

BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)
Jeremy Au
Learn from Southeast Asia's best tech leaders. Build the future, learn from our past & stay human in between. No B.S on success. Southeast Asia's #1 startup & venture capital podcast with 80,000+ listeners.
Hosted by Jeremy Au. VC & serial founder. Harvard MBA & UC Berkeley. Sci-fi nerd & dad of two daughters. Growth and personal growth solves all problems. The best feeling is coaching good humans to be great leaders.
Published on Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Weekly tech news debates, changemaker interviews & listener Q&As.
Community of listeners and guests across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia & the Philippines. Global top 10% podcast.
"Learned a lot from the journeys. Must-listen for anyone seeking advice to be a leader" @lindatangxy
"Refreshing to hear from distinguished founders what they learned, both the good & bad" @seanojw
"Incredibly useful in kickstarting my thought process around customers as an entrepreneur" @klowetan
"After tuning into a couple of episodes, this is now my weekly routine. Keep it up!!" @joshrodes8
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.comWhatsApp Weekday Insight: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02eSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0TYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAuApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyauInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauzTwitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyauLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
Hosted by Jeremy Au. VC & serial founder. Harvard MBA & UC Berkeley. Sci-fi nerd & dad of two daughters. Growth and personal growth solves all problems. The best feeling is coaching good humans to be great leaders.
Published on Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Weekly tech news debates, changemaker interviews & listener Q&As.
Community of listeners and guests across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia & the Philippines. Global top 10% podcast.
"Learned a lot from the journeys. Must-listen for anyone seeking advice to be a leader" @lindatangxy
"Refreshing to hear from distinguished founders what they learned, both the good & bad" @seanojw
"Incredibly useful in kickstarting my thought process around customers as an entrepreneur" @klowetan
"After tuning into a couple of episodes, this is now my weekly routine. Keep it up!!" @joshrodes8
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.comWhatsApp Weekday Insight: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02eSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0TYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAuApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyauInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauzTwitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyauLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 12, 2025 • 53min
Adrian Choo: Career Skeletons, AI Assistants & Why Singapore is Losing Jobs to KL and Bangkok – E613
Adrian Choo, CEO of Career Agility International, joins Jeremy Au to explore how AI, job insecurity, and shifting regional trends are reshaping the future of work in Southeast Asia. They discuss why Singapore is losing its dominance as a regional employment hub, how mid-career professionals are getting priced out, and why Gen Z graduates are entering the job market without marketable skills. Adrian shares how he sold skeletons to pay for university, how he pivoted from headhunter to coach, and why building career resilience is more urgent than ever. He also explains how his AI assistant "Becky" helps him think faster, make decisions, and stay ahead in a volatile job market.
02:00 Adrian bootstrapped university by selling ethically sourced skeletons: He imported medical-grade bones from Europe after a supply shortage in Asia and sold them to medical students, storing 30 sets in his bedroom when no one would rent him storage space. This experience taught him practical business skills before he even began his degree.
04:10 Career insecurity, not job insecurity, shaped his path from GE Plastics to headhunting: Adrian realized early that employees have no real control over their job stability. He pivoted into executive search to own the entire value chain, hunting, closing, delivering, and later into coaching to future-proof his impact and income.
12:47 He pivoted again after seeing LinkedIn disrupt headhunting: In 2012, Adrian began preparing to move into strategic career coaching, anticipating that LinkedIn would flood the market and erode differentiation. It took him six years to complete the transition, positioning himself as the only coach with C-suite search experience in Singapore.
16:50 Career coaching today is about adjacencies, vertical scaling, and AI integration: He explains that landing a job doesn't fix a sunset industry or outdated skill set. Instead, he focuses on helping client’s re-skill toward adjacent roles or industries. His in-house AI, Carol, is being trained to suggest such strategic pivots.
21:13 Adrian uses a personally trained GPT AI named Becky as a sparring partner: He trained Becky to match his communication style and decision logic, enabling her to summarize dense research, propose coaching content, and even argue against his ideas. This AI assistant has become a productivity multiplier and trend-spotting tool.
24:18 Singapore jobs are being offshored to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok: Due to high costs and tighter visa regulations, multinationals are moving regional functions out of Singapore. A returning Malaysian diaspora and strong expat interest in cities like KL and Bangkok are fueling this trend, making Singapore-based professionals less competitive.
