Podcast appearances and mentions of jeremy au

Adriel Yong, Orvel Venture Partner, joins Jeremy Au to reflect on five years of career transitions from investing to building startups across Southeast Asia and the US. They unpack how American venture capital has turned inward, the unintended consequences of remote work, and why AI is upending both work and relationships. Through candid stories from fundraising dinners in San Francisco to AI-generated breakup scripts they explore how technology is transforming how we build companies, make decisions, and stay human. 03:12 American and Asian startup growth models differ: In San Francisco, startups often grow fast by selling to other startups and riding internal network effects, while Southeast Asian startups focus on capturing value chains and relationship-based sales. 06:05 Revenue in SF isn't always real: Founders in SF can reach $10 million ARR by selling to friendly peers, but in LA or Southeast Asia, sales are slower and relationship-driven, especially in industries like entertainment. 08:53 US venture capital is becoming protectionist: Where American VCs once backed global founders, they now prioritize companies based in or from the US, making it harder for Southeast Asian startups to access funding. 11:49 AI is replacing VC advisory work: Founders now use large language models to flag red flags in term sheets before reaching out to VCs, shifting the VC's role from explainer to final verifier and negotiation coach. 14:59 AI is eroding help-based relationships: As people ask ChatGPT instead of friends for advice, the everyday opportunities for give-and-take shrink, which could weaken social bonds especially in task-focused societies like Singapore. 18:13 Generative AI amplifies Western perspectives: Tools like ChatGPT default to American individualist values unless prompted otherwise, meaning users across Asia may unconsciously adopt Americanized ways of thinking and problem-solving. 20:53 Graduate employment in Singapore is dropping: Unemployment dipped below 80 percent as MNCs cut back due to trade wars and AI displaces entry-level roles. Many graduates prefer brand-name firms, leaving SME jobs overlooked despite being the bulk of local employment. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/trained-by-ai Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au breaks down the evolving power dynamics between VCs and founders in Southeast Asia, diving into board control, investor rights, and why most startups fail despite support. He shares practical lessons from both sides of the table, highlights the return of convertible debt, and explains how founders should think about conflict, dilution, and boardroom politics. 00:54 Key Investor Rights and Control: Jeremy outlines the top 10 investor rights such as drag-along, tag-along, and anti-dilution. These clauses define how power and decision-making are structured in startup financing. 03:47 Conflicts of Interest in Startups: He explains how interests between founders, board members, and shareholders evolve over time. Alignment becomes harder as companies grow and stakes increase. 08:26 Convertible Debt and Financing Trends: Jeremy describes why convertible debt is gaining traction again. In uncertain markets, it offers downside protection and upside potential for investors. 10:22 Board Dynamics and Founder Control: Founders in Southeast Asia often lose control by Series A. Jeremy explains how board decisions work, how founders can push back, and what happens when alignment breaks. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/founder-vc-powerplay Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Janine Teo, CEO of Solve Education, returns to BRAVE after three years to explore how AI is reshaping education for marginalized youth. She and Jeremy Au unpack the double-edged nature of AI in learning, how Solve Education leverages gamification and AI coaching to drive motivation, and the shifting job market where entry-level roles are disappearing. They discuss how AI is widening access for underserved learners, challenging traditional career aspirations, and demanding new approaches to teaching foundational skills. Janine also shares how her team's GAIN model: Gamification, AI, Incentives, and Network, tackles agency gaps and builds community-led learning environments for impact at scale. 02:29 AI made education more personal and accessible: Students can now learn at their own pace using AI tutors like Solve Education's “Ad,” especially in low-resource environments where human teachers are scarce. 04:50 Students use AI to uplift their families: Many youth ask AI for advice not just for school but to help their parents, reversing traditional education roles in marginalized households. 07:42 AI reshapes career aspirations and challenges family expectations: With AI exposure, students begin to dream beyond their parents' limited career suggestions and request help from the AI to explain their goals back home. 10:29 Teaching must prioritize thinking over memorization: In the AI era, knowing how to analyze, ask questions, and apply knowledge is more important than storing facts or formulas. 13:07 Motivation is the biggest learning barrier: Solve Education focuses on building a learner agency through their GAIN framework, especially for youth surrounded by demotivating environments. 15:43 Junior jobs are being replaced by automation: With AI doing most low-level tasks, junior analysts and entry-level roles are disappearing, forcing fresh grads to upskill or pivot early. 18:08 Learning environments shape success: Solve Education combines online tools with local community leaders to create peer-driven, supportive ecosystems that keep learners engaged and progressing. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/janine-teo-educated-by-ai Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Wing Vasiksiri, investor and ecosystem builder, returns to unpack the recent political upheaval in Thailand, the shifting startup landscape, and how these dynamics intersect. He and Jeremy Au explore the Prime Minister's suspension, the ripple effects of leaked diplomacy, and what these events signal for foreign investment and local sentiment. They also discuss the country's cannabis policy reversal, new crypto tax breaks, and the comeback of early-stage incubation. Wing introduces “Project Thailand,” a new public resource and investor-backed report aiming to support Thai founders by mapping out the entire ecosystem. Their discussion offers a real-time pulse check on Thailand's path toward stability, growth, and tech-driven innovation. 00:22 PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended after leaked audio call with Cambodia's president: The clip revealed her use of informal language and criticism of Thailand's military, which sparked a political backlash. Her comments raised concerns over national loyalty, leading to her suspension and a cabinet reshuffle that further destabilized the coalition government. 09:45 Seven Thai PMs in ten years erode investor confidence and stall economic reform: The pattern of court removals, protests, and reshuffled coalitions makes it harder for Thailand to project long-term policy stability. Investors hesitate to back sectors like infrastructure and data centers, where long planning cycles are incompatible with unpredictable governance. 15:10 Thailand cuts capital gains and crypto taxes to zero from 2025 to 2030: In contrast to Singapore's stricter stance, this move signals a bid to attract crypto entrepreneurs and capital inflows. Wing suggests the tax break may position Thailand as a regional hub for blockchain innovation, while Singapore's ban on token sales drives founders elsewhere. 19:01 Recreational cannabis re-criminalized despite 18,000 dispensaries nationwide: The sudden policy reversal now requires medical prescriptions for purchase and forces dispensaries to register under stricter controls. Wing explains how this ties to shifting political coalitions—particularly the exit of pro-cannabis Bhumjaithai—and hints that further policy flip-flops could follow. 24:07 Wing launches Project Thailand and updates startup report with MVP: The open-access Notion resource maps investors, accelerators, universities, and service providers to help Thai founders navigate the ecosystem. The new report shifts from data-heavy charts to a stakeholder-based framework, offering specific ideas for universities, corporates, and government bodies to strengthen startup formation. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/thai-tech-in-the-crossfire Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au broke down the real stakes behind early-stage fundraising—where founders trade equity for survival, and investors negotiate for control. He explained how financing tools like SAFE notes, convertible notes, and priced rounds shape who gets rich, who gets a say, and who gets left behind. From legal traps to boardroom dynamics, this session reveals what every founder should know before signing a term sheet. 01:05 Understanding Startup Economics: Jeremy explains how startups face a "valley of death" where they burn cash before reaching profitability. He introduces the idea that funding always comes with tradeoffs in economic and control rights. 01:39 Debt vs. Equity: Key Differences: A breakdown of how debt requires repayment and protects ownership, while equity gives up a piece of the upside but doesn't need to be paid back if the startup fails. 03:23 Equity Financing: Preferred Stock, Convertible Notes, and SAFE Notes: Jeremy walks through the three common fundraising tools, how each works in early-stage rounds, and why SAFEs have become the global standard for speed and simplicity. 08:00 Control Rights and Board Dynamics: The discussion turns to how board control shifts as startups raise money. Jeremy explains why early governance decisions shape long-term power and influence over the company. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/equity-shapes-control Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Vietnam's rapid economic transformation is reshaping its future. Valerie Vu, General Partner at Ansible Ventures, joins Jeremy Au to explore how Vietnam is shifting from export dependence to a tech-driven, domestic growth model. They discuss the rollback of anti-corruption campaigns, intensified U.S. trade negotiations, and how food safety scandals are driving transparency reforms. Valerie also explains Resolution 68, a blueprint promoting private sector innovation and deep tech, and what this means for founders and investors. 03:00 The Anti-Corruption Campaign and Its Implications: The government quietly walks back its Burning Furnace crackdown by releasing powerful tycoons to restore stability and accelerate economic revival. 06:27 Tariff Negotiations and Their Impact on Trade: U.S.–Vietnam trade talks intensify, focusing on tariffs, defense cooperation, and pressure to enforce IP rights, block transshipments, and raise commercial standards. 10:09 Food Safety Scandals and Consumer Trust: Authorities expose counterfeit cooking oil and infant formula, prompting widespread crackdowns on fake goods to rebuild public confidence and meet international expectations. 13:53 The Shift Towards Domestic Consumption: As Vietnam faces an aging workforce and uncertain exports, it begins shifting to a consumption-led economy powered by local demand and entrepreneurship. 18:37 Resolution 68: A New Economic Model for Vietnam: This reform blueprint aims to elevate private enterprises, reduce state-owned dominance, and bet on AI, semiconductors, fintech, and data to power long-term growth. 