BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capit

Jeremy Au
  • 5.0 (8)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Learn from Southeast Asia's best tech leaders. Build the future, learn from our past & stay human in between. No B.S on success. Southeast Asia's #1 startup & venture capital podcast with 80,000+ listeners. Hosted by Jeremy Au. VC & serial founder. Harvard MBA & UC Berkeley. Sci-fi nerd & dad of two daughters. Growth and personal growth solves all problems. The best feeling is coaching good humans to be great leaders.  Published on Monday & Thursday. Weekly tech news debates, changemaker interviews & listener Q&As. Community of listeners and guests across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia & the Philippines. Global top 10% podcast. "Learned a lot from the journeys. Must-listen for anyone seeking advice to be a leader" @lindatangxy "Refreshing to hear from distinguished founders what they learned, both the good & bad" @seanojw "Incredibly useful in kickstarting my thought process around customers as an entrepreneur" @klowetan "After tuning into a couple of episodes, this is now my weekly routine. Keep it up!!" @joshrodes8 Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.comWhatsApp Weekday Insight: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02eSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0TYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAuApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyauInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauzTwitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyauLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea

  1. How Lasers Could Replace Undersea Cables & Reshape Global Internet | Rohit Jha - E698

    1D AGO

    How Lasers Could Replace Undersea Cables & Reshape Global Internet | Rohit Jha - E698

    Rohit Jha, Co-founder and CEO of Transcelestial, joins Jeremy Au to explain how his Singapore-based startup is using laser communications to transmit internet at speeds far beyond what Starlink currently offers, and why that matters for Southeast Asia, global telcos, and the future of deep space. Rohit breaks down how Transcelestial went from building ground-to-ground laser links for 5G towers, with clients like Globe Telecom, Telkomsel, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and NTT Group, to now building an orbital ring of 40 satellites designed to replace undersea cables and host orbital data centres capable of running AI workloads in space. Topics covered include the Transcelestial vs. SpaceX and Starlink distinction, why telcos are a national security asset that will never be sold to a foreign operator, how AI is driving an explosion in internet bandwidth demand, and how a laser link restored connectivity to 50 villages in Taiwan after a typhoon destroyed a fibre-carrying bridge in under two hours. Rohit also shares what it means to be brave, from fighting off knife-wielding robbers in Munich on Christmas Eve to secretly redirecting company capital into a space programme without telling the board. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/rohit-jha-global-internet-lasers Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts #Singapore #Technology #SpaceTech #Podcast #US #Taiwan #Philippines #Indonesia #Malaysia #Vietnam #southeastasia #techpodcast 00:00 Anyone Who Is Not SpaceX Is Signing Us Up 00:30 Welcome to BRAVE and Rohit Jha Introduction 01:30 What Is Transcelestial? Laser Internet and the Orbital Ring Explained 02:01 From Entrepreneur First to a Deep Space Vision 03:40 From NTU Engineering to Investment Banking and the Internet Revelation 05:25 Product Market Fit: Solving Today's Problems to Fund the Future 06:00 Telco Partnerships: Globe Telecom, Telkomsel, T-Mobile, AT&T and NTT Group 07:20 Transcelestial vs. SpaceX and Starlink: Competitive or Synergistic? 09:55 The Orbital Ring: 40 Satellites Replacing Undersea Cables 10:20 Orbital Data Centres and Running AI Workloads in Space 14:55 Will Starlink Kill the Traditional Telco? 17:18 AI Latency: Why Routing via Low-Earth Orbit Beats Undersea Cables 19:45 Geopolitical Neutrality and the Multi-Vendor Imperative 23:25 Typhoon in Taiwan: Laser Link Restores Internet to 50 Villages in Two Hours 26:15 Personal Bravery: Armed Robbery in Munich on Christmas Eve 27:35 Business Bravery: Secretly Funding the Space Division Without Board Approval 29:57 Purpose and Why Having a Mission Changes the Risks You Take 30:37 Key Takeaways and Closing

    32 min
  2. Trump Xi Summit Decoded: Thucydides Trap, Boeing Deal & China AI Chip Strategy - E697

    5D AGO

    Trump Xi Summit Decoded: Thucydides Trap, Boeing Deal & China AI Chip Strategy - E697

