The On Call with Insignia Podcast

Insignia Ventures Partners

Singapore and Southeast Asia's longest running VC podcast! Previous guests include Dianping founder Zhang Tao, Nobel Laureate in economics Michael Spence, MUFG APAC Chief of Staff and Mars Growth founder Osamu Abe, Kaszek Ventures and MercadoLibre founder Hernan Kazah, Endeavor Catalyst managing partner Allen Taylor, monashees founding partner Eric Acher, Tao of Alibaba author and Alibaba Global Initiatives’ Brian Wong, JETRO Director General of Innovation Takeo Nakajima, Ard Financial Group executive chairman Ganhuyag, Appier founder Chih Han Yu, and Carro founder Aaron Tan.

  1. Why AI native companies can't chase features and what they should focus on instead with Diaflow CEO and co-founder Jonathan Pham

    1 DAY AGO

    Why AI native companies can't chase features and what they should focus on instead with Diaflow CEO and co-founder Jonathan Pham

    In the crowded landscape of AI workflow automation, Diaflow has carved out a distinctive position by prioritizing what enterprise customers care about most: security, compliance, and trust. After years of building custom enterprise software and witnessing firsthand how traditional automation failed to deliver on its promises, founder Jonathan Viet Pham and his co-founders launched Diaflow in September 2023 with a different approach—an AI-native platform that's both powerful and accessible without coding expertise.  The results surprised even the founding team: within weeks, the platform ranked number one on Product Hunt and attracted over 10,000 users, with unexpected traction in the competitive US market. In this conversation, Viet discusses how Diaflow differentiates through enterprise-grade compliance standards, the evolution toward a hybrid pricing model, the company's community-first strategy including free university access, and how Insignia Ventures Partners' seed investment is accelerating both technological innovation and global expansion into Southeast Asia and beyond. About Our Guest Jonathan Viet Pham is the Founder and CEO of Diaflow, an AI-native workflow automation platform that enables businesses to deploy powerful AI agents without extensive coding knowledge. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jonathan brings a unique blend of finance and technology expertise to his role. His family developed Vietnam's first dictionary, which was sold to Apple in 2014, instilling in him an early appreciation for product development. After studying finance at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland, Viet founded his first global startup in 2017, expanding it to five countries before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pivot. From 2020 to 2023, Jonathan served as Managing Partner at Devtify Technologies, where he led digital transformation consultancy and implementation for over 50 global clients across the Financial Services Industry and Digital Retail sectors in the US and Vietnam. His client portfolio included major brands such as TheFaceShop Vietnam, BeautyBox, Reebok Vietnam, and Techcombank, achieving seven-figure annual revenue. He also founded Artcific, a digital platform connecting artists and galleries that attracted 20,000 daily visitors, and co-founded Calioo Technologies, an online marketplace for bakeries and eateries in Hong Kong. In September 2023, Jonathan co-founded Diaflow with his long-time collaborators Lai Pham (Co-founder and CTO) and Anh Doan (Co-founder and CISO), a team that has worked together for over seven years. Under his leadership, Diaflow has achieved significant milestones including ranking number one on Product Hunt, attracting over 10,000 users globally, and securing full compliance with HIPAA Type II, SOC 2 Type I, and GDPR standards. The company raised a seed round led by Insignia Ventures Partners in 2025, positioning it for continued global expansion and technological innovation in the AI workflow automation space. Directed by Paulo Joquiño Produced by Paulo Joquiño Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.

    31 min
  2. Ganhuyag Chuluun Hutagt, Ard Financial Group Executive Chairman, on Building Mongolia's Investor Nation

    6 FEB

    Ganhuyag Chuluun Hutagt, Ard Financial Group Executive Chairman, on Building Mongolia's Investor Nation

    Ganhuyag Chuluun Hutagt shares stories and insights from his journey of over 30 years, from his first job at the Mongolian Stock Exchange at age 18 to becoming a pivotal figure in the country’s financial and technological evolution. As a founder of key institutions like XacBank and Ard Financial Group, he has been a relentless champion for financial inclusion and innovation. In this episode, he discusses his vision for transforming Mongolia into a leading "investor nation," the challenges and opportunities presented by Mongolia’s geography, and his ambitious plans to leverage tokenization, AI, and renewable energy to secure Mongolia's place on the global stage. A great conversation to learn from for decision makers looking for inspiration on driving market development. Transcript About our Guest Mr. Ganhuyag Chuluun Hutagt is a highly successful and innovative banking executive, entrepreneur, and a champion for financial inclusion. As the CEO and founder of Ard Financial Group, Mr. Hutagt serves as chairman of Ard Holdings' various subsidiaries, including Ard Credit, Ard Insurance, and Ard Securities. Under his leadership, Ard Holdings became the second-largest company on the Mongolian Stock Exchange. With 30 years in the banking and microfinance industry, Mr. Hutagt has an extensive and distinguished career. He is the founder of XacBank, which was named one of the top 100 global microfinance institutions by Forbes Magazine. He has served as an advisor to the President and Prime Minister of Mongolia and is a founding member of the Mongolia Economic Forum. He also served as the country's Vice-Minister of Finance. Mr. Hutagt has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Alumni of his alma mater, Corvinus University of Budapest. His work has been featured in The Economist, The Atlantic, The Financial Times, and the New York Times. He was also selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2009. He lives in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with his wife and children. Directed by Paulo Joquiño Produced by Paulo Joquiño Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any Insignia Ventures fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.