30:48 Gen Z graduates are leaving school with skills employers do not want: Many lack coding, business, or AI skills. Adrian cites examples of graduates from top local universities who remain unemployed or underprepared. He urges them to lean into AI, gain real-world experience, and stop relying on paper qualifications alone.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/adrian-choo-career-in-crisis
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Aug 10, 2025 • 35min
Jianggan Li: China Rare Earth Power, Vietnam USA Fast Deal & Labubu's Global Rise – E612
Jianggan Li, Founder of Momentum Works, joins Jeremy Au to unpack the evolving trade dynamics between China, Vietnam, and the United States. They compare Vietnam’s swift concessions with China’s calculated rare earth strategy, discuss the blurred lines of transshipment, and explore how Apple, Pop Mart, and Labubu reflect larger trends in global manufacturing and consumer behavior. The conversation also reveals how Chinese brands are outpacing global competitors in TikTok marketing and why luxury culture in China is undergoing a quiet transformation.
02:28 China used rare earths as a strategic trade weapon: Jianggan references a Deng Xiaoping quote from the 1980s highlighting rare earths as vital. China’s long-term planning turned these materials into a key negotiation tool, influencing American industry pressure and leading to relaxed US restrictions without an official announcement.
04:56 Vietnam offered zero tariffs on US goods to secure a deal: Faced with a sudden 46 percent US tariff, Vietnam’s leadership moved quickly. To Lam personally called Trump and agreed to a deal where Vietnam’s exports would face 20 percent tariffs, suspected transshipped goods 40 percent, and US imports would enter Vietnam tax-free.
08:41 Vietnamese factories feel pressure from China’s scale and efficiency: Mid-sized business owners in Vietnam, even those driving Porsches, admit they can’t compete with China on speed and cost. The concern is especially acute for standardized products without strong local customization needs.
13:20 Transshipment rules are hard to define and even harder to enforce: A Made in Vietnam label can apply if 40 percent of value is added locally but calculating that percentage is difficult. Inputs often come from China, and enforcement depends on both accounting practices and political discretion across borders.
17:25 US criticism of Apple’s China ties expands across party lines: A Daily Show clip highlights Apple training Chinese factories and hollowing out US jobs. This marks a shift in criticism from being Republican led to becoming bipartisan, with concerns about offshoring now voiced by Democrats as well.
29:22 China’s middle class shifts from luxury logos to quiet quality: Before the pandemic, wealth was flaunted through bags and status goods. Post-pandemic, that has changed. Consumers now see luxury as a stupid tax and prefer high-quality domestic brands that offer better value.
34:03 Labubu’s rise shows China’s edge in branding and execution: Pop Mart succeeded by combining designer signings, local manufacturing, and fast restocking strategies that undercut scalpers. The brand also leveraged deep operational know-how from Douyin, giving it a major advantage on TikTok over Western brands reluctant to invest in the platform.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jianggan-li-tariffs-and-toys
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Aug 7, 2025 • 12min
Fairness Isn’t Real, Power Awareness & Small Fish Career Strategy – E611
Jeremy Au speaks about the uncomfortable truth that the world isn’t fair. He urges listeners to let go of idealism, understand real-world power dynamics, and make deliberate career choices. From decoding hypocrisy in leadership to choosing when to be a small fish in a big pond, he shares how to survive and thrive by thinking both outside-in and inside-out.
01:00 Life Isn’t Fair: Jeremy dismantles the idea that good things always happen to good people and explains why embracing life’s unfairness is key to strategic decision-making
02:15 Choose Your Battles: Understanding your advantages lets you pick domains where you are more likely to win rather than relying on the myth of a fair system
03:24 Power Isn’t a Dirty Word: Power will come with professional growth. Learn to use it consciously and ethically without being afraid of it
04:33 Say vs Do: Leaders often say one thing and do another. Learn to read actions not just words when assessing people or systems
06:00 Big Fish Small Pond: Jeremy breaks down how switching between being a big or small fish in a pond can serve different career stages with examples from his own path
09:36 Outside-In vs Inside-Out: Use outside-in logic like market size and trends and inside-out values like what you enjoy and who you want to work with together to guide your decisions
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/fairness-isnt-real
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Aug 5, 2025 • 46min
Tiang Lim Foo: Start-Up Governance, VC Math Reality & How AI Is Rewiring SEA Startups – E610
Tiang Lim Foo, General Partner at Forge Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed how Southeast Asia’s tech and venture capital landscape is evolving through cycles of hype, correction, and AI-driven transformation. They unpack the eFishery scandal as a clearing event, reframe expectations around exits, and debate whether venture capital remains viable in a region where only one unicorn appears every four years. They explore the split between local and global-first startups, how AI is reviving SaaS through productivity gains, and why only a few VC funds will likely outperform. Tiang also shares how fatherhood shaped his leadership style and how delayed gratification builds better founders and better kids.
