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

Jeremy Au reconnects with Anthea Ong for a candid conversation on what it means to lead with integrity, empathy, and independence. They trace her journey from corporate leadership into the social sector and eventually into Parliament as a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP). Anthea shares how she first declined the NMP role, then later accepted it after realizing that structural change especially around mental health and vulnerable communities required policy influence. She recounts her unconventional first speech in Parliament, starting with three collective breaths to bring mindfulness into the chamber. They discuss how debate still matters in a supermajority system, why recent mid-term resignations have damaged the credibility of the NMP scheme, and the need to rethink Singapore’s political structures in light of global democratic shifts. Anthea also talks about her current work leading WorkWell Leaders, a nonprofit that helps CEOs prioritize employee wellbeing and lead more sustainably. 1. Anthea declined the NMP role in 2011 but said yes in 2018 after realizing that structural change, not just grassroots work, was needed to support mental health and social equity. 2. Her nomination came through the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, and she was selected despite thinking she had performed poorly in the final interview. 3. She made history by starting her first Parliament speech with a short breathing exercise to center presence bringing mindfulness into a space built for debate. 4. She used her platform to speak against discriminatory hiring practices, particularly those that asked job applicants to disclose mental health history. 5. She argued that even in a supermajority Parliament, debate still matters because it influences implementation, sets public tone, and archives dissent for future accountability. 6. She criticized the recent mid-term resignations of two NMPs who joined political parties, warning that it erodes public trust and turns the scheme into a talent pipeline. 7. Today, she leads WorkWell Leaders, where she works with over 80 companies to show how a CEO’s personal wellbeing is directly linked to employee health and business performance. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/human-centered-governance 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

Jeremy Au speaks with Valerie Vu about Vietnam’s sudden shock from the 46% US tariff under Trump. What started as optimism turned into panic factories collapsed, partners pulled out, and even personal tragedies occurred. The government acted fast, but trust with the US was damaged. Vietnam is now shifting toward multipolar trade, owning more of its value chain, and exploring new diplomatic lanes with countries like China, Singapore, and the UAE. They also explore how digital platforms like TikTok are emerging as tools of modern diplomacy. Vietnam was blindsided by the 46% tariff, causing financial losses, factory shutdowns, and even suicides from sudden business collapse.The government responded immediately with emergency meetings and a direct call from the General Secretary to Trump.The US refused to reverse tariffs without demanding currency reform, trade surplus reduction, and blocking Chinese transshipment.Vietnam expanded trade talks with China, UAE, Australia, and others, while strengthening regional ties with Singapore and Indonesia.Factory owners are now investing in branding, design, and IP to move up the value chain and reduce reliance on OEM contracts.Cambodia and Malaysia are also recalibrating as China freezes infrastructure investments and US tariffs shake regional trade flows.Singapore’s PM Lawrence Wong went viral in Vietnam through TikTok, showing how soft power now runs through short-form media.

Jeremy Au sits down with Jeffrey Lonsdale to unpack the US-China trade standoff, the Taiwan flashpoint, and how Southeast Asia is adapting to global shifts. They explore how tariffs are reshaping supply chains, the risk of trade wars escalating, and the difficult position countries like Vietnam and Singapore now find themselves in. The conversation also looks ahead at how governments, investors, and founders should think about resilience in a volatile world. 1. Tariffs as a political and economic tool - Trump uses tariffs not only to protect US industries but as a form of domestic consumption tax, shifting behavior and revenue like a GST or VAT. 2. Escalation breeds popularity - Politicians in countries like Canada, Mexico, and parts of Europe gain domestic support by opposing Trump era tariffs, encouraging confrontational stances. 3. Two futures for the US economy - A positive outcome involves cutting red tape and reindustrializing; a negative one sees trade wars, inefficiency, and geopolitical instability, especially if China moves on Taiwan. 4. China-Taiwan conflict would ripple globally - Supply chains are tightly linked—any flashpoint could halt key components, expose Western dependency on Chinese manufacturing, and cripple downstream industries. 5. Southeast Asia’s mixed upside - Countries like Vietnam and Indonesia benefit from the “China plus one” shift, but they’re also at risk if rerouted exports from China trigger new US tariffs. 6. Neutrality may not last - Singapore’s attempt to stay neutral could break down in a Taiwan crisis; facilitating trade with China could be interpreted as taking sides. 7. Southeast Asia’s long-term growth hinges on reform - Vietnam and Indonesia need policy upgrades, power reliability, legal trustworthiness, and governance improvements to fully capitalize on global shifts and avoid investor skepticism after scandals like eFishery. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/tariffs-shape-trade 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

