] - 9/11 Experience[00:39:36] - Traveling Sales Job[00:41:24] - Founding Global Media[00:42:29] - Building Grab in the Philippines[00:47:05] - Challenges of Raising Money[00:47:54] - Venture Capital Landscape Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Franco Varona's social media pages:Franco (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/francovaronaFoxmont Capital Partners: https://www.foxmontcapital.com/Franco (Twitter): https://twitter.com/francovarona Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tiang Lim Foo is the Managing Partner and Co-founder of Forge Ventures, a venture capital firm that aims to partner with founders in Southeast Asia at the pre-seed or seed stage. Before Forge, he was a Partner at SeedPlus, a seed fund in Southeast Asia Supported by SGInnovate, Jungle Ventures, Cisco, and the IFC. He also launched and managed Evernote's operations in Asia.How did a visit to Evernote's office in the US as a college student turn into an opportunity to lead their Asia operations? What impact did his experience at Evernote have in shaping his career? What inspired him to co-found Forge Ventures, and what is the firm's investment focus in Southeast Asia? What were some of the key lessons that Tiang gained from investing in seed-stage startups in Southeast Asia?Topics[00:02:23] - Childhood and Education[00:05:34] - Working at a Startup in Mobile Payments[00:07:15] - Launching Evernote Operations in Southeast Asia[00:09:00] - Emergence of Southeast Asia's technology and venture ecosystem[00:11:06] - Moving to Singapore[00:16:16] - Importance of deliberate practice[00:19:51] - International Experience[00:26:54] Difficult Moments[00:27:49] - Being a Role Model[00:29:35] - Impact of Marriage and Fatherhood[00:35:18] - Curiosity and Making Your Own Luck[00:37:47] - Building a lasting franchise[00:40:34] - Involvement in company building[00:44:02] - Proactive work and strategy sounding board[00:45:58] - Challenges of being a VC[00:48:22] - Spending time with family Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Tiang Lim Foo's social media pages: Tiang Lim Foo (LinkedIn): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/tlfooTiang Lim Foo (Twitter): https://twitter.com/tianglim?lang=enTiang Lim Foo (Substack):https://substack.com/profile/16062924-tiang-lim-foo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Honey Mittal is the Co-founder and CEO of low-code startup Locofy.ai, which turns your designs into production-ready code you can place straight into your apps and websites. They raised a $3M pre-seed in 2022. Before Locofy, he was CPO at startups like FinAccel, Homage and Wego.How did he go from dreaming of being an Air Force pilot in India to accidentally ending up in Singapore for university? Lessons from building his first startup a few years after graduating university? When did he know it was time to leave the CPO role and start a startup?Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Honey Mittal's social media pages: Honey Mittal (LinkedIn): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/honeymittalHoney Mittal (Locofy): https://www.locofy.ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arnold Chan is the Hong Kong & Southeast Asia General Manager for Airwallex. He handles Airwallex's overall business growth in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, building out its local commercial teams and operations and helping businesses in those regions leverage fintech solutions to grow internationally.Before Airwallex, he was the founder and executive chairman of Teach4HK, a local education social enterprise in Hong Kong.How has Arnold's passion for people development and empathic leadership driven his career and the way he works? What motivated him to move from NGO to startup? How did he shift from working for an NGO to working at a high-growth startup? Topics: 00:01:15 - Started career at Goldman Sachs 00:06:18 - Using nonprofit expertise to land a role at Airwallex00:09:25 - The importance of constant growth00:14:38 - Passion for Learning and People Development00:17:26 - Starting a Nonprofit Teach4HK00:19:36 - Empathy in Leadership00:24:19 - Developing Personal Relationships with Team Members00:28:19 - Maintaining Personal Relationships in a Small Team00:44:20 - Importance of Empowerment in Managing a Remote Team,00:48:50 - Hiring and Managing Your Own Team00:50:44 - Challenges of Managing Growth Across Markets00:52:43 - Importance of Calibration in Leadership00:57:59 - Motivating Underperforming Team Members00:59:54 - Building a Culture of Growth01:00:23 - Personal Goals: Promote people development and leadership that values empathy and growth.01:01:13 - Advocating for People DevelopmentLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Arnold Chan's social media pages: Airwallex (Website): https://www.airwallex.com/Airwallex (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/airwallex/Arnold (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnoldchanhbs/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joshua Kevin was the Founder and CEO of