02:43 eFishery was a clearing event that exposed systemic gaps: The scandal’s late-stage exposure revealed weaknesses in due diligence from seed to growth rounds. Tiang and Jeremy discuss how this singular event damaged investor confidence and might risk Southeast Asia facing a “lost decade” unless the ecosystem regains trust and transparency through police investigations.
08:20 Power law math must shift for Southeast Asia: Tiang explains why assuming a unicorn every year is flawed. With only one home run in Southeast Asia every four years, only two to four VC funds will hit top-tier returns in the region. He outlines how funds must underwrite exits between $100 million to $500 million and reverse-engineer ownership, dilution, and ticket size accordingly.
14:32 The ecosystem is splitting into two startup types: Baskit is an example of a hyper-local play focused on Indonesia’s supply chain, while Mito Health began in Singapore and now earns more revenue in the US. Tiang shares how these two paths local capital efficiency versus global market scale require different underwriting logic and founder support.
21:04 AI is reviving SaaS by changing productivity math: SEA companies previously avoided SaaS due to low labor costs. Now, AI-powered tools like Vercel enable 10x productivity, allowing startups to reduce headcount and speed up delivery cycles. Boards and management are pushing AI pilots across conglomerates and tech companies.
26:08 ChatGPT’s viral growth unlocked new software models: Tiang highlights how its intuitive UI and cross-language support made it usable with zero training. Unlike older tools like Evernote that required localization, ChatGPT’s frictionless adoption signals a shift in how enterprise software scales globally.
29:03 AI is widening the power law: Some lean teams hit 15K to 20K MRR without fundraising. Others build toward massive ARR and attract large rounds. Tiang explains how AI-native startups either stay bootstrapped or scale explosively, polarizing outcomes and reshaping venture expectations.
37:47 Parenthood reshaped Tiang’s leadership and time discipline: With two kids and a hard stop at 5:30 p.m. daily, Tiang structures board meetings around decisions, ensures clear agendas, and enforces pre-reading. He also draws parallels between parenting and investing both require influence, not control.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/tiang-lim-foo-sea-vc-reset
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Aug 3, 2025 • 48min
Sudhir Vadaketh: Building Jom, Managing Fear & Publishing Bravely in Singapore – E609
Sudhir Vadaketh, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Jom, returns to BRAVE after four years to share how he built a long-form journalism outlet in Singapore. He and Jeremy Au discuss the journey from solo writer to team manager, the real risks and support systems behind independent media, and how Jom navigates Singapore’s evolving boundaries on speech. They unpack the emotional weight of managing editorial freedom, public fear of backlash, and what bravery looks like in today’s media landscape. Sudhir also explains how Jom could grow across Southeast Asia while staying rooted in local storytelling.
02:00 Sudhir founded Jom to fill a missing niche in literary journalism: After years of contributing to platforms like Mothership and RICE, Sudhir realized that Singapore lacked a long-form, English-language publication focused on literary, thoughtful reporting. He launched Jom with ambitions to serve not just Singapore but a growing English-speaking audience across Southeast Asia.
04:00 Building the team started with salary stability and trust: To attract good people and avoid early burnout, Sudhir promised his co-founders and first employee a two-year minimum runway with modest pay. He prioritized financial stability overgrowth, knowing many media ventures collapse when salaries can’t be sustained.
09:49 Collaborative journalism values shaped Jom’s internal culture: Sudhir brought the collaborative instincts from his journalism background into Jom’s management. Team members collectively weigh in on everything—from editorial language on sensitive topics to pricing event tickets—creating a shared sense of responsibility and editorial rigor.
12:25 The team’s reaction to POFMA exposed leadership blind spots: When Jom received three POFMA correction orders, Sudhir took it in stride, but his teammates—especially younger ones—were rattled. He learned that being a leader also means holding emotional space and directly addressing the team's concerns in moments of pressure.
22:53 Fear of online backlash affects contributors and limits open dialogue: Writers and interviewees are often hesitant to go public, even on non-political pieces, due to fears of doxxing, trolling, or professional retaliation. This culture of fear, fueled by social media and polarized discourse, creates challenges for independent media.
