Hard Truths By Vertex: Trailer Hard Truths By Vertex podcast

33:08

How is an Indian business dominating the U.S. market without a single person on the ground there? Today on "Hard Truths by Vertex," I'm sitting down with Sanjay, the innovative co-founder and CEO at Spyne, who's going to share just how they pulled it off. Spyne isn't just another software company; it's revolutionizing how car dealerships use AI to transform simple car photos into stunning, studio-quality visuals. Dive into Sanjay's journey from starting with a broad focus in product photography to zeroing in on the automotive niche, drastically scaling their operations, and redefining online car merchandising! IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) How to conquer the U.S. market from abroad? (01:30) What's the billion-dollar trick to transforming auto sales? (04:00) Revealed: The key to fast-moving inventory without physical presence! (07:00) How does advanced AI change the game for car dealers? (10:00) A surprising pivot: From general photography to niche domination! (13:30) Learn why focusing on one solution can lead to exponential growth! (16:30) The big leap: How Spyne's unique model outpaced its competitors! (20:00) Discover how immersive tech is supercharging car sales! (23:00) A no-contact sales revolution in the U.S.! Hear how Spyne cracked the code. (27:00) What's next for Spyne? Sneak peek into the future plans of a market leader! Sanjay Varnwal He is the Co-Founder & CEO at Spyne. Prior to this he worked as Tech & Product Leadership at Oyo. He studied B.Tech in the field of Civil Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaykv/ Rahul Thayyalamkandy Director of Comms & Community, Vertex Ventures SEA & India Rahul Thayyalamkandy joined the SEA/India team as the Director of Communication & Community in 2024 and is based in Singapore. Before joining Vertex, Rahul served as a Product Manager at BLOCK71, an incubator and joint venture of NUS Enterprise and Singtel Innov8, where he developed scalable services for portfolio startups and designed mentorship programs. He also gained experience as a Summer Associate at Cocoon Capital, working with the Managing Partner on investment deals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy / —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please follow or subscribe to the show so you don’t miss out on any of our upcoming discussions. — Follow us to get notified whenever new episodes are shared. — For more information, please visit: https://www.vertexventures.sg…

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S3E3 | Lessons from Indonesia’s Startup Crash and the Road to a Stronger Future 30:42

8 weeks ago30:42

30:42

In this episode of Hard Truths by Vertex, Gary Khoeng, partner at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India, joins host Rahul Thayyalamkandy to explore the Indonesian startup ecosystem. They discuss the recent decline in capital flows, attributing it to global macroeconomic conditions, underperforming IPOs, and election uncertainties. Gary also addresses corporate governance issues and fraudulent activities, highlighting the need for investors to take a more active role. The conversation also covers the ongoing tech talent shortage and potential for AI to bridge the gap. Despite challenges, Gary expresses cautious optimism, pointing to Indonesia's strengths in natural resources and its large consumer base, which present opportunities for fintech, logistics, and consumer-focused startups. IN THIS EPISODE ( 00:00 ) The Hidden Startup Boom: What’s Happening Behind the Scenes in Indonesia? ( 01:00 ) Capital Exodus or Course Correction? The Truth About Indonesia’s Investment Shift ( 04:55 ) Can Indonesian Startups Escape the Governance Trap? Lessons from Recent Failures ( 07:16 ) Investors vs. Fraud: Are They Watching Closely Enough? ( 08:33 ) From Boom to Bust: Why Some Startups Collapse Overnight ( 10:32 ) Who’s Really in Charge? The Role of Governments, Investors & Founders in Fixing the System ( 11:38 ) Why More Founders Are Skipping the Startup Dream in Indonesia ( 13:55 ) Indonesia’s AI Gamble: Can Tech Talent Gaps Be Closed? ( 15:24 ) Is Uncertainty the Best Time to Invest? Finding Opportunities Amid Chaos ( 21:43 ) Can Indonesia Revive Its Industrial Legacy Through Exports & Manufacturing? ( 23:28 ) Can Indonesia’s Sovereign Fund Replicate Singapore’s Success Story? ( 25:31 ) The Valuation Trap: Are Indonesian Startups Focused on the Wrong Metrics? ( 28:48 ) The Next Big Spark: What Could Ignite Indonesia’s Startup Renaissance? Gary Khoeng Gary Khoeng joined Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India in 2017. He focuses primarily on covering Indonesia’s burgeoning startup ecosystem. Prior to joining Vertex, Gary was actively investing in early-stage opportunities entrepreneurs at an Indonesian fund across various sectors including e-Commerce, Fintech, Media and SaaS. Prior to that, Gary spent several years at Citigroup in New York, Singapore and Hong Kong. He also joined the Boston Consulting Group in Jakarta, covering the FMCG and Financial Services sector. https://www.linkedin.com/in/garykhoeng/ Rahul Thayyalamkandy Director of Comms & Community, Vertex Ventures SEA & India Rahul Thayyalamkandy joined the SEA/India team as the Director of Communication & Community in 2024 and is based in Singapore. Before joining Vertex, Rahul served as a Product Manager at BLOCK71, an incubator and joint venture of NUS Enterprise and Singtel Innov8, where he developed scalable services for portfolio startups and designed mentorship programs. He also gained experience as a Summer Associate at Cocoon Capital, working with the Managing Partner on investment deals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/ Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please follow or subscribe to the show so you don’t miss out on any of our upcoming discussions. — Follow us to get notified whenever new episodes are shared. — For more information, please visit: https://www.vertexventures.sg…

