

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 & Thursday. 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 & Thursday. 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 20, 2024 • 39min
Htay Aung: Anywheel Founder Struggles, Winning The Bike-sharing War & Rejecting VC & Acquisition Offers - E462
Htay Aung, CEO & Founder of Anywheel, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes:
1. Early Inspiration and Challenges: Htay detailed his journey from an immigrant student facing cultural and language barriers in Singapore to becoming the founder of Anywheel. His initial inspiration came from dealing with traffic in Sydney and Singapore, which led to the idea of a bike-sharing service during his studies at the University of Sydney in 2017. He recounted the early challenges of integrating into a new culture and educational system, which shaped his entrepreneurial mindset.
2. Operational Learning Curve: Htay described the initial operational challenges of starting Anywheel including assembling the first bicycle at his home to navigating supply chain challenges like sourcing the initial 500 bicycles from manufacturers reluctant to deal with a small startup. He shared insights into early mistakes, such as ordering unassembled bikes, which led to significant logistical challenges. He also detailed how the company integrated IoT technology to enhance operational efficiency and meet regulatory compliance, particularly in response to Singapore’s licensing regulations implemented by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in 2018.
3. Strategic Market Expansion: Htay emphasized strategic and financial decisions made during difficult period and his choice to reject venture capital funding to retain control over the company's strategic direction. He also discussed market expansion strategies and regulatory navigation and how the company adapted to changes and acquired competitors following the LTA’s new rules in 2018. He also detailed that the acquisition of SG Bike was not only a business expansion but also a move to consolidate the market and enhance the overall industry reputation by assuming responsibility for its customer commitments. He discussed maintaining ethical business practices, particularly his decision not to charge user deposits—a decision made to foster trust and differentiate Anywheel from competitors like Mobike and Ofo.
Jeremy and Htay also talked about the challenges in navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of trust, transparency, and hard work within the workplace, and his strategic plans for scaling operations while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability and community impact.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/htay-aung
Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/htay-aung-id
观看、收听或阅读全文,请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/htay-aung-cn
Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/htay-aung-vn
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
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
Join us at Geeks on a Beach! Use the code "BRAVESEA" for a 45% discount for the first 10 registrations, and 35% off for the next ones.

Aug 18, 2024 • 28min
Indonesia 39% Debt to GDP Ratio vs. Singapore, Free School Lunch Program & Capital City Move from Jakarta to Nusantara with Gita Sjahrir - E461
Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes:
1. Indonesia 39% Debt to GDP Ratio vs. Singapore: Jeremy and Gita delved into the policy debate behind Prabowo's decision to increase Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio from 39% to 50%, and invest towards achieving an aggressive growth rate of 8% through a nickel-led industrial strategy coupled with expansive public spending. They tackled the broader implications of borrowing for a developing nation and the importance of maintaining fiscal credibility. Gita critiqued common misconceptions about national vs. personal debt and highlighted the international double standards in debt perception. They also compared Indonesia's fiscal strategy against USA, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.
2. Free School Lunch Program: They discussed Prabowo's popular school lunch program initiative that seeks to address childhood malnutrition, reduce growth stunting and improve educational outcomes for Indonesian children. Despite its potential, the program's implementation and funding mechanisms have ignited political debate. The potential to significantly boost student health and learning capabilities are contrasted against the risks of inefficiency and potential corruption. They deliberated on whether the anticipated improvements in public health would justify the public spending, with lessons from America and Japan's programs.
3. Capital City Move from Jakarta to Nusantara: The planned relocation of Indonesia's capital from Jakarta to Nusantara faces logistical and political challenges, which are natural for the extensive infrastructural developments. The discussion underscored the strategic necessity of such a move, considering Jakarta’s environmental and congestion issues. However, the media's critiques of overly-optimistic timelines and potential underestimations of required investments should be compared with the 30-40 years that it took for Washington DC to become the new capital city of America.
Jeremy and Gita also covered the role of global trade flows, protectionist policies’ implications on economic growth, and the critical role of accountability in government spending.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/indonesia-free-school-lunches
Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/indonesia-free-school-lunches-id
观看、收听或阅读全文,请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/indonesia-free-school-lunches-cn
Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/indonesia-free-school-lunches-vn
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
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
Join us at Geeks on a Beach! Use the code "BRAVESEA" for a 45% discount for the first 10 registrations, and 35% off for the next ones.

