Startup Climb

In this episode of the Startup Climb podcast, we speak to Wui Ngiap Foo, CEO and co-founder of Ethlas, to learn more about the future of gaming with the introduction of Web3. We explore how Ethlas built a community, the interesting developments in the Web3 space, and more on this episode. Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed by the guest are solely their own and do not represent the views or opinions of the host or the podcast. This podcast is not an endorsement of any product or service provided by the guest. It is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. For professional advice, please consult a qualified professional. Time Stamps: (0:00:37) Introduction to Ethlas (0:04:24) How did you discover Web3? (0:10:25) How to differentiate in a competitive Web3 landscape? (0:14:20) Ethlas's monetisation model? (0:17:40) How did Ethlas gain traction and build a community? (0:21:40) How to attract talent? (0:24:20) How to attract other businesses to use the Ethlas platform? (0:26:10) Book recommendation and advice (0:29:29) What's in store for Ethlas in the coming months? Ethlas: https://ethlas.com/

In this episode, we have Raimie Tang, CEO of date ideas. dateideas is a unique date experiences marketplace for couples that aims to redefine dates and empower relationships. In this episode, we talked about building traction for an app, some of the challenges that he faced and how he found his co-founder. Find dateideas here: https://www.dateideas.io/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: (0:40) Introduction to dateideas (1:25) Inspiration behind starting dateideas? (2:35) How do you differentiate yourself from other experience booking platforms? (4:38) How do you determine the need for an app and how do you build traction? (8:30) How do you build traction outside of your telegram channel? (10:52) How did you adjust to the COVID restrictions? (15:40) Was there any challenge that blindsided you? (20:00) When was the moment where you knew dateideas was going to be a full time project after graduation? (22:57) Highlights? (23:36) Lowlights? (31:31) One resource that you found helpful? (33:36) One advice to your past self?

In this episode, we have Evan, co-founder and CEO of Quest. Quest is an on-demand services marketplace where users can seek help from others for timely, cost-competitive services and simultaneously offer their services through the app. In this episode, we speak about gaining traction and more! Find Quest here: https://quest-inc.co/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: (0:45) Introduction to Quest (2:10) How do you differ from Carousell? (8:30) Do you feel that there is still a need for an app? (12:00) How do you move users from telegram to the app? (15:45) How do you gain traction for your app? (23:02) How do you juggle between your different commitments? (27:41) What was one highlight in your start-up journey? (31:35) Connections from the incubator? (34:00) Resources? (37:09) What is one piece of advice you will give to your past self? (38:33) Where to find Quest? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

In this week's episode of the Startup Climb podcast, we have Laksh. Laksh founded Bulkeffect in 2011 and currently is the founder of SoEngJoy - a social initiative on a mission to enable 100 thousand students, professionals, and entrepreneurs to be the best version of themselves. In this podcast, he will share more about being an intrapreneur and entrepreneur, how to scale a business from scratch and his most memorable start-up experience. Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: (1:00) Introduction to Laksh's start-up journey (2:00) What inspired you to hop into entrepreneurship? (4:50) Early problems that you face? (8:00) Actionable steps to build rapport with big companies? (10:40) How do you scale a business? (14:00) How to grow sales with limited resources? (17:09) What is the biggest difference between an intrapreneur and entrepreneur? (20:02) What is the lowest point in your startup journey? (22:50) Highest point in your startup journey? (33:09) Resources for an aspiring entrepreneur? (35:20) What is one advice you will give to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

In this week's episode of the Startup Climb podcast, we speak with Toby, co-founder and COO of Stayr. Stayr is a property startup that aims to build a digital ecosystem for space providers in Southeast Asia. We speak about making business defensible, fundraising and more! Where to find Stayr: https://getstayr.com/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: (0:50) Introduction to Stayr (3:52) Who is your ideal target audience? (5:45) How do you make your business defensible? (11:23) How do you incentivise hotels to onboard onto your platform? (16:58) How do you decide how much to raise? (18:55) What was your biggest challenge thus far? (24:00) What is the end goal of Stayr? (25:54) Resource recommendation? (30:00) What is one advice you will give to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