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S3E2 | Burnout, Feedback, and the Making of a Leader: PatSnap CEO’s Story 36:24

22 weeks ago36:24

36:24

Ever been told you’re not fit for the job? That’s exactly what happened to Jeffrey during a pivotal moment early in his journey as the CEO of PatSnap. In this episode, I sit down with Jeffrey to explore how he turned tough feedback into fuel for growth. From starting PatSnap right out of university to leading a global tech company, he shares candid lessons about leadership, building strong teams, and navigating challenges. Tune in to hear Jeffrey’s honest take on what it really takes to grow as a leader—mistakes, reflections, and all! IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) "You're not fit to be CEO!"—The moment that changed everything (01:00) Why leadership isn’t just about having a vision (03:00) From writing code to leading a global team—Jeffrey’s evolution (07:00) Behind the scenes: How Jeffrey sets high-level goals (10:00) The surprising secret to handling conflicts and low moments (14:00) Raw talent vs. experience—what really makes a great hire? (17:00) Why Jeffrey still jumps into frontline problems (sometimes) (24:00) Hard truths from an investor that reshaped Jeffrey’s confidence (29:00) Avoiding burnout: Jeffrey’s approach to staying grounded (35:00) Grateful but not proud—Jeffrey reflects on his journey Jeffrey Tiong Founder & CEO Jeffrey Tiong is the Founder and CEO of Patsnap, a global leader in AI-powered IP and R&D innovation intelligence. Under Jeffrey’s leadership, Singapore-founded Patsnap has empowered over 15,000 customers across 50 countries to transform ideas into groundbreaking innovations through cutting-edge market, technology, competitive, and patent insights. Jeffrey’s accolades include Fortune’s 40 Under 40 (2022), and recognition as a Top 50 SaaS CEO by The Software Report (2020). He was also honoured with Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Singapore, cementing his status as a trailblazer in the tech and innovation landscape. PatSnap Every year, $2 trillion is being spent on R&D globally. However, despite the dollars spent, R&D productivity has dropped by 65% for the past forty years. Our mission is to help R&D thought leaders around the world to improve that. We provide a suite of R&D analytic and management tools for businesses, universities, start-ups and research organizations. PatSnap's vision is to empower the innovators to do better research and innovation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreytiong/ Rahul Thayyalamkandy Director of Comms & Community, Vertex Ventures SEA & India Rahul Thayyalamkandy joined the SEA/India team as the Director of Communication & Community in 2024 and is based in Singapore. Before joining Vertex, Rahul served as a Product Manager at BLOCK71, an incubator and joint venture of NUS Enterprise and Singtel Innov8, where he developed scalable services for portfolio startups and designed mentorship programs. He also gained experience as a Summer Associate at Cocoon Capital, working with the Managing Partner on investment deals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy / —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please follow or subscribe to the show so you don’t miss out on any of our upcoming discussions. — Follow us to get notified whenever new episodes are shared. — For more information, please visit: https://www.vertexventures.sg…

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S3E1 | Will India hit its EV Targets? | Akshay Shekhar from Kazam 46:19

