Der Shing Lim: Founder to Angel Syndicate Leader, Disrupting Yourself & Shifting Identities - E315

Der Shing Lim, Cofounder and Partner at AngelCentral, and Jeremy Au delve into entrepreneurship, investment, and personal growth. The discussion focuses on three main themes:

1. Early Journey as an Engineer and Founder: Der Shing reflects on his early years as an engineer at Sembcorp Industries, and how his obsessively competitive nature drove him to build Job Central with his then-girlfriend, Shao-Ning Huang. Rather than rushing into markets as a first or second mover, he talks about the strategic advantages of being a 'third mover'—carefully observing the landscape, learning from others' mistakes, and making his own move. His self-described obsessive and competitive nature served as a catalyst in this phase, pushing him to strive for nothing less than the best.

2. Identity Shift, Angel Investing, and Parenting Philosophy: Der Shing speaks about his evolution into an angel investor and how his focus areas extend beyond business into parenting and social contributions. He shares insights into the emotional and intellectual shifts that come with these different 'hats,' especially his commitment to education and volunteering. His approach to parenting mirrors his business ethos: not just about success but about raising good humans and future leaders.

3. Technical Advice & Historical Perspective: Der Shing shares technical advice for budding investors that he has learned from being a VC fund LP and decades-long experience in the Southeast Asian landscape. He emphasizes the nuances of early-stage investing and the importance of not just looking at metrics but understanding the story and vision behind a startup. He delves into the trends in investments, like the rise of tech startups and e-commerce platforms. He also shares a retrospective view of the region’s startup scene and pivotal moments that signaled the region's potential.

They also talk about how setbacks and failures are crucial learning points in the founder's journey, the importance of fostering genuine human connections in the digital era, and the significance of networking in the entrepreneurial world.

Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/der-shing-lim

Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com

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