Asia Tech Podcast

In a rapidly evolving world driven by artificial intelligence and digital transformation, the ability to adapt and innovate is no longer optional—it is essential. Organizations that succeed in this landscape go beyond surface-level change, embedding experimentation, customer-centric design, and agile collaboration into their core. They recognize that transformation is a continuous journey, where the insights gained from failures are as valuable as those from successes. DBS Bank’s transformation journey, detailed by Nimish Panchmatia, the Chief Data and Transformation Officer at DBS Bank, offers a masterclass in how businesses can use artificial intelligence, process innovation and customer obsession to redefine themselves. Some of the topics that Nimish covered in detail included: The integration of structured data allows DBS to make data analytics a core driver of decision-making. While traditional AI has matured significantly, generative AI's potential is still being tested and validated. Customer obsessions must drive innovation. How DBS has embedded a startup mentality across its organization, encouraging experimentation where employees feel empowered to test new ideas. AI is also important for improving employee experiences.

The world of cryptocurrency is rapidly evolving, driven by a generational shift in how people approach wealth and investment. Traditional paths like real estate and stock markets are becoming less accessible, especially for younger generations, who are increasingly turning to alternative assets such as cryptocurrency, whiskey, and wine. Therefore, understanding the ongoing evolution of the crypto space in Asia is no longer optional—it’s essential. In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, Paul Quickenden, Chief Commercial Officer of Easy Crypto, shares key insights into the evolving world of cryptocurrency. Some of the topics that Paul covered in detail include: There is a significant shift in how younger generations think about wealth and investment. The importance of the core innovation of blockchain technology - decentralization. The potential weakening of the U.S. dollar's dominance as the global reserve currency and its impact on international trade. Fractionalization of assets and if it is really a thing. Despite the growing interest in crypto, the user experience remains a significant hurdle for new investors.

Is artificial intelligence about to transform how we experience travel, from planning a trip to dealing with unexpected issues along the way? Does AI have the potential to make travel planning seamless by turning stressful, complex decisions into smooth, intuitive processes? In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, we spoke with Adrienne Enggist, Senior Director of Product at Booking.com, to explore how AI is set to revolutionize travel. Some of the topics that Adrienne discussed include: How AI can structure unstructured data to create a more agentic relationship, where it anticipates a traveler’s needs without the traveler having to micromanage every detail. The idea that customer reviews can be gamified or manipulated, leading to mismatched expectations. Adrienne pointed out that AI can help tackle this issue by filtering out misleading or irrelevant information from reviews. The subtle difference between 'personalization' and 'relevance'. It’s not about knowing every detail of a traveler’s life; it’s about showing them the most relevant options for their trip based on context and past behavior. Importantly, Adrienne doesn’t believe the human touch in travel will disappear. Instead, AI will help scale human interactions, allowing customer service agents to focus on complex issues while AI handles the more mundane tasks. The importance for large platforms, including Booking, to use and manage all of the data they gather with care and ensure at all levels that data is protected and privacy is paramount.

The event ticketing industry has apparently remained quite stagnant despite advancements in technology. Most ticketing platforms create frustrating experiences for both consumers and organizer with cumbersome processes and unnecessarily long waits to complete transactions. In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, we speak with Nicolas Deppenweiler, co-founder and CEO of tessera, a company laser focused on revolutionizing the outdated event ticketing industry. Some of the topics Nicolas covered in detail included: Tessera was born out of a realization that ticketing, an industry generating billions in annual revenue, is unnecessarily complicated, clunky, and ripe for innovation. In today's world, where convenience reigns supreme, people expect to accomplish tasks in seconds. Yet, buying event tickets remains a tedious experience that often deters potential attendees. Big, incumbent ticketing platforms generally hold onto the revenue from ticket sales until after an event takes place, leaving organizers in difficult cash flow positions. Legacy platforms have become too big to adapt to modern tech stacks, opening the space for startups like tessera to modernize and innovate. The secondary market for tickets is also broken and can and should be integrated into one, seamless ecosystem. Data is the future of event management.