Talenta, an Indonesian HR software startup that was acquired by Mekari in 2018. Now, he is Experiments Lead at Xendit.What was his turning point after his "dark" childhood? How did organizing startup events and being a journalist and VC help him when he started his own startup? What is the personal impact of exiting your own startup? What is it really like to be a founder?Topics: 00:02:04 - Childhood and Inspiration 00:04:20 - Gambling and Turning Point 00:06:23 - Entry into Tech Industry 00:13:21 - Getting into the startup ecosystem00:16:17 - Managing two jobs and graduating early 00:19:58 - Working in East Ventures and Tech in Asia00:22:18 - Using Credentials to Gain Access00:29:50 - Starting Talenta00:30:02 - Knowing When to Quit00:32:07 - The challenges of Building Talent 00:35:51 - Onboarding Grab and Go-Jek 00:38:27 - Personal Cost of Being a Founder 00:40:24 - Challenges of Being a Solo Founder 00:42:27 - Scaling a company and hiring management00:45:30 - Challenges of exiting a company 00:47:59 - Personal impact of exiting a company 00:50:20 - Living a Double Life as a Founder00:57:11 - Finding a Company That Matches Your Expertise and Values01:01:30 - Inspiring Others Through His LifeLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAVisit Joshua Kevin's social media pages: Joshua (Linkedin): https://id.linkedin.com/in/joshuakevinJoshua (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/joshuakevin/?hl=enMekari Talenta (Twitter): https://twitter.com/talentacoMekari Talenta (Website): https://www.talenta.co/en/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fannie Lin is the Co-founder and CEO of Ailiverse, a no-code AutoDL platform that allows anyone to build custom Computer Vision models with small datasets. Before Ailiverse, Fannie co-founded her own edtech startup that taught affordable and high-quality GRE English courses to Chinese university students who want to study overseas.What led Fannie to believe that AI may change society and the economy through entrepreneurship? How did Fannie realize that the existing AI ecosystem is capital- and time-intensive and unavailable to many people and businesses? What solutions can Ailiverse offer to empower and meet the growing expectations of companies aware of AI's benefits?Topics: 00:02:11 - Growing up at two different places00:04:14 - The winter and personal relationships 00:07:32 - Being fascinated in technology at very young age00:09:12 - Captivated with technology and multidisciplinary topics00:12:45 - Getting two majors to focus and explore00:14:14 - Encouraging other women to go after their dreams00:22:02 - Fannie wants to make a shift in the predominantly male entrepreneurial scene00:25:06 - Figuring out what's your life goal00:27:40 - How Fannie get started with edtech startup00:29:07 - Using Taobao as one of largest channels to gain clients00:33:38 - The disadvantage of focusing on one channel00:37:48 - Coming from technology without sales and marketing background is tough00:40:45 - Learning investor relations as a founder00:45:20 - What is NeuCore/Ailiverse?00:48:28 - Ailiverse allows companies to develop computer vision models with 10% of the traditional data00:50:50 - Balancing founder and personal life00:53:17 - Pushing other women to pursue what they want in their lifeLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Fannie Lin's social media pages: Fannie (Linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/fanfanlinAiliverse (beta): https://www.ailiverse.com/Ailiverse (linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/company/ailiverse Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marina Tran-Vu is the Founder and CEO of EQUO, a sustainable brand providing 100% plastic-free and compostable solutions for everyday single-use plastics.Their products are made from materials like grass, rice, coconut, sugarcane and coffee. They have raised over $1.3M for their seed round and were featured in global media, including Forbes, Shark Tank Vietnam and Front Office by PlayersTV in the US.How did Marina's family develop a successful business from the beginning despite the hardships they faced as immigrants arriving in Canada? How did Marina discover her personal interest in marketing? How has she adjusted to her new environment since deciding to remain in Vietnam?Topics: 00:03:15 - Life in Canada, overcoming poverty, and finding inspiration00:10:04 - The point, the motivation, the endgame00:19:47 - Almost starting a Kpop Career00:22:29 - Entry point in marketing and business00:24:21 - Learned to comprehend people like children00:27:18 - Choosing family over career and staying in Vietnam00:29:11 - Realizing the possibilities in Vietnam, the birth of EQUO00:31:58 - Difficulty dealing with stress and depression00:34:16 - Separating who I am from what I do00:37:11 - Pressure is the hardest thing for a founder and an individual to deal with00:40:56 - Kick starting and branding EQUO 00:47:05 - Getting inspiration from successful people00:51:10 - All things Vietnam!00:56:05 - Add to heart: TravelingLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Marina Tran-Vu and EQUO's social media pages: Marina (Linkedin): https://vn.linkedin.com/in/marinatranvuMarina (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/marinatv_/?hl=enEQUO (Website): https://shopequo.