The Epicenter with Ronen Mense Ronen Mense

Sonika Manandhar, a trailblazing co-founder and CTO of Aloi Global, shares unique insights and invaluable lessons from her wide-ranging experience as a woman tech founder from Nepal, a perspective that is sure to inspire and empower.  



In an intimate conversation with Ronen Mense, Sonika provides anecdotes on glass-ceiling challenges, such as dealing with prejudices, overcoming work archetypes, and relentless upskilling.     



A large chunk of the episode is devoted to a deeper understanding of powering microfinance for informal sectors - and how that is transformational not just for business owners but also for the day-to-day lives of many. 



Also a UN Environment Young Champion of Earth and National Geographic Explorer awardee, Sonika closes the episode with her 4Ps principles of people, planet, profit, and prosperity. Watch the episode to discover why one can’t exist without the other.

Jeffrey Towson, top-notch Asia analyst, podcaster, and business transformation consultant, sits down with Ronen Mense to answer strategy judgment questions about all things digital. 

In this nearly one-hour episode, we delve into a range of topics that are highly relevant to businesses, regardless of their maturity level and geographical focus. A particularly intriguing discussion revolves around how the stakes of winning and losing in business are becoming more and more extreme. 

The first half explores digital transformation strategies, while the rest of the discussion focuses on real-life business transformation examples from the likes of BYD Auto and Amazon. 

A consultant and investor with +20 years of experience across the US, China/Asia, and the Middle East, Jeffrey wraps up the episode with his thinking and strategy framework for shaping the future of the digital economy.

George Hartel, Chief Commercial Officer at GQ Thailand, Southeast Asia's leading Tech Apparel company, shares his expertise in omnichannel innovation, business transformation, and brand development. 

In a conversation with Ronen, George sheds light on GQ's evolution from a retail fixture to a comprehensive Tech Apparel business. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing profitability in e-commerce from the outset, and discusses leveraging social media for positive unit economics, citing GQ's remarkable sales surge from 200 to 4,000 shirts per day following a viral campaign in 2019.

Drawing on his role as an e-commerce expert, George provides firsthand insights into adapting to Asia’s rapid pace of innovation, often called "China speed." The episode concludes with practical tips for enhancing sales through the TikTok Shop platform.

Considered the “Godfather of Malaysia’s startup scene,” Dr. Sivapalan Vivekarajah has been an Entrepreneur and Angel Investor for nearly 40 years and has a Ph.D. in Venture Capital from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He is the Co-Founder and Senior Partner of “ScaleUp Malaysia” Accelerator, Malaysia’s first Accelerator for highly scalable, high-growth regional companies. Dr. Vivekarajah is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of Science and Technology at Sunway University and the author of the books “Supercharge Your Startup Valuation and “Blue Sky Innovation: Killer Innovations That Changed The World of Business.”

Our host, Ronen Mense, considers Dr. Vivekarajah one of his heroes and mentors. The gravity of their personal and professional relationship is explored in this episode as they dissect: 
Why Malaysia is one of the world’s best-kept secrets for tech entrepreneurship 
How streamlining funding agencies and beefing up corporate tax incentives can spark a nation’s startup boom 
The most accurate and appropriate benchmarks for startup valuation 
Why liquidation preference is crucial 

…and many more! 

This episode is a must-watch for startup founders, venture capitalists, or anyone who has a keen interest in Asia’s tech entrepreneur scene.

Dr. Gang Lu is the founder and CEO of TechNode, one of the largest media hubs for the Chinese startup ecosystem. In its early years, TechNode was China's answer to TechCrunch. An industry fixture for over ten years, Dr. Lu is considered one of the most vital voices in Chinese tech.  

Together, Ronen and Dr. Lu go deep on:
Southeast Asia's ecosystem is growing as fast, if not faster, than China's.
Why Shein is a global phenomenon except domestically.
Why AI might be the last bubble shared between China and the West. 

This episode is particularly relevant to those finding an actionable footing between the tech ecosystems of China and Southeast Asia. Many interviews about Chinese tech today provide an outdated perspective. This one offers a challenging, forward-looking view.

Recorded live onstage at AppsFlyer’s MAMA Asia conference last month, the company’s co-founder and CEO provides deep insights into three major themes: Privacy, Macroeconomics, and AI. 

Oren shares 1) why he challenges his team to think how AI could replace their current jobs, 2) what the ecosystem could learn from recent historical, technological milestones, and 3) how AppsFlyer grew its business because of Asia. 

Whether you are a brand marketer, a startup founder, or a tech influencer, this episode will help dispel some existential issues that may be impacting your business and career today.