30:38 Jom’s expansion model will prioritize local content through decentralized teams: Sudhir envisions future Jom teams embedded in cities like KL, Bangkok, or Jakarta. Each would produce 80 percent local content and 20 percent regional stories, ensure relevance and avoiding a top-down, Singapore-centric approach to Southeast Asia.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/sudhir-vadaketh-bravery-in-print
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Jul 31, 2025 • 45min
Shiyan Koh: Singapore Studies Nuclear Energy, SEA Startup Pessimism & AI Waifus – E608
Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner at Hustle Fund, joins Jeremy Au to explore Singapore’s exploration of nuclear energy, the Southeast Asia startup downturn, and how AI is changing both business and social behavior. They discuss how the government seeds long-term energy strategy, what optimism looks like in a bear market, and why human interaction must remain a priority as digital tools evolve. Together, they reflect on resilience, founder mindset, and parenting in an increasingly AI-driven world.
02:15 Singapore is quietly exploring nuclear power as an energy source: In 2024, Singapore signed a civil nuclear cooperation "123 Agreement" with America and launched the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (targeted ~100 researcher lab) at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
03:46 Hitting carbon net zero may require nuclear energy: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Rafael Grossi: “When it comes to decarbonising, what are your options? Here, there is no hydropower. You have renewables, but you don’t have much territory... It’s a small country, so you cannot have wind parks for kilometres on end... In my opinion... Singapore could rightly (be) the most perfect example of a country that needs nuclear energy."
06:28 Nuclear acceptance may follow the NEWater playbook: They compare it to the early skepticism around NEWater, which underwent societal education, trial balloons, and gradual integration. Hurdles include nuclear safety, exploration of small modular reactor designs and concerns/ collaborations with neighboring countries.
13:59 Southeast Asia’s startup mood has soured post-boom: After years of hype and capital, many founders now face disillusionment. Shiyan calls it a hangover from the zero-interest era but also notes new AI-driven opportunities are emerging.
15:36 Founders can now build global-first with AI: Southeast Asia’s fragmented markets make regional scaling hard. Shiyan explains that founders can now launch globally from day one using AI tools, bypassing local limitations.
19:32 AI changes what’s possible, but customers, not VCs, decide: Even with better tools, Shiyan reminds founders that most startups still fail. What matters is whether customers are willing to pay, not just whether investors believe.
23:00 Real connection still beats AI companionship: They explore whether AI waifus can help people practice social skills or just create more isolation. Shiyan argues nothing replaces shared quirks, jokes, and emotional presence in real life.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/shiyan-koh-singapore-nuclear-energy
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jul 29, 2025 • 12min
Startup Failure Patterns, AI Job Risk & Founder-Problem Fit - E607
Jeremy Au breaks down why most startups fail and what it really takes to succeed in the AI age. He explains the six patterns of startup failure, the tricky economics of service businesses, and why AI will wipe out average workers. He also explores how caring about a problem gives founders their edge and why listening, not output, is the real marker of a great marketer or executive.
00:59 Startup Failure Is the Default: Jeremy explains that failure is the norm in startups and outlines six common patterns including false starts, speed traps, bad luck, and weak founding teams.
03:30 Service Startups Need Tech to Scale: He shares how AI and automation can transform service businesses like call centers into high-margin ventures by replacing labor with scalable technology.
07:00 GPT Raised the Bar: Repeating what AI can do is not enough. The gap between average and exceptional performance has narrowed and effort alone is no longer a differentiator.
09:39 Founder Problem Fit Drives Impact: Success is easier when people work on problems they care about. Founder problem fit is just as important as product market fit.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/startup-failure-ai-takeover
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Jul 28, 2025 • 46min
Daniel Thong: Bootstrapping AI, Spinning Out AI, and Surviving the VC Downturn – E606
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Daniel Thong, founder of Nimbus, returns to BRAVE to share how he built a profitable, tech-enabled service business without venture capital. He and Jeremy Au unpack the rise and fall of tech companies like Zilingo, examine the structural issues behind finance misconduct, and explore how AI is reshaping service operations. Daniel discusses why bootstrapping gave him more control, how he spun off a new AI startup from within, and what it takes to retain talent and stay healthy as a founder. The conversation offers a grounded look at sustainable growth, founder philosophy, and the realities of Southeast Asia’s startup landscape.
06:25 Bootstrapping helped Nimbus outlast VC-backed clients: Daniel avoided risky burn rates and pointed to Zilingo as a cautionary tale.
11:45 AI-enabled WhatsApp sales sparked a spinout: After AI sold painting services over the weekend, Daniel launched ChatAvocado with his tech team as co-founders.