25:23 Future Prospects: Infrastructure and Economic Growth: Valerie explains how Vietnam targets 8% GDP growth through credit expansion, zero-interest loans, and improved infrastructure while FDI remains on hold pending tariff clarity. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vietnams-new-frontier Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner at Hustle Fund, joins Jeremy Au to examine how geopolitical shifts, demographic decline, and education policy are reshaping global talent and innovation flows. They explore Japan and Korea's push into Southeast Asia, the unexpected impact of smartphone culture on fertility, and how political actions in the US are disrupting the university pipeline and research ecosystems. They also critique bureaucratic inefficiencies in tech transfer and reflect on assimilation policies, academic flywheels, and the cultural nuances behind talent mobility. 06:57 Japan and Korea face demographic urgency: Fertility rates in South Korea have dropped from 800,000 births in the 1980s to just over 200,000 in recent years. Corporate leaders are looking to expand into Southeast Asia through joint ventures and partnerships, viewing Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines as key markets. 12:25 Smartphones may be suppressing fertility: Shiyan references an article arguing that smartphone penetration is highly correlated with falling fertility rates. Despite strong family policies in Scandinavia, birth rates continue to decline. The theory suggests that digital bubbles reduce real-life interaction and desire to form relationships. 18:21 Immigration and assimilation face friction: The US excels at integrating newcomers through education and culture, but places like Singapore struggle due to uncertain work visa policies. Students who attend local universities often don't know if they can stay, making long-term integration difficult. 27:41 Political interference weakens academia: Harvard has faced withdrawal of federal research grants, student visa suspensions, and potential taxation of endowments. Shiyan compares it to a "cultural revolution" for US academia, where the cancellation of research funding disrupts entire projects and damages long-term scientific work. 38:44 Academic tech transfer often fails: Jeremy critiques the inefficiency of Asian university IP portals. Unlike MIT's open-access system, some institutions limit what patents are visible and make it hard to search or filter. Feedback on the issue was ignored, revealing a culture of bureaucratic avoidance that blocks commercialization. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/talent-without-borders Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au breaks down the hidden risks in Southeast Asia's edtech sector and early-stage startup law. He explains why edtech often fails to scale, how founder disputes emerge without early agreements, and why choosing the right jurisdiction like Singapore matters for survival. From investor alignment to taxation nightmares, this episode guides founders through the hard truths of building legally sound and scalable ventures. 01:00 Misaligned Edtech Incentives: “Kids use it. Parents, schools, or governments buy it.” Jeremy explains how edtech startups suffer from a split between the user and the payer, complicating both growth and retention. 03:49 Passion Subsidy and Investor Challenges: The sector attracts too many well-intentioned builders, creating a surplus of talent and capital but fewer underpriced investment opportunities. 10:57 Founder Agreements and Equity Clarity: Jeremy outlines how early documentation, even in a simple Google Doc, can prevent future equity disputes, especially when teams evolve before incorporation. 12:37 Tax Burden in the Philippines: He warns that taxing startups on gross revenue instead of profit creates startup-hostile environments and pushes founders to incorporate in more favorable places like Singapore. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/edtech-roadblocks Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Olzhas (Oz) Zhiyenkul, CEO and co-founder of Investbanq, joins Jeremy Au to share how his journey from post-Soviet Kazakhstan to launching a full-stack wealth operating system was shaped by hardship, global education, and the inefficiencies he witnessed firsthand across Asia's financial sector. They discuss how legacy systems fail family offices, why most wealth managers still operate on Excel, and how Investbanq aims to empower rather than replace relationship managers. Olzhas also recounts building boats from garbage on reality TV, reflects on cultural shocks from the UK to Singapore, and maps out his long-term vision for a digital-native wealth future. 06:21 He originally planned to become a nuclear physicist: His passion for math and physics drove dreams of commercializing cold fusion, but advice from a successful uncle led him to pivot toward finance for greater career stability and impact. 09:55 He moved to Singapore to manage a proprietary trading desk: A job offer brought him to Singapore, where he was initially overwhelmed by the heat but impressed by the country's legal, economic, and governance systems, eventually calling it home. 11:42 He rose to CIO of a fund before founding multiple ventures: After working across trading, fund management, and private banking, he identified widespread inefficiencies and started several businesses, including a software studio and wealth firm with co-founder Damir. 17:45 Investbanq was built after failed attempts to digitize wealth management: Disappointed by market solutions that only solved narrow problems, he built a modular operating system with BPMS, CRM, portfolio management, and client reporting, integrated across workflows. 26:50 On reality show Meet the Drapers, he chose discomfort over comfort: During a survival challenge with ex-military participants, Oz gave up the warm seat on a garbage-built boat to join his team in freezing water, valuing full effort over taking the easy role. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/olzhas-zhiyenkul-legacy-systems-broken Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Henry Motte-de la Motte, CEO of Edge Tutor, and Jeremy Au reconnect two years after their last conversation to discuss how global tutoring has evolved. They examine the rise of AI in education, differences in learner motivation, and how human connection and structure remain critical to learning. They explore Edge Tutor's expansion into 30 countries, the decision to stay focused on English and math, and how demographic and economic shifts are transforming education into a premium service. Their conversation also touches on the societal role of parenting, immigration, and childcare policy as key levers to address falling birth rates and education equity. 02:03 AI expanded fast but motivation gaps remain: AI tools help motivated learners but most people, especially K-12 students, need structure and accountability that only human tutors provide. 03:11 Edge Tutor scaled to 30 countries to manage market risk: The company grew from 6 to 30 countries including North America, South America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific to avoid overdependence on any single market. 04:10 English and math make up 80 percent of tutoring demand: Despite requests for other subjects, Edge Tutor remains focused on English and math, which dominate global tutoring spend. 05:05 AI works better for adult learners than K-12 students: Adults often use AI tools effectively when motivated, while K-12 learners benefit more from a consistent human relationship for emotional and social learning. 06:29 Scheduled sessions with human teachers drive learning: Learners tend to skip self-paced AI tools but show up when sessions are fixed and prepaid with real tutors, just like gym or personal training. 13:42 Falling birth rates are driving premium education: With fewer children, parents concentrate resources, creating demand for small-group or 1-on-1 formats and AI-enabled human tutors, especially in wealthy families. 22:30 Immigration and childcare policies affect national birth rates: Countries like France maintain higher birth rates through subsidized early childcare while Spain increases immigration to balance aging populations and support their social systems. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/henry-motte-de-la-motte-tutors-or-technology Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Ilya Kravtsov, Co-Founder of Ringkas, joins Jeremy Au to unpack the rise and fall of Indonesia's lending wave, the ripple effects of the eFishery scandal, and the hard lessons founders must absorb to build sustainable startups. They examine how early hype misaligned business models, how fraud damages more than just a company, and why radical transparency is key to long-term leadership. Ilya shares how Ringkas scaled without lending, why developer partnerships unlocked bank adoption, and how he carefully built a diversified cap table to preserve founder control. 03:00 Indonesia's VC ecosystem matured: In 2012, only three VCs wrote 20,000 dollar checks and most people used BlackBerrys. By 2021, founders raised 5 million dollar pre-seeds with no product.  05:24 Lending distorted metrics: Startups wrongly recorded loan disbursements as revenue and used inflated valuation multiples on their loan books. 08:27 Growth hacks vs. fraud: Ilya draws the line at legality and disclosure. He says growth hacks are common and acceptable only if transparent. 13:32 Ecosystem fallout from eFishery: Ilya dismisses the defense that fraud was standard practice. He says many founders now face reputational damage, blocked financing, and collateral damage from one high-profile failure. 14:10 Ringkas avoided lending: Rather than lend directly, Ringkas built infrastructure between banks and developers. 17:38 Banks adopted due to volume: Traditional banks opened up to Ringkas under pressure from digital banks and low mortgage penetration.  20:41 Cap table strategy: Ilya capped investor ownership below 10 percent, preferring a wide base of angel and neutral investors.  Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/ilya-kravtsov-truth-over-hype Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Mohan Belani, Co-Founder of e27, and Jeremy Au reflect on what it means to be a tech leader, startup founder, and modern dad raising Generation Alpha. They explore how parenting rewires identity, the mental load of fatherhood, and how decision-making feels like startup building in a world flooded with information. They discuss the tension between being an attentive partner and a present parent, how childhood memories shape parenting choices, and how to raise children with curiosity and resilience in an AI-saturated future. 01:22 Becoming a father changed how they saw themselves: Both Mohan and Jeremy share how fatherhood wasn't just a lifestyle change, it rewired how they viewed their purpose, relationships, and future selves. 04:03 Parenting choices are shaped by childhood memory: Disagreements on toys, schools, and routines often trace back to each parent's own upbringing and unspoken childhood needs. 06:41 Too much parenting data creates anxiety: With Google, AI, and peer pressure, small decisions like which stroller to buy feel high stakes. They learned that many choices are symbolic, not essential. 18:14 Startup skills helped them approach parenting: They used frameworks, product-thinking, and planning cycles, treating the transition to parenthood like building a company. 24:27 They prioritized marriage over parenting perfection: Both couples intentionally put their relationships first, believing that strong partnerships make for better parenting despite outside judgment. 