    37 min
  3. Osamu Abe, MUFG Chief of Staff for Asia Pacific, on venture investing for banks and institutions

    8 JAN

    Osamu Abe, MUFG Chief of Staff for Asia Pacific, on venture investing for banks and institutions

    Osamu Abe shares stories and insights from his career of nearly 30 years at MUFG from investment banking to taking an executive education on Sand Hill Road, later on setting up MUFG's first international CVC fund then MUFG's first spin out growth debt and equity funds (Mars Growth Capital and Mars Equity), and finally continuing to work with startups as Chief of Staff for Asia Pacific. Timestamps (01:15) Intro to startups and venture; (03:43) How Japanese corporates have evolved in their approach to venture investment globally; (10:44) How MUFG spun out Mars Growth Capital and Equity, and Abe-san’s views on the real value of venture debt; (20:36) Abe-san’s views on the impact of the Japan Southeast Asia corridor on adoption of emerging technologies; (23:40) Advice for founders on working with Japanese corporates; (26:36) Advice on developing corporate governance for startups; (29:39) What Abe-san has learned from leading and managing several venture funds through the years; (32:42) Rapid Fire Round; About Mr. Osamu Abe Mr. Osamu Abe was appointed Chief of Staff for Asia Pacific for MUFG Bank in May 2025. Based in Singapore, he is responsible for managing the safety and soundness of the bank’s branch operations — which include risk, compliance, and regulatory matters — across 17 markets in South-east Asia, East Asia (including China), South Asia (including India) and Oceania. Prior to the current appointment, Mr. Abe was CEO and board member of Mars Equity M.C. Pte. Ltd. where he oversaw the launch of investment activity at the $500-million growth equity fund based in Singapore. He also served as the board member of Mars Growth Capital, a startup debt fund with total commitment of $1 billion. Mr. Abe will continue to serve on the Boards of the two entities. Mr. Abe has over 28 years of extensive experience in corporate & investment banking through senior postings across MUFG’s global network. When he relocated to Singapore in 2023, Mr. Abe was appointed Managing Director and Deputy Head of Global Corporate & Investment Banking (GCIB) for Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for managing MUFG’s global corporate client portfolio and oversaw all governance and control aspects of this business across the region. Prior to that, he was the Managing Director of the Bank’s GCIB Planning Division in Tokyo, a position he held since 2019. He was a senior member of MUFG Americas’ GCIB Planning Division in New York in 2017 where he supported the implementation of the region’s strategic plan and drove key initiatives. Mr. Abe also held roles with the Human Resources Office and Global Planning Division’s Strategic Planning department in Tokyo, and Global Credit Liaison. He began his career in 1997 with the then Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi’s Nihonbashi Corporate Banking Office, followed by his first overseas assignment in 2001 with the European Business Division in London. Mr. Abe holds a Master of Science in Business from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and Bachelor of Law from Tokyo University. Directed by Paulo Joquiño Produced by Paulo Joquiño Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insignia Ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.

    37 min
  4. Robert Subbaraman, Nomura Global Head of Macro Research, on Japan's return to the investor spotlight

    16/12/2025

    Robert Subbaraman, Nomura Global Head of Macro Research, on Japan's return to the investor spotlight

    Fresh from the Japan SEA Market Forum last November, we managed to have a quick chat with Robert Subbaraman, Managing Director and Global Head of Macro Research on Nomura, about the rest of the world's views on the Japan opportunity, especially in AI, their role in an increasingly multipolar world, and how the Japan "revival" ties to the Southeast Asia's growth story. About Robert Subbaraman Rob Subbaraman joined Nomura in October 2008 and is Chief Economist and Head of Global Markets Research for Asia ex-Japan. He manages a team of 20 economists and strategists, who forecast Asia's economies and make market trade recommendations. Beyond analyzing the economic cycle, the team prides itself on its collaborative, thematic research. Rob chairs the Asia ex-Japan research exec committee, and is on Nomura exec committees for Global Markets Research and Global Emerging Markets. Prior to joining Nomura, Rob was at Lehman Brothers for 12 years and was Chief Economist, Asia ex-Japan. Rob is based in Singapore and has spent the last 18 years in Asia, including living in Hong Kong and Tokyo. He has a central banking background, having worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia in the Economic Analysis Department for seven years prior to joining Lehman Brothers.  Timestamps (00:37) What Makes Japan Exciting Again; (03:07) Japan's Role in the Global AI Supply Chain; (05:25) TechnoNationalism and its Implications; (07:42) A Macro View of the Southeast Asia Private Market Opportunity; Directed by Paulo Joquiño Produced by Paulo Joquiño Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insignia Ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.