13:50 Spinning off helped retain talent: Rather than cutting R&D, Daniel gave capital and ownership to the team and kept the business ecosystem strong.
16:27 AI now improves routing, HR, and customer service: Generative AI reduces headcount by handling job matching and admin tasks internally.
19:35 Survival beats ambition in Southeast Asia: Daniel emphasized Buffett’s rule to never lose money and stay close to revenue.
26:50 Retention comes from delivering promises: Daniel saw founders renege on ESOPs and vowed to be consistent, realistic, and trustworthy with his team.
35:37 Founding cost him family presence and health: Daniel admits he neglected the intangibles and is now trying to balance better.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/daniel-thong-bootstrap-beats-vc-collapse
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Jul 24, 2025 • 14min
AI Companions, Unicorn Odds, and Southeast Asia’s Next 100 Years of Startups - E605
Jeremy Au explores how exponential tech progress is reshaping the future, why Southeast Asia is positioned for a surge in unicorns, and how venture capitalists evaluate founders. From AI relationships to realistic startup odds, this discussion challenges assumptions about the next 100 years of innovation and entrepreneurship.
01:15 100 Years of Progress: Jeremy compares sampans to reusable rockets to illustrate the speed of change in the last century. He asks if anyone in 1924 could have predicted the internet and cat GIFs in 2024. The message is clear, by 2124, what feels absurd today may become normal.
02:26 AI Companions as Real Startups: Jeremy shares that the latest wave of venture-backed startups in California are focused on building AI-powered romantic partners. What started as a joke has become a funded reality, forcing us to consider how digital relationships could redefine human connection.
04:01 Unicorn Odds and Reality: Many students are surprised to learn that seed-stage startups have a 1 in 40 chance of becoming unicorns. Jeremy emphasizes that while the journey requires effort and resilience, the odds are better than most assume and worth pursuing with intent.
04:34 Southeast Asia’s Golden Era: Asia Partners believes the next 50 years will bring more unicorns in Southeast Asia. Jeremy highlights that local universities like NUS are producing many of these founders, signaling strong homegrown potential in the region.
10:00 VCs as Elite Talent Scouts: Jeremy explains that venture capitalists are not teachers or advisors, but high-performance coaches who are assembling winning teams. They focus on backing the best early, not out of charity, but to generate home runs that deliver massive returns.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/billion-dollar-futures
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Jul 22, 2025 • 41min
Bernard Leong: How AI Is Reshaping Development, Business Models, and Startup Growth – E604
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Bernard Leong, founder of Dorje AI and host of Analyse Asia, joins Jeremy Au to explore how AI is transforming software development, business models, and professional roles across Southeast Asia. They break down why dev houses are losing ground, how AI accelerates coding and reshapes team structures, and why traditional SaaS and education models must evolve. Bernard shares how he replaced an outsourced dev team using AI tools, the dangers of hallucinated code libraries, and his vision for a new enterprise software model powered by prompt engineering and cloud-based trust.
00:42: Traditional software development can’t keep up with AI timelines: Bernard shares how he replaced a dev house that took five months with a feature he built in 20 minutes using 50 AI prompts during a flight. This led to firing the team and redesigning the internal workflow around speed and AI tools.
06:26: Frontend moves fast with AI, but backend demands real engineering: While vibe coding speeds up prototypes, Bernard highlights backend risks like hallucinated libraries from ChatGPT. He stresses the need for strong DevOps rules, audit trails, and secure infrastructure to prevent system vulnerabilities.
09:18: Dev houses need to reskill or become obsolete: Bernard criticizes dev houses for slow JIRA-based processes and poor QA. His lean team rebuilt what took five months in just six weeks by focusing on code quality, automation, and prompt engineering. He urges retraining junior developers to stay relevant.
20:43: AI is replacing repetitive junior roles across professions: Bernard sees AI displacing junior coders, lawyers, accountants, and consultants. He shares how his ex-lawyer wife saw this coming, and cites an MIT study where only senior professionals could spot and fix AI mistakes, while juniors added little value.
23:39: Education must shift from banning AI to measuring real thinking: Bernard describes showing students how ChatGPT completes their essays in seconds. He calls for testing reasoning and prompting skills rather than memorization.
31:57: Organizations will become lean, AI-native teams: Bernard predicts companies will move from pyramids to diamond-shaped org charts. He now trials contractors and only hires those who scale with AI.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/bernard-leong-code-without-coders
Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea
English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts
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