Blue Orca Capital’s allegations against BetterHelp and highlights growing tensions in tech-enabled labor platforms. BetterHelp is accused of using AI to replace human therapists, driven by cost pressures and incentive structures. The case reflects broader risks as AI begins to reshape trust, quality, and business models in two-sided marketplaces. Therapists allegedly use AI to engage patients: Customers reported robotic replies and confirmed AI usage through detection tools, raising concerns about trust and ethics in mental healthcare.Incentives and burnout drive AI reliance: Therapists are paid by word count and overloaded with 60+ patients per week, making AI an easy shortcut to meet performance targets.Business slowdown exposes deeper cracks: BetterHelp’s user base, revenue growth, and profit margins are all declining, while Teladoc faces accounting scrutiny and leadership turnover. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/ai-therapist-problem 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

Li Hongyi, Director of Open Government Products, shares his inspiring journey from aspiring physicist to tech leader for public service. He discusses the transition from theory to impactful work during his Google internship and the shift from micromanagement to empowering his team. Hongyi emphasizes the importance of agency and collaboration in government projects, particularly when creating solutions like parking.sg. He also tackles the rising threat of digital scams, advocating for stronger systems to protect citizens in Singapore.

Jordan Dea-Mattson, a veteran tech leader, and Jeremy Au discussed how Jordan built developer tools at Apple and went on to lead engineering teams at Adobe and Indeed. They explored how he witnessed Apple’s transformation under Steve Jobs, the often unseen dynamics behind major tech layoffs, and what it takes to grow and scale high-performing teams in Southeast Asia. Jordan also shared how he led the rapid expansion of Indeed Singapore, navigated its unexpected closure, and helped his team transition. He also opens up about overcoming personal trauma, leading with integrity, and why real bravery means acting in the face of fear. 1. From curious teen to Apple product manager: Jordan fell in love with computers in middle school, studied computer science, and hustled his way into a job at Apple by fixing bugs and thinking like a product owner. 2. Building early developer tools: He managed key tools like ResEdit and Max bug, and worked on making Apple software usable in Japanese, Arabic, and Hebrew—shaping his global product thinking. 3. Seeing Apple with and without Jobs: Jordan lived through Apple's lost years and felt the seismic shift when Steve Jobs returned—cutting the product line, raising the bar, and restoring focus. 4. From Apple to Adobe: At Adobe, Jordan worked on Acrobat's SDK, then led a cross-product team to improve interoperability—laying the groundwork for what became the Adobe Creative Suite. 5. Layoffs, politics, and unintended consequences: He was laid off during Adobe’s merger with Macromedia, learning firsthand how internal politics often decide who stays and who goes. 6. Helping Adobe’s products play nice: His team standardized core components like fonts and color management, turning a “preschool” of incompatible products into a cohesive offering. 7. Building Indeed Singapore from scratch: In 2018, Jordan set up the Indeed product center in Singapore, growing it from 4 to 250 people—emphasizing diversity, speed, and engineering quality. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/engineering-soft-landings 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

Jeremy Au breaks down what founders should really look for in a VC—beyond branding. He shares a practical framework for value-add, highlights how VCs behave in failure, and urges founders to dig deeper than surface signals. The conversation also looks at why older founders often perform better, even if they raise less, and the dynamics of VC incentives. VCs show true value in failure: Founders often overlook how a VC behaves when things fall apart—but that’s when reputation is earned.Most “value-add” claims are surface-level: Using a pyramid model, Jeremy explains that real value lies in basics like capital, governance, and reinvestment—not flashy perks.Some VCs actively destroy value: He shares how one VC blocked a cents-on-the-dollar exit, leading the startup to shut down completely.Support goes beyond capital: A VC offering a personal loan during a tough time stood out more than any platform or pitch.Reference-check your VC: Don’t just talk to winning startups—learn how the VC acted when things went badly.

