Analyse Asia with Bernard Leong

"Temu was launched in the US, their first market in September 2022. That is when Shein just started to gain a lot of traction. There's a lot of attention being paid to Shein. In the beginning, many people thought that Temu was a copycat of Shein because they both sold goods from China using this direct-from-China shipping model. However, I think the competition has evolved quite differently now, and Temu has done business and operational innovation that has made others, including Shein, have to catch up." - Jing Yang Fresh out of the studio, Jing Yang, the Asia Bureau Chief from The Information shares the ongoing e-commerce war between Amazon and the upstarts: Shein and Temu across the global landscape. Starting from the origins of Shein and Temu, she explained how both companies first expanded to the US enabled by Amazon. Jing Yang breaks down how Temu gains total control over its suppliers and sellers and subsequently threatens Amazon's e-commerce dominance in the US market. Last but not least, she examined the fallout from the potential US ban on Shein and Temu from US lawmakers and the possibility of Shein's IPO in the US. Episode Highlights: [0:46] QOTD [1:27] Introduction: Jing Yang, Asia Bureau Chief from The Information [2:34] The surprise of Open AI not allowing ChatGPT to be in Hong Kong and China. [5:29] You need a China mobile number to access Chinese LLMs. [6:48] Introduction to Shein and Temu, the global e-commerce upstarts originating from China. [9:59] The elusive people behind Shein and Temu. [13:29] Shein’s current performance against H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo. [18:12] How Authentic Brands (owner of Forever 21) made a partnership & investment deal with Shein in the US. [23:09] How Temu maintains control over the supply chain in China. [31:23] Comparisons between Temu and Amazon from the seller to business models. [34:51] How Amazon enabled Shein and Temu to expand into the US. [35:38] Amazon’s realization of Temu’s threat and response. [36:58] Amazon’s response to Shein and Temu’s threats in the US market. [38:56] Temu is copying Amazon in the US with a local warehouse strategy and vice versa. [42:08] How Amazon vs Temu & Shein shaped the global e-commerce landscape. [43:54] How reliant is Amazon on Chinese sellers and suppliers globally? [45:30] Why the US lawmakers are thinking about a ban on Temu. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig. Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup

“The most important lesson that I have learned is really Know your audience. You need to really understand your audience, and what they want because oftentimes the content executives make the mistake of programming for themselves rather than the audience. And I actually went through the exact same mistake when I first started, because I believed what I like is what audience like. So I think that's like the number one rule, really trying to understand the audience. That is number one. And as an individual, for me. I don't think it's only in Asia. I think globally building a relationship is really important. But trying to develop a relationship for the sake of a relationship never lands well. You can never, utilize the relationship. You build a relationship through great work and you build a relationship not only to get what you need but also to be able to say no.” - Minyoung Kim Fresh out of the studio, Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s VP of Content for the Asia Pacific (excluding India), shared her perspectives on how Netflix work with content creators across the Asia Pacific region and brings them to a global audience. In the same conversation, Minyoung discussed the importance of cultural adaptation and localization and provided behind-the-scenes insights into how the Squid Game became a global phenomenon starting from their focus on the Korean audience. Minyoung also addressed challenges faced by Asian content creators, offered her advice for aspiring filmmakers who want to collaborate with Netflix, and shared her thoughts on what great would look like for Netflix in the Asia Pacific. Episode Highlights: [0:45] Quote of the Day by Minyoung Kim from Netflix #QOTD [1:41] Introduction: Minyoung Kim, Netflix’s VP of Content, APAC excluding India [5:34] Minyoung Kim’s lessons from her career journey. [7:15] Overview of Netflix, its global vision and mission. [10:28] The footprint of Netflix in the Asia Pacific. [13:41] How Netflix brings Asian content from a local audience to a global one. [15:02] The decision behind Squid Game and how it resonates with the Korean audience. [16:59] The ingredients of a local show that might become a global success on Netflix. [19:02] Challenges for Asian content creators. [21:31] The importance of cultural adaptation and localization for the Asia Pacific. [23:03] Netflix has conditioned the audience to watch the original version rather than dubbing. [25:55] Green light rigour at Netflix. [27:28] Future of Asian content and Netflix’s role in shaping the landscape. [29:41] Advice to aspiring creators and filmmakers in Asia who want to collaborate with Netflix. [31:18] Trends in the Asian content market. [33:12] What does great look like for Netflix in the Asia Pacific region? [34:24] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"We have these very ambitious goals and we've spoken about a few, but there are many others in Europe. In particular, the E.U. and countries like the U.K. have very ambitious climate goals. For Google, we want to be part of the solution. So, good for me is, we make progress on our goals in our own operations, but we really want to help others. And we actually have this as a global goal rather than a regional goal, an ambition to help others save a "gigaton" worth of emissions every year from 2030 onwards. A "gigaton" is the emissions of Japan, just to put that in perspective. So, I want a big slug of that to come from the work we are doing in helping companies and other organizations and individuals within my region to help them make more sustainable choices." - Adam Elman Fresh out of the studio, Adam Elman, Head of Sustainability for EMEA at Google, shares the key initiatives of the company in Europe. We begin with Adam discussing his career journey, explaining how he came to lead key sustainability initiatives at Google and the innovative measures taken to enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. He highlights the Environmental Insights Explorer, the challenges of achieving 100% renewable energy, and the role of AI in sustainability. Adam offers valuable advice for companies starting their sustainability journeys and emphasizes the importance of engagement, transparency, and accountability. Last but not least, he describes what great would look like for Google in its sustainability efforts. Audio Episode Highlights: [0:45] Quote of the Day by Adam Elman #QOTD [2:21] Introduction: Adam Elman, Head of Sustainability for Google: Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA). [5:12] Lessons from Adam’s career journey [6:32] Overview of Google’s sustainability initiatives globally [8:13] Google’s sustainability initiatives in EMEA [10:19] What constitutes carbon-free energy? [11:41] How Google uses AI for energy efficiency in data centres. [13:01] Other applications of Google AI in sustainability. [15:15] The One Thing Adam Elman knows about sustainability that very few do. [18:30] Environmental Insights Explorer by Google [20:08] Google Maps and how it helps the city of Dublin to increase cycling by 20%. [26:20] Advice to companies which are beginning on their sustainability journey. [28:33] What does great look like for Google on