BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)

In this discussion, Shiyan Koh , Managing Partner of  Hustle Fund , and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Founders Reviewing VCs: Shiyan reflected on founders conducting due diligence on their funding sources. They discuss the value (and further improvements) of public reference lists like TechinAsia’s Glasswall which indexes the fundraising process, and how founders should seek priva...

Nir Eyal , Wall Street Journal bestselling author of “Hooked” and "Indistractable”, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Save Your New Year Resolutions: Nir discussed the nature of January 1 resolutions and the high rate of people abandoning their goals. He attributed this to a warped ecosystem of advice that fails to address the root causes of behavioral stagnation. He emphasized the...

Trasy Lou , Cofounder & CEO of Fluid , and Jeremy Au discussed three main topics: 1. Uber & Atome GM Launching Markets: Trasy highlighted the mission-driven culture at Uber, the importance of data-driven decision-making, and the autonomy she had as a GM. Her time as GM at two growth-stage startups exemplified the resilience required to lead teams towards a shared mission. She also discusse...

Shiyan Koh , Managing Partner of Hustle Fund , and ​​Jeremy Au covered three main topics: 1. Sovereign Wealth Fund Investment Shifts: Jeremy and Shiyan talked about how GIC conservatively deployed 46% less capital in 2023, and Temasek 53%. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) deployed $31.6 billion in 2023, 53% higher than the $20.7 billion it invested the previous year - alongside other Gu...

Jeremy Au discussed the psychological impact of unemployment and its deep-seated effects on self-identity. Society often equates jobs with utility, and thus the determination of personal self-worth. Jeremy emphasized the importance of distinguishing between economic value and an individual's quest for purpose - beyond a series of professional achievements. He used examples from Viktor Frankl's "Ma...

Ajay Bulusu , Cofounder of NextBillion.ai , and Jeremy Au discussed three key topics: 1. Google & Grab Mapping Challenges: Ajay shared his mapping build-out at Google and Grab that had overcome geographic and infrastructural challenges in Southeast Asia - where standardization of data and addressing systems differ significantly from Western norms. He described how the team approached the probl...

​​Gita Sjahrir , Head of Investment at BNI Ventures , and Jeremy Au discussed three main topics: 1. 2023 Bear Market Reflections: Jeremy and Gita touched on the local startup market downturn, the importance of sticking to business fundamentals and good corporate governance to navigate economic headwinds, and how VCs have to build trust with founders. 2. Indonesia Young Democracy: Gita walked throu...

Jeremy discusses the stories that we tell ourselves, we tell others, and others tell about us. He contrasts Anthony Bourdain's self-descriptions in the travelogue "Parts Unknown," the posthumous Netflix documentary "Roadrunner" and the unauthorized biography "Down and Out in Paradise," ("I hate my fans. I hate being famous. I hate my job. I am lonely and living in constant uncertainty.") as well a...

Aaron Fu , VC at Digital Currency Group , and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Venture Capital Mission: Aaron narrated his decisions to focus on fintech, venture capital, and emerging markets. He emphasized the importance of aligning professional choices with his personal values, and how investing as a career lets him help build the future 2. Africa Market Complexity: Aaron dissected t...

Valerie Vu , Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures , and Jeremy Au talked about three main topics: 1. 2023 Vietnam GDP Growth Underperformance: Valerie Vu reflected on the challenges faced by Vietnam’s economy in 2023, including 2023's GDP growth of 5.1% being lower than the government target of 6.5%. They discussed root causes such as the global economic slowdown, slowing imports, US interest rate...

Jeremy discusses the rise of "Misery Poker" where people are increasingly incentivized to competitively share personal hardships. The natural human desire for social validation and the cultural shift towards authenticity intersects with declining community support structures, social media engagement algorithms and the commercialization of para-social relationships. He addresses the societal implic...

Henry Motte-de la Motte , Founder & CEO of Edge Tutor , and Jeremy Au discussed three main topics: 1. Personal Passion For Learning: Henry shared his background as an introverted child moving frequently due to his father's job. His personal exposure to multiple educational systems inspired him to later build two education tech startups to help nurture the next generation both in the Philippine...