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patricia Sosrodjojo is a Partner at Seedstars International Ventures, an early stage venture capital fund focused on emerging and frontier markets. She is a seasoned investor and executive, having worked in the US, Asia, and globally. She has a passion for creativity, storytelling, and understanding people's motivations.Balancing creativity and business: How does Patricia Sosrodjojo navigate the two and make them work together? Traveling and discovering cultures: How has this influenced Patricia's work and the decisions she has made? Exploring different roles and industries: What has Patricia learned from her journey of switching between different industries and roles?Topics: 00:00:32 - Who is Patricia Sosrodjojo?00:03:12 - How Patricia ended up working at Lehman00:06:55 - Driven by a passion for advertising and a thirst for adventure00:08:04 - Her internship at Lehman Brothers 00:14:58 - Innovation is the link between advertising and commerce00:17:10 - Showing Patricia's creativity and love of music and dancing00:21:28 - Going overseas gave Patricia a level of independence00:27:38 - Discrimination towards women in the workforce00:31:08 - Operating as a VC in Southeast Asian technology00:37:40 - What was Patrica's path to VC and becoming a Partner?00:47:18 - One area of growth for Patricia was going beyond Southeast Asia00:52:21 - Fundraising for her university at a "student call center"00:56:31 - What's one thing Patricia wants to achieve in her personal life?Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Patricia Sosrodjojo and Seedstar's social media pages: Patricia (Linkedin): https://id.linkedin.com/in/patriciasosrodjojoPatricia (Instagram:) https://www.instagram.com/patriciasosrodjojo/?hl=enSeedstars (Website): https://www.seedstars.com/Seedstars (Twitter): https://twitter.com/Seedstars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beth Ann Lopez is the Co-founder and CEO of Docosan, a Vietnamese health tech firm that connects thousands of healthcare professionals that provide online and offline care, as well as DTC, doctor-guided home testing, treatment, and monitoring packages, to enhance access to healthcare. Beth worked as a market launcher and Director of Public Affairs at SwipeRx before joining Docosan. She has a master's degree in public health from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health.How did her childhood in New Mexico influence her desire to work in public health? What systemic issues affecting healthcare access in Cambodia prompted her tech startup, Docosan? How did she overcome the obstacles throughout her transition from operator to founder?Topics: 00:01:09 - Who is Beth Ann Lopez?00:03:04 - Growing up in New Mexico and what influenced her to healthcare path00:05:52 - Joining the Peace Corps and poor healthcare in Cambodia00:08:33 - Launching the SwipeRx in Cambodia and Vietnam00:10:09 - Started Docosan to simplify healthcare access for everyone00:14:28 - How public health systems in Cambodia and Vietnam differ 00:16:09 - Unforgettable experiences while living in Cambodia00:26:02 - How does Docosan help individuals acquire healthcare easily?00:31:20 - The significance of price transparency00:32:36 - Docosan Cares offers therapeutic treatment packages00:34:03 - Docosan sample collection decreases stigma, saves money by eliminating requirements for physical infrastructure00:38:02 - Docosan acquire analytics, detect trends, and design funnels00:40:15 - US tech startups operate differently from Vietnamese companies00:49:55 - Things that female founders typically discuss00:57:29 - Proper sleep is the key to everything00:58:36 -Take care of yourself, first things first00:59:24 - Find a good community that will support you01:02:41 - Beth's take on entrepreneurshipLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Beth Ann Lopez' and Docosan's social media pages:Beth Ann (Linkedin): https://vn.linkedin.com/in/balopez999Docosan (Website): https://docosan.com/en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Au is Chief of Staff and an Investor at Monks Hill Ventures. Apart from Monk's Hill, he is an active angel investor and hosts the Brave Southeast Asia Tech podcast. Before Monk's Hill, he co-founded and exited his startup called CozyKin in the US and co-founded the non-profit Conjunct Consulting.What was he like growing up? How did Jeremy Au overcome grief after the passing of a loved one? How did he restart his life and career? What was it like building and exiting his childcare startup, CozyKin? How did he get back to SEA and what is it like now being on the other side of the table as a VC?Topics:00:01:06 - Who is Jeremy Au?00:02:35 - A computer geek and a gamer00:17:10 - Commitment phobic and figuring how to be in a serious one00:24:40 - Choosing something that nobody else is doing00:33:43 - Ended up deferring admission