

Asia Tech Podcast
Michael Waitze Media
All Things Asia, All Things Tech
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 24, 2023 • 38min
EP 299 - Nima Karimi - Founder and CEO of Lendela - We’ve Become Very Good at Building APIs
Nima Karimi, founder and CEO of Lendela, discusses the need for transparency in consumer lending, the benefits and challenges of VC funding, and how Lendela aims to improve the loan application process. He also emphasizes the importance of cultural adaptability in building a startup in Southeast Asia.

Oct 17, 2023 • 32min
EP 298 - Rhonda Wong - CEO at Ohmyhome - A Safe Home Is the Foundation of a Good Life
Rhonda Wong, CEO at Ohmyhome, discusses the importance of stable and loving families, providing a better home-moving experience, combining real estate transactions with customer satisfaction, being comfortable as an outlier, and the joy of happy customers.

Oct 10, 2023 • 39min
EP 297 - Jay Tye - COO at Echo-MR - People That Know How To Use AI Are Going to Take Your Job
In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, we are joined by Jay Tye, the COO of Echo-MR. Our conversation with Jay delves into the changing landscape of market research and the role of innovative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping its future.
Some of the topics that Jay discussed in detail:
The Role of Market Research in Decision-Making
The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Market Research
The Zen of Riding a Motorcycle and its connection to Market Research
Embracing Risk and Innovation
How the next generation will be the catalyst for driving innovation
Some other titles we considered for this episode:
You’ve Just Gotta Trust the Universe
You Have to Slow Down to Speed Up
Speed Creates Focus
AI Is a Really Good Co-Pilot
Motorcycles Are Just Bikes With Engines

Oct 3, 2023 • 30min
EP 296 - Ameer Jumabhoy - co-Founder at utu - We Recast Tax-Free Shopping as a Country Reward
Ameer Jumabhoy, co-founder of utu, discusses the evolution of tax-free shopping, challenges of building digital wallets, importance of superior customer experiences in luxury retail, benefits of tax-free shopping for countries, and the power of rewards.

Sep 26, 2023 • 35min
EP 295 - Ujjwal Deep Dahal - CEO at Druk Holding & Investments - What Makes Bhutan a Legitimate Next-Gen Startup Nation
CEO of Druk Holding & Investments, Ujjwal Deep Dahal, discusses the importance of technology, Bhutan's commitment to sustainability, harnessing technological growth, self-sovereign digital identity, and collaboration in building an innovative and sustainable future.

Sep 20, 2023 • 11min
EP 295 - F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023 Special - Michael Waitze
Michael Waitze, an expert in the F1 industry, discusses the high costs of developing F1 engines, the move towards net-zero emissions, and the debate between the importance of drivers and technology in F1 racing. The podcast also explores F1 teams' goals for net zero emissions and the experience of attending an F1 Grand Prix.

Sep 12, 2023 • 27min
EP 294 - Liza Lin - The Wall Street Journal - US Actions Have Spurred China to Become More Self-Sufficient
After seeing a lot of surveillance camera networks pop up on the streets in China back in 2017, Liza Lin and her writing partner Josh Chin's interest was piqued. They were not surprised that the Chinese government was spying on its citizens, but they were surprised by the method. Liza is a co-author of, "Surveillance State: Inside China's Quest to Launch a New Era of Social Control" and an award-winning China technology correspondent at The Wall Street Journal.
Liza joined us for a fascinating conversation that covered:
China's surveillance relied on advanced technology from US suppliers
The implementation of export control policies covering advanced technology and chip sales to China
The impact of these policies on US technology and chip companies
A renewed focus by the Chinese government to foster technology independence
The impact on global supply chains and China-US relations
How some US companies have been able to circumvent these restrictions
The potential for the balance of power in the semiconductor industry to shift as China invests heavily in this sector
Some other titles we considered for this episode:
At The Beginning, Everybody Thought Technology Was Neutral
Nobody Wants to Be the Next Huawei
A Looming US-China Rivalry in the Semiconductor Industry
Export Controls and the Implications for National Security

Sep 5, 2023 • 46min
EP 293 - Jeremy Au - Monk's Hill Ventures - In Southeast Asia, There Is a Lot of Future to Be Built
Jeremy Au, an investor and the Chief of Staff at Monk's Hill Ventures, shares his experience in building companies and his transition into venture capital. He discusses entrepreneurial success patterns, challenges in Southeast Asia, the necessity of profitability for startups, and long-term optimism. He also highlights the joy of helping founders navigate challenges and build a better future.

Aug 30, 2023 • 39min
EP 292 - Amrita Vir - wagely - Is Financial Wellness More Important Than Financial Inclusion
The Asia Tech Podcast welcomed Amrita Vir, a co-Founder of Findicate and the Head of Strategy and Business Expansion at wagely. Let's just say that Amrita is s special kind of amazing.
Some of the topics we covered with her include:
Going to Harvard for her MBA and a Masters of Public Policy
Moving to Singapore to work for GRAB
Financial wellness and the role wagely plays
Gender disparities in access to financial services and startup funding
The mission and goals of Findicate
Amrita's FinTech Podcast
Some other titles we considered for this episode:
How Do People Live Financially Healthy Lives?
Where Is the Bank for Gig Workers?
How Do You Quantify Financial Health?
It’s an Arbitrage Opportunity

Aug 22, 2023 • 37min
EP 291 - Sina Meraji - Learning Loop - I Stopped Being Afraid
Sina Meraji, Founder and CEO/CTO at Learning Loop, discusses the growth of Learning Loop, the power of bringing founders together to maximize learning, overcoming fear and uncertainty, the impact of writing content, and Singapore's success story.