Aug 15, 2024 • 30min
DJ Tan: Prince of Fermentation, Coffee Without Beans & Government Food Scientist - E460
BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast:
DJ Tan, CTO & Cofounder of Prefer, and Jeremy Au talked about three main topics:
1. Government Food Scientist: DJ recounted his early fascination with science and his studies in chemistry at UCL, leading to a focus on food science at Singapore's ASTAR government lab. He shared how his academic and laboratory experiences shaped his decision to experiment at the frontier of what humans eat and drink and merge rigorous scientific methods with innovative culinary practices. He discussed the challenges that novel food products face, particularly in achieving cost parity and consumer acceptance regarding taste.
2. Prince of Fermentation: Transitioning from a chemistry enthusiast to a fermentation expert, DJ detailed his journey from organic synthesis to leveraging his expertise to transform flavor profiles in partnership with alcohol mixologists and chefs. Fermentation is a strategic solution that enhances and creates new flavors while potentially reducing production costs. He also shared how his title was accidentally coined, and how he feels about this personal brand today.
3. Coffee Without Beans: DJ discussed the inception of Prefer, a startup aimed at creating sustainable food solutions, beginning with bean-free coffee. He outlined the strategic positioning in the market, focusing on consumer benefits and business challenges. Prefer's goal is to revolutionize the coffee industry by offering an environmentally friendly alternative that maintains taste and convenience. The conversation also touched on scaling production, sustainable packaging, and the impact of their business model on the food industry’s adaptation to climate change.
Jeremy and DJ also talked about the technical challenges in food science, consumer trends towards innovative food products, and the impact of global environmental changes on agricultural practices.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/dj-tan
Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/dj-tan-id
观看、收听或阅读全文,请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/dj-tan-cn
Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/dj-tan-vn
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
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
Join us at Geeks on a Beach! Use the code "BRAVESEA" for a 45% discount for the first 10 registrations, and 35% off for the next ones.

Aug 13, 2024 • 36min
Patrick Linden: Dealguru $34M Acquisition, Southeast Asia Roll-Up Strategy & Match.asia M&A Marketplace - E459
Patrick Linden, Cofounder & Managing Partner of Match.Asia, and Jeremy Au discussed three main points:
1. Dealguru $34M Acquisition: Patrick shared his journey beginning from a small village in Germany to moving to Singapore and building iHipo, a platform to connect European students with opportunities in Southeast Asia. This early experience ignited his entrepreneurial passion, and he recounted the inception of Dealguru, an e-commerce platform inspired by the Daily Deal model. He described a strategic marketing stunt involving Starbucks vouchers that catapulted the platform into the public eye, which quickly established it as a key player in Singapore’s e-commerce sector.
2. Match.asia M&A Marketplace: Patric's new platform aims to facilitate M&A activities by connecting sellers and buyers in the lower mid-market, focusing on transactions below $100 million. Patrick also outlined the challenges and strategies of M&A and the importance of creating a well-integrated market ecosystem to support transactions. Streamline M&A searches would make it more affordable and accessible vs. inefficient brokers, and was inspired by the challenges he faced.
3. Southeast Asia Roll-Up Strategy: Patrick detailed his experience with roll-up strategies where multiple smaller companies in similar sectors across different markets are merged to form a larger entity, which improves market presence and operational efficiency. He discussed how this strategy has been effective in sectors like online food delivery and e-commerce, particularly in a fragmented market like Southeast Asia. He also shares his personal experience doing this with Dealguru vs. Groupon.
Jeremy and Patrick also touched on Patrick's early experiences adapting to life in Singapore, the nuances of navigating different business cultures, and the importance of resilience in the face of entrepreneurial challenges.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/patrick-linden
Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/patrick-linden-id
观看、收听或阅读全文,请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/patrick-linden-cn
Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/patrick-linden-vn
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
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
Join us at Geeks on a Beach! Use the code "BRAVESEA" for a 45% discount for the first 10 registrations, and 35% off for the next ones.