sustainability? [29:51] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"I don't like to work with someone unless they're intrinsically motivated to do it. And so what I mean by that is, I don't think this is a service that you should sell to people. They should demand it and then they're looking in the market for someone to work with them. So I don't like to go out there and sell it per se. And so I used to get some early inbound from boards or investors to say, "Hey, we've got this person. We think they're struggling or we think they've got a bit more potential, they need some help." And then when I spoke to that person, it was very evident that they were reluctantly doing this. So you've got a bit of a principal-agent problem there, right? Where the person you're working with is not incentivized or motivated to do the work. And so I typically now say "no" to those things. What I might do is maybe get an introduction from the board, but then I'll check with the person I'm working with. "Do you want this right now? Are you motivated to do the work?" Because as you said, it is a lot of work on the coachee as well, right - to do the reflection work and, take action. I'm trying to avoid that principal-agent problem. I want to make sure that the person I'm working with is deeply interested and invested in driving some change." - Parin Mehta Fresh out of the studio, Parin Mehta, venture partner at Menyala and executive coach, shared his journey into executive coaching. He explained how his experiences inspired him to help leaders navigate their careers with intrinsic motivation and commitment, considering cultural nuances and the evolving business landscape. Parin discussed strategies for professional growth, the importance of peer mentorship, and his innovative approach to integrating AI into coaching. He also shared his vision of what success looks like for him as an executive coach in the Asia Pacific region. Audio Episode Highlights: [0:40] Quote of the Day by Parin Mehta. #QOTD [1:36] Introduction: Parin Mehta. [5:37] What Parin learned from working in a high-growth tech company: Google & Airbnb. [6:49] Lessons learned from Parin Mehta on his career journey. [8:35] The story of how Parin becomes an executive coach and certified as one. [11:16] Why and How executives approach an executive coach. [13:45] Parin Mehta’s philosophy in executive coaching. [16:30] Bernard’s journey in working with Parin on his transition. [18:45] Should we focus on short-term and long-term goals when we engage executive coaches? [19:36] Challenges and specific cultural nuances faced by Executive Coaches in the Asia Pacific. [23:29] Perspectives on Generative AI in executive coaching. [24:04] How does the actual coaching session work? [25:39] Seeking an accountability partner in executive coaching. [27:42] The difference between mentoring and coaching. [29:48] Sharing stories on executive coaching. [35:04] Executive coaching for startup founders in the Southeast Asia ecosystem [37:38] How executive coaches grow and develop professionally. [40:54] The one thing Parin knows about executive coaching in the Asia Pacific that very few do. [44:36] AI bot for executive coaching. [47:31] The weekly prompts for coachparin.com [50:36] What does great look like for Parin in executive coaching? [51:24] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig You can find Parin on his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parinjmehta/ and X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/coachparin and more on him here: https://www.coachparin.com Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"If I were to summarize it, your job as a product manager is to deliver the right product to the right users, to solve the right problems at the right time. Now, your role is very contextual because you will focus on different parts of that statement, depending on the founders, the stage of life of the company, which industry it is and everything else. There are some core functional skill sets that you can't run away from, and you must have them. But I don't think there is a cookie-cutter template on what you must do to succeed in product management." - Isaac Tay Fresh out of the studio, Isaac Tay, VP of Product at Shopback shares his thoughts on how to be a product manager in a scale-up. Reflecting on his experiences as a co-founder in his former startup Honestbee, he offered his perspectives on the lessons he had learnt and what he could done differently. From there, he elucidates the concept of distance to understand how to align and work with teams across different cultures on building and developing products in different stages of maturity for a company. Isaac ties in his unique stint in stand-up comedy, revealing how it has influenced his professional life. Last but not least, Isaac shares what great would look like for product management in a scale-up. Audio Episode Highlights: [0:50] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Isaac Tay. [1:21] Introduction: Isaac Tay, VP of Product at Shopback. [7:40] Isaac's Adventure in Stand-Up Comedy and Travel. [9:10] Lessons from Isaac Tay’s career journey. [10:34] Founding, Evolution, and Collapse of Honestbee. [15:26] What could you have done differently with Honestbee? [18:15] Navigating the complexities of product management. [25:06] Product Management in different stages of a company. [30:23] Refining Product Strategy in a Fast-Paced Environment. [33:06] Advice for Aspiring Product Managers. [34:00] Essential Skills for Aspiring Product Managers. [35:18] The Importance of Technical Skills in Product Management. [38:33] The Role of Distance in Product Management. [39:40] Understanding and Managing Different Types of Distance. [44:37] The Challenge of Remote Work and Communication. [48:06] Evolving Leadership Styles and Building Cohesive Teams. [54:16] Balancing Professional Growth with Personal Interests. [59:29] Insights on Great Product Management and Leadership. [61:00] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig. You can find Isaac on his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaactimothyt/ and X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/isaacttsg and more on him here: https://www.isaactay.com/about/ Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"I think the biggest learning that I had, and, by extension, JLL [Jones Lang LaSalle] in my last capacity was that it's not sufficient to take these companies and then just let them in the door. You can't hand one of your business clients the keys and expect them to drive. So, one of the first cohort companies in Urban Lab was a robotics company, and we created a revenue-sharing agreement with them any property that you get into through us, there's a revenue share. But the downstream incentives weren't sufficient enough. We didn't provide enough tools to people who were actually interacting with the properties to then want to actually be able to do it. Most of them didn't even know about it. That speaks to the size of an organization like that. when you sit up in an organization, you sometimes forget that you can't just speak something into existence. You need a ground game ..." - Jordan Kostelac Fresh out of the studio, Jordan Kostelac, CEO and co-founder of Deploy, dives into the ever-evolving landscape of the real estate industry and the burgeoning proptech sector in 2024. Reflecting on his previous role as the Director of Technology at JLL Asia Pacific, Kostelac shares the key lessons learnt while leading various proptech initiatives and establishing the UrbanLab accelerator with Swire Properties and PingAn. He details his transition from JLL to founding Deploy, a startup that addresses the