25 weeks ago46:19

46:19

Are you ready for a future where electric vehicles are the norm? In this episode, we chat with Akshay, co-founder of Kazam, who’s on a mission to revolutionize how we think about EVs and energy. From leasing EVs to building cutting-edge charging infrastructure, Akshay shares his journey of tackling India’s EV challenges and scaling solutions globally. Discover how his startup is making EV adoption easier and why he believes energy management is the next big frontier. Tune in to learn how the EV landscape is changing—and what it means for you! IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) "Why lease an EV? Akshay's unexpected take." ( 03:00) "The game-changing rise of two- and three-wheelers in India." ( 05:30) "EV economics: How the math works for fleets." ( 07:30) "The future of EVs: Lessons from your smartphone." ( 11:30) "What’s holding back mass EV adoption? The real challenges." ( 15:30) "Will India hit its bold EV targets by 2030?" ( 19:00) "Why charging anxiety is more about perception than reality." ( 23:30) "Public vs. private EV charging: Surprising insights." ( 29:00) "Can EVs become the ultimate digital assets?" ( 36:00) "India’s EV edge: Why the grid is ready." Akshay Shekhar Founder, Kazam Akshay Shekhar is the co-founder and CEO of Kazam, India's largest EV charging company. Prior to this, Akshay built an AR startup and worked at consumer goods companies PepsiCo and Godrej Consumer. Kazam operates in 5000+ pin codes with its software and hardware solutions being used by OEMs, E-Commerce fleet operators and even Charge Point Operators. The startup's vision is to ultimately create a shareable carbon credit pool for the entire EV value chain. https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshayshekhar/ Rahul Thayyalamkandy Director of Comms & Community, Vertex Ventures SEA & India Rahul Thayyalamkandy joined the SEA/India team as the Director of Communication & Community in 2024 and is based in Singapore. Before joining Vertex, Rahul served as a Product Manager at BLOCK71, an incubator and joint venture of NUS Enterprise and Singtel Innov8, where he developed scalable services for portfolio startups and designed mentorship programs. He also gained experience as a Summer Associate at Cocoon Capital, working with the Managing Partner on investment deals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/ —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please follow or subscribe to the show so you don’t miss out on any of our upcoming discussions. — Follow us to get notified whenever new episodes are shared. — For more information, please visit: https://www.vertexventures.sg…

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S2E9 | She dropped out of Harvard to change the lives of 600M women in India — Achitha Jacob 40:29

1 year ago40:29

40:29

What motivated Achitha Jacob to shift her focus from a career in a Fortune 500 healthcare company to founding Proactive for Her, and how does she envision the impact of her work on women's health in India? Join us as we delve into the journey of Achitha Jacob, the founder of Proactive for Her. Discover how Achitha's passion for women's health led her to build a platform empowering Indian women to prioritize their own well-being. From overcoming challenges to fostering a thriving company culture, Achitha's story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative power of putting oneself first. Click here for the transcript . IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) What is Proactive For Her? (05:28) Why did I drop out of Harvard? (06:54) What were the ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey? (13:28) Online or offline business? (17:37) How has the journey with Vertex been? (18:49) How did I build education and awareness in this space? (22:41) Are women willing to invest in their health? (25:52) What does it take to be successful as a single founder? (29:38) What's the difference between being a leader and a manager? (33:46) How resilience helped me get through the difficult times (39:37) Closing Our Guest: Achitha Jacob Achitha Jacob is the founder of Proactive For Her. Proactive For Her is an omni-channel women’s health clinic offering judgement-free, personalised, and confidential healthcare solutions. They address the health concerns of Indian women across their lifetime – from puberty to menopause and beyond. Their services are available online, at home, and at their Bangalore clinics. Be it spreading awareness about annual check-ups to include pap smears and cancer screening, cervical cancer vaccination (HPV vaccination), STI/STD screening or helping women take that leap of faith and book their first gynaecology consultation, they want to empower every Indian woman to take charge of her own health and wellness journey. Proactive has helped 50,000+ women learn more about their sexual and menstrual health and access quality medical care. Young and old(er) women love that Proactive is able to provide them a safe space to address their sexual, menstrual & reproductive health concerns. They have done extensive work on extremely niche and taboo topics like vaginismus, a condition which is not very well understood in India. An alumnus of IIT-Bombay, Achitha dropped out of Harvard Business School to build Proactive For Her. She has previously worked with Fortune 500 healthcare companies and healthcare startups. Website: https://www.proactiveforher.com Elise Tan Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together.…

