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Learn from Southeast Asia's best tech leaders. Build the future, learn from our past & stay human in between. No B.S on success. Southeast Asia's #1 startup & venture capital podcast with 60,000+ listeners. Hosted by Jeremy Au. VC & serial founder. Harvard MBA & UC Berkeley. Sci-fi nerd & dad of two daughters. Growth and personal growth solves all problems. The best feeling is coaching good humans to be great leaders. Published on Monday and Thursday 6am (Singapore Time). Monday: Weekly tech ...
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Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main points: 1. Singapore Port Traffic Jam From USA Tariffs & Middle East Conflict: Shiyan and Jeremy examined the severe traffic congestion at Singapore's port, now at unprecedented levels. Yemen's Houthi rebel attacks on Red Sea commercial shipping (in support of the …
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Mohan Belani, Cofounder & CEO of e27, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Founding e27 & Echelon: Mohan discussed his early career decisions as a computer engineering undergraduate with the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) program, failed founder and startup executive. He shared how he juggled his studies and his founding role in e27, often…
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Thomas Jeng, Singapore General Manager of Aspire, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. BCG Consultant to Aspire GM: Thomas discussed his decision-making process at Georgetown University aiming to become a lawyer or diplomat, but switched to consulting at BCG where he worked on challenging projects like "delayering" cases. He recounted h…
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Wing Vasiksiri, General Partner of WV, and Jeremy Au discussed three main themes: 1. Thaksin Lese-Majeste & PM Lawsuits: Recent legal events (Thailand's court delay in the verdict on dissolving the Kao Klai (Move Forward Party), Thaksin Shinawatra lawsuit and PM Srettha Thavisin cabinet hearing) contribute to political instability, affecting invest…
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Jeremy Au delved into the concept of “cognitohazards” — information that causes harm upon comprehension. Introduced by the sci-fi novel "There is No Antimemetics Division," this definition helps encapsulate a new danger in modern society. Examples include the "Werther effect" where suicide becomes contagious due to social replication and mass media…
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Sam Gibb, Managing Partner of Resolution Ventures, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. New Zealand Law to Southeast Asia VC: Initially set on a legal career, Sam quickly realized it wasn't his calling after interning at a law firm. Sam transitioned to PwC, where he worked in the finance sector. In 2011, Sam relocated to Singapore to ta…
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Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. $3B Money Laundering Family Offices: Jeremy and Shiyan highlighted recent fraud cases in Singapore involving Chinese nationals, focusing on a massive $3 billion scheme by a group of 10 individuals who set up five family offices. This prompted tighter reg…
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Adriel Yong, Head of Investments at Ascend Network, and Jeremy Au assessed Southeast Asia's low VC fund performance (median 0.4X returns vs. USA (1X) and India (1.3x). They discussed VCs shifting towards more realistic and localized investment strategies, while also taking into account growing geopolitical USA vs. China tensions with their resultin…
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Tommaso Demarie, CEO & Cofounder of Entropica Labs, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Quantum Computing Startup: Tommaso shared his insights on quantum computing and its potential applications. He talked about his company, Entropica Labs, which focuses on developing software for quantum error correction, a crucial element in quantum …
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Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed three main themes: 1. New President Tô Lâm: Jeremy and Valerie discussed the recent stabilization efforts by the Vietnamese government amidst political and economic turbulence, with the election of the new president, Tô Lâm, who previously served as the Minister of Public Sec…
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Jeremy Au reflects on his nostalgic visit to his alma mater Raffles Junior College before its demolition. He remembers his initial excitement of joining a new school, bitterness over a personal loss, and the processing of his grief over the next 2 decades. He also reconnected with former teenage classmates who are now fellow middle-aged adults, all…
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Agung Saputra, CEO & Founder of Surplus Indonesia, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Indonesia Pollution Crisis: Agung flagged that Indonesia is one the top 3 polluters in the world: #2 plastic polluter, #2 food wastage and #1 most air polluted city (Jakarta). He highlighted the lack of regulations and public awareness as major barri…
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Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. USA VC vs. Southeast Asia Fund Performance: Bain’s 2023 private equity report shows that Southeast Asia's VC returns have been lower over the past decade, with median LP distributions of 0.4X for Southeast Asia, China 0.6X, Europe 0.7X, USA 1X and India …
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Jeremy reflects on his teenage military experience in the Singapore army across two years: 1. might makes right 2. camaraderie humor and 3. sacrifice as a crucible into adulthood. He details the transition from the implicit social norms of school into the military, where he learned that laws which codify right and wrong are actually backed by the u…
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Fady Abdel-Nour, General Partner at Antler, and Jeremy Au, talked about three main themes: 1. Naspers & Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Learnings: Fady shared his career path, starting in investment banking during the peak financial markets of 2007. He then transitioned to Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, focusing on long-term and solution capital in…
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Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Singapore vs. USA Education Systems: Jeremy and Shiyan discussed differences in structure, funding, and outcomes. In Singapore, the education system is centralized with high academic rigor, while in the USA, quality varies significantly due to local prop…