In today's fast-paced tech world, the notion of "disruption" is often glorified, but a more strategic approach is proving to be a game-changer for Pi-xcels: embedding innovative solutions into existing payment systems. Integrating new technology seamlessly into established retail infrastructure allows for faster adoption and global scalability. In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, Daniel Lim, founder and CEO of Pi-xcels, shares how his company is reshaping the payment industry by partnering with global device manufacturers and payment service providers to scale globally. Some of the topics that Daniel covered in detail included: Embedding technology into existing systems is a better strategy than outright industry disruption Global scalability is easier with real strategic partnerships. Matching the speed of Pi-xcels growth trajectory with that of its global partners made global expansion that much easier The first partnership Pi-xcels signed might have been the hardest...but FOMO can move competing device makers to adopt the new technology so they are not left out. Venture-funding allowed Pi-xcels to grow without the pressure to rush into markets that weren’t ready, but it also required careful communication with investors about the realities of working with multinational corporations.

In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, we explore a refreshing approach to entrepreneurship with Oliver Palmer, co-founder of DQ Ventures. Instead of encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to quit their jobs and dive headfirst into a startup, Oliver advocates for a more measured strategy. Some of the topics Oliver covered in detail included: Why DQ Ventures focuses on working with slightly more mature founders—individuals who have been in the workforce for 10 to 20 years. These founders often have significant experience and insights into their industry, making them well-suited to identify and solve real problems. One of the most powerful insights from Oliver was the idea of making "little bets"---testing ideas in small, manageable ways before committing to a full-scale launch. The importance of investing in people, not simply in ideas., leading to the importance of finding co-founders who are not only passionate but also compatible. One of the key milestones DQ Ventures looks for before advising founders to quit their jobs is external validation. Entrepreneurial journeys do not have to be a high-wire acts. By taking a measured approach, making small bets, and validating ideas before fully committing, aspiring entrepreneurs can significantly increase their chances of success while minimizing risk.

In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, Bhavik Vashi, Managing Director for APAC and the Middle East at Carta, shares valuable insights from his experience helping startups and investors navigate the complex world of cap table management and private financial markets. Some of the deeper topics that Bhavik covered in detail include: Managing a startup’s cap table is one of the most foundational yet complex tasks a founder can face...and founders should aim to keep their cap tables as simple as possible. Choosing the right investors is key—trust, mutual goals, and alignment matter far more than almost anything else. Singapore ranks highly on the global scale for startup innovation and continues to mature into a world-class ecosystem. A shared skepticism about the concept of stealth startups, notting that founders who hide their ideas might miss out on valuable feedback and iteration opportunities. Most importantly, how Carta is transforming into an operating system for private financial markets, serving not just startups but also the investors who fund them.

Karl Mohan, General Manager for APAC, Middle East, and Africa at Crypto.com, challenges the norms of traditional finance. He discusses how decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional finance (TradFi) can effectively coexist, driving financial inclusion globally. Regulatory clarity is highlighted as vital for consumer trust and adoption of cryptocurrencies. Karl also shares Crypto.com's ambitious strategy to reach a billion users and emphasizes the critical need for financial literacy, especially in underserved communities.

In this episode, we spoke to Zohar Bronfman, the CEO of Pecan AI about how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we understand human behavior and make business decisions. Predictive AI focuses on analyzing historical data to forecast future events, while generative AI creates new content or insights based on its learned patterns. Their combination offers powerful tools for businesses, allowing them to anticipate customer behavior and engage in more effective decision-making processes by simulating possible outcomes. Some of the topics that Zohar covered in more detail: The idea that human behavior is largely predictable. A sophisticated AI could predict that you're going to pick up a glass of water moments before you even realize it yourself. Predictive AI and Generative AI are related, but serve different purposes and combining them could create revolutionary outcomes for businesses. AI is rapidly becoming as ubiquitous and essential as electricity and will soon be embedded in our everyday lives and business operations without most people realizing it. Human biases affect decision-making in ways we may not be aware of, but these biases can be corrected by AI. AI may never fully replicate the intentionality of human decision-making, but it can augment it in ways that allow us to make better, more informed choices.

Discover the best FinTech ideas that are reshaping Southeast Asia's financial landscape. The Asia Tech Podcast attended the Singapore FinTech Festival 2024 to learn more about the most innovative ideas in FinTech and Financial Services. We spoke to 19 of the most exciting FinTech innovations showcased at the SFF 2024. From revolutionary embedded finance and insurance solutions transforming our daily interactions to AI-driven tools poised to empower everyone, these innovations are setting the stage for a new era in financial services. Join us as we unpack the highlights of SFF 2024, the breakthrough ideas poised to reshape finance, empower consumers, and drive global financial inclusion. Get ready to be inspired by the future of FinTech and the incredible possibilities it holds for everyone!