34:00 Preparing kids for an unpredictable future: Rather than fixate on grades or jobs, they aim to instill values like resilience and curiosity to navigate a world dominated by AI and shifting norms. 50:06 Curiosity is the most important trait to teach: They agree that teaching kids to ask questions and stay open-minded matters more than pushing achievement or obedience. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/mohan-belani-fatherhood-in-the-ai-era Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Dr. Gerald Tan, founder of Elite Dental Group and the first Singaporean dentist to graduate from Harvard Business School, joins Jeremy Au to share how dentistry blends science, art, and entrepreneurship. They explore his journey from being one of 30 students in NUS Dentistry to leading an AI-driven public health initiative and surviving a devastating fraud by trusted business partners. Gerald unpacks how AI is reshaping oral health diagnostics, how public and private dental sectors have evolved in Singapore, and why legal protections alone aren't enough in business. His story is a powerful look into what it means to lead with resilience and foresight in healthcare. 01:25 He chose dentistry after a biology teacher's influence and secured one of 30 spots at NUS Dentistry: entry was highly competitive with over 900 applicants 10:19 Singapore's public dental sector has improved significantly: however, private clinics remain more agile in adopting cutting-edge technologies 11:53 Private dental practices leverage AI for 3D imaging, smile reconstruction, and robotics: public clinics face slower tech adoption due to red tape 15:10 Gerald leads a national AI project to screen elderly oral health via smartphone photos: the tool supports Singapore's Healthier SG initiative and preventive care agenda 20:04 He bought a retiring dentist's practice to found Elite Dental Group: the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted patient volumes and highlighted business model vulnerabilities 25:41 A joint venture with ex-bankers collapsed after they forged financial documents and fled to China: Gerald relied on contract clauses to unwind the deal but says trust is more important than paperwork Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/gerald-tan-tooth-tech-betrayal Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jiezhen Wu, leadership coach and community builder, joins Jeremy Au to explore how identity, leadership and parenting intersect in shaping purposeful careers. They trace her journey from nonprofit work and Harvard to coaching C-suite leaders across Asia. Together, they reflect on living by design rather than default, the trade-offs of relocating from the US to Singapore, and the internal clarity needed to define true success. Jiezhen unpacks how becoming a mother reshaped her professional lens, why Southeast Asia holds untapped potential for leadership development, and how frameworks can guide but not dictate growth. The episode blends candid stories, cultural nuance and practical reflection for anyone navigating career and life transitions. 01:29 Identity evolves across life stages: Jiezhen shares how becoming a parent, moving countries and shifting careers reshaped how she introduces herself and lives more intentionally. 04:28 Leadership coaching creates systemic impact: Coaching senior leaders unlocks broader ripple effects across organizations, communities and even family systems. 10:08 Parenting clarified her values and time choices: Her decision to integrate work she loves with being present for her children guided her career shift and focus. 14:10 Returning to Singapore aligned purpose and place: While the US offered development, Asia felt like home with stronger roots and a clearer sense of impact. 19:09 Flexible playbooks work better than fixed plans: She encourages leaders to replace rigid five-year plans with adaptive playbooks that evolve with life's seasons. 20:42 Success requires clarity and courage: Coaching often helps people articulate what they truly want and take steps toward it instead of staying stuck or self-sabotaging. 28:31 Tools are useful when customized to the individual: Jiezhen uses coaching frameworks, leadership dialogues and self-designed models like the Possibly Playbook to support reflection and change. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jiezhen-wu-playbook-over-plan Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Vikram Sinha, CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, speaks with Jeremy Au about his personal journey, the power of distribution, and why AI is not just another wave of telecom innovation. They retrace his career from selling mobile plans to leading a successful merger, discuss why distribution is still the biggest driver of growth in emerging markets, and unpack how AI must be localized, inclusive, and protected from bad actors. Vikram explains why telcos should stop blaming regulators, focus on customer experience, and build sovereign infrastructure to stay competitive. He shares how his leadership is shaped by integrity, purpose, and prioritizing people over process even when facing fear and uncertainty. 01:33 Career pivot from engineering to business: Vikram switched paths after his mother's passing and landed his first job at Coca-Cola while selling mobile plans during a summer break. 09:16 Learning integrity through a mistake: A personal audit error at Coca-Cola taught him to separate mistakes from dishonesty and to lead with transparency. 13:56 Distribution is telecom's real advantage: Vikram used FMCG distribution playbooks to build direct rural reach in India, Africa, and Indonesia. 19:01 4G fulfilled 3G's promises, AI will fulfill 5G's: He believes AI paired with low-latency 5G will unlock scalable breakthroughs in health, education, and productivity. 25:47 Early AI investment is essential: Vikram urges telcos to move beyond comfort zones and lead national infrastructure efforts to ensure sovereign digital capability. 26:57 Customer experience over excuses: Telcos must stop blaming regulators and instead deliver seamless service that earns long-term user trust. 44:06 Brave leadership in a merger turnaround: Despite industry odds, Vikram led a successful telco merger by focusing on mission, mindset, and team strength. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vikram-sinha-signal-to-scale Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Pav Gill, ex-APAC Head of Legal at Wirecard, joins Jeremy Au to share how he uncovered one of the largest financial frauds in Europe. They discuss Pav's early career shift from traditional law to fintech, the moment red flags at Wirecard became undeniable, and how an internal whistleblower's plea led him to launch a covert investigation. Pav reveals how management retaliation escalated into threats, fake HR cases, and even potential physical harm. With support from his mother, he connected with investigative journalists, leading to Financial Times exposés and Wirecard's collapse. Pav reflects on the limits of legal privilege, the challenges of systemic fraud, and how founding his governance startup, Confide, helps companies act on misconduct before it spirals. 03:00 Pav joined Wirecard for Fintech exposure: He left a low-paid legal role at GoBear and was attracted by Wirecard's billion-dollar scale and regional autonomy. 07:00 Subsidiary financials didn't match reported earnings: Pav noticed Asia's books were consistently late, loss-making, and inconsistent with group-level EBITDA claims. 08:15 A junior employee blew the whistle to Pav: She feared for her life and refused to carry out forged transaction requests, trusting him as a neutral legal party. 13:00 Pav found fake invoices and logos in inboxes: Wirecard staff had blatantly doctored client documents—indicating round-tripping and money laundering. 17:30 Management shut down the investigation and targeted him: Pav faced office intimidation, HR setups, and was asked to travel to Jakarta under suspicious pretext. 33:35 Pav's mother connected him to journalists: She contacted Clare Rewcastle Brown, who referred them to the Financial Times and helped spark public investigations. Pav Gill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavgill Confide Platform: https://www.confideplatform.com Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/pav-gill-exposing-the-lie Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au unpacks the real value add of venture capital beyond just funding. Using data and founder behavior patterns, he explains how investor type, timing, team building and university background shape outcomes. The conversation highlights what actually helps founders succeed, how top tier funds scout talent and where undervalued opportunities lie across Southeast Asia. 00:34 Research Insights on Angel Investments: Jeremy shares how angel backing increases startup survival by 14 percent, hiring by 40 percent and exits by 10 percent. The early investor effect is real and measurable. 01:36 Key Components of Successful Entrepreneurs: Success tends to repeat when founders launch at the right time, attract high quality resources and execute well. 02:28 Impact of Top Tier vs Lower Tier VCs: First time and failed founders see more benefit from top tier VCs. Successful founders already have momentum and get less marginal value. 05:39 University Influence on Startup Success: Southeast Asia's top unicorn founders often come from NUS and UI. Meanwhile, Ivy League founders get higher funding but often at higher valuations, limiting upside. Watch, listen or read the full insight at  https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vc-impact-on-founders Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jackson Aw, founder of Mighty Jaxx, joins Jeremy Au after three years to reflect on his leadership journey, the evolution of the global collectibles industry, and how personal growth reshaped his business decisions. They discuss the shift from creative spontaneity to strategic discipline, the emotional psychology behind collectibles, and how AI and tariffs are changing how physical products are made and consumed. Jackson also shares how fatherhood made him more patient, why trust in the next generation is now a core business strategy, and what it takes to stay relevant in a fast-moving market driven by youth culture and fragmented IP. 01:29 Downturns forced a new leadership mindset: Jackson shifted from high-velocity experimentation to a more cautious, calculated approach to survive the macro climate. 04:20 Collectibles meet emotional and nostalgic needs: Consumers seek affordable joy and identity through physical items tied to their childhood and passions. 09:00 Young women are reshaping the collectibles market: 70% of Mighty Jaxx's 18–25-year-old customer base are female, a reversal from the male-dominated past. 11:16 Parenthood created better discipline and empathy: Jackson became more intentional with his time and temperament after becoming a father of two. 14:15 The future of IP is fast, digital, and creator-led: New intellectual properties now emerge in weeks via community platforms, flipping the traditional studio-first model. 24:31 Operational agility gives Mighty Jaxx an edge: The company delivers products in as little as three months, unlike legacy players that plan years ahead. 35:25 Founder growth means delegation and resilience: Jackson now invests in mentoring lieutenants, separating personal identity from business outcomes, and accepting that scale requires letting go. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jackson-aw-built-to-collect Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jianggan Li, Founder of Momentum Works speaks with Jeremy Au to unpack how the US-China trade conflict is reshaping global manufacturing, trust in international trade, and Southeast Asia's role in the crossfire. They explore why businesses are stuck in limbo, how Vietnam and Cambodia became unintended casualties, and what diversification looks like when no one trusts the rules anymore. The two dive into historical analogies, business strategy, and what Chinese multinationals might do next to weather the storm. 01:01 Tariffs surprised both sides and confused manufacturers: China and the US escalated their trade war with aggressive tariffs, leaving factories unsure whether to pause, relocate, or wait. 02:33 Vietnam and Cambodia were hit despite trying to stay neutral: US tariffs targeting Vietnam shocked businesses who had just begun shifting supply chains there, triggering rapid reassessments. 05:21 China prepared a response toolkit in advance: The central government had studied scenarios and released policies, stimulus packages, and papers to manage the impact without acting impulsively. 13:32 The bond market backlash exposed real risks: Rising interest rates from global uncertainty threaten America's ability to maintain its debt-fueled spending, raising fears across both sides. 17:52 Diversification became a necessity, not a strategy: Both Chinese exporters and Southeast Asian governments are now exploring more trade partners, not relying solely on China or the US. 24:32 New markets are opening up for cross-border trade: With the US less predictable, Chinese firms are turning to Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia to grow exports and presence. 30:04 China's domestic consumption still lags behind: Without boosting local confidence and spending, China's manufacturing surplus will continue spilling into foreign markets and intensifying competition. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jianggan-li-when-trade-trust-breaks Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au unpacks how startup failure patterns often begin with charisma unchecked by execution. He explores how founders can avoid false starts, the real reason repeat founders succeed, and why the value of VCs and angels depends on founder maturity. The episode draws parallels between entrepreneurship and professional disciplines like medicine, stressing the need for coaching, humility, and peer learning to improve success odds. 00:54 The Yin-Yang of Founding Teams: Jeremy emphasizes that founding success hinges on pairing sales charisma with product execution, using Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak as archetypes. 04:14 Founder Failure Patterns: Founders fail early when they believe their own hype; trial-and-error has now been replaced by codified frameworks like Lean Startup and Zero to One. 10:13 Repeat Founder Advantage: Successful founders are more likely to succeed again due to better market timing and resource magnetism. 13:57 VC Value Hierarchy: Borrowing from Maslow, Jeremy outlines a VC value pyramid capital, reliability, reinvestment, governance, networks, and coaching. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/avoiding-founder-failure Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Elena Chow, Founder of ConnectOne and Jeremy Au reconnect after three years to examine how Southeast Asia's hiring landscape evolved from rapid expansion to cautious, AI-aware decision-making. They explore how employer expectations have become more structured, why talent strategies now vary across the region, and what individuals must do to stay employable in the decade ahead. Their discussion covers the rise of Malaysia as a hiring hub, Vietnam's growing edge despite language challenges, and how automation is reshaping job functions. Elena also shares her “skills, markets, and industries of the future” framework, helping professionals make better career moves through strategic alignment. 02:00 Hiring shifted from urgency to intentionality: Employers now plan roles more carefully, focusing on outcomes and cost rather than headcount. 04:30 Fractional and contract talent went mainstream: On-demand expertise has become more accepted as startups look to stay lean and agile. 06:43 Malaysia emerged as a sweet spot for tech hiring: Its talent pool is multilingual, well-educated, and more cost-effective than Singapore's. 08:54 Indonesia's talent bubble burst post-unicorn boom: Average workers were overpaid during the boom and are now facing tough salary corrections. 22:02 AI adoption is redefining job replacement logic: Firms are evaluating AI tools before rehiring, making automation the first line of action. 12:00 Vietnam's talent quality rises despite English gap: With strong work ethic and improving tools, Vietnam's engineers are becoming regionally competitive. 29:34 Future-proof careers need 3-point alignment: Elena urges jobseekers to evaluate roles through the lens of future-ready skills, growth markets, and promising industries. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/elena-chow-hiring-vs-ai Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

David He, partner at Gunderson Dettmer sits down with Jeremy Au to dissect Southeast Asia's shifting startup and legal terrain. From the fallout of the eFishery scandal to the rise of ESG compliance and convertible notes, they explore how investor behavior and founder strategies are evolving. The discussion highlights governance gaps, tougher diligence, and why regional funding optimism may have stalled again. 07:12 E-Fishery Scandal as a Southeast Asian Theranos: David compares eFishery's collapse to Theranos—highlighting financial mismanagement, weak controls, and how one scandal can shake an entire region's credibility. 10:25 Due Diligence Now Takes Months, Not Weeks: Term sheets are no longer quick investors stretch due diligence timelines, run legal and commercial checks in parallel, and uncover more issues late in the process. 12:38 Surge in Use of Convertible Notes: Investors increasingly prefer convertible notes for their downside protection and maturity leverage, especially during uncertain market conditions. 19:15 ESG & Compliance Burden Rising for Founders: Startups now face investor-mandated ESG, AML, and governance standards originally meant for large institutions—often without the internal capacity to manage them. 24:32 Tariffs Trigger Global Uncertainty, Slow Exits: Trump-era tariffs hit Indonesia and Vietnam, affecting investor confidence and delaying IPOs and M&A despite startups themselves not being directly impacted. 27:11 Philippines Up, Indonesia Down: The Philippines is gaining momentum with underexposure and English fluency, while Indonesia cools down from overinvestment and post-eFishery fallout. 30:05 Down Rounds Are Less Stigmatized: Founders and investors alike are more open to valuation markdowns, with flexible deal terms helping break the deadlock in difficult fundraising climates. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/david-he-scandal-shakes-trust Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au breaks down why most startups fail and why it's rarely just one thing. Backed by funnel data and battle-tested case studies, he reveals six patterns that repeatedly kill ventures, no matter how visionary the founders are. From premature scaling to bad macro timing, this talk shows how failure is often structural, not personal. 00:05 Startup Funnel Reality: Out of 1,100 seed-funded U.S. startups, only 12 reached unicorn status. Failure happens at seed, Series A, Series B and beyond. 01:26 Case Study: Jibo's $73M Fall: The world's first social robot died from engineering overruns, leadership disruption, and Amazon's cheaper, voice-only Echo. 03:53 Defining Failure: A startup fails when early investors don't get their money back regardless of user love, media buzz, or product quality. 08:00 Six Killer Patterns: Startups fail from co-founder misalignment, building without validation, misreading early traction, scaling too fast, bad timing, or relying on too many risky bets—all seen in cases like Quincy Apparel, Triangulate, Baroo, Fab.com, and Iridium. 22:40 Rebound & Revenge: Failed founders often bounce back—some become professors, others launch billion-dollar revenge startups like Rippling and Anduril. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/anatomy-of-startup-failure Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Joanna Yeo, founder and CEO of Arukah and former institutional investor, speaks with Jeremy Au to explore how Southeast Asia's agri-waste can be transformed into a global carbon credit engine. They unpack how her education at Harvard, Cambridge, and Stanford shaped a mission to connect vulnerable communities to opportunity, and how she learned from finance, blockchain, and rapid tech scaling to build a climate startup grounded in data, incentives, and farmer equity. Joanna shares why embedded finance failed to scale in agri, how she discovered the commercial viability of biochar and biogas, and why her company commits 50 percent of carbon revenue to participating farmers. The conversation highlights how Southeast Asia's agriculture base, low-cost advantage, and digital infrastructure can lead the world in transparent, high-trust climate solutions if builders focus on real data, real problems, and real upside sharing. 05:05 The Impact of Education on Joanna's Career: Gratitude and exposure to global inequality led her to a clear goal to connect vulnerable people to markets at scale. 10:46 First Steps in Finance: Private Equity and Morgan Stanley: She learned how capital shapes the world, how sustainability can be measurable, and how investment logic is structured. 20:38 Reflecting on a Rapid Growth Journey: Joining a unicorn gave her a close look at how top tech firms manage speed, tracking, and execution discipline. 22:28 Addressing Poverty in Southeast Asia: Joanna links her mission back to the post-pandemic data showing up to 100 million people falling below $2/day. 23:16 Founding a Climate Tech and Agritech Startup: She founded Arukah to bring embedded financing and carbon monetization to underserved farming communities. 28:50 Building Sustainable Business Models: After embedded finance proved unreliable, she pivoted toward waste conversion with high verification standards. 36:49 Commitment to Farmers and Long-Term Vision: Bravery means holding the line on fairness Arukah gives farmers 50% of carbon revenue and builds with long-term trust. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/joanna-yeo-turning-farm-waste-to-wealth Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Felix Collins, founder of Full Circle Biotech, speaks with Jeremy Au about how biology, not machines, is transforming the future of food. Felix shares how his company turns agricultural waste into affordable, high-quality protein using insects, fungi, and bacteria. They unpack why SEA farmers care more about savings than slogans, how superstition meets pragmatism on shrimp farms, and how skipping big feed mills unlocked faster scale. Felix also opens up about building alone in a basement with buckets of waste, and why cost, not carbon credits, is the real key to decarbonizing food systems. It's a candid look at resilience, innovation, and why Southeast Asia may lead the next global food revolution. 02:22 Insect Farming as a Protein Solution: Early efforts to teach contract farmers in Kenya failed; he shifted to centralized operations to reduce complexity and improve scale. 05:11 Farmers Adopt Cost-Saving Tools, Not New Habits: Felix found that Southeast Asian farmers don't chase productivity—they adopt tools that reduce cost and keep daily routines intact. 13:20 Scaling Without Feed Mill Support: With no guaranteed offtake from large feed companies, Full Circle started producing and selling its own pellets to collect farmer data and grow sales. 