In this episode, we speak to Daniel, co-founder of BestTop. BestTop is a career consulting firm that aims to serve students and junior professionals by offering customised career advice. We chat about growing a network, expanding into new cities and more! Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: (0:43) What is BestTop? (1:55) What inspired you to start BestTop in the first place? (4:20) What was the point where you chose to do this full time? (5:50) When did you make your first hire and how do you identify a good hire? (8:33) How do you grow your network? (11:10) How do you stand out against your competitors? (14:09) Why will a business look for a career consulting service? (18:28) How do you choose which city to expand into? (20:55) Lowest point thus far in your journey? (23:14) Highest point thus far in your journey? (24:31) Resources for building a startup? (26:16) One advice for your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

Ever wondered how to start a podcast? Do you want to start your side hustle to chase your dreams? In this episode of Startup Climb, find out how Grehg started the 1 Foot In podcast while working full time as a Consumer and Market Knowledge Manager at Procter & Gamble, in order to help fresh graduates and young executives attain their dream jobs. Listen to the 1 Foot In podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/4v5kvIbMDIAA8YhuTdL5B5?si=lm9YV50QSv2dkU4Lph0_Tg Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:45 Introduction to 1 Foot In podcast 1:24 What inspired you to start the podcast? 4:35 Why is it called 1 Foot In? 6:20 How does your podcast differ from the standard career advice? 9:10 How do you juggle between your full time work and your side hustle? 11:17 What was the experience of launching your own podcast from scratch like? 12:10 What do you hope to achieve from the podcast? 15:44 How are you planning to monetise your podcast? 17:20 How do you network to get guests on your podcast? 20:04 How do you manage potential guest expectations that might arise? 21:18 What is your highest point thus far? 24:37 Lowest point thus far? 27:13 Advice for people looking to start a side hustle? 32:03 One piece of advice for fresh graduates to attain their dream jobs? 35:07 One piece of advice to your past self? 38:20 Where to find the 1 Foot In podcast? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

In this episode of Startup Climb, we speak to Marjorie, co-founder and managing director, DIFY. DIFY is an integrated marketing agency seeking to drive impactful and lasting two-sided communications for brands worldwide. Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:40 Introduction to DIFY 2:55 What does it take to specialise in blockchain versus just being a generalist? 5:35 Is there a danger/drawback to specialising in blockchain? 8:04 As a young founder, was your age an issue when you speak with external stakeholders? 10:10 What was the experience like clinching your first big client? 12:34 What are some of the costs of running an agency? 15:08 Challenges that an agency face? 17:00 When was the point where you decided to start hiring employees and what was the function? 18:42 Was there a risk to hiring a whole team right from the start? 20:10 How do you ensure long term client retention? 21:50 Lowest point/ Greatest challenge thus far? 24:48 Highest point thus far at DIFY? 26:38 What is one resource that helped you in your journey as a founder? 28:53 One advice to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

In this episode of Startup Climb, we have a conversation with Robert Rajeswaran, Co-Founder, Boxaroo. Boxaroo is a startup that aims to make it convenient for brands to customize, order and distribute merchandise, company swag and corporate gifts within minutes. You can find Boxaroo here: https://boxaroo.co/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:40 Introduction to Boxaroo 2:33 How do you curate the items? 4:35 How did you clinch your first big-name client? 6:55 Challenges when you first start Boxaroo? 8:40 Why did you choose to be involved in the design process? 10:45 How big is the team at the moment? 11:30 How do you manage a global team? 12:15 Were there any challenges with managing a global team? 13:30 Highlight of startup journey at Boxaroo? 14:42 Lowest points thus far? 16:24 Is the startup funded? 18:17 Have you explored any accelerators? 19:10 One advice for your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

In the third episode of Startup Climb, the season with a conversation with Bryan Se To, Founder of Calibrate. Calibrate is an online platform for users to find and book wellness experts such as Chiropractors, Physiotherapists, Sports Massage Therapists, TCM etc for pain relief solutions. Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:30 Introduction 1:02 Why did you choose to go into the startup scene? 1:35 How do you curate the chiropractors on your platform? 2:10 How do you help users to “skip the queue”? 3:30 How did you reach your MVP? 7:07 How did you acquire your first customer? 8:54 How do you identify a good hire? 11:40 How do you quickly determine if a person has a growth mindset? 13:43 Were there any memorable challenges thus far? 15:08 What was your lowest point thus far running Calibrate? 17:35 Highest point thus far in Calibrate? 19:30 Why did you pick SMU as the accelerator to go for? 20:55 When to jump full-time into a startup? 22:55 Future roadmap for Calibrate? 24:05 One advice for your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