    Jianggan Li, Founder of Momentum Works, joins Jeremy Au to unpack the Trump Xi Beijing summit, the first US presidential visit to China since 2017. They decode the optics of Zhongnanhai Garden and the Temple of Heaven, Xi Jinping's Thucydides Trap reference, the 200 plane Boeing deal, and why the absence of major deliverables is itself a strategic win. The conversation dives deep into the AI chip war, why NVIDIA's market share in China collapsed from 95% to under 10%, how the US export ban accelerated Chinese semiconductor self-reliance, and DeepSeek's reported 50 billion RMB funding round with the founder personally contributing 20 billion. They examine why Jensen Huang was added to Trump's delegation last minute, Elon Musk's unique position with Tesla in China, how Chinese state subsidies flow through local governments, and why founders like the Manus team made costly domicile mistakes. For Southeast Asia founders, VCs, and operators in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia, this episode reveals why both superpowers settled into managed competition rather than decisive split, and what it means for global supply chains, AI models, and capital flows in 2026. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/trump-xi-summit Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts 00:00 Introduction 01:23 Why the Trump Xi summit was a strategic win 03:25 Key players and how China renamed Rubio 06:26 Xi's Thucydides Trap and the Athens Sparta lesson 09:11 Chinese self-media versus official narratives 12:10 Zhongnanhai Garden and Temple of Heaven optics 15:15 El Niño, food security and global risk 16:36 Boeing deal, Elon Musk and Tesla in China 19:04 Jensen Huang added last minute to the delegation 21:16 Why Chinese founders still domicile in Singapore 23:08 DeepSeek's 50 billion RMB funding anomaly 24:00 NVIDIA's China collapse and the backfired chip ban 26:32 DeepSeek and ByteDance: founder driven AI 29:34 How Chinese state subsidies actually work 32:17 DeepSeek's cost efficiency strategy 33:04 Future outlook: Xi's US visit and Taiwan

    35 min
  3. Wen-Szu Lin: Lessons learnt from Franchise Failure to Scaling Uber in Asia - E696

    MAY 17

    Wen-Szu Lin: Lessons learnt from Franchise Failure to Scaling Uber in Asia - E696

    In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au is joined by Wen-Szu Lin who opens up about the brutal reality of entrepreneurship, from securing the master franchise for Auntie Anne's in China just before the 2008 Olympics, to navigating massive business failure, and eventually scaling Uber's Community Operations across Asia. Wen-Szu shares the untaught lessons that propelled his corporate success after his startup collapsed. Discover the hidden challenges of operating a foreign food brand in Beijing, how strict local regulations stifled growth, and why a "growth mindset" is the ultimate tool for tech leaders and founders. Whether you are building a startup in Southeast Asia, exploring venture capital, or looking to growth hack your career, this candid conversation about bouncing back from a failed venture is essential listening. Check out Wen-Szu Lin’s books The China Twist and Deliver: The untaught lessons to growth hack your career at www.wenszulin.com  00:00 - Introduction  01:46 - Wen-Szu Lin's Background & Journey to China 04:55 - Securing the Auntie Anne's Master Franchise 07:23 - The Reality of Doing Business in Beijing (2008 Olympics) 11:42 - Why the Pretzels Failed: Malls, Regulations & Foot Traffic 16:19 - Knowing When to Fold & Moving to the Philippines 20:41 - Overcoming the Stigma of Failure: Writing "The China Twist" 24:42 - Scaling Uber's Community Operations in Asia 27:53 - Untaught Lessons: Writing "Deliver" 30:28 - Following Curiosity Over Bravery 31:54 - Three Key Mindsets for Success & Conclusion Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/wen-szu-lin-deliver Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts #Philippines #China #Franchise #Business #Podcast #southeastasia #techpodcast

    34 min
  4. Find Your Unfair Advantage in Business and Use It - E695

    MAY 14

    Find Your Unfair Advantage in Business and Use It - E695

    Is the world fair? How do you find your true purpose in business? In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au shares his deeply personal journey into the cancer diagnostics space following a tragic loss. He breaks down the crucial difference between "problem-market fit" and "founder-problem fit," the reality of life's unfairness, and why you must play to your unfair advantages to succeed in the hyper-competitive tech ecosystem. Whether you are a founder in Singapore or an aspiring entrepreneur anywhere in Southeast Asia, these insights will redefine how you view marketing, leadership, and resilience. Tune in to discover the "Yin and Yang" of marketing, why good things don't always happen to good people, and how to harness your unique strengths to build something that truly matters. 00:00 - The Yin and Yang of Marketing 01:09 - The Importance of Founder-Problem Fit 02:07 - Jeremy's Personal Mission to Fight Cancer 04:13 - Breaking the Fairytale: The World Isn't Fair 06:47 - How to Find Your Unfair Advantage 07:46 - Outro & Community Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/find-your-unfair-advantage Audio Description Watch, listen or read the full insight at  Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