24:35 Southeast Asia is Agritech's Edge: Fragmented supply chains and extreme price sensitivity make the region ideal for fast adoption of low-carbon, affordable feed solutions. 29:00 Carbon Credits Are Unreliable: Felix explains that while carbon credits are theoretically valuable, their volatility and complexity make them less effective than carbon taxes or direct market incentives for driving real change in food systems. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/felix-collins-feed-from-waste Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au pulls back the curtain on Southeast Asia's high-stakes venture capital world where 5,000 startups fight through the jungle, but only 10 reach the expressway. It's a ruthless game of asymmetric bets, power-law outcomes, and make-or-break timing. He reveals what really happens inside VC firms: how general partners juggle investor pressure with founder bets, why a single breakout startup matters more than dozens of average ones, and how the best founders move faster than anyone expects. You'll hear about billion-dollar exits, internal prioritization dynamics, and why follow-on capital is often more political than rational. 01:11 GPs Must Master Dual Survival Skills: Jeremy explains that general partners in VC funds must do two high-cost, high-stakes things: invest in the right startups, and raise capital from limited partners like sovereign funds and endowments each with different return horizons and motivations. 03:57 Real Case Studies: 50x in 3 Years, 10x in 1: He shares two explosive examples: Sequoia's $60M investment in WhatsApp returned $3B (a 50x return in 3 years), and a Danish startup acquired by Sonos returned 10x in one year without ever launching a product. 07:00 VC Funnel: Brutal Qualification from 5,000 to 10: A sample Southeast Asia VC sees ~5,000 startups a year. 3,500–4,000 are immediately disqualified. 300 are prioritized. 100 get diligence. 10 get funded. Most never get a meeting, let alone a check. 10:32 Exit Scenarios: Billion-Dollar Choices & Regret: Jeremy breaks down how VCs navigate exits via shutdowns, talent acquisitions, or full IPOs. He contrasts Instagram (sold early to Facebook) vs. Snapchat (held out), and shows how Sea Group, Goto, and Grab all exited differently. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/southeast-asias-startup-gauntlet Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au speaks with Raagulan Pathy, founder and CEO of Cast and former APAC head at Circle, to break down the structural shift underway in global finance. They explore how stablecoins, particularly USD-backed ones like USDC, offer a new digital foundation for cross-border banking, especially in economies plagued by inflation, capital controls, and financial instability. The conversation unpacks why traditional banks are failing globally mobile users, how dollarization is accelerating through crypto rails, and why sovereign currencies in smaller nations may not survive the next wave of financial decentralization. They also debate the long-term tension between U.S. crypto regulation and dollar dominance, and why Southeast Asia must build self-sustaining economies instead of relying on exports. Raagulan shares his vision for a flatter financial world where anyone, anywhere, can participate in a global economy without being constrained by local systems. 05:32 Stablecoins Enable Global Financial Access: Stablecoins like USDC give users a secure, borderless way to hold and move dollars especially valuable in countries facing inflation, devaluation, or banking instability. 11:41 Global Dollarization Is Accelerating: Raagulan forecasts that stablecoin-driven dollarization will peak around 2040 as smaller national currencies struggle to compete with the liquidity and reach of the U.S. dollar. 10:00 Traditional Banks Struggle with Global Customers: Even in advanced economies, traditional banks are ill-equipped to handle globally mobile users, leading to compliance headaches and service breakdowns. 25:05 Crypto Rails Will Power the Future of Finance: The conversation separates the role of crypto as currency from crypto as infrastructure, emphasizing that universal crypto rails will underpin all global financial transactions. 20:35 U.S. Crypto Policy Is Conflicted, but Will Evolve: The U.S. government's stance on crypto has swung between crackdown and support, but Raagulan sees a middle-ground policy emerging that balances innovation and control. 38:30 Southeast Asia Must Shift from Export-Led Growth: Countries like Vietnam and Indonesia can't rely solely on exports to the U.S.; they must modernize governance, stimulate local demand, and grow service industries. 27:00 A Freer Financial World Is the Endgame: Raagulan envisions a financial system where opportunity isn't tied to birthplace. Crypto and stablecoins could flatten the playing field for billions globally. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/stablecoins-vs-broken-banking Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au and Gita discussed the challenges of doing business in Indonesia, particularly the issue of "preman" (gangster) culture, its effects on businesses, and potential ways to mitigate this issue. They also addressed systemic corruption, the importance of legal reforms, and how emerging markets can better integrate informal sectors. 02:55 Understanding Preman Culture: Gita explains the origins and persistence of "preman" (gangster) culture in Indonesia, which has been affecting businesses since the colonial era. 06:25 Challenges in Emerging Markets: The conversation delves into the systemic challenges businesses face in emerging markets, focusing on rent-seeking behavior and law enforcement inefficiencies. 13:53 Public Sector and Corruption: Gita discusses the impact of low wages in Indonesia's public sector, which fosters rent-seeking behavior and creates a corrupt environment, affecting businesses of all sizes. 16:27 Taxation and Revenue Challenges: The difficulties of implementing effective tax systems in Indonesia are explored, highlighting inefficiencies in tracking citizens and businesses, further complicating the economic landscape. 18:50 Empowering Local Leaders: Gita proposes a solution to collaborate with local citizenry groups by offering them formal roles and contracts to integrate them into the formal economy. 20:29 Fragmented Organizations and Turf Wars: Gita explains how Indonesia's informal preman groups are fragmented, with turf wars between different factions and some being backed by political entities, making it hard to address the issue centrally. 24:13 Fraud Confession and Its Implications: The discussion touches on the eFishery founder's fraud confession and its wider implications for the Indonesian startup ecosystem, where systemic issues of dishonesty and lack of legal consequences persist. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/indonesia-gangsters-vs-byd-vinfast Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au breaks down how Limited Partners shape the Southeast Asia venture capital landscape and why founders should care. He explores the hidden motivations of sovereign wealth funds, endowments, corporations, and family offices, and how they quietly influence funding decisions. Jeremy reveals how startups move through brutal funding stages, why VCs compete fiercely at the same stage yet collaborate across them, and how different VC fund strategies from index portfolios to venture builders change founder outcomes. Finally, he dives into the race for proprietary information, sharing how top VCs win deals before competitors even know they exist. This conversation is essential for founders navigating opaque markets and VCs fighting to stay sharp in a crowded field. 00:00 LP Motives Shape VC Bets: Jeremy reveals how sovereign funds, endowments, and corporates invest with different goals that impact founders' funding journeys. 01:54 Hidden Pressures Behind LP Capital: LP expectations for returns, diversification, and learning create invisible forces that shape VC-founding dynamics. 04:11 Brutal Startup Journey & Death Valleys: From FFF to IPO, Jeremy explains why early-stage founders face tough gaps and why VCs step in selectively. 08:41 Four VC Fund Playbooks Explained: Jeremy breaks down index portfolios, concentrated bets, multistage giants, and venture builders and what each means for startups. 14:23 Winning in the Sourcing Race: Why speed, proprietary information, and reference checks separate top VCs from the rest in Southeast Asia's fast-moving markets. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/ventures-invisible-war Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au reconnects with Maria Li to explore how Tech in Asia is navigating Southeast Asia's startup winter, generative AI disruption, and corporate acquisition pressures while maintaining community-first values. Together, they discuss AI experimentation, acquisition integration, leadership dynamics, and balancing the demands of modern media and parenthood. The discussion highlights lessons in adapting to rapid change, staying transparent, and making intentional choices in business and life. 01:36 Tech Winter and Paywall Strategy: Maria explains how Southeast Asia's startup slowdown pushed Tech in Asia to loosen its paywall, balancing revenue with keeping the community informed during tougher times. 03:51 Navigating AI and Market Changes: AI disrupted the media landscape. Maria shares how they are experimenting with AI-generated content and new product ideas to stay relevant and useful for their audience. 05:20 The SPH Acquisition Experience: The acquisition brought benefits but also slower corporate processes. Maria highlights protecting startup culture by selectively opting into SPH's systems while keeping focus on core operations. 10:15 Reflections on the COO Role: Maria describes how market pressures shifted her COO role towards sales, HR, and nimble operations, emphasizing clear communication and alignment with CEO Willis. 19:01 AI's Impact on Media and Proprietary Data: With AI commoditizing general news, Maria sees proprietary startup data and scoops as key advantages that keep Tech in Asia essential and differentiated. 27:54 The Role of Media in Information Distribution: Media reduces opacity in Southeast Asia's tech scene. Maria cites Glass Wall as a tool that surfaced hidden industry knowledge, helping founders avoid bad actors. 40:27 Parenting in the Digital Age: Maria shares her parenting approach limiting social media, allowing moderated screen time, and using AI for productive learning while delaying harmful exposure. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/maria-li-parenting-publishing-and-ai-panic Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au and Shiyan discuss Singapore's election outcomes, unpacking voter behavior, opposition growth, independent candidates, and future policy challenges. They reflect on global trends, local issues like housing and education, and how politics, tech, and business intersect in a rapidly changing world. 01:27 Surprising Election Results: PAP exceeded expectations, rising above 66% vote share. Workers' Party retained voter support in key wards. Analysts underestimated incumbency and voter desire for stability. 06:10 PAP's Communication Strategy: Lawrence Wong and other leaders used podcasts and longer formats effectively. Jeremy highlights how this humanized the PAP and resonated with younger, thoughtful voters. 15:50 Independent Candidate Jeremy Tan: Jeremy Tan stood out with tech-forward and well-researched policies. His CPF Bitcoin idea drew mixed reactions but sparked debate. Other proposals, like scam prevention, were seen as creative. 