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S2E8 | How Guan Dian built a Tech Unicorn from Ground up to address the Trillion-dollar R&D market 44:28

1 year ago44:28

44:28

Imagine building a global tech powerhouse from scratch. That's the story of Guan Dian, cofounder, CMO and APAC GM of Patsnap, a pioneer in AI-powered patent search and analytics. From humble beginnings in China to leading a global tech team, Guan Dian's story is one of resilience, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of service excellence. Tune in to hear how Guan Dian transformed Patsnap from a small startup into a dominant force in the tech industry through her visionary leadership and strategic partnerships. Discover how she navigated cutthroat competition, industry disruption, and even global pandemics to propel Patsnap to success. Click here for the transcript IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Introduction (02:26) What is Guan Dian's role in Patsnap? (04:39) Why did Dian leave her "cushy job" to join a startup? (09:08) What have been some remarkable challenges in the journey? (13:23) How Dian realized that she has been pitching to the wrong people (18:23) Advice for female founders (21:54) Showing resilience at the face of adversity (25:21) What were some sacrifices Dian had to make along the way? (27:50) How did Patsnap meet Vertex? (31:39) How has Patsnap incorporated AI into their system? (42:12) Future of Patsnap OUR GUEST: Guan Dian Guan Dian is the co-founder, CMO, APAC GM of Patsnap - a leading provider of research and development (R&D) analytics with AI-powered technology and machine learning. The company has grown from a small four-person operation to international prominence in the highly competitive field of patent analytics. Today Patsnap enables more than 12,000 customers in more than 50 countries to access market, technology, and competitive intelligence as well as patent insights to take products from ideation to commercialization. In her current role at Patsnap, Guan leads the company's Asia Pacific business. Guan has over a decade of experience in the tech industry. Guan started their career as a software engineer at MooWee. Guan Dian has a background in management science and engineering from Stanford University, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Management Information Systems from the National University of Singapore. She was part of the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia and 2021 Tatler’s Asia’s Most Influential. Elise Tan Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together.…

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S2E7 | How Roshni went from babysitting to owning SEA's largest parenting empire 42:06

1 year ago42:06

42:06

What does it take to go from an idea to owning the Southeast Asia Parenting space? In this episode, we have a conversation with Roshni Mahtani Cheung, the founder and CEO of The Parentinc, a pioneering parent-tech leader renowned for owning the largest content-community-commerce online platform for parents in the region. The Parentinc recently made waves with the acquisition of Mothers Work in Singapore, marking their foray into physical retail. Roshni reflects on the challenges of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, the importance of a supportive community, and the transformative power of building a business rooted in authentic passion. Get ready for a conversation that goes beyond tech and into the heart of female leadership and resilience! IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Introduction (02:13) I'm an accidental entrepreneur (05:19) Parenting needs a community that's passionate yet open to change (08:40) Media monetization cannot grow to be a scalable business (16:34) How do you decide when to buy & when to build? (20:37) Be ready to commit 15 to 20 years of your life to the entrepreneur journey (23:12) Vertex is not just a team, it's a family (27:31) Hard Truths for female founders (30:31) Female Founders’ network of 2,000 female founders across Asia (33:04) Regaining confidence in female founders after the Elizabeth Holmes incident (41:31) Future plans for the Parentinc For the full transcript of this episode, click here . OUR GUEST: Roshni Mahtani Roshni Mahtani is the Group CEO and founder of TheParentinc - the company behind TheAsianParent, Mama’s Choice and Webtretho. Her company reaches 25 million parents on a monthly basis. To put that in perspective, 7/10 digital pregnancies in South East Asia use her platform to help raise happy, healthy and confident children. Roshni is also actively involved in the start-up community. She is currently one of the judges at Mediacorp’s business reality show, the “Big Spark”. In 2015, she co founded the Female Founders Network, a group of over 3,500 female founders across Asia. Besides her interest in the start-up world, Roshni is also an Executive Producer of Untouchable: Children of God – A docu movie about young girls in the brothels of India and how they are sold and trafficked from Nepal. She’s also an Obama Leader for the APAC 2019/2020 batch. https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshnimahtani/ Elise Tan Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together.…