Jeremy Au unpacked why most startups fail and how failure is often misunderstood especially in Southeast Asia’s tech landscape. He pointed out that failure isn’t just about poor execution or bad luck. It’s often structural, recurring across funding stages, and rooted in deeper issues like team mismatches, market timing, or scaling too fast. He also drew a clear line between economic failure and personal failure, reminding founders that not hitting a return target doesn’t mean they’re bad leaders or people. He shared recurring patterns and what comes next for those who’ve been through it. 1. Good Idea, Wrong Team: Some startups never get off the ground because the team can’t execute—either due to weak dynamics or the wrong mix of skills. 2. False Starts: Products built in a vacuum without real user insight often flop, no matter how technically sound they are. 3. False Positives: Early traction can be misleading—what works in one market or segment may fail in another if context isn’t deeply understood. 4. Speed Trap: Fast growth and big funding can set unrealistic expectations, creating pressure to scale beyond what the team or model can handle. 5. Bad Macro Luck: External events—like funding winters or shifting investor focus—can kill momentum even for strong companies. 6. Cascading Miracles: Some ambitious startups crash despite big raises and press hype, only to see others succeed later with the same core idea. 7. The Second-Time Edge: Founders who’ve succeeded before have better odds next time around, thanks to sharper timing, stronger networks, and better-hiring instincts. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/startup-false-starts 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

Jeremy Au talks with Gita Sjahrir, an Indonesian economist and entrepreneur, in a deep dive on Indonesia’s current macroeconomic conditions and policy landscape. They analyze how inconsistent government communication, executional shortcomings, and short-term policymaking have contributed to uncertainty among investors and the public. The discussion also explores infrastructure priorities, the structural incentives behind recent decisions, and the enduring resilience of Indonesian citizens and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This episode offers a pragmatic assessment of an economy with strong fundamentals navigating through complex challenges. 1. Market turmoil triggered by poor policy communication: Stock prices dropped, and the IDX temporarily halted trading after inconsistent government messaging on taxes and royalties. 2. Investor confidence shaken by opacity: The lack of clear direction and unified communication made both local and foreign investors wary of the policy environment. 3. Layoffs highlight deeper weaknesses: Mass layoffs by a major garment company raised concerns about weakening consumer demand and employment trends. 4. Sovereign wealth fund rollout lacks transparency: The introduction of DARA, a new sovereign wealth fund, failed to clarify how infrastructure or job creation goals would be met. 5. Execution—not intent—is the policy bottleneck: While school lunch programs and stimulus plans aim to help, flawed rollout and budget tradeoffs create new public dissatisfaction. 6. Budget cuts send mixed signals: Programs for small and medium businesses have seen funding reduced, undermining growth for the sector that employs millions. 7. Controversial military law revision sparks unrest: The lack of draft transparency triggered fears over potential authoritarian shifts, adding to market and public anxiety. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/crisis-of-confidence 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

Jeremy Au discussed how pitching, trust, and fundraising work. He explained that pitching is about expressing a future others can believe in, not just raising money. He shared how traction builds trust, why capital must be chosen carefully, and how great founders turn investor interest into leverage. Drawing on examples like Rewind.ai and BenchSci, he laid out what separates good pitches from great businesses. Pitch to clarify thinking: Saying your plan out loud invites feedback and sharpens your logic.Traction builds trust, not slides: Focus on customer milestones first—VCs only glance at decks.Trust is built, not assumed: Show credibility, deliver reliably, be warm, and care beyond yourself.Keep small promises: Reliability grows when you do what you say, even with tiny tasks.Say yes to help: Accepting offers like coffee builds closeness and rapport. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braves ea.com/blog/pitch-with-purpose 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