The Epicenter with Ronen Mense

“There’s too much $ in Climate Tech but not enough entrepreneurs with ideas.” We welcome Djoann Fal, co-founder of GetLinks, Asia's premier tech talent network. Through Atlas Capital, he is currently focused on funding vital sustainability tech innovations in the region.  Featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30, Djoann is a pioneer in linking tech professionals with prime opportunities. With a background in engineering and consulting, he has expanded GetLinks across multiple countries, achieving unprecedented scale for that industry. In an intimate conversation with Ronen, Djoann shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of building a tech startup, and Asia’s promising potential in climate tech. He also discusses working with conglomerates to shift towards green projects, dealing with “carbon credit bros,” and his efforts to help Asian cities adapt to climate change. This episode pairs perfectly with Djoann’s Substack, The Adaptive Economy.

How to Get “FUNDABLE” with Sephi Shapira, Tech Entrepreneur, Founder and Mentor  Sephi Shapira has spent over twenty years as a tech entrepreneur, founding multiple start-ups. Since 2010, he has mentored over 100 tech CEOs as they secured over $1 billion in financing at various growth stages.  In an intimate conversation with longtime friend Ronen Mense, Sephi shares the core principles of getting funded, the uselessness of “company decks,” and why it’s critical to demonstrate bold leadership over obedient followership in attracting investors.  With decades of experience as a mentor, he discusses the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship and offers solid, practical insights on resolving it. Ronen and Sephi’s wide-ranging conversation also includes thoughts on Adam Neumann’s media savvy, differences between VCs in Asia and the West, and the direct relationship between clarity of vision and the ability to execute.   This episode is a perfect companion to Sephi’s book FUNDABLE: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Funded, And Others Do Not!

Sonika Manandhar, a trailblazing co-founder and CTO of Aloi Global, shares unique insights and invaluable lessons from her wide-ranging experience as a woman tech founder from Nepal, a perspective that is sure to inspire and empower.   In an intimate conversation with Ronen Mense, Sonika provides anecdotes on glass-ceiling challenges, such as dealing with prejudices, overcoming work archetypes, and relentless upskilling.      A large chunk of the episode is devoted to a deeper understanding of powering microfinance for informal sectors - and how that is transformational not just for business owners but also for the day-to-day lives of many.  Also a UN Environment Young Champion of Earth and National Geographic Explorer awardee, Sonika closes the episode with her 4Ps principles of people, planet, profit, and prosperity. Watch the episode to discover why one can’t exist without the other.

Jeffrey Towson, top-notch Asia analyst, podcaster, and business transformation consultant, sits down with Ronen Mense to answer strategy judgment questions about all things digital. In this nearly one-hour episode, we delve into a range of topics that are highly relevant to businesses, regardless of their maturity level and geographical focus. A particularly intriguing discussion revolves around how the stakes of winning and losing in business are becoming more and more extreme. The first half explores digital transformation strategies, while the rest of the discussion focuses on real-life business transformation examples from the likes of BYD Auto and Amazon. A consultant and investor with +20 years of experience across the US, China/Asia, and the Middle East, Jeffrey wraps up the episode with his thinking and strategy framework for shaping the future of the digital economy.

George Hartel, Chief Commercial Officer at GQ Thailand, Southeast Asia's leading Tech Apparel company, shares his expertise in omnichannel innovation, business transformation, and brand development. In a conversation with Ronen, George sheds light on GQ's evolution from a retail fixture to a comprehensive Tech Apparel business. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing profitability in e-commerce from the outset, and discusses leveraging social media for positive unit economics, citing GQ's remarkable sales surge from 200 to 4,000 shirts per day following a viral campaign in 2019.Drawing on his role as an e-commerce expert, George provides firsthand insights into adapting to Asia’s rapid pace of innovation, often called "China speed." The episode concludes with practical tips for enhancing sales through the TikTok Shop platform.

Considered the “Godfather of Malaysia’s startup scene,” Dr. Sivapalan Vivekarajah has been an Entrepreneur and Angel Investor for nearly 40 years and has a Ph.D. in Venture Capital from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He is the Co-Founder and Senior Partner of “ScaleUp Malaysia” Accelerator, Malaysia’s first Accelerator for highly scalable, high-growth regional companies. Dr. Vivekarajah is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Science and Technology at Sunway University and the author of the books “Supercharge Your Startup Valuation and “Blue Sky Innovation: Killer Innovations That Changed The World of Business.”Our host, Ronen Mense, considers Dr. Vivekarajah one of his heroes and mentors. The gravity of their personal and professional relationship is explored in this episode as they dissect: Why Malaysia is one of the world’s best-kept secrets for tech entrepreneurship How streamlining funding agencies and beefing up corporate tax incentives can spark a nation’s startup boom The most accurate and appropriate benchmarks for startup valuation Why liquidation preference is crucial …and many more! This episode is a must-watch for startup founders, venture capitalists, or anyone who has a keen interest in Asia’s tech entrepreneur scene.