inefficiencies of deal sourcing and due diligence in the startup venture ecosystem starting from the PropTech sector. Last but not least, he shares what great would look like for Deploy moving forward. Audio Episode Highlights: [0:44] Quote of the Day by Jordan Kostelac #QOTD. [1:41] Introduction: Jordan Kostelac, CEO of Deploy. [5:03] Career Evolution from PropTech in JLL Asia Pacific to Deploy. [8:43] Lessons from Jordan Kostelac’s career journey. [11:22] Overview of the Real Estate Industry and Proptech in 2024. [17:34] Role of Technology in Real Estate: From Projects in JLL to the Formation of Urban Lab. [28:53] How startups need to navigate corporate partnerships. [31:20] How to evaluate and invest in PropTech startups. [33:54] Trends shaping the PropTech industry in the Asia Pacific. [37:08] How Jordan started his new venture, Deploy based on his experiences in Urban Lab. [40:17] How Bridgewater Associates’ Dots and other systems such as Kudos inspire Jordan to work out the mechanics for Deploy. [45:27] Deploy’s value proposition and its current progress. [51:53] What does great look like for Deploy? [53:17] Closing Thoughts and Recommendations. You can find Jordan on his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkostelac/ and X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/Scopelessness and more on Deploy here: https://deploycapital.online/ Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"So already this year we've rolled out 10 of these regions. So two in APJ and Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. But 75 of these locations by the end of the year along with our core computing regions will give us 100 locations where customers can run these workloads, and we're not going to stop there. So we're going to have hundreds of these regions over the next few years, and we're going to focus on those locations where hyper-scalers don't have compute. Africa and South America, for example, have been extremely underserved when it comes to computing capabilities. There's a huge potential for those countries if we could get them the compute. And that's exactly what we intend to do. But, those are extreme regions. Even in places like the U.S., which are well served by the hyper-scalers, there's certainly the middle of the U.S. which is ignored. In Southeast Asia, if you're in Singapore or Jakarta, you're served by everybody. But if you're in Vietnam, how are you served? If you're in Thailand, how are you served? The internet is inherently unfair. We want to make it more fair for our customers and our customers' customers." - Jay Jenkins Fresh off the studio, Jay Jenkins, CTO of Cloud Computing in Akamai, dives deep into the transformative potential of edge AI in a dynamic conversation on Akamai's latest technological advancements. Discussing the company's strategic edge computing platform, Gecko, Jenkins describes how it is redefining cloud computing paradigms by embedding capabilities directly into the edge network. He explores the broader implications of edge AI for real-time applications and generative AI technologies, highlighting Akamai's vision to support the burgeoning demands of data processing and AI inferencing at the network edge. With insights into early trials and future use cases, he shares how Akamai is set to revolutionize industries, from immersive retail to spatial computing and explores what great would look like for Akamai in cloud computing and AI at the edge. Episode Highlights: [0:40] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Jay Jenkins. [1:45] Introduction: Jay Jenkins, CTO of Cloud Computing from Akamai. [4:29] Lessons learnt from Jay’s career journey. [6:31] Total Market Opportunity for AI at the Edge and Akamai’s value proposition. [8:55] Introduction to Akamai and its global footprint. [11:18] Jay’s role as global CTO in Cloud Computing and future vision. [16:23] Generalized Edge Compute aka Gecko and why it differs from the hyper-scalers such as AWS. [19:53] How Gecko enhances the user experience in terms of performance and latency. [22:59] Challenges to integrate cloud native computing at a massive edge network. [25:38] Lessons learned from Gecko’s early trials with enterprise customers of Akamai. [28:01] Applications of Gecko beyond immersive retail. [30:33] The One Thing that Jay knows about Gecko in generalized edge computing that very few do. [33:07] Generative AI with Akamai Gecko’s platform. [37:30] Inference at the edge with Large Language Models (LLMs). [39:41] Role of Edge Computing for real-time AI processes. [41:47] What does great look like for Akamai in the cloud computing space? [43:53] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"The one thing that has become quite clear in Asia, at least it's direct to retail - the government is not ready. The market is not ready. And there still needs to be a very high level of consumer protection. A lot more of a B2B-to-C approach. Where, let's say today's Web3 companies will need to partner up with existing licensed entities, whether they be licensed startups or even licensed institutions to provide their offerings to the retail. That's actually really good. Because it provides safeguards. We saw what happened last time when we didn't have those safeguards. So many retail investors lost money in FTX's spectacular blow-up, right? And that really hurt the space, that really hurt the trust, it really hurt the reputation of the space. So directionally it is inconvenient but necessary. For governments to I would say slow down or make access to retail a lot harder. Like in Singapore, we don't see any upcoming movements that crypto is going to be available to retail or easily available to retail anytime soon. We see the same in Hong Kong. The exception would of course be Dubai, but that's already more on the Middle East part, right? And then in the US, it's like a witch hunt. Basically, the long story short is it's still going to be very B2B2C driven, where the interface towards the masses, the retail, will still lie within licensed institutions." - Qin En Looi Fresh out of the studio, Qin En Looi, partner of Saison Capital, dives deep into the current developments and the future of Crypto and Web3 investments. He began with an overview of Saison Capital and its investment thesis. He shares how Saison Capital invests in the fintech and crypto space, and the current emergence of real-world asset (RWA) monetization, specifically in the tokenizing of physical assets on the chain. Last but not least, he shares what great would look like for Saison Capital. Episode Highlights: [0:00] Quote of the Day by Qin En Loi. #QOTD [1:20] Introduction: Qin En Looi from Saison Capital. [4:09] From entrepreneur to VC. [5:40] Lessons from Qin En’s career journey. [7:15] Overview of Saison Capital as a corporate VC and investment thesis. [11:10] Definition of Crypto, Web3 and Real World Assets (RWA) monetization. [14:40] Typical day as a VC for Qin En Looi. [17:53] Choice of Blockchains (L2, Alt-L1) for Development. [22:02] Web 2.0 vs Web3. [23:07] Case studies in Web3 and Crypto. [26:54] How Web3 model can reduce operational costs in TradFi. [31:27] Challenges of RWA in different crypto markets. [35:26] Fractional Ownership and Illiquidity in RWA. [36:02] Trends in Web3/Crypto and RWA. [39:45] The one thing that Qin En Looi know about RWA and Web3. [41:45] Role of Web3 in the Finance Industry. [43:06] What does great look like for Saison Capital? [43:45] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"The key thing that I realize every time I look at the data is that the media is telling us a lot of nonsense. I think that the one thing I know is that the data tells a very different story to the media headlines. So I