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S2E6 | PayPal Mafia Insider on Winning In a Tough Market | Jack Selby 24:50

1 year ago24:50

24:50

Join host Elise Tan in this special episode of the Hard Truths by Vertex podcast, as she sits down with member of the PayPal mafia, Jack Selby, venture investor and independent film director. Discover the untold stories of PayPal's early days, including the merger with X.com and the birth of the pioneering digital payment giant. Jack shares valuable insights on the current investment landscape, exploring business cycles, and the hard truths for both early-stage founders and investors. Plus, delve into the fascinating world of independent filmmaking and learn why Jack finds it a refreshing departure from the routine of tech and finance. Tune in now! IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Introduction (02:51) How did PayPal know about Vertex Ventures in Singapore? (03:56) Comparing 2000s and now, what has evolved in the area of startup and venture investment? (09:10) What strategies were implemented to make the PayPal & X.com merger work? (10:53) What led to the substantial growth of PayPal? (12:17) Hard truths for early-stage founders and investors (17:25) Opinions about portfolio value creators (18:50) What are the emerging trends of 2024? (22:51) How are filmmaking and investing similar? For the full transcript, click here . OUR GUEST: Jack R. Selby Jack R. Selby is the managing director at Thiel Capital. He is a former managing director at Clarium Capital Management LLC. Prior to Clarium, Mr. Selby served as a Corporate Officer and Senior Vice President of PayPal, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL). Mr.Selby was an original member of the founding PayPal team, and served in a variety of roles during his tenure at the company, including the management of PayPal’s international operations. Prior to PayPal, Mr.Selby worked for GFTA Analytics GmbH, a Dusseldorf-based financial consulting company which provides foreign exchange solutions to financial institutions, multi-national corporations, governments, central banks and institutional investors. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackselby/ Elise Tan Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together.…

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S2E5 | Unlocking the trillion dollar Indian startup ecosystem with Nikhil Marwaha 33:51

1 year ago33:51

33:51

In this episode, Nikhil Marwaha, Senior Executive Director, shares his extensive investment journey spanning early and later-stage companies in sectors like consumer, B2B enterprise, and healthcare. Learn about his experiences with growth equity funds, insights into venture investing, and the exciting trends in the Indian startup ecosystem. Based in Gurgaon, he sees a different set but nevertheless exciting venture opportunities. Stay tuned for discussions on emerging themes, including enterprise B2B SaaS, manufacturing in India, and the rise of electric vehicles in India. Discover the unique stories of Vertex's portfolio companies, such as Ace Turtle, Certa and Pilgrim, and gain valuable advice for early-stage entrepreneurs navigating the dynamic Indian market! IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Introduction and Background (01:28) Investment Experience and Transition to Venture Capital (06:27) Overview of the Indian Startup Ecosystem (10:11) Key Investment Trends in India (14:45) Metrics and Assessments for Venture Capital Investing (20:54) Vertex Portfolio Companies in India (23:14) Ace Turtle and Progress in Consumer Segment (25:21) Advice for Early Stage Entrepreneurs in India (30:21) Market Sizing and Challenges in India (32:00) Exciting Areas in Venture Capital for 2024 For the full transcript, click here . OUR GUESTS: Nikhil MARWAHA, Senior Executive Director Nikhil Marwaha joined Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India Team in 2023 and is based in Gurgaon, New Delhi. Prior to Vertex, Nikhil was a Director for Investments at Avendus Future Leaders Fund (Avendus FLF), a US$200M growth equity fund sponsored by Avendus, a leading Indian investment bank, where he led investments across consumer, digital technology & healthcare. Prior to Avendus, Nikhil was a Co-Founder & Principal at MegaDelta, a US$200M secondary fund, where he was on the Board of multiple companies and led exits worth ~US$100M. https://www.vertexventures.sg/#team Elise Tan Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together.…

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S2E4 | Unlocking the Trillion dollar SEA Startup Ecosystem - the Malaysia's context with Chan Yip Pang 27:21

