Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed Singapore's new Prime Minister transition, immigration assimilation challenges, and the need for a CTO pass for technical founders. They explored potential policy shifts under the new leadership and the impact of the drop in Total Fertility Rate on the population. They highlighted the barbell immigration strategy, the gaps in mid-skill talent for startups, and the challenges faced in hiring talent. The conversation also touched on the importance of diversity, access to job opportunities, and mentorship in the tech industry.

Jeremy Au as a science-fiction and history nerd reviewed the 3 complex themes of Liu Cixin's "Three-Body Problem" series. Spoilers ahead: 1. Social Darwinism: "Dog eat dog" foundational psychological core of human society due to the survival instincts of individual humans, in stark contrast to Western fiction like social utopian “Star Wars,” moral clarity of "Star Trek," inspirational "Lord of the Rings," and political sacrifices of "Game of Thrones". In a dark real-life parallel, the show's TV producer and billionaire Lin Qi was poisoned to death by his business partner due to jealousy and anger. 2. Technology Competition & Blockades: The best way for societies to compete is through technology advancement, e.g. Guns over swords, nuclear missiles over artillery bombs. The Qing dynasty’s (1644-1912) self-imposed isolation and technology stagnation led to the "Century of Humiliation" where China repeatedly lost to more advanced foreign powers like the United Kingdom with the Opium Wars, France, Russia, Germany and Japan. China readers currently perceive a similar dynamic in the "USA-China chip war" due to US government bans on advanced semiconductors, tech export controls and competitive R&D industrial policy. 3. Community Over Individual: Collective survival strategies are driven by individual desires to survive, but superior to individualistic decision-making. The series portrays societal responses to external threats and internal divisions, drawing on China's history of mass movements and dynasty vs. warlord eras. This leads to classic human morality being outcompeted by the realpolitik game theory of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), preemptive strike incentives, and "Dark Forest" as a solution to the Fermi Paradox. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/three-body-problem Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/three-body-problem-in 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/three-body-problem-cn 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 Join us at the startup conference Echelon X! We have 30 exclusive complimentary tickets for our podcast listeners. Sign up and use the promo codes BRAVEPOD or ECXJEREMY to claim your free tickets now!

Jason Edwards, CEO & Founder of Alternatives.pe, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Lawyer to Founder & VC: Jason recounted his legal career at Baker & McKenzie in Australia and Hong Kong. Due to the Asian Financial Crisis, he focused on financial restructuring for distressed firms (many of whom had borrowed heavily in US dollars) across Bangkok, Singapore and Asia. He later moved into private equity with Clearwater Capital Partners ($1.2B AUM) and venture capital by co-founding Qualgro VC. He later founded alternatives.pe - an accurate data and insights platform for private capital market professionals looking for best-in-class coverage across Southeast Asia and Australia. The platform is now used by the majority of Asian funds including Square Peg, 500, Temasek, Sequoia, Tiger Global, Warburg Pincus, KKR, Vertex, GIC and Softbank. 2. Alternatives.pe Regional Capital Insights: Jason discussed the current shift of VC attention from consumer-focused (B2C) to business-focused (B2B) models, due to a faster route to profitability across diverse linguistic and cultural markets. He observed strengthening investment discipline focused on capital efficiency and strategic scalability. Jason also elaborated on the complex dynamics of negotiation and asset recovery in the region. He pointed out that Asian businesses usually hold most of their value intrinsically, which complicates asset recovery efforts when entrepreneurs have been at the helm for extensive periods, sometimes spanning decades or generations. He emphasized that a successful recovery strategy involves not just enforcing rights as per the norm in Western jurisdictions, but also cooperating with the original business operators to maximize value extraction. This nuanced approach highlights the importance of balancing 'stick' enforcement strategies with engagement and collaboration, underscoring that aggressive takeover tactics are seldom the best route to preserving or enhancing a business's value in Asia. 3. January Capital Venture Debt Strategy: Jason explained the rationale and timing for launching January Capital’s venture debt services to fill the regional market gap. He detailed the methodical structure of their venture debt deals, typically around $15 million, targeted at growth-stage companies that find traditional venture capital or equity financing too dilutive or misaligned with their financial strategies. He elaborated on how this approach is particularly opportune given the current high-interest rate environment and lower valuations, which would allow venture debt to provide capital without excessive equity sacrifices. Jeremy and Jason also talked about his personal experience of the Asian Financial Crisis and ensuing layoffs, the importance of accurate and timely data for VC dealmaking, and personal reflections on entrepreneurial risk-taking. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jason-edwards Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jason-edwards-in 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jason-edwards-cn 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 Learn more about Grain here: https://www.grain.com.sg

Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed three main points: 1. Vietnam $24B Bank Bailout & Legislature Chairman Resignation: Jeremy and Valerie discussed the $12B fraud at Saigon Bank, the death penalty verdict, the appeals process and the closure of 50+ bank branches. The Vietnamese central bank injected $24B of "special loans" to prevent a banking crisis, which reduced the liquidity of their foreign exchange by one quarter. They touched on new political resignations due to the "blazing furnace" anti-corruption campaign, including the Chairman of the National Assembly - one of the country's top 4 leadership positions. 2. Apple Investment & China High-Speed Rail: International investors continue to move capital into the country despite these political shifts, exemplified by Apple's $16B of spending through the local supply chain since 2019, 200,000+ jobs created and increasing their CSR commitments. China is collaborating on cross-border high-speed railways, connecting Vietnam's port cities of Haiphong and Quang Ninh through Hanoi to Lao Cai province, which borders China's Yunnan province, and from Hanoi to Lang Son province, bordering China's Guangxi region. 3. FPT $6B Tech Conglomerate Growth: FPT was founded in 1988 as "Food Processing Technology" and has now become the country's leading software tech conglomerate valued at $6.4B on the Vietnam stock exchange with $1.7B+ of annual revenue operating across 50+ countries. FPT announced its strategic partnership with Nvidia to build a $200M AI R&D factory leveraging multiple Nvidia chips and technology frameworks. Jeremy and Valerie also talked about why people haven't heard of FPT, why companies actually invest in corporate social responsibility (CSR), and whether they would take the local train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vietnam-banking-bailout Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vietnam-banking-bailout-in 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vietnam-banking-bailout-cn 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 Learn more about Grain here: https://www.grain.com.sg  

Jeremy Au partnered with Huawei to share his observations of their 2024 APAC Congress in Bangkok, which highlighted their latest advancements in AI, hardware, and infrastructure. He analyzed Huawei’s R&D investment commitments, vertical integration, manufacturing scale, globalizing workforce and local partnerships - positioning them as a formidable force in shaping the global tech landscape as well as Southeast Asia. Huawei was the world's #1 patent filer at the World Intellectual Property Organization for the past six years, with nearly 8,000 patent applications in 2022 alone. Jeremy witnessed Huawei leaders' expert-oriented presentations and their intentional engagement with regional leaders, SMEs and media. He noted their Southeast Asia partnerships, featuring prominent regional speakers like Mr. Nararya S. Soeprapto (ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General), Mardiana Azura Mahidin (Malaysia Airports), Mr. Prasert Jantararuantong (Thailand Minister for Digital Economy), Dr. Piti Srisangnam (ASEAN Foundation), and Akina Ho. The speakers all underscored the importance of localization and genuine discussions for true long-term win-win partnerships.  Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/huawei-rnd-leadership Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/huawei-rnd-leadership-in 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/huawei-rnd-leadership-cn 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

Léa Klein, CEO of Makesense, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. 98% Southeast Asians Want Meaning At Work: Léa and Jeremy highlighted that regional workers' desire for purpose contrasts with the dissatisfaction many feel with the level of meaning in their current roles. They discussed how companies could bridge this gap between desire and reality by enhancing mission-driven work and integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, and learning opportunities into their cultures. 2. Western vs. SE Asia On Sustainability: Léa pointed out significant regional variations in how Southeast Asians and Westerners define meaningful work. She discussed how the West often emphasizes environmental sustainability, whereas Southeast Asians intertwine meaningful work with economic and social stability. Southeast Asia's rapid economic growth and thus emerging middle class has led to a dual focus on personal and community advancement, over environmental sustainability. 3. Economic Stability For Family: Léa and Jeremy underscored that for many people in Southeast Asia, providing for their family is the number 1 primary concern that influences their career choices. This concern for family well-being drives many towards higher-paying careers, often trading away personal fulfillment and social impact. Jeremy and Léa also talked about how the economy impacts entrepreneurial risk-taking, job creation in the green economy, and companies advocating for gender equality and inclusive work environments. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/lea-klein Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/lea-klein-in 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/lea-klein-cn 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 Learn more about Grain here: https://www.grain.com.sg

Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. $1.5 Trillion USD Green Investment Gap: Jeremy and Gita agreed with Bain & Company’s report that Southeast Asia is "woefully off track" on green investments to reduce emissions and needs new policies and financial mechanisms to help bridge the gap. They discussed the significant costs associated with transitioning to green energy, e.g. retiring a single coal-fired power plant would cost over several hundred million dollars. They discussed Indonesia's ambitious goal and challenging execution to shift to a zero-carbon electricity grid by 2060, serving a population with a current GDP per capita of around $5,000 USD. They also discussed how high interest rates negatively impact renewable energy investments, vs. the prior era of zero interest rate policy (ZIRP). 2. Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Viability: Southeast Asia is the 7th largest automotive manufacturing hub globally, producing approximately 3.5 million vehicles in 2021, led by Thailand (1.6 million vehicles), followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. They debated the feasibility of transitioning these capabilities to EV manufacturing, noting the significant challenges in creating a fully functional EV manufacturing ecosystem. They also touched on Indonesia's strategy to leverage their asset of having the world's largest nickel reserves to foster a complete battery supply chain. 3. Competition vs. China Industrial Policy: Jeremy and Gita covered China's formidable manufacturing policy stack (land rights, subsidies, education, worker rights, currency) for their nexus of steel, solar, nuclear, manufacturing, semiconductor and EV industries. They discussed the new Chinese approach to export not just goods, but also their manufacturing value chains, into Southeast Asian markets, and the appropriate competition vs. partnership by local manufacturers. They also debated how startups like Sleek and Dat Bike should position themselves strategically in terms of production vs. sales vs. fundraising. Jeremy and Gita also talked about public health benefits from decreased air pollution, upcoming market consolidation in the EV industry, and the necessity of a multi-decade policy approach in solving sustainable energy transition challenges. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/green-investment-gap Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/green-investment-gap-in 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/green-investment-gap-cn 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 Learn more about Grain here: https://www.grain.com.sg  