In this episode of Startup Climb, we have Jie Lun Ong, Director of Ventures APAC for Plug and Play Tech Center. In his role, he heads up the regional ventures team, based in Singapore, sourcing for startups and making investments in the region. Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:45 Introduction 3:22 Why did you choose to go into the startup scene? 6:02 What is the biggest contributing factor to the success of a startup? 7:20 How do you identify factors that lead to success in a founder? 9:30 Do you feel anything has changed since COVID happen? 11:00 What makes a startup investible? 12:16 Is profitability important at the point of investment? 13:27 What are the major differences in startups in the region? 16:47 Is it more difficult for startups to expand in the region? 18:21 What is one thing that you learnt thus far? 21:07 What is your greatest accomplishment thus far? 22:38 Any resources that you will recommend to startup founders? 24:00 What is one advice that you will give to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

In the third season of Startup Climb, we kickstart the season with a conversation with Sang Shin, Director of Digital Innovation at Temasek. Sang was the co-founder of the startup Been, the world's first mobile app that enabled users to monetize and take control of their personal data and privacy, blocking personal data collection from apps. Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. This episode was recorded on 25 November 2020. Timestamps: 0:45 Introduction 5:09 Biggest difference between the startup ecosystem in California and Singapore? 7:10 Do you feel that the Southeast Asia startup ecosystem is similar to Silicon Valley? 8:50 Is it more difficult to do business in SEA vis a vis the states? 10:14 What should an aspiring entrepreneur in Singapore think about before starting their own startup? 12:55 What inspired you to start your startup? 14:41 Were there any hesitation before you dive into your startup? 18:30 Key traits you observe among successful founders? 21:25 What is one advice you will give to your past self? 22:35 Book recommendation for budding entrepreneurs? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/

In this episode of Startup Climb, we talk to Hans, Founder, and CEO, FAB9. FAB9 is a Makerspace based in Melbourne. They provide tools, technology, and training for anyone interested in making. Join us as we discussed starting a business in Australia, the impact of COVID on the Makerspace business and more. You can find out more about FAB9 here: https://www.fab9.com.au/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:43 Introduction to FAB9 3:30 Capacity at FAB9 4:45 How big is your team at the moment? 6:10 What are the qualities that you look for in your core team? 8:05 How did you get the idea of starting a Makerspace? 9:31 How did you choose a location? 12:40 The cost of doing business in Australia? 14:33 Is the start-up self-funded? 15:52 How did you choose to allocate your resources? 17:20 Was it difficult to do marketing for FAB9? 19:05 The start-up landscape in Melbourne? 22:18 How will a startup grow in Australia? 25:42 Has it been difficult to pivot due to COVID? 35:52 New product offering for FAB9? 37:02 Do you see yourself expanding to other cities in Australia? 39:31 Is it difficult to expand beyond Melbourne? 45:00 What is one advice that you will give to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