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Jeremy Au discusses the success habit of creating content, rather than consuming. He remembers the nervousness in launching the first podcast episode, his desire for deep, human-centric stories about tech leaders, and overcoming writer's block. He advises rising thought leaders to start with a topic they are passionate about, the importance of cons…
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Jeremy Au collaborated with Huawei’s Global Chief Public Services Industry Scientist, Mr. Hong-Eng Koh, to discuss insights from the 2024 APAC Congress in Bangkok. They talked about three main themes: 1. Public Sector Digital Transformation: Mr. Hong-Eng Koh shared his journey from the Singapore Police Force to leading Huawei's global public sector…
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Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. China Diaspora Waves: Jeremy and Jianggan discussed the long-standing historical connections between China and Southeast Asia, dating back to the era of Admiral Zheng He's voyages during the Ming Dynasty. They touched on the various dialect groups Cantone…
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Jeremy Au reflects on the finite nature of life, creating the human desire to survive, build a family, or leave behind a legacy of accomplishments. He explores longevity and discusses life extension champion Bryan Johnson and his "don't die" slogan. He references Mark Manson's book "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck," which argues that confrontin…
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Helen Wong, Managing Partner of AC Ventures, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. AC Ventures Managing Partner Leadership Journey: Helen shared her extensive journey from Oxford University to investment banking to GGV Capital to INSEAD MBA to Qiming Ventures to Managing Partner of AC Ventures. She highlighted her 20 years of investing e…
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Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au, talked about three main themes: 1. Jakarta City Master Plan: Gita highlighted Jakarta's urgent urban planning needs to address rising sea levels, land subsidence, air pollution, traffic congestion, sanitation upgrades and education requirements. Miscommunications, fragmented stakehold…
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Jeremy Au explores "roboganda," the new wave of propaganda promoting the benefits of robots and AI. Roboganda playbook: 1. Emphasize transformation of industries with increased productivity, downplay short-term negative job displacement, reskilling and search costs for individuals. 2. Humanize AI to satisfy individual social needs (loneliness, vali…
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Jeremy and Chia discussed his experience changing careers from Southeast Asia VC Principal to US AI founder. He outlined the non-transferable nature of many VC skills when becoming a founder. While VC offers a high-level understanding of market and investment dynamics, it lacks the hands-on operational skills needed to build a startup from zero. Th…
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Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. New Prime Minister Transition: Jeremy and Shiyan discussed the transition of Prime Minister leadership from Lee Hsien Loong to Lawrence Wong. They discussed the potential challenges that the new Prime Minister would face such as addressing wealth inequal…
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Jeremy Au as a science-fiction and history nerd reviewed the 3 complex themes of Liu Cixin's "Three-Body Problem" series. Spoilers ahead: 1. Social Darwinism: "Dog eat dog" foundational psychological core of human society due to the survival instincts of individual humans, in stark contrast to Western fiction like social utopian “Star Wars,” moral …
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Jason Edwards, CEO & Founder of Alternatives.pe, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Lawyer to Founder & VC: Jason recounted his legal career at Baker & McKenzie in Australia and Hong Kong. Due to the Asian Financial Crisis, he focused on financial restructuring for distressed firms (many of whom had borrowed heavily in US dollars) acr…
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Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed three main points: 1. Vietnam $24B Bank Bailout & Legislature Chairman Resignation: Jeremy and Valerie discussed the $12B fraud at Saigon Bank, the death penalty verdict, the appeals process and the closure of 50+ bank branches. The Vietnamese central bank injected $24B of "s…
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Jeremy Au partnered with Huawei to share his observations of their 2024 APAC Congress in Bangkok, which highlighted their latest advancements in AI, hardware, and infrastructure. He analyzed Huawei’s R&D investment commitments, vertical integration, manufacturing scale, globalizing workforce and local partnerships - positioning them as a formidable…
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Léa Klein, CEO of Makesense, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. 98% Southeast Asians Want Meaning At Work: Léa and Jeremy highlighted that regional workers' desire for purpose contrasts with the dissatisfaction many feel with the level of meaning in their current roles. They discussed how companies could bridge this gap between desire…
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Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. $1.5 Trillion USD Green Investment Gap: Jeremy and Gita agreed with Bain & Company’s report that Southeast Asia is "woefully off track" on green investments to reduce emissions and needs new policies and financial mechanisms to help bridge the gap. Th…
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CP Group, a prominent Thai conglomerate, traces its beginnings to the founder Chia Ek Chor migrating from Chaozhou, China to Thailand in 1919. Despite early skepticism, he started a humble seed business which grew significantly by adapting to local agricultural challenges and changing global climate patterns. This foundation allowed his son and suc…
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Shuyin Tang, CEO of Beacon Fund and Partner of Patamar Capital, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Consultant to Venture Philanthropy to Impact Investing: Shuyin initially aspired to a career in diplomacy but was rejected - leading to her choice to become a management consultant at Bain & Company. She worked hard at Bain to merge busi…