CP Group, a prominent Thai conglomerate, traces its beginnings to the founder Chia Ek Chor migrating from Chaozhou, China to Thailand in 1919. Despite early skepticism, he started a humble seed business which grew significantly by adapting to local agricultural challenges and changing global climate patterns. This foundation allowed his son and successor, Dhanin Chearavanont, to expand CP Group into a vast empire - touching multiple industries and generating an annual revenue of ~$85 billion USD. The episode highlights the strategic decisions to emphasize vertical integration in its food production process and discusses how more than half of the world's population has likely consumed its products. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/charoen-pokphand Explore Dhanin Chearavanont's rise to the helm of the C.P. Group in the second part of Charoen Pokphand (C.P.) at https://open.spotify.com/episode/06OZPGFCyc7ENnuuXCTEjH 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 Learn more about Grain here: https://www.grain.com.sg

Shuyin Tang, CEO of Beacon Fund and Partner of Patamar Capital, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. Consultant to Venture Philanthropy to Impact Investing: Shuyin initially aspired to a career in diplomacy but was rejected - leading to her choice to become a management consultant at Bain & Company. She worked hard at Bain to merge business skills with social impact initiatives by working with nonprofits, e.g. through nonprofit projects and a strategy engagement to improve the livelihoods of Indian smallholder farmers. These experiences led her to LGT Venture Philanthropy and to impact-driven investing at Patamar Capital. 2. Strategic Debt As Tool: As CEO of a debt fund, Shuyin emphasized the advantages of debt financing over equity for businesses in Southeast Asia, highlighting its suitability for the region's predominantly small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Unlike traditional high-growth startups, these enterprises benefit from the steady support that debt provides, enabling gradual growth without the pressure of rapid scaling demanded by equity investments. She also addressed cultural hesitations towards debt in Asian markets where it has historically been viewed negatively, and explained the shift in perception as businesses recognize that debt financing can preserve company control, prevent ownership dilution and facilitate smoother operational progress without the disruptive demands of equity-based exit strategies. 3. Radical Responsibility: Shuyin discussed her transition from a role within a collaborative team to spearheading her own investment fund, which marked a significant shift towards adopting a “radical responsibility” mindset to make impactful investment decisions and foster sustainable growth within the companies they support. She emphasized the expanded scope of responsibilities that come with leading a fund, which includes not only making strategic investment decisions but also managing fundraising, operations, and team dynamics. She also highlighted the challenges of navigating these complexities and stressed that understanding and accepting full accountability for both successes and setbacks has been crucial. Jeremy and Shuyin also talked about the integration of financial returns with social impact in investment strategies, VC developments in the region’s ecosystem, the challenges in implementing large-scale social projects within emerging markets, and the need for investment tools that are aligned with businesses’ diverse needs. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/shuyin-tang  Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/shuyin-tang-in 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/shuyin-tang-cn 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 Learn more about Grain here: https://www.grain.com.sg

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au talked about three main themes: 1. 51% SE Asia Favor China (vs. USA): Jeremy and Shiyan debated how the region is politically and economically reacting to the China vs. USA's "strategic competition". If ASEAN decision-makers were forced to pick sides, 51% opted for China vs. 49% for USA (ISEAS Institute poll). Pro-China: Malaysia 75%, Indonesia 73%, Thailand 52%, Singapore 39%, Vietnam 21%, Philippines 17%. 2. Sequoia & GGV VC Decoupling: Jeremy and Shiyan discussed how global investment firms are structuring themselves to mitigate US-China risks. Sequoia spun off Peak XV and Hongshan, while GGV announced their split into Granite Asia and Notable Capital (USA). They discuss how Limited Partners (LP) are driving the geographic re-delineation of investment coverage, and why GGV and other funds are exploring more debt instruments. 3. Mobility Competitor Game Theory: Jeremy and Shiyan analyzed the bike-sharing market in Singapore, including public-private partnerships and challenges like weather and infrastructure. They were amused that Anywheel, a bootstrapped (unfunded by VC) company outlasted VC-backed competitors such as Mobike, Obike, and Ofo to win and become the market leader. They discussed how cash efficiency interacted with economies of scale, the promise of winner-takes-all markets, negative blitzscaling, and competitive game theory created the "boom vs. bust" nature of last-mile mobility startups. Jeremy and Shiyan also replied to listener feedback about overlooking Trump investment links in the TikTok ban issue, the role of public-private infrastructure partnerships in supporting infrastructure projects, and blitzscaling vs. sustainable growth strategies. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/sea-favor-china Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/sea-favor-chin-in 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/sea-favor-china-cn 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 Grain here: https://www.grain.com.sg