Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Johor Special Economic Zone (SEZ): They explored the potential impact of the upcoming Johor-Singapore SEZ agreement, scheduled for signing in November. The SEZ, which is more than 4 times the size of Singapore, is seen as an opportunity to deepen economic ties between the two regions by leveraging Singapore’s capital, technology, and skilled workforce alongside Johor’s land and infrastructure. They noted regulatory challenges such as Johor’s year-long permit approval process, which contrasts with quicker timelines in other Malaysian states like Selangor. Both emphasized that political cooperation across Malaysia's federal government, Singapore and Johor's state government & king would be essential to the SEZ’s success, particularly in attracting multinational corporations (MNCs) and improving labor mobility across the border. They discussed the anticipated real estate developments, economic forecasts and potential surge in cross-border economic activities.

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.

Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. $3.3B Super Typhoon Disaster: Super Typhoon Yagi caused over $3.3 billion in damage and resulted in more than 300 deaths in northern Vietnam. The typhoon was one of the worst in 30 years, which significantly disrupted Vietnam’s economy with power outages in factories and offices for over a week. As a result, the country's GDP growth forecast was reduced by 0.15%. They also highlighted Southeast Asia's susceptibility to natural disasters which are often underappreciated by global investors.

Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Pope Visit: They reflect on Pope Francis’ recent visit to Indonesia, emphasizing its significance as a beacon of positive media influence. The visit was part of a broader Asia Pacific tour and marked the first extensive travel of the Pope to the region. Gita noted the massive turnout, with events drawing large crowds, celebrating Indonesia's commitment to diversity and religious tolerance.

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.

Jeremy Au moderated a panel of venture capitalists to unpack the key trends shaping APAC’s investment landscape. Nruthya Madappa emphasized India's rapid recovery in early-stage VC, driven by second and third-time founders and $600 million deployed across 80+ companies at 3one4 Capital. She outlined how India's growing consumer class now outpaces China’s, creating new market opportunities. Brent Ogilvie highlighted Pacific Channel's 98% IRR over 14 years, investing in health, food, and environmental startups, while spotlighting the growing role of AI in deep tech. Ashwin Raguraman pointed to India’s Semiconductor Policy as a key driver of innovation in deep tech. The panelists also noted macroeconomic shifts, including capital moving from China due to geopolitical tensions, and how India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is transforming fintech. They reflected on the broader shift toward sustainability and economic independence, reshaping how VCs allocate capital across the region.

Jeremy Au explored the evolution of technology marketing and how marketers have adapted to communicate complex innovations effectively. He began by referencing sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke’s 1974 “crazy” prediction about how their room-sized computers would eventually shrink to the size of briefcases and that people would eventually be able to work from anywhere in the world. Early software marketers like WordStar focused on explaining and promoting “groundbreaking” features, such as moving text blocks—capabilities that were previously unimaginable with typewriters. Jeremy emphasized that while technology continues to advance, the core human desires for status, security, and convenience remain unchanged. Companies like Apple, with products like the augmented reality Vision Pro and Apple Watch, and Dyson have mastered the art of blending functionality with premium status to appeal to early adopters and affluent consumers. He concluded by noting that despite the shifting landscape of technology -from floppy disks to cryptocurrency and AI companions - the fundamental marketing strategy endures: simplify the message and prioritize solving immediate consumer needs, a timeless approach evident in both historic and modern claims of achieving 10x disruptive improvements vs. the pain of the status quo.

Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. 109 Member 48 Ministry Cabinet Coalition: With the inauguration on October 20, 2024, President Prabowo Subianto expanded the cabinet from 34 to 48 ministries, the largest since 1966. Prabowo's coalition-building strategy is to accommodate political allies and unify the seven-party coalition behind him. They drew comparisons to Germany’s coalition politics, emphasizing the importance of coordination between Indonesia’s national and regional leaders for effective governance.

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.

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner of  Hustle Fund, and ​​Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Singapore Vetoes Allianz $4.4B Insurer Acquisition: They discussed the Singapore government’s veto of the NTUC Income and Allianz merger, primarily over concerns of an undisclosed plan for $2B capital withdrawal post-merger. This case illustrated the delicate balance required between pursuing financial strategies and adhering to a social mission, especially in a cooperative structure transitioning to a corporatized entity.

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.

Michael Chua, Award-Winning Actor, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Consultant to Award-Winning Actor at Age 50: Michael had a a long and successful career as a technology consultant traveling across Europe. At the age of 50, he was talent-scouted through a Facebook photo to become an actor. His curiosity exploring a new creative field quickly blossomed into a successful career, with over 400 acting credits and several awards, including Best Actor and Best Film at the Singapore International Film Festival. He shared his experience learning to act in films like Ilo Ilo which won the prestigious Camera d'Or award at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and the 50th Golden Horse Awards in 2014. He also discussed his experience acting in popular YouTube shows like Titan Academy led by JianHao (7.5 million subscribers).

Jeremy Au defined startups as newly established businesses bringing future technologies to the present, with unicorns being those valued at over $1 billion. These valuations are typically driven by revenue generation of around $100 million annually and market confidence in future profitability, eg. Palantir and Salesforce. Private markets apply valuation multiples based on future growth potential, with speculative booms in sectors like crypto, where revenue valuation multiples went as as high as 1000x due to bull markets. The odds of achieving unicorn status (about 1 in 40 for USA startups with venture funding) and outlined eight strategies for building a unicorn (Christoph Janz). These include models like “whales,” serving high-value clients, and “rabbits,” scaling by targeting many smaller customers. He emphasized that becoming a unicorn requires long-term execution, strategic positioning, and navigating indirect competition, particularly in Southeast Asia’s fragmented markets. 

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.

Wing Vasiksiri, General Partner & Founder of WV Fund, and Jeremy Au discussed:

1. Founder Failure Stigma: They compared how failure is perceived by founders and society in Southeast Asia versus the US, focusing on Thailand and Singapore. In Thailand, failure carries a strong stigma, making it harder for failed founders to reintegrate into the ecosystem, while in the US, failure is seen as part of the entrepreneurial journey, with founders often wearing it as a badge of honor. They noted that the lack of a talent recycling system in Southeast Asia makes it riskier for founders to fail, as there are fewer opportunities for them to be absorbed back into other startups, VC firms, or incubators. In contrast, Silicon Valley provides a more robust safety net for failed founders, who are quickly reabsorbed into the ecosystem.