Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes:

1. Kamala vs. Trump USA Election: Jeremy and Shiyan discussed Kamala Harris stepping into the presidential race, and speculated on her potential policy directions and how her leadership might influence relations with Asia. The excitement around her candidacy and the shift in political dynamics were key points, along with how both parties still view being tough on China as beneficial.

Adriel Yong, Head of Investments at Ascend Network, and Jeremy Au discussed three major topics:

1. Startup Accounting Tricks (GMV, Revenue, Gross Margin, Contribution Margin): Local VCs have often confused Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) with actual platform revenue, and gross margins with actual unit profitability. Startups have also split reporting contribution margin into CM1, CM2, CM3 and CM4. This has caused investor misunderstandings, accusations of misleading financial reporting and startup boards to focus on the wrong metrics. Prevalance is high due to inexperienced finance teams, emerging VCs and poor market norms/ incentives.

​​Jeremy Au discussed the increasing intensity of "algostorms" - unpredictable social media “weather systems” driven by algorithms that prioritize engagement over truth. The Internet’s transition from human-centric, chronological forums to a volatile online environment where individuals are caught in fluctuating must-discuss trends manipulated by botnets, corporations, and professional influencers. He also drew parallels to the stock market, where algorithm-driven trading can cause flash crashes, leading to rapid market drops and recoveries. Some people trendjack to push their agendas, others unconsciously follow what seems to be majority opinion, and some seek refuge in genuine human interactions. He pointed out government actions to regulate content platforms and deploy Internet “circuit-breaker” blackouts, across Singapore, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Iran and Bangladesh. Acknowledging the power of online influence is the first step to taking back control over one’s reactions and gaining intentionality in the digital sphere.

Huiting Koh, Founding Managing Partner of Blueprint Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Solo General Partner (GP) Experience: Huiting discussed her journey as a solo GP, emphasizing the complexities of establishing Blueprint, her venture fund. She shared insights into the initial setup, overcoming challenges, and the decision-making processes involved. She also highlighted the critical learning curve she navigated, making strategic choices without complete information and trusting her instincts.

Avik Ashar, Principal at Artha Venture Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Zilingo Ethical Dilemmas: Avik reflected on his experiences at Zilingo where rapid expansion led to questionable practices such as buying and selling Apple watches on their fashion lifestyle platform just to meet monthly sales targets, in order to achieve founder and board expectations of non-stop growth. He warned that crossing ethical lines for short-term gains, like funding or fame, is difficult to reverse over the medium term. Adhering to ethical standards is key to decisions that might push the boundaries of integrity, with the option of walking away from the job.

Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Black Myth Wukong $1B AAA Game: Jianggan and Jeremy examined the reinterpretation of 'Journey to the West' in the gaming blockbuster 'Black Myth: Wukong'. The developers overcame huge skepticism, incorporated complex cultural narratives into gameplay and overcame technical challenges to balance traditional storytelling with modern gaming technology. They also discussed the parallels with Indian and Southeast Asia mythology.

Jeremy Au moderated a panel of venture capitalists to unpack the key trends shaping APAC’s investment landscape. Nruthya Madappa emphasized India's rapid recovery in early-stage VC, driven by second and third-time founders and $600 million deployed across 80+ companies at 3one4 Capital. She outlined how India's growing consumer class now outpaces China’s, creating new market opportunities. Brent Ogilvie highlighted Pacific Channel's 98% IRR over 14 years, investing in health, food, and environmental startups, while spotlighting the growing role of AI in deep tech. Ashwin Raguraman pointed to India’s Semiconductor Policy as a key driver of innovation in deep tech. The panelists also noted macroeconomic shifts, including capital moving from China due to geopolitical tensions, and how India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is transforming fintech. They reflected on the broader shift toward sustainability and economic independence, reshaping how VCs allocate capital across the region.

Jeremy Au explored the evolution of technology marketing and how marketers have adapted to communicate complex innovations effectively. He began by referencing sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke’s 1974 “crazy” prediction about how their room-sized computers would eventually shrink to the size of briefcases and that people would eventually be able to work from anywhere in the world. Early software marketers like WordStar focused on explaining and promoting “groundbreaking” features, such as moving text blocks—capabilities that were previously unimaginable with typewriters. Jeremy emphasized that while technology continues to advance, the core human desires for status, security, and convenience remain unchanged. Companies like Apple, with products like the augmented reality Vision Pro and Apple Watch, and Dyson have mastered the art of blending functionality with premium status to appeal to early adopters and affluent consumers. He concluded by noting that despite the shifting landscape of technology -from floppy disks to cryptocurrency and AI companions - the fundamental marketing strategy endures: simplify the message and prioritize solving immediate consumer needs, a timeless approach evident in both historic and modern claims of achieving 10x disruptive improvements vs. the pain of the status quo.

Jeremy Au breaks down the "David vs. Goliath" dynamics of startups challenging industry giants. Startups face unique marketing challenges but can thrive by focusing on experimentation and innovation, creating entirely new market categories. Just like the rise of oat milk and nicotine vapes, disruptive marketing turned once-unknown products into billion-dollar industries. He covers the case study of Southeast Asian unicorns Grab and Gojek who leveraged their agility to outmaneuver Uber and local taxi fleets in Singapore and Indonesia.

Jeremy Au defined startups as newly established businesses bringing future technologies to the present, with unicorns being those valued at over $1 billion. These valuations are typically driven by revenue generation of around $100 million annually and market confidence in future profitability, eg. Palantir and Salesforce. Private markets apply valuation multiples based on future growth potential, with speculative booms in sectors like crypto, where revenue valuation multiples went as as high as 1000x due to bull markets. The odds of achieving unicorn status (about 1 in 40 for USA startups with venture funding) and outlined eight strategies for building a unicorn (Christoph Janz). These include models like “whales,” serving high-value clients, and “rabbits,” scaling by targeting many smaller customers. He emphasized that becoming a unicorn requires long-term execution, strategic positioning, and navigating indirect competition, particularly in Southeast Asia’s fragmented markets.