Aug 11, 2024 • 24min
Singapore: USA Civilian Nuclear Deal, Politicians vs. Technocrats & Allianz Insurance Acquiring NTUC Income with Shiyan Koh - E458
Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au talked about three main points:
1. Allianz Insurance Acquiring NTUC Income: Jeremy and Shiyan dissected the business logic and new facts that have emerged, especially regarding the current competition and performance challenges facing NTUC Income. They addressed the confusing public communications, emphasizing the need for transparent messaging to maintain stakeholder trust and societal confidence. They also reflected on the lessons for nonprofits and social enterprises regarding the importance of the constitution to safeguard social objectives.
2. USA Civilian Nuclear Deal: Singapore signed a thirty-years long “123” agreement to access US nuclear energy technologies and expertise that are under export controls. 95% of Singapore’s electricity is powered by fossil fuels, with low opportunities for solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable sources. Nuclear modular reactors would be one of the few ways to achieve Singapore’s ambitious 2050 net zero carbon emissions pledge. America signed similar deals with Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam - with implications for energy security, diplomatic alliances and optionality for national defense.
3. Politicians vs. Technocrats: They explored the contrasting leadership styles and political approach of Tim Walz, JD Vance, and Mitt Romney. With different experiences as teacher, veteran, venture capitalist, management consultant and community organizer, they exhibit the difference in skillsets between governance and winning votes. They compare this to Singapore’s policy and political landscape, and whether technocrats or retail politicians better serve their communities.
Jeremy and Shiyan also discussed the role of regulatory oversight in corporate transitions, the influence of legal structures on organizational missions, and the cultural implications of business practices across different regions.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/singapore-usa-nuclear-deal
Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/singapore-usa-nuclear-deal-id
观看、收听或阅读全文,请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/singapore-usa-nuclear-deal-cn
Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/singapore-usa-nuclear-deal-vn
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
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
Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co

Aug 8, 2024 • 12min
Why I Joined Lucence: Personal Loss, Atomic Building & Being the Dumbest Person in the Room - E457
Jeremy Au listed the 3 reasons for joining Lucence, a startup leveraging next-generation sequencing AI for early cancer detection with a single blood test. He reflected on his teenage years grieving over a personal loss due to lymphoma. He contrasted the builder role with the job of a VC, with a different set of “atomic” work outcomes. He appreciates being "the dumbest person in the room” and learning from experts in genetics, medicine, and data science. This role fulfills his entrepreneurial energy with a strong sense of purpose: getting revenge on cancer, improving patient treatment outcomes and saving lives globally.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/why-i-joined-lucence
Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jwhy-i-joined-lucence-id
观看、收听或阅读全文,请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/why-i-joined-lucence-cn
Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/why-i-joined-lucence-vn
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
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
Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co

Aug 6, 2024 • 29min
Jeremy Tan: Cambridge Engineer & Harvard MBA, Founding Tin Men Capital & Fatherhood Insights - E456
Jeremy Tan, Managing Partner and Cofounder of Tin Men Capital, and Jeremy Au talked about three main points:
1. Cambridge Engineer & Harvard MBA: Jeremy Tan shared his journey from a playful student to getting into a life-changing education at Cambridge. His early life goal of becoming a refinery chemical engineer shifted after a pivotal internship, which propelled him into finance with Morgan Stanley investment banking and later private equity. Getting an MBA at Harvard Business School opened up many doors for him, especially in building a global alumni network that later allowed him to secure essential early LP funding for his VC fund.
2. Founding Tin Men Capital: Jeremy shared what catalyzed his inspiration to finally make a leap of faith and launch a VC fund focused on B2B technology startups in Southeast Asia. Raising the first fund in a nascent VC market was challenging, and he shared his perspective on how to be successful as an emerging manager. He also shared the importance of understanding local industries and maintaining a tight, selective portfolio.
3. Fatherhood Insights: Jeremy reflected on how becoming a parent influenced how he now manages partnerships in business. He noted the importance of communication and empathy, and advocates for a balance between personal and professional aspirations. Just as it did in his own personal transformation journey and relationship with his children, directive approaches often fail when collaborating with founders.
They also discussed his initial challenges of settling in at Cambridge, the influence of childhood experiences on leadership styles, and his personal coping mechanisms for stress.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jeremy-tan
Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jeremy-tan-id
观看、收听或阅读全文,请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jeremy-tan-cn
Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jeremy-tan-vn
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
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
Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co