On this week's episode of the Startup Climb podcast, we have Jasper Yap, co-founder, and CTO of Eezee. Eezee is a Singapore based B2B marketplace that aims to make B2B procurement Eezee. Jasper is also recognized on the Forbes 30 under 30 2020 list. On the podcast, we talked about scaling a B2B solution, the difference before and after funding, and more. You can find out more about Eezee here: https://eezee.sg/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 00:45 Introduction to Eezee 3:13 How did you get the idea to start Eezee? 4:32 How do you scale a B2B solution? 5:28 How far into starting Eezee before you make your first hire? 6:32 How do you manage your resources? 8:16 When you first start, did you ever set a timeline/runway for yourself? 10:03 What was the biggest difference before and after funding? 12:06 How do you raise funds? 16:42 What was your biggest struggle thus far? 22L44 What was your biggest accomplishment thus far? 26:45 What is one advice that you will give to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this episode of Startup Climb, we have Jared Sim, co-founder, StockPal. Stockpal is a news site that aims to bring the Asian angle ti ASX-listed small and mid-cap companies. In this podcast, we talked about how to gain exposure for a startup, how to identify your target demographic, and more. You can find out more about StockPal here: https://stockpal.asia/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:48 Introduction to StockPal 1:21 How did you conceptualize the idea of starting StockPal? 2:53 How did you gain exposure for StockPal? 4:45 What was your journey to why you start StockPal? 6:13 How do you identify your target demographic? 8:50 Is it difficult to run an Australian focussed business from Singapore? 10:47 What are the best practices that you do when you launch a product like StockPal? 13:34 How do you identify your competitors? 14:53 How do you determine if the market has space for you? 16:16 How do you attract attention in the saturated media space? 17:38 What do you feel is your greatest achievement? 19:34 What is your greatest struggle thus far? 20:42 If you could give 1 piece of advice to your past self, what will it be and why? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this episode, we have Joshua Chin, CEO, and Co-founder of Chronos agency. Chronos agency is a data-driven email marketing agency that aims to provide email marketing services and consultancy for online retailers. We speak about email marketing, sacrifices made to chase the entrepreneur dream, and more. You can find out more about Chronos Agency here: https://chronos.agency/ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on 1 July 2020 Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:42 Introduction to Chronos Agency 1:45 Why did you choose to go into email marketing? 3:59 How did you even get the idea to start this in the first place? 10:14 Was there ever a time when you are worried that the friendship might be affected due to differences in business opinions? 14:59 Imposter syndrome? 16:59 Did you imposter syndrome affect your pitch? 19:47 Did you feel that this thick skin was developed through your experiences? 25:10 What is your biggest success at Chronos thus far? 29:01 What do you feel are the most important characteristics that an entrepreneur needs to have? 30:00 What is one advice that you will give to your past self? 32:26 What is one sacrifice that you made to chase your dreams? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this week's episode of Startup Climb, we have Paddy Tan, Co-Founder of Blackstorm Consulting to share more about the common pitfalls of startups. Blackstorm Consulting is a regional growth consulting firm that specializes in innovative scaling and technology deployment strategy in Southeast Asia. You can find out more about Blackstorm Consulting here: http://blackstormco.asia/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:50 Introduction to Blackstorm Consulting 4:55 Different cultural norms in neighboring countries vis a vis Singapore? 10:43 Why did you focus on small and medium enterprises? 14:02 Why did you focus on structuring and restructuring? 18:44 Why did you choose to go into fixing problems/consulting? 23:35 How did you get your first client? 28:13 How do you measure success? 32:53 How do you pivot your solution? 37:40 What are some of the common problems that start-ups might face at the start? 50:18 How do you grow your network when you first start? 54:45 What was the greatest struggle that you have faced thus far at Blackstorm? 01:02:19 What was your biggest achievement thus far at Blackstorm? 01:06:03 What is one advice that you will give to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

On this episode of Startup Climb, we find out more about doing business overseas with GQ, co-founder & CEO of LTVplus. LTVplus is a customer service outsourcing start-up for e-commerce businesses. In this episode, find out how to run a remote business, the growth mindset, and more. You can find out more about LTVplus here: https://www.ltvplus.com/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:45 Introduction to LTVplus 1:21 How big is your team at the moment? 1:53 Why did you make the decision to go remote? 4:04 Why did you choose to live in Kiev? 5:46 How did you get the idea to start? 8:10 How do you cope with the different business cultures around the world? 10:11 What is the biggest difference between doing business in Singapore and overseas? 14:38 What were the qualities that you look for in your hire when hiring remotely? 16:47 How do you find the growth mindset? 20:55 What is one book that you would recommend to entrepreneurs? 24:07 How do you allocate the resources when you first start? 27:50 Pandemic's impact on the business? 29:46 New opportunities? 32:30 Why did you choose to jump into entrepreneurship? 36:22 What was your biggest struggle thus far? 39:09 What was your biggest accomplishment? 40:55 What is one advice that you will give to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this week's episode of Startup Climb, we talk to Ee Chien, owner of Jekyll & Hyde cocktail bar. Jekyll & Hyde is one of Singapore's iconic cocktail bars. Located in the heart of the CBD at 74 Neil Road in Tanjong Pagar, you can find signature cocktails and a curated selection of whiskeys and gins. This week, we speak about COVID's impact on the FnB industry, customer loyalty, and more. You can find out more about Jekyll & Hyde here: https://www.facebook.com/JekyllAndHyde.SG/ Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on 10 June 2020 Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:42 What is Jekyll and Hyde? 1:21 Why take over a cocktail bar? 2:20 How do you choose the new location of the bar? 4:28 How do you grow a brand with a limited budget? 6:17 How do you product validate in the FnB industry? 7:03 How do you juggle between a day job and running the bar? 7:55 Why do it part-time? 8:29 How do you hire and what are the qualities that you look for? 10:07 Customer reviews and how do you handle them? 11:15 Impact of COVID on Jekyll and Hyde? 12:55 How do you ensure the quality of the cocktail through delivery? 14:05 Biggest learning point from doing delivery? 15:22 How do you manage the additional cost from delivery? 15:52 How do you see the FnB industry changing due to COVID? 17:24 What was your greatest struggle thus far? 18:35 If you could change something, what will you change? 19:54 Do you believe resilience can be learned? 21:38 How do you promote customer loyalty 22:26 Have you ever thought about expanding the bar? 23:25 Will you recommend someone to go into the FnB industry part-time? 24:19 If you could give one advice to an aspiring entrepreneur what will it be and why? 25:42 How do you do market research with limited resources? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