22:15 Future Challenges and Hopes: Jeremy and Shiyan express concerns about AI, education readiness, and global trade risks. Singapore faces the challenge of adapting its economy if East-West trade tensions become permanent. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/incumbents-hold-strong Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au shares how venture capital evaluates startups, using examples from crypto confusion, post-WWII VC history, and power law returns. He explains why founders often misunderstand their market type, how tech repeats old cycles, and how VCs structure investments. Speaking practically, he highlights why founders must communicate clearly and how VC math rewards big winners and tolerates many losses. 1. Founders often believe in Blue Ocean, but many are in Red Oceans. Almost all founders think their idea is unique, but many just add features. 2. Red Ocean founders should expect slower, efficient growth. VCs advise Red Ocean founders to grow carefully, accept slower returns. 3. Blue Ocean founders must clearly explain their differentiation. VCs become jaded and need clear explanations to believe in new categories.  Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vc-judgement-patterns Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au chats with Jed Ng, founder of AngelSchool.vc, about why he chose angel syndicates over VC funds as a faster, more flexible path to financial freedom. They discuss the current venture downturn as a rare opportunity, the gaps in angel education, and how Jed scaled his 1,400-member syndicate globally. Jed also shares how he evaluates founders and the hard truths of building solo in Southeast Asia's venture scene. 1. Syndicate over fund by design: Jed explains why syndicates offer faster execution, greater flexibility, and more personal freedom compared to the 10-year commitment of VC funds. 2. Angel investing as a freedom strategy: He views angel investing not just as a financial play, but as a path to independence through systematic access to outsized returns. 3. Downturns are entry points: Jed frames the current venture slowdown as a rare opportunity—where long-term investors can “buy the dip” and build for the next upcycle. 4. Angel education is broken: While founders and VCs have support systems, angels don't. Jed built Angel School to give new investors real tools—not just theory—to operate effectively. 5. Built global from day one: His syndicate scaled to 1,400 LPs across 14 countries using digital tools and inbound growth, proving that solo-led syndicates can operate at global scale. 6. Diligence isn't just data: Jed looks beyond pitch decks to assess founder-market fit, sweat equity, and grit—focusing on long-term behavior over short-term polish. 7. Founder romanticism is risky: Not everyone should raise venture. Jed calls for filtering out hobbyist founders and backing only those who demonstrate true commitment and resilience. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/syndicates-over-funds Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au and Rachel Wong unpack eFishery's founder's public confession to systematic fraud. They dive into how cultural pressures, ecosystem gaps, and misplaced investor trust contributed to the fallout. They discuss the challenges of cross-border enforcement, the limits of traditional due diligence, and the real-world consequences for Southeast Asia's startup reputation. Together, they reflect on how founders, investors, and regulators must learn from these failures to rebuild trust and resilience in the next cycle. 1. Founder confessed openly: The eFishery CEO admitted in a Bloomberg interview to falsifying numbers, directly exposing himself to criminal and civil legal risks. 2. Cross-border enforcement is weak: Rachel explains that without strong local enforcement or overseas assets, penalties against founders in emerging markets are hard to execute. 3. Culture of normalized fraud: The founder justified faking numbers by claiming it was common practice among Indonesian startups, though Jeremy and Rachel reject this excuse. 4. Investors and auditors missed the fraud: Despite hiring PwC and visiting farmers, due diligence failed because the founder orchestrated systematic deception through subsidiaries and coached farmers. 5. Utilitarian morality used to rationalize: The founder defended his actions by claiming the fraud helped fishermen and employees, which Rachel critiques as dangerous self-gaslighting. 6. Civil lawsuits unlikely: They points out that expensive litigation, low recovery odds, and coordination problems among investors make civil action improbable. 7.Southeast Asia's startup credibility at risk: Both argue that if regulators fail to act on this clear case, it will cause long-term damage to trust and investment in the region. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/efishery-fraud-founder-confession Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au shares insights into how venture capitalists evaluate early-stage startups in Southeast Asia. Speaking directly to aspiring founders, he breaks down how investors assess potential through three core lenses: exponential growth, clarity of thinking, and personal trust. Drawing on personal stories, failed bets, and breakout wins, he explains that execution matters more than the idea itself, and that successful fundraising often comes down to preparation, communication, and timing. He also demystifies how power shifts when founders build momentum moving from pitching for approval to choosing among term sheets. The conversation is a practical roadmap for anyone serious about turning a startup into a venture-backable business. 1. VCs bet on growth and execution: Investors look for startups that can grow 4–9x in two years, led by 10x teams solving painful problems with strong economics. Execution beats ideas. 2. Pitching is a clarity test: A good pitch clearly shows the problem, market, and revenue model. Demos work better than words. VC money is high-risk, high-reward—founders must know the trade-offs. 3. Trust drives fundraising leverage: Founders earn trust through credibility and results. When momentum builds, investors compete—like Rewind AI's 170 term sheets via Google Doc. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/outperform-or-fade Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au reconnects with Milan Reinartz to explore how angel investing evolved into a community-led platform, why Southeast Asia's VC math doesn't work, and how late-stage private markets offer new opportunities for retail millionaires. They talk through founder quality, opaque incentives, and the need for real diligence in a fragmented region. It's a grounded take on what needs to change in early-stage investing and what's already shifting. 1. From solo investing to a platform: Milan started out deploying his own capital but realized he needed to pool investors to access better rounds. 2. Backing experienced founders only: He avoided pre-revenue startups and focused on tier-one operators with track records and strong fund backing. 3. Bundling small checks to access big rounds: The club combined smaller investments into a single vehicle to meet the $100K+ minimums of top-tier deals. 4. Vetting with the right experts: The community cross-checks deals with vertical operators like SaaS leaders or commodities experts to assess traction and founder integrity. 5. Southeast Asia's exit math problem: Milan explains how capital raised outpaces available exit value, making traditional VC returns nearly impossible at scale. 6. Filtering out bad faith actors: Milan and Jeremy discuss how investors can use networks and peer validation to spot red flags early. 7. Giving accredited investors better access: Milan's platform opens up late-stage private tech companies like SpaceX and OpenAI to “retail millionaires” without large ticket sizes. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/rebuilding-venture-capital Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au reconnects with Anthea Ong for a candid conversation on what it means to lead with integrity, empathy, and independence. They trace her journey from corporate leadership into the social sector and eventually into Parliament as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP). Anthea shares how she first declined the NMP role, then later accepted it after realizing that structural change especially around mental health and vulnerable communities required policy influence. She recounts her unconventional first speech in Parliament, starting with three collective breaths to bring mindfulness into the chamber. They discuss how debate still matters in a supermajority system, why recent mid-term resignations have damaged the credibility of the NMP scheme, and the need to rethink Singapore's political structures in light of global democratic shifts. Anthea also talks about her current work leading WorkWell Leaders, a nonprofit that helps CEOs prioritize employee wellbeing and lead more sustainably. 1. Anthea declined the NMP role in 2011 but said yes in 2018 after realizing that structural change, not just grassroots work, was needed to support mental health and social equity. 2. Her nomination came through the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, and she was selected despite thinking she had performed poorly in the final interview. 3. She made history by starting her first Parliament speech with a short breathing exercise to center presence bringing mindfulness into a space built for debate. 4. She used her platform to speak against discriminatory hiring practices, particularly those that asked job applicants to disclose mental health history. 5. She argued that even in a supermajority Parliament, debate still matters because it influences implementation, sets public tone, and archives dissent for future accountability. 6. She criticized the recent mid-term resignations of two NMPs who joined political parties, warning that it erodes public trust and turns the scheme into a talent pipeline. 7. Today, she leads WorkWell Leaders, where she works with over 80 companies to show how a CEO's personal wellbeing is directly linked to employee health and business performance. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/human-centered-governance Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au speaks with Valerie Vu about Vietnam's sudden shock from the 46% US tariff under Trump. What started as optimism turned into panic factories collapsed, partners pulled out, and even personal tragedies occurred. The government acted fast, but trust with the US was damaged. Vietnam is now shifting toward multipolar trade, owning more of its value chain, and exploring new diplomatic lanes with countries like China, Singapore, and the UAE. They also explore how digital platforms like TikTok are emerging as tools of modern diplomacy. Vietnam was blindsided by the 46% tariff, causing financial losses, factory shutdowns, and even suicides from sudden business collapse.The government responded immediately with emergency meetings and a direct call from the General Secretary to Trump.The US refused to reverse tariffs without demanding currency reform, trade surplus reduction, and blocking Chinese transshipment.Vietnam expanded trade talks with China, UAE, Australia, and others, while strengthening regional ties with Singapore and Indonesia.Factory owners are now investing in branding, design, and IP to move up the value chain and reduce reliance on OEM contracts.Cambodia and Malaysia are also recalibrating as China freezes infrastructure investments and US tariffs shake regional trade flows.Singapore's PM Lawrence Wong went viral in Vietnam through TikTok, showing how soft power now runs through short-form media.