in Harvard to find the right successor00:44:19 - Self awareness is the backbone of a successful product00:46:55 - From a founder to VC, what's the difference?00:48:48 - VC representing the capital side, level of collaboration, strategy and time horizon00:50:54 - The best part of having kids and it's priceless!00:52:05 - Jeremy's typical weekend00:55:15 - Eat, Pray, Love with a hiking twist00:56:42 - 1 month walking is one thing I want to do!Like the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Jeremy Au's social media pages: Jeremy (Linkedin): https://sg.linkedin.com/in/jeremyauJeremy (Twitter): https://twitter.com/jeremyauJeremy (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz/?hl=enBRAVE SEA (Website): https://www.bravesea.com/Monk's Hill Venture (Website): https://www.monkshill.com/platform-team/jeremy-au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kimberly Yao is the Co-founder and CEO of CloudEats, a multi-brand cloud kitchen active in the Philippines and Vietnam and recently raised $7M in a Series A extension. She previously co-founded and exited her liquor startup, Boozy, after two years of management.How did her F&B career influence her decision to launch her own startup? What were the particular challenges she encountered as a female founder? How did her initial startup help her develop as a founder?Topics: 00:02:31 - Food is my passion00:04:13 - Being a part of the Palace Group and learning a lot from mentors00:06:09 - Managing Boozy as an integral part of her career00:08:21 - How to build a scalable, sustainable, financially viable business00:10:09 - Turning off autopilot mode00:12:37 - Allowing people to discover their own professional or personal purpose00:15:02 - Addressing the lack of help and support for women leaders00:16:53 - Personal struggles and looking forward fulfilling the dream00:21:01 - Turning the pros into more opportunity for women00:24:32 - Managing anxiety00:26:04 - How does Kim spend her normal weekend?00:28:22 - Understand what your body needs in order to make healthy choices00:29:57 - How I achieve in business determines how I succeed as a person00:32:05 - If you want to start a successful business, you need to love it every single day00:33:32 - Starting a family as a personal accomplishmentLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCuaVisit Kimberly Yao's social media pages: Kimberly (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-yao-81a24914a/Kimberly (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/kimyaoza/?hl=enCloudEats (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloudeatsCloudEats (Website): https://www.cloudeats.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Sy is the Founder and CEO of Great Deals E-Commerce, an end-to-end Philippine e-commerce enabler that helps global and local brands sell and grow online.How did faith change his perspective on money? How did he redefine success after making his first million? How have his faith and family affected his life and career decisions?Topics: [00:02:36] - How Steve earned his first peso[00:06:28] - The influence by their parents to do business at an early stage[00:09:20] - Getting involved with the business[00:14:17] - Balancing studies and hitting the goal[00:17:55] - Steve aka The Divisoria Guy[00:20:37] - Life is more than just making money[00:22:51] - A very traumatic experience[00:24:13] - Change of faith and choosing their own paths[00:27:28] - Money is a fuel for your dreams[00:29:09] - Having debt at 28 years old[00:32:04] - Faced adversity and ecommerce as a blessing[00:33:47] - Paying taxes led to his company being investable.[00:37:29] - Venturing into ecommerce industry[00:39:05] - Trying Lazada's new business model[00:41:18] - From offline stores and concentrating online[00:42:20] - Setting up Great Deals[00:45:14] - Becoming the number one fashion brand in the Lazada platform and getting noticed by bigger brands[00:47:15] - The principle of building capabilities[00:51:34] - 50, 000 orders and a whole lot of problem[00:53:33] - Surpassing challenging times[00:56:16] - The angel investor[00:58:16] - Seed investment[01:00:16] - From 1.1 billion to 4.4 billion revenue[01:01:35] - The difficult parts of building a business[01:02:48] - Making mistakes and acknowledging it[01:04:02] - Success is nothing if you don't have success in the familyLike the show? Subscribe to the BackScoop newsletter to stay updated with the latest news in Southeast Asian startups in minutes: https://www.backscoop.com/.Visit BackScoop's social media pages and show your support!BackScoop (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/company/backscoop/BackScoop (Twitter): https://twitter.com/BackScoopHQBackScoop (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/BackScoopBackScoop (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/backscoopVisit Amanda Cua's social media pages:Amanda (Linkedin): https://ph.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cuaAmanda (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HeyAmandaCua Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.