On this episode of Startup Climb, we speak to Katrina, CEO and Co-Founder of Savour!, to find out more about how Savour! is tackling the problem of food wastage. Savour! is a one-stop B2B e-procurement platform with a social and environmental cause connecting companies and B2B customers in Singapore. In this episode, we talk about student entrepreneurship, making a social impact and how to find mentors. You can find out more about Savour! here: https://www.savourapp.co/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 00:49 Introduction to Savour! 01:40 How does Savour! reduce food wastage? 02:30 Logistics flow behind Savour! 03:14 Why did you choose to start Savour!? 04:30 Would this be very expensive for the merchants on your platform? 05:30 How did you meet your co-founders? 06:11 How big is the team at Savour!? 07:30 Were there concerns working with people you just met? 08:05 What was the biggest challenge thus far at Savour!? 09:12 How did you get your first client? 10:13 What was the process like running a product trial? 11:02 How do you get consumers to notice your product? 13:08 How did you allocate your resources when you first start? 14:05 Is it difficult to juggle school and your startup and would you recommend students to start their startups in school? 15:10 Do you feel that being a student opened more doors? 15:50 What are you doing to prepare for your launch? 17:12 How do you generate buzz for Savour! with mainstream media? 18:04 How did you secure your investor? 19:46 What was your biggest learning experience that you got thus far running Savour!? 23:00 How did you come up with such impactful initiatives? 23:47 What was the challenge that COVID presented Savour! and what were the changes made? 25:10 What was your biggest achievement at Savour!? 26:33 How do you feel about all the success coming in at once? 27:50 How do aspiring entrepreneurs find mentors? 30:39 Is being outspoken something that you already possess or that you cultivate over time? 31:37 What is one advice that you will give to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0

Season 2 of Startup Climb is here! This week, we talk to Rusydi, CEO and Co-founder of Reactor. Reactor is a startup in the education space, that aims to teach entrepreneurship to youths. With their unique teaching approach and passionate staff, they help students develop academically and personally to the highest level. You can find out more about Reactor here: https://www.reactor.school/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:40 Sharing on Reactor School? 1:35 How did you get the idea to start Reactor school? Was there a problem that you identified? 2:25 Is it difficult to penetrate the different markets in Southeast Asia? 3:11 How did you hyper localised? 4:20 How did you choose where to allocate your resources when you first start? 6:40 What were the qualities you look for in your first candidate? 7:54 What is the business model for Reactor school? 8:45 How do you feel the SEA market differs from that of the bigger markets? 10:05 The education space in Singapore? 12:01 Are there any pushbacks when you try to educate youths about entrepreneurship? 14:00 How did you curate topics for your syllabus? 15:46 What makes a start-up investable? 16:56 Is it important for a start-up to be profitable before being funded? 18:28 How did you pivot from the COVID situation? 21:55 Where will Reactor stand in the future landscape? 23:58 What was your greatest struggle thus far and how did you overcome it? 26:34 How did you get your first client? 27:40 What is your greatest achievement thus far at Reactor? 28:51 What is the quality that you feel is most important in an entrepreneur? 30:41 How do you validate your idea? 31:51 What is one that advice that you will give to your past self? 34:32 A book that you will recommend for entrepreneurs? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