suppose my advice there is, never to accept clickbait at face value. If you're building a marketing plan, do your due diligence, and check the data because the data always surprises me. The one thing I know is that I'm always surprised. There's your key takeaway.” - Simon Kemp Fresh out of the studio, Simon Kemp, co-founder and CEO of Kepios joined us for the 7th year to discuss the Digital Report 2024 and its pivotal insights. The dialogue kicked off with Simon pondering AI's potential impact on his job, then swiftly moved to the report's core findings. Simon also explored how digital marketing and content strategies are evolving due to generational differences, underscoring the necessity for content creators to adapt across diverse social media channels. Last but not least, Simon addressed the current lack of comprehensive data to include generative AI in this year's report. Last but not least, Simon shared his anticipation for what's on the horizon in the coming year. Episode Highlights: [0:55] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Simon Kemp. [1:22] Introduction to Simon Kemp, co-founder and CEO of Kepios. [2:59] Are we going to be replaced by AI? [3:57] Key Takeaways for Digital 2024 report. [5:14] TikTok is still growing quickly despite the headwinds. [10:20] Mobile and social media are still growing especially in India. [12:43] Trendlines for e-commerce and search engine use. [15:22] How do you add generative AI to search engine use, for example, Perplexity AI? [17:51] Do generational differences in online behaviour change how digital marketing and content strategies work? [21:14] How do content creators adapt and decide which social media platforms to use? [23:43] Why the horizontal approach of broadcasting across all social media does not work anymore? [28:16] Success on any social media platform is based on chance and preparation. [32:04] Implications of TikTok’s potential ban in the US and how users shift from one platform to another. [35:25] From X (formerly known as Twitter) to Threads and TikTok to YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. [36:39] Insights on WeChat, Discord, and Telegram. [44:59] LinkedIn: a B2B social media platform for engagement but don’t discount YouTube. [48:57] The One Thing that Simon Kemp knows about Digital Report 2024 that very few do? [50:04] Why Generative AI usage is not in the Digital 2024 report. [54:59] Is Generative AI a new paradigm or should it be incorporated into existing digital use cases? [60:30] How Generative AI changes digital marketing, branding and advertising. [64:17] What Simon wished to add in the Digital 2024 but could not. [65:40] Closing. You can find Simon Kemp at X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/eskimon and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eskimon/ and the Digital Report 2024: https://wearesocial.com/sg/blog/2024/01/digital-2024-5-billion-social-media-users/ Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig. Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"If we assume that happens, I'm sure TikTok, let alone ByteDance as a company as a whole, will survive - and maybe even continue to thrive after this. Because, let's put things into perspective, right? TikTok has more than 1 billion users globally and then the US represents just a little over a 10th of that, 170 million. So I'm not saying that it's not going to impact TikTok and ByteDance. But does it pose an existential threat? Probably not. I believe given we already talked about how ByteDance has been super profitable. I think that, even if they get banned in the US, this is by no means the end of TikTok or ByteDance." - Jing Yang Fresh out of the studio, Jing Yang, the Asia Bureau Chief for The Information, provided an insightful analysis of the potential implications of the recent U.S. House of Representatives bill to force Bytedance to divest TikTok or face a ban in the US. Detailing a timeline of events, she illuminated how Bytedance and TikTok executives may have misinterpreted U.S. political signals. Despite Bytedance's profitability in China, she shed light on why TikTok is facing financial challenges and the complex dynamics between Bytedance and the investors of the company. Concluding her discussion, she offered her perspectives on the possible future of TikTok globally pending the outcome. Episode Highlights: [0:40] Quote of the Day by Jing Yang. [1:27] Introduction: Jing Yang, Asia Bureau Chief of The Information. [3:53] Lessons shared by Jing Yang from her career journey. [5:19] Chronology of the different attempts by the US government to ban TikTok. [7:40] What are the chances of TikTok being banned in the US? [9:34] TikTok’s response to the US government after the announcement of the bill. [11:15] Impact of TikTok's potential ban in the US on content creators & users in the market. [12:52] The one thing that Jing Yang knows about the TikTok situation very few do. [14:10] Why TikTok misjudged the political situation in the US. [17:59] Project Texas and how it encumbered TikTok. [22:17] TikTok’s engagement with USDS. [25:14] Chew Shou Zi’s impact on negotiations with the US government after taking over as CEO of TikTok. [27:45] Assessment of Bytedance and TikTok’s team in handling the US government. [30:04] Why TikTok is in the red and losing money. [32:55] Can TikTok still be profitable with a potential US ban? [36:04] Investors of TikTok distancing themselves from the company. [40:26] Impact of political affiliations and donations on TikTok. [41:43] Future of TikTok [42:43] Closing You can find Jing Yang at X (formerly known as Twitter): https://x.com/jingyanghk and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jing-yang-33548123/ and her articles on The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/u/Jing%20Yang?rc=fk3gq1 Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig. Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl  Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245  Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia

"When I wrote about it, in addition to assuming that all Asia tech companies, particularly in China, were copycats of Western companies, I think there are also a lot of misperceptions about how easy it is to enter a market, especially when they're an Asian market, especially when there are incumbent players already. For example, Uber failed. Basically, they failed. That's a harsh word, but they failed in both China and Southeast Asia, where they were acquired by Didi in China and Grab in Southeast Asia. And then Facebook really fell flat on its face with a lot of markets with free basics, it undermined Net Neutrality and also assumed that consumers just because maybe they had to be price conscious, were willing to access only a handful of sites as opposed to having access to a free Internet. I think people also underestimate the influence that Asia has had in other parts of the world." - Catherine Shu Fresh out of the studio, Catherine Shu reflects on her 12 years at TechCrunch, chronicling the evolution of Asian tech from China to India. She highlights the rise of Chinese apps such as WeChat and TikTok's global impact and the shifting international views on Chinese tech. She explores India's rising tech scene, South Korea's startup growth with the rise of Coupang and Southeast Asia's expanding tech influence, with a focus on Grab. Shu offers her advice for journalists covering Asia's dynamic tech landscape and articulating what great looks like for Asia Tech in the future. Fresh out of the studio, Catherine Shu reflects on her 12 years at TechCrunch, chronicling the evolution of Asian tech from China to India. She highlights the rise of Chinese apps such as