    10 min
  5. From Japan's public markets to a Singapore venture capital firm with Rei Murakami (Insignia Ventures Academy Cohort 3 Alum, Kadan Capital Founding Partner)

    10/12/2025

    From Japan's public markets to a Singapore venture capital firm with Rei Murakami (Insignia Ventures Academy Cohort 3 Alum, Kadan Capital Founding Partner)

    After several years working at Mistubishi and then for her family office foundation investing in the public markets, Rei Murakami found a new goal while she was working out of Singapore: to get into venture capital investing. She joined our Certificate in Venture Capital for its third cohort in 2022 and a year later founded Kadan Capital, an early stage venture firm investing in fintech and AI startups across Asia.  She goes on call to share her journey from Japan to Singapore, from the public markets to venture capital, and going from Insignia Ventures Academy's 12 week program to setting up Kadan Capital.  Rei also hosts Kadan's podcast True Founders Stories Timestamps (00:30) Introducing Rei and her journey from Japan to Singapore; (02:00) Why Rei became interested in venture capital; (02:59) Rei's Insignia Ventures Academy experience; (05:39) Starting Kadan Capital with a focus on fintech and AI in Southeast Asia; (09:18) Rei's value-add as an investor; (11:00) Rei's views on the Japan-Southeast Asia cross-border venture activity and investing in Japan; (14:12) Advice for founders on expanding to Japan; (16:03) Rei's views on exits in Southeast Asia; (18:38) Learnings on being a venture capitalist;  (20:07) Make or break moment in Rei's career; Directed by Paulo Joquiño Produced by Paulo Joquiño Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insignia Ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.

    22 min
  6. How Akhil Nigam, Finmo CPO and co-founder, is Redefining Treasury Management with AI and Strategic Partnerships | Call 199

    03/12/2025

    How Akhil Nigam, Finmo CPO and co-founder, is Redefining Treasury Management with AI and Strategic Partnerships | Call 199

    Finmo CPO and co-founder Akhil Nigam joins Paulo for a chat live from the 10th Singapore Fintech Festival 2025 to talk about Finmo's journey creating a truly connected intelligence platform for finance teams and treasury management able to serve businesses from SMEs to larger multi-market enterprises. A lot of it has to do with Akhil's partnership-first approach to product development. This interview was recorded live at the Finmo booth in Singapore Fintech Festival 2025.   Timestamps (00:04) How Akhil became co-founder and CPO of Finmo; (02:39) Why Finmo started out with money movement; (05:15) The evolving needs of CFOs and finance teams; (08:49) The role of stakeholder partnerships in product development; (13:37) Finmo's journey with leveraging AI; (18:23) How does AI help with Finmo's vision for treasury management; (21:23) How Finmo's product developments over the past year have strengthened its competitive advantages; (25:01) Managing product and partnerships priorities across multiple markets; (28:22) The next ten years of treasury management; Directed by Paulo Joquiño Produced by Paulo Joquiño Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insignia Ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.

    30 min
  7. The real reason Japan is investing in Southeast Asia innovation with Takeo Nakajima

    21/11/2025

    The real reason Japan is investing in Southeast Asia innovation with Takeo Nakajima

    15% of the total trade volume of Japan with the world comes from Southeast Asia, the country's third largest trading bloc. More than 15,000 Japanese firms are active in the region. Cash-rich Japanese firms looking to scale up growth globally. Local governments are looking for innovative solutions to societal issues like depopulation. We discuss these drivers for cross-border innovation and more with Takeo Nakajima, Director General of Innovation at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). This interview was recorded live in Singapore from the Japan SEA Market Forum 2025 hosted by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Nikkei Asia, and JETRO. Timestamps (00:25) Japan’s Layered Trade and Innovation Relationship with Southeast Asia; (03:36) Innovation Opportunities for Southeast Asia and Japanese Innovation; (06:42) Message to Founders Looking to Build Cross-Border Innovation Between Japan and Southeast Asia; Directed by Paulo Joquiño Produced by Paulo Joquiño Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insignia Ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.

    8 min

About

Singapore and Southeast Asia's longest running VC podcast! Previous guests include Dianping founder Zhang Tao, Nobel Laureate in economics Michael Spence, MUFG APAC Chief of Staff and Mars Growth founder Osamu Abe, Kaszek Ventures and MercadoLibre founder Hernan Kazah, Endeavor Catalyst managing partner Allen Taylor, monashees founding partner Eric Acher, Tao of Alibaba author and Alibaba Global Initiatives’ Brian Wong, JETRO Director General of Innovation Takeo Nakajima, Ard Financial Group executive chairman Ganhuyag, Appier founder Chih Han Yu, and Carro founder Aaron Tan.