Season 2 of Startup Climb is here! This week, we talk to Benjamin Ang, co-founder of Genesis Motion Design. Founded in 2015, Genesis is a motion graphic agency based in Singapore at aims to break through the standards of motion design and creates groundbreaking projects that will captivate the audience. Benjamin is part of the Forbes 30 under 30 2020 cohort and speaks at various conferences as a guest speaker. You can find out more about Genesis Motion Design here: https://wearegenesis.tv/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: (1:00) What is Genesis Motion Design? (2:00) How big is your team? (2:45) What did you look for in your first hire? (9:30) Thoughts on the creative industry in Singapore? (15:20) How do you manage burnout? (17:10) How did gaming inspire you? (20:20) How did you get your first client? (23:20) How do you determine how much to charge a client? (26:45) Is it difficult to get recurring clients in the creative industry? (33:05) What are you working on at Genesis? (36:22) When you first leave school, have you ever considered joining a studio instead of starting on your own? (39:00) Is it a natural progression for people to start their own studio? (40:35) What was your biggest struggle and your takeaway from it? (46:40) What is one advice you will give to your past self? Connect with us: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this episode of Startup Climb, we have Daryl Lim, co-founder of Augmentus. Augmentus is a robotics technology startup that offers a full-stack code-free robotic automation platform to enable non-technical users to develop dynamic robotic systems. You can find out more about Augmentus here: https://www.augmentus.tech/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. This was recorded on 28 May 2020. Timestamps: 00:45 What is Augmentus? 04:09 What qualities did you look for in your employee? 07:26 How did you allocate resources when you first start? 11:06 What is the quality that a founder should have in order to succeed? 13:05 Do you feel that being a student entrepreneur brings forth any advantages and disadvantages? 16:57 Do you feel that being a student entrepreneur helped you to find mentors? 18:30 Did you gain an advantage in your industry being a student entrepreneur and in deep tech? 20:00 Did COVID change the way you operate your start-up? 23:17 Are you re-prioritizing to focus on the international market? 24:30 What was your greatest struggle thus far? 26:50 How important do you feel hackathons/competitions are to get validation? 28:51 Would you advise a student to go into student entrepreneurship? 30:50 What did you trade-off to become an entrepreneur? 33:50 Biggest achievement so far at Augmentus? 37:45 What is a quality that you look for in an investor? 41:00 What is one advice that you will give to an aspiring entrepreneur? For any feedback or inquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

