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.

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.

Jingjing Zhong, CEO & Cofounder of Superbench, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes:

1. UC Berkeley to Investment Banking: Jingjing reflected on her time at UC Berkeley where the competitive environment introduced her to the high-stakes world of investment banking. She shared her initial motivation for joining Houlihan Lokey, which was to make money (influenced by societal expectations from her upbringing in China). Her experience in the financial sector led to a significant reevaluation of her definition of success and steered her away from banking despite its financial allure.

Huiting Koh, Founding Managing Partner of Blueprint Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Solo General Partner (GP) Experience: Huiting discussed her journey as a solo GP, emphasizing the complexities of establishing Blueprint, her venture fund. She shared insights into the initial setup, overcoming challenges, and the decision-making processes involved. She also highlighted the critical learning curve she navigated, making strategic choices without complete information and trusting her instincts.

Raditya (Dito) Wibowo, CEO & Founder of MAKA Motors, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Gojek Chief Transportation Officer: Raditya describes his seven-year tenure rise from managing a nascent on-demand transportation service from the modest two-story home HQ with only 2 toilets to becoming Chief Transport Officer. Developing Gojek's first dynamic pricing algorithm was key to beating competition from traditional and emerging tech players. His strategic thinking was pivotal in navigating these emerging problems, including how to navigate the demand vs. supply aspects of Ramadan.

Serena Lam, CEO & Cofounder of Fuzzy Sequence, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. IBM to SaaS Founder: Serena described her seven-year tenure at IBM, where she tackled diverse strategic roles across the U.S., China, and India. This experience provided her with a robust foundation in technology and business strategy, crucial for her later ventures. She emphasized the comfort and security of a well-structured corporate environment, noting how it fostered her ability to save and enjoy a reliable income, which contrasted with the uncertainties of startup life.

Rob Snyder, Founder of Reframe, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. McKinsey to Harvard MBA Founder: Rob detailed his initial career moves from political philosophy to starting at McKinsey, where he developed critical analytical skills and professional discipline. His time at Harvard Business School was shaped by the “Founder's Journey” course, which provided a realistic portrayal of the challenges in entrepreneurship through case studies and alumni insights, preparing him for t ing Product-Market Fit: Rob's strenuous two year journey to identify product-market fit was marked by numerous strategy pivots. Direct customer feedback led to a streamlined product offering and catalyzed a growth spurt, increasing revenue from zero to $4 million ARR. He shared on how and why psychological barriers like confirmation bias were harder to overcome than the actual pivots.

Oscar Jesionek, CEO & Cofounder of Fonos, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Austria Digital Nomad to Vietnam Founder: Oscar traces his entrepreneurial path, starting from his academic background in economics in Austria to his diverse professional experiences in headhunting, healthcare, and finance. His early career was a period of self-discovery, where he evaluated various sectors and geographies before narrowing his focus to roles that aligned with his values and desire for social impact. Oscar shares how these experiences, along with a growing dissatisfaction with conventional industries, led him to Vietnam, where he found a deeper sense of purpose through entrepreneurship.

Sherry Jiang, CEO & Cofounder of Peek, and Jeremy Au explored three key topics:

1. Navigating Product-Market Fit Pivots: Crypto winter forced Sherry to pivot from her original idea—an algorithmic stablecoin protocol for Southeast Asian currencies. This shift led to the creation of Peek, an AI-powered platform for managing net worth. She highlighted the challenges of gaining traction, facing ambiguous customer demand, and maintaining deep customer engagement. Sherry emphasized how adaptability is essential when an original business model fails to fit the market. She candidly discussed the emotional and logistical hurdles of steering a company through such changes, underscoring the need for transparent communication with both internal teams and external stakeholders, especially investors.

Joseph Mocanu, Managing Partner at Verge HealthTech Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. PHD MedTech Founder: Joseph shared his educational journey from studying molecular genetics at the University of Toronto where he initially focused on aging and cancer research, to realizing the essential role of business skills in bringing scientific advancements to market. This prompted him to pursue an MBA, which catalyzed his early entrepreneurial ventures, including co-founding a medical device startup at the age of 22, specializing in real-time brain imaging.

Audra Pakalnyte, Partner at First Move, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Lithuania To Malaysia: Growing up as the youngest of three daughters, Audra's childhood was shaped by Lithuania's national post-Soviet transformation. Her parents' dinner table conversations about multiple entrepreneurial ventures taught her first lessons in business dynamics and the necessity for adaptability. These early experiences instilled a deep understanding of market dynamics and the entrepreneurial resilience required to navigate them. With serendipity and seeing the right opportunity, she moved to Malaysia and begun her startup journey with Khailee Ng and Joel Neoh at the first generation of local startups.

Borko Kovacevic, Cofounder of Poddster, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Serbia Childhood to Singapore: Borko reflected on his childhood in Serbia during the 1980s and 1990s, witnessing both Yugoslavia's prosperity and the hardships of the Bosnian and Kosovo wars. Economic instability and rising crime taught him street smarts and resilience, values he now aims to instill in his children, who are growing up in Singapore’s safety. He stressed the importance of teaching gratitude and perseverance despite their comfort, helping them appreciate hard work and innovation. Borko contrasted his challenging upbringing with his children’s blessings, focusing on how to nurture their development without fostering complacency.

Tina Amper, Strategic Director of Geeks on a Beach, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Burnout to Community Leader: Tina shared her experience of migrating from the Philippines with an engineering degree from the University of San Carlos to California’s booming tech industry in the 1990s. She excelled in product marketing and business development roles, but ultimately burned out after years of travel and high-intensity work. By 2010, her mother's declining health prompted her take a sabbatical and return to her hometown Cebu, which was being transformed by the growing business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. This proved to be fertile ground for her exploration and cultivation of a thriving local tech community.

Jeremy Au breaks down the "David vs. Goliath" dynamics of startups challenging industry giants. Startups face unique marketing challenges but can thrive by focusing on experimentation and innovation, creating entirely new market categories. Just like the rise of oat milk and nicotine vapes, disruptive marketing turned once-unknown products into billion-dollar industries. He covers the case study of Southeast Asian unicorns Grab and Gojek who leveraged their agility to outmaneuver Uber and local taxi fleets in Singapore and Indonesia.

Johann Wah, President & Cofounder of Nika.eco, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Student Founder Beginnings: While attending Yale-NUS, Johann founded a sustainable apparel company to pay for his university expenses and dates with his now-wife. The business started gaining traction after a Straits Times article featured their eco-friendly fabrics, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to canceled orders and an overwhelming inventory. Faced with financial challenges, he borrowed money from friends and family to meet his Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) for the fabrics. When B2C sales dried up, he pivoted to B2B, cold calling and knocking on doors of corporations with sustainability mandates. After three months of high risk, he secured contracts with Western multi-national corporations headquartered in Singapore that allowed him to clear his debts and pay for his university fees.