    8 min
  5. Solo Founding at 58 and AI as a force multiplier for the medical industry | Jay Fajardo - E694

    MAY 10

    Solo Founding at 58 and AI as a force multiplier for the medical industry | Jay Fajardo - E694

    In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au sits down with Jay Fajardo, serial entrepreneur and CEO of BetterClinic, straight from Manila, Philippines. Jay discusses his return to the founder’s seat at age 58, driven by the massive paradigm shift of the Artificial Intelligence supercycle. We dive deep into how AI is completely transforming digital healthcare by eliminating doctor burnout and drastically reducing administrative "pajama time" from 40% to 10%. Jay also reveals why AI makes being a solo founder an absolute superpower, how cloud tools are changing the venture capital landscape, and the looming impact of AI on the Philippine BPO industry. If you are building a startup in Southeast Asia or are fascinated by the future of AI health tech, this is a masterclass in adapting to technological shifts. 00:00 - Introduction & The AI Supercycle 01:55 - The Shift from Ecosystem Builder to AI Founder 04:26 - Why AI is a "Superpower" for Experienced Founders 05:10 - Fixing Healthcare & Reducing Doctor Burnout 08:44 - Eradicating "Pajama Time": AI Scribes & Clinic Workflows 10:52 - A Hybrid Go-To-Market Strategy for HealthTech in SEA 14:43 - The Rise of the Solo Founder Movement 18:29 - Age vs. Experience: Building Startups in Your 50s 20:00 - The Future of AI in Medicine (An AI Assistant?) 22:50 - AI's Looming Threat to the Philippine BPO Industry 23:40 - 3 Key Takeaways Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jay-fajardo-betterclinic Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

    25 min
  6. How the Global Energy Crisis is rewiring Southeast Asia Tech | Kristie Neo - E693

    MAY 7

    How the Global Energy Crisis is rewiring Southeast Asia Tech | Kristie Neo - E693

    How is the ongoing Middle East conflict reshaping the global economy, energy markets, and the tech sector? In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au sits down with Kristie Neo, PitchBook's newly appointed Asia Editor, to unpack the macroeconomic shockwaves hitting Southeast Asia and the Gulf. From surging oil prices and the fuel emergency in the Philippines to the sudden acceleration in green energy and defense tech investments across Singapore and the UAE, we cover what founders and investors need to know to navigate this crisis. Tune in for deep-dive insights on venture capital shifts, global capital flight, the resilience of safe-haven economies, and why times of conflict often forge the strongest technological innovations. 00:00 - Introduction & PitchBook’s APAC Expansion 03:10 - The Middle East Crisis & Macro Impacts 06:45 - How the Conflict Affects UAE Venture Capital 09:30 - Inflation, Supply Chains & Asia's Energy Security 12:28 - Surging Demand for Renewables & Nuclear Power 15:28 - Tech Capital, LPs, & Diversification out of the Gulf 22:48 - The Rise of Defense Tech in Singapore & Israel Parallels Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/kristie-neo-global-energy-crisis Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts #Singapore #TechNews #StartupNews #Business #Podcast #southeastasia #techpodcast

    29 min
  7. Dennis Velasco: The Reality of the Trust Gap and Building a Tech Startup in Southeast Asia - E692

    MAY 3

    Dennis Velasco: The Reality of the Trust Gap and Building a Tech Startup in Southeast Asia - E692