WeChat and TikTok's global impact and the shifting international views on Chinese tech. She explores India's rising tech scene, South Korea's startup growth with the rise of Coupang and Southeast Asia's expanding tech influence, with a focus on Grab. Shu offers her advice for journalists covering Asia's dynamic tech landscape and articulating what great looks like for Asia Tech in the future. Audio Episode Highlights: [0:40] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Catherine Shu. [1:38] Introduction: Catherine Shu, former senior reporter for TechCrunch. [2:50] Her thoughts on the TechCrunch recent layoff. [5:04] Catherine’s future plans. [6:34] Catherine shares lessons from her career journey. [8:07] Inspiration behind her last article on TechCrunch: Don’t Ignore Asia Tech. [9:30] Western Perceptions Change on Asia Tech over the decade. [11:02] Early misconceptions about Asia Tech in the West. [12:44] Evolution of Asia Tech from Catherine’s perspective. [15:14] Tech Coverage in Taiwan. [17:17] The one thing about Asia tech Catherine knows but very few do. [19:41] Why China succeeded with WeChat as the super app. [23:26] The rise in TikTok globally for Chinese Tech. [26:40] Perspectives on TikTok recent potential ban. [27:26] What the West learned from the super app revolution in China. [28:52] Why China was caught flatfooted with OpenAI’s ChatGPT in AI. [30:14] The future of Chinese startups. [34:01] How the Indian tech market evolved over the past decade. [35:58] South Korean Startup Ecosystem. [39:00] Is there really a Southeast Asia tech story? [42:34] Advice for future correspondents covering Asia Tech. [44:32] What does great look like for Asia Tech? [46:30] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

“Let's remember if the leadership wants to do something, they have all the tools at their disposal and I don't think that they will want to underwrite massive unemployment. I think the Chinese leadership wants stability above all. So I will not rule out any kind of stimulus and perhaps it would look different than in the past. It will not go through the popular market, but it could well happen that you will see greater lending, perhaps in a select industries like autos or semiconductors, whatever it might be. But I've seen so many cycles at this point. I started investing in China in 2008. And 2007 was a boom, 2010, another boom, 2013 was a low in the Asian market. It felt very much like today. I would go to these conferences and meet local investors and they were just so despondent. I feel very much the same kind of sentiment today. People say there's nothing, they can't see anything positive and that's fine, but we can't predict the future.” - Michael Fritzell Fresh out of the studio, Michael Fritzell, Founder of Asian Century Stocks, shared invaluable insights in Asia's financial markets and discussed the recent tumultuous situation in Chinese equities and what the potential government responses are possible. He provided a high-level overview of the Asian stock market, contrasting it with markets in the US and Europe and stressed the importance of understanding corporate governance and the role of short-sellers in exposing corporate frauds in Asian markets. He delved deep with his unique insights into forensic accounting challenges and the future potential of Asian stocks and the dynamic and intricate nature of these evolving markets. Audio Episode Highlights: [0:40] Quote of the Day: Michael Fritzell. [1:56] Introduction: Michael Fritzell from Asian Century Stocks. [4:59] Perspectives on Asia after living here for over a decade. [6:28] Lessons from Michael’s career journey. [8:15] What just happened with the Chinese equities tanking in the stock market? [13:43] The response from the Chinese government to stabilize the stock market. [17:14] Should we be optimistic about the Chinese publicly listed companies? [19:40] An Introduction to the Asian Stock Markets. [23:47] The motivation behind Asian Century Stocks. [25:32] The intended audience for Asian Century Stocks. [26:40] How do subscribers utilize Asian Century Stocks? [28:52] What are the things to watch out for when buying Asian stocks. [31:42] The one thing that Michael Fritzell knows about Asian stocks that very few do. [33:24] Understanding Fraud in Asian Companies. [37:05] Key indicators to watch out for in Asian Companies. [40:58] The role of short-sellers on Asian stocks (including China). [44:51] How do short-sellers short Asian stocks? [46:28] What does great look like for Asian stocks in the next decade? [48:57] Closing. You can find Michael Fritzell's Asian Century Stocks: https://www.asiancenturystocks.com/  and on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-fritzell-1aab10/  and X: https://twitter.com/mikefritzell  Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl  Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245  Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia  Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia  Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia  Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup  Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288 

"So in our view, great would be when everyone can find the best place to put their money to work. To whatever cause they want. It could be investing. It could be protecting their family. It could be long-term. It could be a nonprofit. It could be helping a local business. Today in the world, there is Google to find information, right? There's Amazon to find products. But what about financial opportunities? There is no one place to find financial opportunities. We wanna be able to create that for the world where anyone who's looking to put their money to work has a place to put their money to work. And anybody who's looking for help in building whatever business or, growing whatever they want to grow, can meet, these people who are looking to put their money to work." - Caesar Sengupta Fresh out of the studio, Caesar Sengupta, the CEO and co-founder of Arta Finance, shares the story of how the startup democratizes family office wealth management to accredited professionals in the digital era. Caesar shares the company's vision and mission, highlighting their alignment with current financial trends and their disruptive approach to traditional family office models. Following the conversation, he explains how Arta Finance leverages technology to provide personalized financial solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families and discusses the company's global strategy and its approach to navigating diverse financial regulations across different countries. Last but not least, he shares his vision for Arta Finance's future success in the coming years. Episode Highlights: [0:52] Quote of the Day by Caesar Sengupta. [1:38] Introduction: Caesar Sengupta. [2:05] What was Caesar's inspiration to become a startup founder? [3:10] Career lessons from Caesar Sengupta. [4:10] Total Market Opportunity for the Wealth Management Business. [8:07] Vision and Mission of Arta Finance. [11:00] How do accredited investors engage Arta Finance? [13:36] How can Generative AI enter into wealth management? [16:27] How does Arta Finance approach wealth management differently from traditional private banks? [20:55] The One Thing Caesar knows that very few people do on tech & wealth management. [24:21] The investors behind Arta Finance. [26:29] Challenges faced while building Arta Finance and how they overcame it. [29:20] How does Arta Finance establish trust? [31:41] How Arta Finance expands across the different regions. [33:17] What does great look like for Arta Finance? [34:27] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig.

