Happy to share that our podcast is now available in Vietnamese on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts, so feel free to reshare! I’ve also been promoted to COO.
Join us at Geeks on a Beach!
You don't want to miss Geeks On A Beach, the unique premier startup conference in the Philippines! Join us from November 13 to 15, 2024, at JPark Island Resort in Mactan, Cebu. This event brings together tech enthusiasts, investors, and entrepreneurs for three days of workshops, talks, and networking. Register at geeksonabeach.com and use code BRAVESEA for a 45% discount for the first 10 registrations, and 35% off after that.
Regional News & Deep Dives
- Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, discussed how Singapore’s shipping and trade industries are impacted by Middle East conflict and America’s tariffs on China and the privatization of NTUC Income insurance by Allianz.
- Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, talked about Vietnam’s "bamboo strategy" for foreign relations - hosting Putin, Xi Jinping and Joe Biden and its data sovereignty laws.
- Adriel Yong, Head of Investments at Ascend Angels, listed the many ways startups do faulty reporting, valuation errors and founder fraud which VCs must catch during due diligence.
- Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, debated Indonesia’s 200% tariffs on select Chinese imports and its implications on trade relations.
- Wing Vasiksiri, General Partner of WV, discussed Thailand's demographic shifts toward a super-aged population and the impact of political instability on local economic performance.
- Jeremy Au reflected on why he was scolded for asking “stupid questions”, the biggest secret he learned as the region’s top tech host, the rise of “lonelytech” with AI companion startups medicalizing solitude, and "algostorms" where bots increasingly drive, reshape and warp mass societal opinions.
Popular Interviews
- Karl Mak: Viral Memes Founder, Price of Fame & Hepmil Media Evolution: Karl shared how McDonald’s shortage of curry sauce sparked the creation of SGAG viral memes hub, which evolved into Hepmil Media Group across Southeast Asia. He had to overcome a failed acquisition offer, and advised creators on balancing fame with mental well-being and personal identity.
- Thomas Jeng: BCG Consultant to Aspire GM, Navigating Regional Fragmentation & Continuous Learning Self-Awareness: Thomas shared his journey from aspiring lawyer to management consultant, and eventually leading all-in-one finance platform Aspire’s Singapore operations. He stressed the need for tailored strategies in the region's complex market and the importance of balancing confidence with humility in professional growth.
- Roy Ang: Grab Executive to D2C Founder, Evo Commerce Consumer Secrets & Overcoming Pivot Challenges: Roy moved from banking to tech, thriving at E27 and later scaling Grab's financial services. In 2020, he co-founded Evo Commerce, successfully pivoting to D2C with the hangover supplement bback. Roy emphasized the importance of support systems, adaptability, and work-life balance in entrepreneurship.
- Parin Mehta: Google & Airbnb GM Career, Tech Executive to Founder Coach & Leadership Advice: Parin worked as Asia-Pacific GM at Google and Airbnb, where he scaled rapidly-growing operations across continents. He now focuses on coaching and shares the importance of reflective questioning and creating safe spaces for executives to make insightful decisions.
- Mohan Belani: Founding e27 & Echelon, Media Business Myths & Angel & Orvel VC Investing Journey - E442: Mohan discussed his foundational role at e27 and overcoming branding and investment challenges to become a media leader in the region’s tech scene. He highlighted e27’s pivots during COVID-19 which led to its most profitable years.
Community News
- Leanne Robers, cofounder of She Loves Tech, is featured by The Manila Times for showcasing women-led startups from the Philippines in a global competition. Discover her insights on gender dynamics in the startup ecosystem and the integration of psychological principles into entrepreneurship.
- Kevin Brockland is highlighted by Business Today Malaysia for his insights at the KL Startup Summit 2024 on fostering innovation and supporting startup growth. Check out his episode on Malaysia's pre-seed space and navigating fatherhood and its parallels to entrepreneurship.
- Congratulations to Wei Choon Goh for co-authoring "Crash Course on Capitalism & Money," offering practical financial guidance for millennials and Gen Z. Learn more about the challenges of creating art that resonates in the social media algorithms era and overcoming the fears he faced as a founder.
Notable Press & Listener Feedback
- "Your questions and curiosity as an interviewer really helped me to bring out how I went about the swim across the English Channel and the nuances of the mental game. I don't think I've ever been able to share so much detail and thought behind the swim before. I'll certainly share this episode among my friends, fellow swimmers and other swimmers who are going to attempt to cross. Thank you again for the chance to record this podcast. I really enjoyed it!" - Li Ling Yung, first Southeast Asian woman to swim across the English Channel
- "I personally find BRAVE to be a great way to stay in touch with everything that's happening in tech & venture in Southeast Asia. I'm in US tech and venture capital, but I don't get to look at Southeast Asia. This has been a great gateway back home. BRAVE has been very exciting: full of personal stories and practical examples of what's being built. It's made me feel that little bit closer to investing back in the region." - Aaron Fu, Founding Partner of Sherpa VC
- "Proud to be a top 1% listener of BraveSEA according to Spotify Wrapped. This is consistently the best podcast on the topic of venture capital and startups in Southeast Asia. The diverse range of material covered by you, Shiyan and your guests is a masterclass for anyone with aspirations to be part of this ecosystem. Keep up the great content!" - David He, Partner of Gunderson Dettmer
Best Read
Joshua Prager’s “Runaway Money” is sobering. As a parent, I’ve read the children’s book “Goodnight Moon”. However, the huge royalties from this book was gifted as an inheritance to a child, whose life was … warped forever. Financial windfalls, without the right support and knowledge, lead to instability rather than security. Nothing can replace mentorship, good parenting and learning how to overcome tough challenges. Turns out that unexpected fortune can be a curse, rather than a blessing.
Quote
“The producer of old age is habit: the deathly process of doing the same thing in the same way at the same hour day after day, first from carelessness, then from inclination, at last from cowardice or inertia.
Habit is necessary; but it is the habit of having careless habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive… one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.” - Edith Wharton
Reflection
“Women are stronger than we think. We could really do whatever it takes and work hard towards a mission that we believe in." – Trasy Lou, CEO & Cofounder of Fluid
Trasy Lou was confident in being the only female General Manager at Uber in APAC at the time. She didn’t expect her pregnancy labor to start during a critical conference call with her colleagues. Despite this surprise, Trasy remained composed, finished the meeting, and headed to the hospital.
Her dedication to “doing whatever it takes” challenges stereotypes about women’s capabilities under pressure at key life events, and serves as a powerful reminder of the strength women exhibit daily. Her story also underscores the importance of supportive work environments, where flexible hours and family-friendly policies allow women to excel and lead effectively. She would later channel her resilience into founding Fluid, a fintech company revolutionizing B2B transactions with innovative financing solutions.
Have you ever taken a bold step based on a 'nothing to lose' mindset? What was the outcome? How did it shape your perspective on taking risks?
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Stay Brave!
Jeremy Au