On this episode of Startup Climb, we have Kang Liang, Founder and CEO, Swapie. Swapie is an early stage FinTech start-up that aims to provide cost-saving services for micro enterprises by leveraging on various loyalty and payment programs. We discuss how to navigate the early stages of product validation, finding a mentor and self-care. You can find out more about Swapie here: https://www.swapie.co/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamp: 0:35 How did you get the idea to first start Swapie. 2:20 Will there be a lot of hassle and paperwork involved? 3:50 How scalable is the product? 5:10 How big is the team at the moment? 6:16 What are the qualities that you look for in your interns? 8:45 Which quality do you prioritise? 12:30 How did COVID impact Swapie? 15:45 Have you tried doing B2C for Swapie? 16:16 What was your biggest struggle thus far in running Swapie? 20:05 How did you cope with the stress and struggles of starting a startup? 23:12 Do you feel that the entrepreneur life is very lonely? 26:11 How to find mentors? 31:31 What is your greatest achievement thus far at Swapie? 35:20 What is one advice that you will give to an aspiring entrepreneur. For any feedback or inquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this week's episode of Startup Climb, we have Jerry Chua, co-founder of Moovaz. Moovaz is a start-up focused on international relocation. In 2020, Moovaz announced a series A funding of US 7 million led by Quest Ventures. In the episode, we discuss what makes a successful pitch, early resource allocation and how do we identify flexibility in potential new hires. You can find out more about Moovaz here: https://moovaz.com/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 00:40 What is Moovaz? 06:05 What was the problem that you identified in the international relocation industry? 08:37 How do you find a trustable team in another country? 10:00 Where do you allocate resources when you first start? 12:05 Qualities that you look for in your employees? 13:10 How do you identify flexibility? 14:40 How big is the team at the moment? 15:02 How do you manage cross border operations? 16:00 Why did you choose to expand to the Philippines? 17:30 How big of an impact do you feel an investor has on the business and its operations? 21:30 What makes a successful pitch? 23:47 How did you pivot from COVID? 25:45 Why did you choose the startup path? 27:20 Have you thought of going into corporate? 28:00 What was the biggest struggle thus far and what did you learn from it? 29:57 Was there a particular event that you learn a lot from? 33:30 Biggest achievement/milestone? 34:20 What is the vision for Moovaz in the future? 35:54 What is a quality that you feel an aspiring entrepreneur should have? 37:30 How do you first do an initial validation of your product? 39:54 What is one advice you will give to your past self? 41:10 How do you practice positivity? Connect with us: For any feedback or inquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this week's episode of Startup Climb, we have experienced digital entrepreneur and investor Shaun Ling to share with us his journey founding and managing iPrima Group. We talk about cross border business operations management, how to bounce back and recover after losing clients, and the impact of COVID on the business. You can find out more about iPrima Group here: https://www.iprimamedia.com/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 00:35 What is iPrima Media? 01:40 How big is your team at the moment? 01:55 Why did you start iPrima Media? What was the problem identified? 03:40 How did you educate your clients on the benefits of digital marketing? 05:35 How has digital marketing changed since the start of iPrima Media? 06:25 Why did you choose to expand to Malaysia? 08:00 Was there a difference doing business in Sarawak vis a vis JB? 08:35 Was there any challenges managing a business with operations in 2 countries? 09:55 How did you overcome the challenges? 10:35 How far into starting iPrima media before you make your first hire? What were the qualities that you look for? 12:50 How did you allocate your resources when you first start your business? 17:15 How did you recover from clients refunding on the business? 18:22 Was there a time during that period where you felt you couldn't do the business anymore? 21:13 What was the biggest factor that contributes to your success today? 22:23 How do you constantly keep yourself up to date with trends? 24:00 How did COVID impact the business and how did you respond? 30:50 How do you ensure that the quality of work will not be affected when you onboard new marketers? 34:00 What was the greatest success thus far in your entrepreneurship journey? 39:24 How do you handle so many businesses at the same time? 41:45 How do you choose the businesses to invest in? 45:00 What was the biggest sacrifice that you have to make to pursue your entrepreneurship journey? 46:02 What is the one thing that you will do differently if you can restart your business? 47:50 What is one advice that you will give an aspiring entrepreneur? Connect with us: For any feedback or inquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this episode of Startup Climb, we talk about the ed-tech space in Singapore and how to deal with feedback with Wong Lei, co-founder of Ottodot. Ottodot is an ed-tech startup based in Singapore. To find out more about Ottodot: https://www.ottodot.com/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 00:35 Introduction to Ottodot 00:57 What was the problem that you identified? 03:54 Are parents open to the idea of Ottodot? 04:50 Why start with science as a focus? 07:30 What made you switch from engineering to education? 08:57 Was Ottodot started in school? 10:13 Was there pushback from friends and family? 12:27 Was there a timeline set for yourself? 13:50 What did you focus your resources on when you first start? 14:52 Would you try to sell your product to schools to make it an integral part of STEM education? 16:15 How do you address the concerns raised by schools? 17:21 How was Ottodot impacted by the COVID situation? 19:30 Was there any product change due to the new situation? 20:57 How scalable would Ottodot be? 23:11 What makes Ottodot unique? 25:00 What was your greatest struggle thus far running Ottodot? 27:19 What was your greatest accomplishment? 28:50 Will you advise someone to go into entrepreneurship? 30:35 What is the main quality that you feel is important in an entrepreneur? 31:50 Do you feel that grit can be learned? 32:50 What is one advice you will give to an aspiring entrepreneur? 35:43 Ending thoughts Socials: For any feedback or inquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this episode of Startup Climb, we discuss soft skills development with Felix Tan, founder, and CEO of Skilio, a Singapore startup that aims to develop soft skills through experiences. To find out more about Skilio: https://skilio.co/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:40 What is Skilio? 1:40 Size of the team? 2:23 How did you meet your co-founders? 4:59 How do you measure soft skills? 7:20 Can you use soft skills as a yardstick? 10:10 Does a company culture affect the development of soft skills? 12:35 The state of the ed-tech sector? 17:35 What is the most important soft skill that a founder should have? 20:30 How to develop adaptability 22:18 Can you accelerate soft skill development? 24:24 Do you feel that being a student gives you an advantage in your entrepreneur journey? 28:35 Would you advise a student to become an entrepreneur? 30:20 What was your biggest struggle thus far at Skilio? 33:30 Did COVID accelerate the growth of Skilio? 35:30 What would you have done differently looking back? 37:20 What was the greatest achievement thus far at Skilio? 40:19 Are you looking to raise funds? 40:40 What is the one quality that you will look for in an investor? 41:30 What is one advice that you will give to an aspiring founder? 43:05 Personal thoughts on the interview Socials: For any feedback or inquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A