1 year ago27:21

27:21

In this episode of Hard Truths by Vertex podcast, Chan Yip Pang, Executive Director at Vertex Ventures SEA & India, explores the Malaysian startup ecosystem, delving into his journey and the three phases of Malaysian tech development. The conversation covers notable investments, the strengths of the Malaysian ecosystem, and Vertex's investment thesis, offering insights for ambitious founders in Southeast Asia. Join Chan Yip and host Elise Tan as they discuss hard truths and valuable advice for entrepreneurs aiming to make their mark in the Malaysian startup scene. IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Journey from an electrician's son to a VC investor (05:16) The 3 phases of Malaysian tech development (10:49) The most notable investments in Malaysia - Grab and PatSnap (12:12) The advantage of Malaysian Ecosystem - Hungry founders, lower operating costs (15:48) The Vertex investment thesis for Malaysia - invest in ambitious founders (16:41) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs - get started with your idea now to tap into capital and opportunities (19:31) The exit opportunities for Malaysian companies (20:52) Advice for entrepreneurs - focus on what you can control (23:17) How to reach out to Vertex Ventures SEA and India? For the full transcript, click here : Our Guest: Chan Yip Pang Chan Yip Pang is Executive Director at Vertex Ventures SEA & India. He focuses on Pre-A, Series A and Series B investments in Fintech, Consumer and Enterprise Software. Prior to joining Vertex, Chan Yip was the Asia Pacific Investment Director in Experian Ventures (the corporate venture arm of one of the largest credit information firms globally) where he focused on financial inclusion for the next billion users. He was also part of the M&A team and has worked on key acquisitions for the company. In addition, he represented Experian as board of director/observer in several portfolio companies. Follow him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanyip/ Elise Tan Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together.…

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S2E3 | Unlocking the Trillion dollar SEA Startup Ecosystem - the Indonesia's context with Gary Khoeng 32:50

1 year ago32:50

32:50

Indonesia is the largest market in Southeast Asia but with a nascent startup ecosystem, how can entrepreneurs navigate rapid growth while ensuring bottom-line profitability? In this episode, Gary Khoeng shares insights on Indonesia's startup landscape. Covering topics across profitability, unit economics, and internal governance, Gary provides a pragmatic understanding for navigating the challenges of the evolving market. This episode offers key considerations for those aiming to tap into Indonesia's startup opportunities within the broader Southeast Asian context. Tune in now! In This Episode (00:00) Starting the Vertex Journey (04:57) Growth of Fintech in Indonesia (09:37) What are some notable trends in the Indonesian ecosystem? (11:57) Advice for investing in the Indonesian market (12:58) How to reach out to Vertex for funding? (16:51) How does Vertex support its portfolio companies (24:15) At what point should the startup business aim to be profitable? (28:51) Advice for first time founders For the full transcript, click here : Gary Khoeng Gary Khoeng is a Partner of Investment at Vertex Ventures Southeast East Asia and India and is the first to set up the team in Indonesia. He has spent most of his career in financial services and management consulting at the Boston Consulting Group in Jakarta before joining Vertex. At BCG, he covered both banks and FMCG clients across South East Asia. Prior to BCG, Gary worked at Citigroup’s Institutional Clients Group in New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Follow him at https://id.linkedin.com/in/garykhoeng Elise Tan Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together.…

1
S2E2 | Hard Truths About Minting the Next Indian Unicorn w/ Piyush Kharbanda 41:21

2 years ago41:21

41:21

How do Indian startups navigate constraints and build innovative businesses? In this episode of Hard Truths by Vertex podcast, Elise Tan and Piyush Kharbanda discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Indian startup ecosystem, drawing insights from successful ventures like KukuFM and Kissht. Explore the unique dynamics of the Indian ecosystem and the path to success in a dynamic market. Tune in now! IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) How did Piyush come across Vertex? (02:01) How has the Indian ecosystem grown since his joining? (04:12) What are the types of companies that have done well in the Indian ecosystem? (10:48) What brings Piyush to the early stage market? (13:40) Hard truths for first time entrepreneurs (20:50) How do successful start-ups manage to monetise? (28:54) How have the rules of Venture Investing changed since the pandemic? (31:33) Product market fit is a journey (35:08) What should be your investing strategy in India? (37:57) Exit opportunities in the Indian market Read the full transcript here: https://bit.ly/40uuWfS OUR GUEST PIYUSH KHARBANDA General Partner, Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India Piyush Kharbanda joined Vertex Ventures in 2016 and is focusing on opportunities in India. Prior to Vertex, he spent five years investing across sectors with Multiples, a leading India based mid-market fund, where he was involved in investments through portfolio management and exit. Before that, Piyush worked with Alvarez and Marsal on performance improvement and strategy consulting assignments. https://in.linkedin.com/in/piyushkharbanda Your Host Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisetanyl/ —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together. — This podcast is powered by CrazyTok: We help experts become influencers by helping launch, produce, and grow your custom-branded audio and video podcast channels. Find us on our Website , LinkedIn , and Instagram…