Jeremy Au sits down with Jeffrey Lonsdale to unpack the US-China trade standoff, the Taiwan flashpoint, and how Southeast Asia is adapting to global shifts. They explore how tariffs are reshaping supply chains, the risk of trade wars escalating, and the difficult position countries like Vietnam and Singapore now find themselves in. The conversation also looks ahead at how governments, investors, and founders should think about resilience in a volatile world. 1. Tariffs as a political and economic tool - Trump uses tariffs not only to protect US industries but as a form of domestic consumption tax, shifting behavior and revenue like a GST or VAT. 2. Escalation breeds popularity - Politicians in countries like Canada, Mexico, and parts of Europe gain domestic support by opposing Trump era tariffs, encouraging confrontational stances. 3. Two futures for the US economy - A positive outcome involves cutting red tape and reindustrializing; a negative one sees trade wars, inefficiency, and geopolitical instability, especially if China moves on Taiwan. 4. China-Taiwan conflict would ripple globally - Supply chains are tightly linked—any flashpoint could halt key components, expose Western dependency on Chinese manufacturing, and cripple downstream industries. 5. Southeast Asia's mixed upside - Countries like Vietnam and Indonesia benefit from the “China plus one” shift, but they're also at risk if rerouted exports from China trigger new US tariffs. 6. Neutrality may not last - Singapore's attempt to stay neutral could break down in a Taiwan crisis; facilitating trade with China could be interpreted as taking sides. 7. Southeast Asia's long-term growth hinges on reform - Vietnam and Indonesia need policy upgrades, power reliability, legal trustworthiness, and governance improvements to fully capitalize on global shifts and avoid investor skepticism after scandals like eFishery. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/tariffs-shape-trade Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au sits down with Li Hongyi, director of Open Government Products, to explore his journey from aspiring physicist to building digital tools for public service. They discuss agency, leadership, and the realities of driving change in government—from the impact of a Google internship to lessons in management and building systems that protect against fraud. 1. Dreaming in equations: As a kid, Hongyi wanted to be a physicist—he loved thinking in systems and solving puzzles like the resistor cube challenge in secondary school. 2. Systems over subjects: He saw physics, economics, and computer science as different languages for modeling how things work and how people behave. 3. Google made it real: His internship showed him that his work could help real users, shifting his focus from theory to practical impact and leading him to computer science. 4. Agency isn't given—it's taken: He realized in university that waiting for the “next step” wasn't enough. A friend pushed him to apply to Google, which changed his mindset. 5. Becoming a manager meant unlearning: Early on, he micromanaged engineers. Over time, he learned that great managers remove roadblocks instead of redoing others' work. 6. Empowerment beats control: Inspired by his Google boss, he now sees leadership as creating the right conditions for others to thrive—not just setting direction. 7. Parking.sg was the easy part: Coding the app took 3 months, but aligning agencies, digitizing data, and syncing with enforcement took 8–9 months.

Jordan Dea-Mattson, a veteran tech leader, and Jeremy Au discussed how Jordan built developer tools at Apple and went on to lead engineering teams at Adobe and Indeed. They explored how he witnessed Apple's transformation under Steve Jobs, the often unseen dynamics behind major tech layoffs, and what it takes to grow and scale high-performing teams in Southeast Asia. Jordan also shared how he led the rapid expansion of Indeed Singapore, navigated its unexpected closure, and helped his team transition. He also opens up about overcoming personal trauma, leading with integrity, and why real bravery means acting in the face of fear. 1. From curious teen to Apple product manager: Jordan fell in love with computers in middle school, studied computer science, and hustled his way into a job at Apple by fixing bugs and thinking like a product owner. 2. Building early developer tools: He managed key tools like ResEdit and Max bug, and worked on making Apple software usable in Japanese, Arabic, and Hebrew—shaping his global product thinking. 3. Seeing Apple with and without Jobs: Jordan lived through Apple's lost years and felt the seismic shift when Steve Jobs returned—cutting the product line, raising the bar, and restoring focus. 4. From Apple to Adobe: At Adobe, Jordan worked on Acrobat's SDK, then led a cross-product team to improve interoperability—laying the groundwork for what became the Adobe Creative Suite. 5. Layoffs, politics, and unintended consequences: He was laid off during Adobe's merger with Macromedia, learning firsthand how internal politics often decide who stays and who goes. 6. Helping Adobe's products play nice: His team standardized core components like fonts and color management, turning a “preschool” of incompatible products into a cohesive offering. 7. Building Indeed Singapore from scratch: In 2018, Jordan set up the Indeed product center in Singapore, growing it from 4 to 250 people—emphasizing diversity, speed, and engineering quality. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/engineering-soft-landings Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au breaks down what founders should really look for in a VC—beyond branding. He shares a practical framework for value-add, highlights how VCs behave in failure, and urges founders to dig deeper than surface signals. The conversation also looks at why older founders often perform better, even if they raise less, and the dynamics of VC incentives. VCs show true value in failure: Founders often overlook how a VC behaves when things fall apart—but that's when reputation is earned.Most “value-add” claims are surface-level: Using a pyramid model, Jeremy explains that real value lies in basics like capital, governance, and reinvestment—not flashy perks.Some VCs actively destroy value: He shares how one VC blocked a cents-on-the-dollar exit, leading the startup to shut down completely.Support goes beyond capital: A VC offering a personal loan during a tough time stood out more than any platform or pitch.Reference-check your VC: Don't just talk to winning startups—learn how the VC acted when things went badly.