“One thing I can add is the awakening, the shaking up, the shaping up of the rest of the global auto industry from the Chinese is in full swing. The Chinese are coming. And if the Western automakers are prepared, they're going to have a much tougher moment than when they confronted the Japanese or the Koreans. The Japanese [and] Koreans, they're very successful. Let's say in the U.S., but this is a whole different issue - the geopolitical aspect. But you know, they're coming.” - Lei Xing Fresh out of the studio, Lei Xing, founder of AutoXing & co-host of China EVs & More, shared his insights into the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market and its implications for the global EV market. Lei discussed his career journey and the inspiration behind covering the China EVs market through his podcast. He broke down the competitive dynamics between Tesla and BYD based on their current strategies for global market expansion and technological challenges. He shared his perspectives on whether Chinese EV makers can rinse and repeat the solar panel strategy against the rest of the automotive companies in the world. Last but not least, he shared the groundbreaking innovations at CES 2024 and emphasized the challenges and opportunities ahead for Chinese manufacturers and their vision for long-term success in the EV industry globally. Episode Highlights: [0:50] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Lei Xing. [1:21] Introduction: Lei Xing from China EVs & More. [8:60] China EVs and more podcast and their coverage. [10:17] Lessons learnt from Lei Xing’s career journey. [11:40] Overview of the global EV landscape & China’s market share in EVs. [15:27] The China smart EV makers after BYD. [20:15] The competitive advantage of Chinese EV makers. [23:26] How Tesla Invigorates the EV Competition in China. [24:36] The one thing that Lei Xing knows about China EV makers that very few do. [27:00] How Chinese EV makers are competing in the global market. [30:57] Can Chinese EV makers rinse and repeat the solar panel strategy to win the EV market? [32:50] How BYD emerged in the US since 2011. [37:21] Tesla vs BYD in AI, autonomous driving and robotics. [41:43] How Tesla is competing in China and other parts of the world. [46:40] Breakthroughs in EVs and self-driving cars at CES 2024. [51:14] The bet on hydrogen fuel cars by Japanese automotive makers. [53:14] Outlook for Chinese EVs in the 5-10 years. [56:33] Will China EVs go upstream to the hypercars against Ferrari? [58:03] What does success mean for Chinese EV companies in the next 5-10 years? [59:43] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig.

"Indonesia is not of the scale of China and India. And some people argue that India and China are so vast that you can almost consider: North China, South China, East China and different parts of the world. But because Indonesia normally gets lumped into ASEAN, right? People think about, well, I don't want single country risk with a country of this size. And so that's where the differentiation came out. Nonetheless, this is our thesis. And we believe that the last 10 years have proven that thesis. So we continue to double down on that thesis. Again, we've invested in companies that are regional that come into Indonesia." - Adrian Li Fresh out of the studio, Adrian Li, founder and managing partner of AC Ventures joined us in a conversation to delve into the dynamics of the venture capital scene in Indonesia. He commenced by tracing his entrepreneurial journey, which spanned from the United States to China, and ultimately to Southeast Asia, culminating in his transition to venture capitalist. From there, he shed light on the investment thesis of AC Ventures, their decade of investing that led to their recent successful raise of US$210m to their 5th fund. He provided an in-depth analysis of the entire venture capital landscape in Indonesia, discussing its evolution over time. To conclude, Adrian shared his vision for AC Ventures, focusing on their intensified commitment to nurturing startups in Indonesia and across the broader Southeast Asian region. Episode Highlights: [0:44] Quote of the Day from Adrian Li #QOTD [1:16] Introduction: Adrian Li, Founder & Managing Partner, AC Ventures. [2:27] How did Adrian start his career? [4:36] Adrian’s first entrepreneurial pursuit till his move to China & then Southeast Asia. [8:13] The origin story of AC Ventures. [10:10] The three key things he looks for when evaluating investment opportunities. [13:52] AC Ventures, their perspective on the Indonesian market and their investment thesis. [17:35] Typical day for a VC like Adrian Li [19:23] The red flags that Adrian Li watched out for in founders & startup teams. [21:14] The startup class of 2021 vs the class of 2023. [24:40] The Indonesia Venture Capital Report 2023 by AC Ventures and Bain & Co. [25:22] How investors are adjusting their strategies to the Indonesian market. [27:24] Investor preferences, unit economics and valuations on the Indonesian market. [29:11] The challenges that the Indonesian startups face and how they are adapting to them. [32:00] The verticals that are working in the Indonesian market. [34:43] Indonesia's regulatory environment is supportive of startups. [37:01] The exit landscape for startups in Indonesia. [41:48] The Indonesia startup landscape after the ZIRP era. [45:12] The one thing that Adrian Li knows that very few do about VC in Indonesia. [47:38] In-country VCs vs regional VCs in Southeast Asia. [49:43] How should investors perceive Indonesia as a single market like China & India? [51:29] Can foreign entrepreneurs thrive in the Indonesia startup ecosystem? [53:22] What does great look like for AC Ventures? [54:24] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig.