In this episode of Startup Climb, we have Nicholas, CEO and Co-Founder, Outside. On the podcast, we discuss qualities to look for in an investor, managing customer reviews, and how to build on traction. To find out more about Outside: https://www.outsideapp.co/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamp: 00:35 Introduction to Outside. 02:30 How long into starting Outside before you make your first hire and what was the function that you hire for? 03:53 What were the qualities that you look for in your first hire? 06:00 How do you handle conflicts that might arise due to differing opinions? 09:15 How do you prioritize resource allocation? 11:10 Would venture capital funding be something that you consider in the future? 12:40 What do you look for in an investor? 14:30 What will be a quality that you prioritize in an investor? 17:15 What was COVID's impact on the business? 20:00 How do you ensure the security and safety of the orders on the app? 22:00 How do you handle mitigate bad reviews? 23:45 How do you build on traction? 25:15 How to handle potential user dropoff after the promotion period? 27:00 How do you prevent users from being on multiple apps and incentivize them to be on your app? 29:00 Do you view gamification as a unique selling point? 30:30 Do you have any plans to expand overseas? 32:00 Will you be concerned about bigger players coming into the market? 36:00 How would you envision Outside to grow? 37:00 What was the biggest learning from your journey thus far as an entrepreneur? 39:00 How to work with friends? Socials: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A For any feedback or inquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com

In the third episode of Startup Climb, Alwyn Lee, Founder and CEO, Daylight Studios, sheds light on what it takes to develop a game in Singapore. Daylight Studios is the game studio behind the popular game Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?! To find out more about Daylight Studios: https://www.day-lightstudios.com/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 0:33 Introduction to Daylight Studios 1:25 Why come into game development? 3:12 Why games instead of apps? 4:37 How to bootstrap to fund your passion? 06:48 Cost of building an app? 08:32 Is the industry cash-intensive to get into? 10:50 Microtransactions? 12:25 How to ensure continued support for your game? 16:06 Do you feel that being a game developer in Singapore is a disadvantage vis a vis other countries with bigger markets? 18:40 How did the team choose the character of a potato? 20:00 How far into starting Daylight Studios before you make your first hire and what was the function? 23:05 How big of an impact does an investor have on a business? 25:45 DaylightX 28:30 Story-based games? 31:07 Disruption due to current events and how to ensure smooth operations? 33:54 How do you differentiate a constructive review from other reviews? 37:03 Greatest achievement so far running Daylight Studios? 40:05 What is your most impactful learning experience that changes the way you view the business? 43:45 One advice that you will give to aspiring entrepreneurs in the game development scene? Socials: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A For any feedback or inquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com

In the second episode of Startup Climb, Linus Tan, founder and CEO of District, shares the impact of COVID on his retail business and what he thinks will be the new normal in retail. To find out more about District: https://district.sg/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 00:36 Introduction to District. 01:45 Size of the team. 03:14 Why did you choose to go into retail? 07:10 Selection of product category. 09:45 COVID-19's impact on the business. 15:20 Discussion of consumer behavior. 21:00 Discussion on the customer journey. 24:33 How do you select the tech brands that you work with? 27:20 Shipping cost from upkeeping the various products? 29:14 Fundraising discussion for District. 32:55 What is the most essential quality that you look for in an investor? 35:33 If you could do something different, is there anything you will change and why? 38:20 One piece of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs? Socials: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A For any feedback or enquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com

On the first episode of Startup Climb, Ned Phillips, founder and CEO of Bambu, shares what makes a successful startup, the impact of investors and how to get product validation. To find out more about Bambu: https://bambu.co/ Disclaimer: Any views/opinions made by the guest is the guest's opinion. It does not represent the views/opinions of the host or the podcast. The podcast is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as professional advice. You should consult a qualified professional for any professional advice. Timestamps: 00:30 Introduction to Bambu 01:40 Why B2B and not B2C? 03:43 What makes a startup successful? 06:10 First hire and the qualities you look for? 09:10 Can you reverse engineer luck? 12:45 More discussion on hiring. 16:15 Impact of investors? Is it essential to raise funds in fintech? 19:20 Fund size versus control over direction. 21:50 More discussion on qualities to look for in an investor. 24:20 Most important thing to do when you first start your start-up? 27:20 How to get product validation? 30:20 What was the biggest struggle thus far running Bambu? 35:00 Discussion on overseas expansion. 40:10 How to handle working in different countries? 44:20 COVID-19's impact on the business and how to pivot? 47:20 Discussion on work-life balance. 52:00 One advice for an aspiring startup founder? Socials: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/startupclimb/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupclimbpodcast/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZhb7TW07ORyW3wLROEvo0A For any feedback or enquiries, please email here: thestartupclimb@gmail.com

Startup Climb is a weekly podcast show hosted by E Hueen. We will be interviewing startup founders to find out more about their journey, their struggles and how they overcome adversity to build their start-ups. For any queries or suggestions, please reach out at: thestartupclimb@gmail.com