Dr. Gang Lu is the founder and CEO of TechNode, one of the largest media hubs for the Chinese startup ecosystem. In its early years, TechNode was China's answer to TechCrunch. An industry fixture for over ten years, Dr. Lu is considered one of the most vital voices in Chinese tech.  Together, Ronen and Dr. Lu go deep on:Southeast Asia's ecosystem is growing as fast, if not faster, than China's.Why Shein is a global phenomenon except domestically.Why AI might be the last bubble shared between China and the West. This episode is particularly relevant to those finding an actionable footing between the tech ecosystems of China and Southeast Asia. Many interviews about Chinese tech today provide an outdated perspective. This one offers a challenging, forward-looking view.

Recorded live onstage at AppsFlyer’s MAMA Asia conference last month, the company’s co-founder and CEO provides deep insights into three major themes: Privacy, Macroeconomics, and AI. Oren shares 1) why he challenges his team to think how AI could replace their current jobs, 2) what the ecosystem could learn from recent historical, technological milestones, and 3) how AppsFlyer grew its business because of Asia. Whether you are a brand marketer, a startup founder, or a tech influencer, this episode will help dispel some existential issues that may be impacting your business and career today.

Join us for an illuminating conversation with renowned branding expert and behavioral scientist, Martin Lindstrom. Hosted by Ronen Mense, this Epicenter episode delves deep into the fascinating world of consumer behavior and its impact on marketing strategies - whether B2C, B2B, or C2C!Martin Lindstrom, a New York Times bestselling author and TIME magazine's "World's 100 Most Influential People," shares his unique insights into the subconscious triggers that drive decision-making. With his signature blend of storytelling and data-driven analysis, Lindstrom unravels the hidden dynamics that shape our choices as consumers.Recorded during an intimate sit-down in Bangkok, listeners will be treated to riveting anecdotes from Lindstrom's expansive research, and first-hand experience working with some of the biggest brands in modern society.Apart from learning about shifting mindsets, Lindstrom also shares one of his first publicly available take on AI's benefits and the bad. The episode ends with his views on why boredom is the true foundation of creativity.The Epicenter's most must-listen episode to date!

Andy Lee can be considered one of the most prominent faces in Asia-Pacific's startup and corporate management practice. Having had a strong hand building the likes of Uber and Kabam in the region, he's ventured into the largely under-tapped world of software for employee stock options - through Sprout. Here he speaks about his early experiences as a venture capitalist and 1.0 tech banker in Silicon Valley, the dizzying pace of China's mobile growth, and his latest foray into democratizing economic empowerment and stakeholder management for everyone. Andy shares in great detail how to separate the noise from the signal in navigating the world's most competitive tech ecosystem - China. The latter half of the episode dives deep into Andy's co-founded venture, Sprout, as they help startups understand the virtuous cycle: where they grow and hit milestones, raise funds, hire more staff, incentivize, retain, and hit more milestones. Sprout sits at the heart of this cycle.

Maki Hsieh, a prominent business leader, musician, and philanthropist, shares her remarkable journey of overcoming challenges and embracing adventures during her upbringing. Her inspiring story of perseverance and resilience has propelled her to the global stage, where she has achieved notable success in various fields. Here she speaks deeply about the Asian Hall of Fame, a US-based legacy platform celebrating influential Asian and Indigenous leaders in the arts & sciences, public service, and corporate business.

The CEO & Founder of Ampverse, Ferdinand Gutierrez, dissects the viability of profiting from the gaming & e-sports industries, without creating an actual game or any related software. He also hones in on the strength of the Southeast Asia gaming landscape, and how the region is triggering seismic shifts in the global tech ecosystem.

One of the world's most influential mobile ad network pioneers, Mr. Xin Ye, visits the Epicenter studio in Bangkok to give his take on today's hottest topics in Tech.

Ronen Mense sits down with Paul Meyers, Asia Startup Veteran, on the Power of Founder Coaching.

Ronen Mense sits down with Delbert Ty, Chief Marketing Officer of Coffee Meets Bagel, to discuss all things Branding, the Promise of Remote Workplace, and the Marketing Machinery behind what is perhaps the most meaningful dating platform today.