1
S2E1 | Unlocking the Trillion-Dollar SEA Startup Ecosystem - The Singapore Context w/ Carmen Yuen 27:05

2 years ago27:05

27:05

What are the evolving trends in the Southeast Asia startup ecosystem? In this episode of Hard Truths by Vertex podcast, Carmen Yuen, General Partner at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India, shares her journey from government-backed initiatives to becoming a key player and rare woman partner in the startup landscape. Get into the mind of a prominent investor and your questions answered - how to navigate this challenging economic and slow funding period? What are the best strategies going forward for your startup? Tune in for a conversation that delves into the heart of the startup world! IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Starting the Vertex Journey (3:56) How has the Singapore ecosystem flourished? (06:20) Is there a type of successful company in Singapore? (08:32) What would be Vertex's investment strategy in Singapore? (09:38) Hard truths to raising funds (13:55) Is it the right time to start companies? (16:02) Do companies learn from experience? (18:26) Exit opportunities for SG companies (22:09) Advice for aspiring female investors and entrepreneurs For the full transcript, click here: https://bit.ly/3QutlTV Carmen Yuen Carmen Yuen joined Vertex Ventures Singapore office in 2014. Her focus is in Singapore and Southeast Asia, leading investments and helping portfolio founders to grow their companies into regional and global champions. Follow her at https://sg.linkedin.com/in/yuencarmen Elise Tan Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together.…

1
S1E11 | Truths about Automating and Growing F&B and Retail businesses in Southeast Asia | Fong Wai Hong 35:27

2 years ago35:27

35:27

How do you build a business servicing a client base that operates on a fine line between survival and failure? And how do you ensure your business is not just client-churn proof but also emerges resilient towards funding challenges? Find out from Wai Hong, founder of StoreHub. In This Episode (00:55) How StoreHub got started (04:25) Hard Truths about F&B and Retail (06:43) How they create a scaled marketing and sales process (09:55) Early days of Storehub (12:18) Meeting his co-founder and CTO (14:27) Meeting Vertex (15:41) Hard truths about fund-raising (18:06) How Vertex is different from many other VCs (20:00) Product-Market Fit isn’t a static thing (22:15) How StoreHub launched a food delivery business in just 48 hours (26:06) Being resilient to funding challenges (28:57) Building a pro sports team culture Hard Truths by Vertex is a top 5 Entrepreneurship show in Singapore and we interview some of the most accomplished founders, investors, and experts from across the Asian ecosystem. If you are interested in the startup space, make sure you subscribe or follow so you never miss any of our great episodes. Our Guests Wai Hong Fong is the co-founder of StoreHub , an all-in-one technology platform that offers an ecosystem of solutions ranging from a cloud-based POS system to QR-based table ordering, loyalty, customer engagement, and many more. This platform helps restaurants and retailers throughout Southeast Asia automate and grow their businesses. He also built OZhut, an Australian multi-niche online retailer, before creating StoreHub. In 2011, while running OZHut, he was recognized as Melbourne's "Top 100 Most Influential People" by The Age Newspaper and Australia's "Best Young Entrepreneur" by StartupSmart. Wai Hong describes himself as an accidental entrepreneur, a geek, a foodie, and a gamer for life. He is passionate about creating profitable, purpose-driven businesses and believes that the methods used to do so should be characterized by honesty, modesty, and generosity. Links Show notes and full transcript for the episode Your Host Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she had extensive experience in investor relations and partnerships at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs. —- Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know. If you like what you hear, please click follow or subscribe and share it with entrepreneurs or investors in your circle so we can all grow, succeed and build the future of SEA and India together. — This podcast is powered by CrazyTok: We help experts become influencers by helping launch, produce, and grow your custom-branded audio and video podcast channels. Find us on our Website , LinkedIn , and Instagram…

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S1E10 | Truths About Modernising the $15B Ayurvedic Wellness Market | Ameve Sharma, Kapiva 31:52

2 years ago31:52