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Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. 51% SE Asia Favor China (vs. USA): Jeremy and Shiyan debated how the region is politically and economically reacting to the China vs. USA's "strategic competition". If ASEAN decision-makers were forced to pick sides, 51% opted for China vs. 49% for USA (…
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Jeremy Au delved into startup founders’ decision to choose between bootstrapping and venture capital funding. He shared his dual experiences as both a founder (who had done both routes) and a venture capitalist (who had to judge startups). He reset the framing that bootstrapping has historically been the norm and the default financing pathway for s…
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Richard Armstrong, Venture Partner at TA Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed three main points: 1. 267,000 Instagram Followers Insights: Richard recounted his formative years growing up in multiple countries leading to his interest in sharing his personal journey. He debunked common myths about media creators: emphasizing that success in the space re…
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Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. $12B Fraud Death Penalty: Jeremy and Valerie discussed Vietnam's largest-ever fraud trial regarding Vietnamese tycoon Truong My Lan and the Van Thinh Phat group. The $12B case impacted 6% of Vietnam's GDP and has led to real estate distress, economic …
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Jeremy reflected on how becoming a father of 2 daughters has reshaped his self-identity and the complex interplay between career ambitions vs. family responsibilities. He explored the evolving discourse on work-life balance, the brutal reality of trade-offs and the importance of intentional sacrifices. Jeremy tied together insights from Sheryl Sand…
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Maxime Chaury, Cofounder of Upworth, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Rocket Internet GM: Maxime shared his transition from working in management consulting to embracing the dynamic startup environment in Southeast Asia, notably with Rocket Internet and later ZEN Rooms in Malaysia. He discussed the strategic considerations behind op…
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Wing Vasiksiri, General Partner of WV, and Jeremy Au discussed three main points: 1. Pheu Thai Pro-Business Reform: Wing and Jeremy discussed the new Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's ambitious plans to stimulate the economy through pro-business reforms. The administration has decided to focus on helping and investing in the tourism sector to …
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Adriel Yong, Head of Investments at Ascend Angels, and Jeremy Au frankly discussed the public's skepticism about Southeast Asia's venture capital (VC) landscape. They contrasted USA VC exit outcomes vs. the reality of regional exits: smaller at around $0.1-0.5B (refer to Cento Ventures report), taking longer than 10 years (vs. closed fund lifecycle…
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Jeff Lonsdale, Partner of Starstorm Ventures, and Jeremy Au embark on a comprehensive exploration of how Y Combinator's 20 startup requests flies (or flunks) within the Southeast Asian (SEA) entrepreneurial landscape. They debate sectors poised for regional adaptation and growth, such as robotics (per capita deployment), defense technology and the …
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Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. TikTok Trump vs. Biden Ban Resurrection: Jeremy and Shiyan delved into the USA political establishment's snowballing momentum to nationalize TikTok via divestment due to national security, anti-China, social media regulation and moderation of public opin…
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For the 400th BRAVE episode, Jeremy discussed the hard 4-year journey of founding the podcast during the global pandemic to becoming Southeast Asia's #1 tech podcast. He shared why he decided to spotlight local tech stories and how he almost quit due to burnout multiple times. He learned to value "oyakodon" craftsmanship over maximalism, continue "…
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Adrian Li, Founder & Managing Partner of AC Ventures, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Cambridge & Stanford MBA Childhood Inspiration: Adrian shared his multicultural upbringing across Hong Kong and the UK, leading to a pivotal teenage moment where he decided to study his way into Cambridge University. He evolved from academic succe…
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Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed three main themes: 1. Prabowo & Gibran 59% Electoral Win: Gita shared the aftermath of Indonesia's election, highlighting Prabowo’s landslide victory in a 3-way contest. She delved into opposition voters' dismay and demonstrations in Jakarta, tempered by the fasting month whi…
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Jeremy Au talked about the multifaceted nature of startup failures through insights from Professor Tom Eisenmann's book, "Why Startups Fail." He highlighted how startup failure is more common than people think, revealing that only 4% of companies were able to achieve 10x to 50x or higher returns. He discussed the six types of startup failures from …
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Justin Banusing, Cofounder & CEO of Clout Kitchen, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Philippines Gaming & ESports Boom: Justin shared that the Philippines, and by extension, Southeast Asia, has a vibrant gaming and esports ecosystem. He attributed this enthusiasm to the country's usage of mobile gaming and esports as both socializati…
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Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Taylor Swift $500M Singapore Economy Boost: Jeremy and Shiyan discussed the Singapore government’s strategic chess moves for Taylor Swift's concert exclusivity in Southeast Asia. They discussed the excellent return on investment of the $3M move for a $50…
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BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast: Patrick McGinnis, VC & Creator of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) Sapiens, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) vs. FOBO (Fear of Better Option): Patrick shared how he had created the terms FOMO and FOBO during his MBA student days at Harvard. He shared how he was surprised 10 yea…
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