"The whole of Southeast Asia has to come up as a group. Hence, my secret about what I know about the VC industry that people don't know. The secret is that you've got to be very sane when you come to investing, right? So, if you invest so high, we can't get exits. When we can't get exits, we can't return money to LPs, and then the investors will say, ‘Oh, Southeast Asia cannot find exits one.’ It cannot be, right? So to me, we must be able to show exits. That's the proof of the pudding.” - Carmen Yuen Fresh out of the studio, Carmen Yuen, general partner from Vertex Ventures SE Asia & India, joined us to discuss the current state of venture capital in Southeast Asia & India after the difficult fundraising climate in the past year. Carmen began the story of her career, moving from the government sector to venture capital. She shares the evolution of Vertex Ventures from their investment thesis to the portfolio of startups and evaluates the startup class of 2023 vs 2021. Last but not least, Carmen describes exits as the leading indicators for startup success and elucidates what great would look like for Vertex Ventures. Episode Highlights: [00:50] Quote of the Day #QOTD from Carmen Yuen. [01:21] Introduction: Carmen Yuen, General Partner, Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India. [02:16] Carmen’s career story from the government sector to venture capital. [05:03] Career lessons from Carmen Yuen. [08:32] Introduction to Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. [12:41] Perspectives on Markets: Southeast Asia & India. [14:50] Finding Local champions vs Regional players in Southeast Asia. [16:12] The verticals that Carmen Yuen invests in Southeast Asia & India. [18:48] Carmen’s typical day as a VC. [20:22] Traits of Founders & Startup Teams that Carmen invests in. [22:50] The red flags that deter Carmen from investing in startups. [24:46] Solo Founders vs Startup Teams. [26:55] Interesting companies under Vertex SE Asia portfolio. [32:05] Advice to founders on market expansion in Southeast Asia. [35:44] The startup class of 2023 vs the startup class of 2021. [38:19] Outlook for 2024: Headwinds and Tailwinds. [40:00] The one thing that Carmen Yuen knows as a VC that very few do. [42:36] Advice to Startup Founders in a difficult fundraising climate. [44:42] How do you explain the Southeast Asia to LPs? [46:50] Exits are key to success in Southeast Asia: M&A and IPOs. [47:36] What does great look like in Vertex Ventures SEA and India? [48:11] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig.

"There are so many voices here that people can create their own unique things. And yet there is still this culture, that's still lingering from the past, that somehow the answers are in the West. And trust me, they are not. So the West is also confused and looking for their way to figure out things. And so the main inspiration for Yana TV was to create this particular platform where we can showcase the voices of Asian movers and shakers, which means people who are doing interesting things, who are standing up, who want to speak up, challenging the status quo, and the norms. People who are regional, who are thought leaders, and I also feel it is time there has to be a bigger platform where we can all go and see who are the people who are doing amazing things here." - Yana Fry Fresh out of the studio, Yana Fry, producer & host of Yana TV joined us in a conversation about the behind-the-scenes of her show and her perspectives on interviewing Asian change makers across the region. Our conversation kicked off with Yana's odyssey to Singapore and delving into what sparked the creation of Yana TV and its core themes. In the conversation, Yana shares the heartwarming tales featured on her show, ranging from a kidnapped diplomat to a heart-touching Singaporean Santa Claus and her perspectives as a content creator in the Asia Pacific. Last but not least, she shares what great would look like for Yana TV. [00:48] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Yana Fry, Founder & Host, Yana TV. [02:24] Introduction: Yana Fry, Founder & Host of Yana TV. [04:28] Perspectives on living in Singapore. [06:43] Yana shares lessons of her career journey. [08:20] Inspiration behind Yana TV. [10:28] Intended Audience behind Yana TV. [11:50] The Great Resignation and its Impact on Executives re-thinking work-life balance. [13:49] Main Themes and Key Takeaways from interviewing Asian change-makers in Yana TV. [16:18] How a seven-time convicted criminal becomes a change-maker to help prison inmates re-integrate into Singapore society. [17:43] The behind-the-scenes (BTS) behind Yana TV's production. [21:01] Different Profiles of Change-Makers on Yana TV. [25:14] How Asian change-makers differ from their Western counterparts. [29:35] Challenges faced by Asian Change Makers. [34:49] Tales of Asian Change Makers: A Diplomat. [36:30] Tales of Asian Change Makers: Singapore Santa Claus that moved the production crew on Yana TV. [41:23] How to tell stories in Asia with the digital format. [44:32] The challenge of distribution for Asian podcasters. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong (@bernardleong, Linkedin) hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig (@gthomascraig, LinkedIn).

“[Glints] We would like to still be around and building an enduring company. A big part of why many of us at Glints are building what we want is we hope that our children and grandchildren can be using Glints to grow their careers as well. So we want this to be an enduring company. Our mission is to help realize human potential. And we would like to be a company that's here to last. That's one. Two, concretely we see a lot of opportunities in the platform business and in our cross-border business. We want to double down in this market, getting to market leadership in the market we're playing in, Indonesia, and Vietnam, and also expanding out to new markets for cross-border recruiting, helping employers around the world tap into their 300 million labour force in Southeast Asia, helping them to hire the people here." - Oswald Yeo Fresh out of the studio, Oswald Yeo, chief executive officer and co-founder of Glints joined us in a conversation to discuss how the startup has helped companies from all over the region to build out their talent hubs across Southeast Asia. We began the conversation with Oswald as he shared the journey of Glints and the importance of focus to find the product-market fit till scaling the company across the region. He shared his valuable insights on the application of generative AI in the human resources sector, particularly emphasizing its utility in cross-border recruitment and talent sourcing. Last but not least, he shared his vision on what great would look like for the startup in the future. Episode Highlights: [00:48] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Oswald Yeo, CEO & co-founder of Glints. [02:22] Introduction: Oswald Yeo. [03:09] Origin Story of Glints. [05:54] Career Lessons from Oswald Yeo - Finding the Right People. [08:15] Overview of Glints and its vision & mission today. [11:31] The total market opportunity of HR in Southeast Asia which Glints is poised to capture. [13:09] Borderless Mindset and its implications to cross-border talent acquisition. [15:54] Critical Mass of a Talent Hub. [16:33] Cross Border Hiring and its advantages. [17:54] How Glints adapts its approach across different countries in Southeast Asia. [20:50] Pivotal moments for Glints. [25:21] How Glints found product-market fit in Southeast Asia. [30:05] The one thing that Oswald knows that very few do. [30:32] Glints’ current investors & how they help them to scale. [32:34] Advice for Startup Founders to navigate the difficult fundraising climate. [34:02] Generative AI’s role in talent acquisition and retention for HR. [37:52] What does great look like for Glints? [38:38] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong (@bernardleong, Linkedin) hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G.Thomas Craig (@gthomascraig, LinkedIn).