Shiyan Koh , Managing Partner of Hustle Fund , and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Podcast Hosting Gratitude: Jeremy and Shiyan reviewed their year-long journey of podcasting covering Southeast Asia tech. They reflected on the growth, challenges, and rich interactions they've had with their audience, and shared their appreciation for each other. 2. 2023 Startups & VC Bear Market:...

Jeremy reflects on his 20s with the "hustle and grind" mindset during army, Bain consultant, and founder days. He pushed the limits of his body with a "macho man" mentality with all-nighters, eating poorly, and bad lifestyle choices. Turning 36 years old, discovering a severe vitamin D deficiency, and becoming a dad changed his mindset towards "health is wealth." Perseverance "mind over matter" is...

Carlo Chen-Delantar , Founding Partner of Gobi-Core Philippine Fund & Head of ESG at Gobi Partners , and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Career Journey from Social Impact to VC: Carlo shared his journey from a family of entrepreneurs in the Philippines to his work in the nonprofit sector, focusing on social impact and clean water access. His transition to venture capital was unpla...

Wing Vasiksiri , General Partner of WV , and Jeremy Au discussed three main points: 1. Thailand Strong Economics Macros: Wing shared how Thailand ranks 2nd in GDP ($495B USD), 3rd in GDP per capita ($6900 USD) and 4th in population (72M) among the ASEAN-6 nations. Highly educated, robust household internet connectivity (90%) and strong daily usage of the internet (9h). 2. Historical Startup Ecosys...

Over 90% of VC-funded startup founders fail. In other words, the default scenario for a founder is moving on from their startup and figuring out their next career chapter. Most founders will naturally consider launching another startup vs. other employment opportunities. Learn more about Harvard research about what types of second-time founders succeed on their next venture. Jeremy then shares abo...

Anthony Tjajadi , Founding Partner at Trihill Capital ,and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Indonesia Market Insights: Anthony discussed that the necessary qualities of successful Indonesian founders are hard work, being savvy at market dynamics and understanding of local political nuances, with examples in supply chain challenges and consumer behavior in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. He s...

Jelmer Ikink , Founding Partner of Foxmont Capital Partners , and Jeremy Au talked about three main topics: 1. Childhood Curiosity (Lehman Brothers & McKinsey): Jelmer shared about his childhood habit of walking around with his hands behind his back and asking questions. This deep-rooted curiosity translated into his academic life, initially pursuing finance for his undergraduate studies and l...

In this discussion, Fandy Cendrajaya , Founding Partner of Kopital Ventures , and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Indonesia Bear vs. Bull Market: Fandy talked about Indonesia’s evolving market sentiment from the bullish 2020-2021 to the more cautious investor sentiment in from 2022 to 2024. He shared the importance of being realistic in comparing Indonesia vs. benchmark startups in la...

JX Lye , Founder of Acme Technology and former Chief Product Officer of Endowus , and Jeremy Au talked about three main topics: 1. Early Career & Academic Decisions: JX recounted his academic choices across junior college in Singapore, mandatory military service, University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree at Stanford University. He talked about his initial career at the Singapore Economi...

In this episode, Sonny Vu, Founder of Alabaster and former founder of Misfit Wearables, and Jeremy Au discuss three main themes: 1. Vietnam & America Roots: Sonny talked about growing up in the Midwest as his older brother’s sidekick and a Vietnamese immigrant who spoke Vietnamese to his American friends. He decided to study Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois, but quickly real...

Camille Ang , CEO & Cofounder of Hive Health , and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Family & Public Service Passion: Camille shared about her upbringing in a third-generation Chinese Filipino family that emphasized education and hard work. Her passion for public service and desire to address societal inequality through infrastructure development led her to start her career in t...

Bernard Chong , Founder of professional esports organization AP.Bren, and Jeremy Au talked about three main topics: 1. Childhood with World Balance: Bernard talked about his childhood experiences learning the family business, World Balance, the biggest local shoe brand in the Philippines. He learned from his parents about the importance of hard work, clear decision-making, and the importance of st...

Thomas Tsao , Cofounder of Gobi Partners , and Jeremy Au discussed three main themes: 1. Early Life and Education: Thomas talked about his background as a first-generation immigrant. He shared his family's journey from China to the USA and how aspirations and work ethic influenced his upbringing. He discussed the complexities of navigating life as an immigrant student at Harvard and contemplated '...