Aug 4, 2024 • 29min
China: Indonesia & Trump Tariffs, Manufacturing Dominance & Involution 内卷 & Education Labor Mismatch with Jianggan Li- E455
Jianggan Li, Founder & CEO of Momentum Works, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes:
1. Indonesia & Trump Tariffs: Indonesia's new tariffs target imports like China-manufactured footwear, clothing, and ceramics to protect 65M local micro, small and medium enterprises employing 109M people. These trade barriers have negatively impacted local customers, e.g a hotpot restaurant struggling to get custom-branded plates. Similar measures include Brazil's quota for steel products, South Africa's tariffs on solar panels, and Trump's proposal to increase US tariffs to 60% on Chinese goods.
2. China Manufacturing Dominance: Manufacturing efficiency is driven by specialization, scale and agglomeration, e.g. Zhejiang dominates specific industries such as fishing rods, while Zhongshan (Guzhen) is known as the "lighting capital of the world." Historical precedents are Germany and Japan's post-WWII industrialization surge that resulted in global trade wars, UK protectionism and USA enacting the Plaza Accords to protect their manufacturers.
3. Involution 内卷 & Education Labor Mismatch: Intense competition in China's manufacturing sector has resulted in low profit margins and thus low salaries for workers. Fierce competition among workers for limited gains leads to significant burnout, a phenomenon known as "involution" (内卷, nèijuǎn). Chinese workers heavily invest in gaokao (高考) education for their children as a ticket to a better life, but too many families doing so has led to an oversupply of university graduates vs. the actual labor market - further exacerbating stress and pressure. Overseas consumers benefit the most by enjoying low prices and high-quality goods, which contribute to low inflation in their own countries.
Jeremy and Jianggan highlighted Singapore and Malaysia's collaboration challenges on data centers, Germany's vocational education system, and the long-term benefits of Chinese businesses setting up operations abroad.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/china-trade-wars
Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/china-trade-wars-id
观看、收听或阅读全文,请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/china-trade-wars-cn
Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/china-trade-wars-vn
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
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
Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co

Aug 1, 2024 • 24min
Algostorm: Algorithm Storm Social Manipulation, Trendjacking Botnets & Government Countermeasures - E454
Jeremy Au discussed the increasing intensity of "algostorms" - unpredictable social media “weather systems” driven by algorithms that prioritize engagement over truth. The Internet’s transition from human-centric, chronological forums to a volatile online environment where individuals are caught in fluctuating must-discuss trends manipulated by botnets, corporations, and professional influencers. He also drew parallels to the stock market, where algorithm-driven trading can cause flash crashes, leading to rapid market drops and recoveries. Some people trendjack to push their agendas, others unconsciously follow what seems to be majority opinion, and some seek refuge in genuine human interactions. He pointed out government actions to regulate content platforms and deploy Internet “circuit-breaker” blackouts, across Singapore, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Iran and Bangladesh. Acknowledging the power of online influence is the first step to taking back control over one’s reactions and gaining intentionality in the digital sphere.
Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/algostorm-survival
Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/algostorm-survival-id
观看、收听或阅读全文,请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/algostorm-survival-cn
Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/algostorm-survival-vn
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
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
Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co

Jul 30, 2024 • 43min
Founder Frauds, Startup Accounting Tricks (GMV, Revenue, Gross Margin, Contribution Margin) & Revenue Bundling & Valuation Multiples with Adriel Yong - E453
Adriel Yong, Head of Investments at Ascend Network, and Jeremy Au discussed three major topics:
1. Startup Accounting Tricks (GMV, Revenue, Gross Margin, Contribution Margin): Local VCs have often confused Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) with actual platform revenue, and gross margins with actual unit profitability. Startups have also split reporting contribution margin into CM1, CM2, CM3 and CM4. This has caused investor misunderstandings, accusations of misleading financial reporting and startup boards to focus on the wrong metrics. Prevalance is high due to inexperienced finance teams, emerging VCs and poor market norms/ incentives.
2. Revenue Bundling & Valuation Multiples: Jeremy and Adriel addressed how one-stop-shop/ superapp startups may bundle multiple revenue streams under a single total "revenue" term: one-off sales, onboarding fees, GMV-based revenue, direct material sales, SaaS subscription, and lending revenues. VCs may mistakenly apply the same "tech valuation multiple" to all of these different revenue streams, leading to inflated valuations and later misunderstandings of the actual growth rate. For example, many VCs failed to understand net interest margins for lending startups, thus failing to account for non-performing loans.
3. Founder Frauds: Jeremy and Adriel discussed real-life anonymized examples of theft, misrepresented financials, inflated invoices, related party transactions without proper disclosure and fake school credentials. They noted that these practices are common in markets with less rigorous due diligence processes or less professional founder / executive business norms. VCs face challenges in detecting fraud, such as spot-checking large-scale operations or non-existent offices, underscoring the need for thorough due diligence to verify data accuracy.
Jeremy and Adriel also talked about the impact of bribery and kickbacks on market operations, effective methods for verifying company operations, and the importance of appointing neutral CFOs to oversee transparent financial practices.
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