"Money is a very interesting kind of numerical way of measuring when you're levelling up. So that's where the distinction needs to be very clear. The way that I've positioned it in the book and what the research tells us is that if we force the games on people, it's very bad. But if we look at the games that they naturally play in their free time when they were younger, it's a very good predictor in terms of the type of work that they naturally would gravitate to. So if somebody is amazing and loves playing hours and hours of strategy games, and if we put that person in front of the machine, turning out widgets is going to be a very bad mismatch, and then we need to pay them a lot of money and continue trying to squeeze them to improve that performance. But if somebody is motivated by strategy games, and we give them the kind of problems that are very similar to the type of things that they naturally gravitate to they will be motivated. So we're not creating a new game for them, but we're looking at parallels and helping them to find that intrinsic motivation. And that's something that I think becomes super, super powerful where they then create their own games based on the work that we want them to achieve." - George Kesselman Fresh out of the studio, George Kesselman joined us to discuss his new book "The Power of Play". He shares the main themes and key takeaways on how games will drive the future of work. We began the conversation with George providing an overview of how work has evolved from a craftsman environment to the industrial age and explained why we need a re-thinking of work using game play. He dived deep into the different personas of gamers in work life and offered what success would mean for his book in redefining the workplace. Episode Highlights: [0:44] QOTD [2:02] Introduction: George Kesselman [3:31] Inspiration behind “The Power of Play” book [4:47] How George convinced Wiley of the book deal [5:41] The intended audience for “The Power of Play” [6:38] Main Themes & Key Takeaways behind “The Power of Play” [9:31] Remote Work vs Return to Office [12:02] The legacy of work 1.0 [17:24] Work 3.0 world [21:04] Introduction to Gamification and Game Design in Workplace [26:58] Different Personas in Games and how they map into real-world work [29:42] The different motivations that draw people to work [34:22] How to apply game development principles and design to work [38:22] Predictors of Success in Matching People to Work [40:40] Gauging Performances of Workers in remote and distributed environments [43:13] Things not in the book and is a sequel in the works? [44:58] What does success mean for “The Power of Play” book? [46:13] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong (@bernardleong, Linkedin) hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G.Thomas Craig (@gthomascraig, LinkedIn).  

"You will continue to see Western investment continuing to decline. The risk-reward calculations won't change in the next 12 months, as far as I can see. The Chinese economy is not about to take off. What you will see is the beginnings of some people who are willing to take the gamble. They are going to try different ways to exit. You're going to see more people experimenting with domestic IPOs, and onshore IPOs because you can get the money off. For example, if you're investing in LiDAR or approved industries, you can do a joint venture or a WOFE or anything. It'd be a joint venture to be able to try and do some kind of onshore listings. I think by chance will stay in this weird suspended state. I don't think we're going to get a resolution from them. The big question is - how much stimulus will the Chinese government throw at the economy and how far are they willing to go to goose the economy?" - Shai Oster Fresh out of the studio, Shai Oster, independent consultant and former Asia Bureau Chief from The Information is back for the sixth time with the annual review of what is happening to the China tech ecosystem in 2023. The conversation started with Shai's predictions last year on what happened and what did not happen. From there, we discuss the major themes of the year: the decline and restructuring of venture capital in China, how the 2nd generation CEOs from Shein, Pinduoduo and Bytedance have successfully expanded globally as compared to their predecessors, the October surprise of Huawei's 7nm chip. Last but not least Shai offered his predictions in the road ahead for 2024. Episode Highlights: [0:48] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Shai Oster [1:42] Introduction  [2:20] What has Shai been up to?  [3:18] Experience in Thailand is similar to being in China as compared to Hong Kong [5:30] What did Shai get right or wrong in 2023 [6:00] Sequoia splits into 3: US & Europe, China and India & Southeast Asia [12:41] Why Sequoia split out India & Southeast Asia to Peak XV [15:08] State of Venture Capital in China, the 2023 Edition [22:38] The restructuring of China’s tech ecosystem and where Alibaba Group is heading [26:10] Why 2nd generation tech founders in Shein, Pinduoduo and ByteDance did a better job in expanding globally compared to BAT [33:40] Will TikTok be banned in the US and will it go IPO as well? [38:30] Investors in public China tech companies in the US have now read the regulatory risk section in their S1 filings.  [41:51] Huawei’s October surprise with their 7nm chip and the US sanctions might have accelerated the Chinese’s chip development and independence. [45:52] Macroeconomics in China due to the declining real estate market in 2023. [47:49] Why China is still booming despite the doom and gloom of less foreign-directed investments. [49:55] Shai’s predictions on China for 2024 [53:46] Chinese entrepreneurs coming to Southeast Asia to start companies. [55:49] Gaming in China and Tencent’s ability to respond to the Chinese government’s demands is still going on. [59:10] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong (@bernardleong, Linkedin) hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G.Thomas Craig (@gthomascraig, LinkedIn).