    Dennis Velasco, founder of Prosperna, provides a raw and definitive account of transitioning from Silicon Valley leadership roles at Salesforce and Xero to the front lines of the Philippine startup ecosystem. In this episode, you will learn the structural mechanics of the "Trust Factor Gap" in Southeast Asian B2B markets and how Velasco navigated a $300,000 personal investment across multiple failed ventures before finding product-market fit. We explore the high-stakes reality of moving a family across the globe to build a legacy and the specific tactical shifts required to scale a Philippine-based SaaS company to meet Western market expectations. Core Themes Explored: The Silicon Valley Straitjacket: Why high-salary careers in the US can prevent founders from achieving true creative autonomy. The B2B Trust Deficit: Strategies for overcoming the "scam" perception by utilizing physical office culture and extreme customer commitment. Unit Economic Reality: Why Philippine startups must expand to global markets sooner to survive local price sensitivity. The Pandemic Pivot: How Prosperna transitioned from real estate listings to a dominant AI-powered e-commerce platform for SMEs. This conversation is hosted by Jeremy Au as part of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, the region’s leading resource for venture capital insights and founder resilience. Whether you are a venture capitalist evaluating the Manila tech hub or a diaspora founder considering a "return home" strategy, this episode provides the unvarnished truth about building in one of the world's most fragmented markets. 00:00 - The $300,000 Cost of Building in the Philippines 02:50 - Leaving Salesforce & Xero: Escaping the Silicon Valley Straitjacket 07:03 - The Founder’s Family Risk: Moving Kids from the US to Manila 12:15 - Why My First Two Startups Failed: Health Tech & Real Estate Realities 15:47 - Navigating Government Corruption & Transparency in Property Tech 18:09 - The 2020 Pivot: Launching Prosperna 3 Months Before Lockdown 20:51 - The Trust Factor Gap: Why B2B Sales are Harder in the Philippines 24:38 - Price Sensitivity vs. Australia/US: The Local Provider Trap 27:01 - The Scam Perception: Why Startups Need a Physical Office to Survive 32:54 - Advice for Spouses: The Brutal Honesty Required for Startup Longevity 37:34 - Scaling to the West: Why Philippine Startups Must Go Global Sooner 41:40 - Summary: Building a Service Hub for the World from Manila Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/dennis-velasco-building-a-tech-startup Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

    42 min
  8. The 3 Phases of Startup Success: From the Jungle, through the Dirt Road & to the Highway - E691

    APR 30

    The 3 Phases of Startup Success: From the Jungle, through the Dirt Road & to the Highway - E691

    Is Southeast Asia entering its Golden Age? Jeremy Au breaks down the "1 in 40" gamble of building a unicorn, the David vs. Goliath strategy for startups, and the brutal reality of the VC Power Law. Learn the three phases of startup growth—from the jungle to the highway—and how to identify the six clusters of failure before they kill your company. Essential viewing for founders, investors, and tech leaders across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines looking to master network effects and unit economics in the world's fastest-growing digital economy. 00:00 The 1 in 40 Gamble: Odds of Becoming a Unicorn 00:41 The Thesis for Southeast Asia's Golden Age 01:05 The Innovator's Mental Reset & Generational Shifts 02:17 David vs. Goliath: The Slingshot Strategy 03:20 From Jungle to Highway: The 3 Startup Phases 04:39 The 10x Rule: Better, Faster, or Cheaper 05:50 Building Moats: The Power of Network Effects 06:38 Mastering Unit Economics & LTV 07:17 Inside the VC Mindset: Hunting for Home Runs 07:57 The Power Law: Why 90% of Rewards Go to the Top 08:32 The 6 Clusters of Startup Failure 09:00 Monopoly vs. Competition: Peter Thiel’s Core Insight Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/3-phases-of-startup-success Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

    10 min
See All (697)

Trailer

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Learn from Southeast Asia's best tech leaders. Build the future, learn from our past & stay human in between. No B.S on success. Southeast Asia's #1 startup & venture capital podcast with 80,000+ listeners. Hosted by Jeremy Au. VC & serial founder. Harvard MBA & UC Berkeley. Sci-fi nerd & dad of two daughters. Growth and personal growth solves all problems. The best feeling is coaching good humans to be great leaders.  Published on Monday & Thursday. Weekly tech news debates, changemaker interviews & listener Q&As. Community of listeners and guests across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia & the Philippines. Global top 10% podcast. "Learned a lot from the journeys. Must-listen for anyone seeking advice to be a leader" @lindatangxy "Refreshing to hear from distinguished founders what they learned, both the good & bad" @seanojw "Incredibly useful in kickstarting my thought process around customers as an entrepreneur" @klowetan "After tuning into a couple of episodes, this is now my weekly routine. Keep it up!!" @joshrodes8 Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.comWhatsApp Weekday Insight: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02eSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0TYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAuApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyauInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauzTwitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyauLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea

Information

You Might Also Like