Jeremy Au unpacked why most startups fail and how failure is often misunderstood especially in Southeast Asia's tech landscape. He pointed out that failure isn't just about poor execution or bad luck. It's often structural, recurring across funding stages, and rooted in deeper issues like team mismatches, market timing, or scaling too fast. He also drew a clear line between economic failure and personal failure, reminding founders that not hitting a return target doesn't mean they're bad leaders or people. He shared recurring patterns and what comes next for those who've been through it. 1. Good Idea, Wrong Team: Some startups never get off the ground because the team can't execute—either due to weak dynamics or the wrong mix of skills. 2. False Starts: Products built in a vacuum without real user insight often flop, no matter how technically sound they are. 3. False Positives: Early traction can be misleading—what works in one market or segment may fail in another if context isn't deeply understood. 4. Speed Trap: Fast growth and big funding can set unrealistic expectations, creating pressure to scale beyond what the team or model can handle. 5. Bad Macro Luck: External events—like funding winters or shifting investor focus—can kill momentum even for strong companies. 6. Cascading Miracles: Some ambitious startups crash despite big raises and press hype, only to see others succeed later with the same core idea. 7. The Second-Time Edge: Founders who've succeeded before have better odds next time around, thanks to sharper timing, stronger networks, and better-hiring instincts. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/startup-false-starts Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au talks with Gita Sjahrir, an Indonesian economist and entrepreneur, in a deep dive on Indonesia's current macroeconomic conditions and policy landscape. They analyze how inconsistent government communication, executional shortcomings, and short-term policymaking have contributed to uncertainty among investors and the public. The discussion also explores infrastructure priorities, the structural incentives behind recent decisions, and the enduring resilience of Indonesian citizens and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This episode offers a pragmatic assessment of an economy with strong fundamentals navigating through complex challenges. 1. Market turmoil triggered by poor policy communication: Stock prices dropped, and the IDX temporarily halted trading after inconsistent government messaging on taxes and royalties. 2. Investor confidence shaken by opacity: The lack of clear direction and unified communication made both local and foreign investors wary of the policy environment. 3. Layoffs highlight deeper weaknesses: Mass layoffs by a major garment company raised concerns about weakening consumer demand and employment trends. 4. Sovereign wealth fund rollout lacks transparency: The introduction of DARA, a new sovereign wealth fund, failed to clarify how infrastructure or job creation goals would be met. 5. Execution—not intent—is the policy bottleneck: While school lunch programs and stimulus plans aim to help, flawed rollout and budget tradeoffs create new public dissatisfaction. 6. Budget cuts send mixed signals: Programs for small and medium businesses have seen funding reduced, undermining growth for the sector that employs millions. 7. Controversial military law revision sparks unrest: The lack of draft transparency triggered fears over potential authoritarian shifts, adding to market and public anxiety. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/crisis-of-confidence Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au discussed how pitching, trust, and fundraising work. He explained that pitching is about expressing a future others can believe in, not just raising money. He shared how traction builds trust, why capital must be chosen carefully, and how great founders turn investor interest into leverage. Drawing on examples like Rewind.ai and BenchSci, he laid out what separates good pitches from great businesses. Pitch to clarify thinking: Saying your plan out loud invites feedback and sharpens your logic.Traction builds trust, not slides: Focus on customer milestones first—VCs only glance at decks.Trust is built, not assumed: Show credibility, deliver reliably, be warm, and care beyond yourself.Keep small promises: Reliability grows when you do what you say, even with tiny tasks.Say yes to help: Accepting offers like coffee builds closeness and rapport. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/pitch-with-purpose Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Vikram Bharati, founder of Draper Startup House, and Jeremy Au talked about how the startup world has shifted since their last conversation. They explored how Draper Startup House has expanded across continents while wrestling with the challenge of scaling both physical spaces and community-driven programming. They discussed how remote and hybrid work are evolving post-pandemic, and how startups are adapting faster than large corporations. They also reflected on parenting and preparing the next generation for a fast-changing world, where original thinking and adaptability may matter more than credentials. Vikram also shared his growing interest in “digital nations,” a concept that could reshape how governments serve people and how individuals relate to borders and institutions. 1. Scaling Draper Startup House globally: Vikram shares that Draper Startup House has grown to 15 locations across South America, India, and Korea, focused on building startup communities in adventurous and underserved places. 2. Finding the right people as a challenge: The model combines real estate ("hardware") and startup programming ("software"), which requires local leaders who can do both—something that's tough to find consistently. 3. Remote work is here to stay: Vikram believes the post-pandemic world has made flexible work a permanent reality, especially for startups and global teams like his, which now span the US, Brazil, India, Portugal, and more. 4. Hybrid models work best: The trend he sees is a mix of in-person and remote work—typically two or three days in the office—which balances productivity and employee satisfaction. 5. Parenting in a changing world: Both Jeremy and Vikram reflect on raising young kids today, and how future success may depend more on adaptability and creativity than traditional credentials or schooling. 6. Unique perspectives come from unplugging: Vikram suggests that stepping outside the common information feed is one way to build original thinking—especially as everyone now consumes the same digital content. 7. Digital nations as the next frontier: Vikram outlines his interest in building “digital nations”—online systems that provide government-like services and community without being bound to geography, potentially expanding opportunity beyond borders. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/scaling-startup-communities Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au explored the growing challenges of youth unemployment in Singapore and how AI is fundamentally changing the job market. They discussed how the rise of automation is making entry-level roles less necessary, leading companies to prioritize experienced hires who can work with AI rather than train fresh graduates. They also examine how AI amplifies the gap between high and low performers, making adaptability and self-motivation more crucial than ever. They also talked about the need for educational reforms that focus on problem-solving and real-world applications, as well as how young professionals can position themselves for success in an AI-driven economy. 1. Youth unemployment rates are increasing – In 2022, 94% of Singapore university graduates were employed within six months, but by 2024, only 87% of fresh graduates had secured full-time jobs. 2. AI is displacing entry-level jobs – AI tools are replacing tasks traditionally done by junior employees, reducing the need for new hires, especially in roles like market research, legal functions, and writing. 3. Companies prefer experienced hires – Businesses are opting for experienced workers who are comfortable using AI tools, reducing the reliance on entry-level hires due to the high cost of training and managing juniors. 4. AI benefits top performers – High performers in companies are already leveraging AI, while low performers are falling behind, highlighting that AI does not necessarily level the playing field. 5. The challenge of learning through apprenticeships – Entry-level positions have traditionally been apprenticeships where workers learn the craft. With fewer junior roles available, the next generation of workers may lack the experience needed for senior positions. 6. Education needs to change to foster agency – Shiyan suggests that education should focus on helping students develop agency and problem-solving skills by working on open-ended real-world problems, rather than simply memorizing facts. 7. The importance of finding passion and adaptability – As AI changes the job landscape, young professionals must be passionate about their work and adaptable to new tools like AI to remain competitive in the evolving market. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/ai-job-disruption Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au talked about how venture capitalists assess startups based on their ability to scale rapidly, led by strong founders with a clear strategy and market fit. However, their decisions are shaped by heuristics, biases, and time constraints. The best founders move fast, refine their pitches, and demonstrate exponential growth potential. He also discussed how VCs evaluate startups, the common pitfalls in fundraising, and why speed and conviction matter. 1. VCs bet on exponential growth – Investors look for startups that can double or triple revenue yearly. “If you start at $10K, triple it, then double—you're at $100M in nine years.” 2. Founders are the first filter – VCs assess character, skill, and drive.  A great founder learns fast and executes relentlessly. 3. Strategy must be clear – Investors back ideas that are logical and practical. A strong strategy directly addresses market demands. 4. 10x thinking defines winners – Great startups offer a product that is 10x better, target a massive market, and have strong unit economics. 5. Speed wins in venture capital – The best deals close fast, often within hours. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/venture-capital-decision-tree Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Benjamin Loh, Certified Speaking Professional and Jeremy Au discussed public speaking, thought leadership, and leadership growth. They reflected on Benjamin's journey from public speaking to training financial advisors and running a thought leadership agency. They explored how social media amplifies voices, how leaders can shape industry narratives, and the challenges of managing perception online. Benjamin also shared personal reflections on balancing ambition with personal commitments and learning from past mistakes. 1. From speaker to trainer to agency leader: Benjamin started as a public speaker, transitioned into training financial advisors, and eventually launched a thought leadership agency to scale his impact. 2. The power of storytelling in leadership: He sees himself as a teacher, believing great speakers don't just inform but create change through compelling narratives. 3. Public speaking and consulting have shared DNA: Both require deep understanding of people, but agency work demands managing teams, systems, and fast-changing industry trends. 4. Thought leadership must be polarizing: To stand out in a noisy world, leaders must take clear, sometimes divisive stances that attract their audience while pushing away others. 5. Social media rewards boldness, not neutrality: The best content sparks conversation, and platforms amplify strong opinions over safe, middle-ground messages. 6. Managing criticism is part of the game: Benjamin shares how he handles online negativity, including personal attacks, and reframes them as opportunities to engage and build credibility. 7. Balancing ambition and family is tough but necessary: He opens up about past mistakes in prioritizing work over family and the effort it takes to rebuild relationships. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/polarizing-thought-leadership Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au and Valerie Vu discussed Vietnam's evolving role in global trade, the impact of US-China tensions, and the country's sweeping internal reforms. They explore how foreign investments are reshaping Vietnam's industries, how the government is navigating trade uncertainties, and how local businesses are adapting to increased competition. They also covered Vietnam's efforts to modernize infrastructure, attract high-tech industries, and balance relationships with global powers. With a strategic mix of diplomacy, economic reform, and foreign direct investment, Vietnam is positioning itself for long-term growth despite short-term challenges. 1. Vietnam is bracing for US trade policies – Holding a $124 billion trade surplus with the US, Vietnam is under watch for potential tariffs. However, its penalties are expected to be lower than China's, preserving its competitive edge in exports. 2. Chinese companies are relocating to Vietnam – One in three new investments comes from China, as manufacturers shift production to avoid US tariffs. Initially focused on final assembly, these companies are now moving entire supply chains to Vietnam. 3. Vietnam's infrastructure boom is attracting foreign capital – The government is launching high-speed rail, metro lines, and road projects to boost logistics. Chinese, Japanese, and Korean firms are competing for contracts, making infrastructure a key driver of economic growth. 4. The government is restructuring for efficiency – In its largest administrative reform since 1986, Vietnam is cutting 20% of its public sector workforce and merging ministries. While aimed at reducing corruption, these changes are causing short-term business disruptions. 5. Foreign investors are competing in Vietnam's growing economy – China and Hong Kong lead with 1,300 new projects, outpacing Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the US combined. While Vietnam welcomes all investors, proximity gives Chinese businesses a logistical advantage. 6. Vietnam is maintaining the “bamboo policy” strategy – The country balances relations with the US, China, and Russia through strategic trade deals. A $1.5 billion Trump-branded golf resort highlights Vietnam's pragmatic approach to foreign investment. 7. Tourism and real estate are major economic drivers – Vietnam's travel market is projected to more than double to $42 billion by 2030, driven by domestic and Chinese visitors. Meanwhile, real estate demand remains high, with a full market rebound expected by 2027. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vietnams-trade-shift Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts