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. Konvy CEO & Co-Founder QingGui Huang on Matchmaking Quality Beauty Brands to the Global Market

    1d ago

    Konvy CEO & Co-Founder QingGui Huang on Matchmaking Quality Beauty Brands to the Global Market

    In this episode of On Call with Insignia Ventures, join us on this call with QingGui Huang (Gui), CEO and co-founder of Konvy, for a wide-ranging conversation on what it means to build a health and beauty e-commerce platform for Southeast Asia in 2026. Now in its 13th year of operations and fresh off a Series B round backed by Cool Japan Fund, Konvy has grown from Thailand's leading beauty e-retailer into a regional multi-channel platform with stores and operations across Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The discussion explores how shifting consumer behavior, the rise of TikTok Shop, and the growing complexity of omni-channel commerce are reshaping the competitive landscape. Konvy’s “matchmaking” thesis, connecting quality global brands with underserved regional consumers, is also finding new relevance as both inbound and outbound brand flows mature across the region. Gui also shares his perspective on AI’s complementary role in e-commerce operations, the challenges of cross-border localization, and what a potential public market listing could mean for Konvy’s next chapter.Timestamps(0:00): Introduction(2:00): Konvy’s Background and the Evolving E-Commerce Landscape(5:00): Konvy as Southeast Asia’s Beauty and Health Gateway(7:00): Pain Points for D2C and E-Commerce Brands(9:00): AI as a Complementary Force in E-Commerce(13:00): The Cool Japan Fund Partnership and Inbound Brand Strategy(16:00): Outbound Strategy: Taking Southeast Asian Brands Global(18:00): Omni-Channel Strategy: Balancing Online and Offline(21:00): Localizing for New Markets: Philippines and Malaysia(23:00): Building Global Infrastructure and the Path to Public Markets(26:00): Advice for Entrepreneurs and FoundersAbout Our GuestQingGui Huang, known as Gui, is the CEO and co-founder of Konvy, Thailand’s leading health and beauty e-commerce platform. A US-educated Chinese entrepreneur who received his Bachelor’s in Management and International Business from Purdue University, Gui built online fashion businesses in Beijing before returning to Southeast Asia in 2011, spotting the opportunity to create a dedicated beauty e-commerce platform in Thailand, where he had spent some of his childhood. He founded Konvy in 2012 with his co-founders, growing it from a 100,000 baht startup in a single rented room into the country’s number one beauty retailer, carrying over 1,000 brands and 20,000 products across its own app, major marketplaces, TikTok Shop, and physical retail stores. Konvy has expanded into the Philippines and Malaysia and raised multiple funding rounds, most recently a Series B led by Cool Japan Fund, reflecting the platform’s growing role as Southeast Asia’s gateway for global beauty brands, both inbound and outbound.Directed by Paulo JoquiñoProduced by Paulo JoquiñoFollow us on LinkedIn for more updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insignia-ventures/?viewAsMember=trueThe 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.

    29 min
  2. Circle Managing Director for Asia Pacific Yam Ki Chan on Stablecoin's Journey to Trillions in Asia

    3d ago

    Circle Managing Director for Asia Pacific Yam Ki Chan on Stablecoin's Journey to Trillions in Asia

    Paulo sits down in person at Insignia’s Singapore office with Yam Ki Chan, Managing Director, Asia Pacific at Circle. The conversation maps Yam Ki’s vantage point at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy, from his years negotiating for the U.S. government on the G20 and G7, through Google Pay and Google Cloud, to leading Circle’s regional buildout. He unpacks how stablecoins are upgrading the underlying rails of global finance, why Asia’s trade-exposed economies are uniquely positioned to benefit, and what becomes possible when treasury, trade financing, settlement, and even micro-payments can clear 24/7 in seconds. The discussion closes with a candid view on the policy landscape across Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea, and a builder’s outlook on the trifecta now reshaping the digital economy: AI, stablecoins, and tokenization. Timestamps (0:00): Introduction (1:37): A Career Across Policy, Tech, and Finance (3:50): IPO Milestones and the Journey to Trillions (5:39): Asia Adoption Playbook (8:52): Real-World USDC Use Cases (11:40): Upgrading Financial Rails (13:56): Circle's Full-Stack Platform (17:00): Treasury, VC, and Programmable Money (20:59): Programmable Money and the Bigger Opportunity (26:13): Southeast Asia's Role in Stablecoin Adoption (30:00): Policy Outlook Across Asia (33:00): A Closing Note for Builders About our guest Yam Ki Chan is the Managing Director, Asia Pacific at Circle (NYSE: CRCL), where he is responsible for the company’s business and strategy in the region. He leads a team driving partnerships and market expansion across Asia, and also serves as Managing Director of Circle Singapore. In his time at Circle, he has overseen the enablement of USDC in Japan — the first stablecoin recognized in the country. Before Circle, Yam Ki spent six years at Google, holding strategy & operations and public policy roles across Google Payments and Google Cloud, where he worked on partnership strategy, market launches, and government affairs in Asia-Pacific. Prior to Google, he served as a Director at the White House National Security Council, where he coordinated the interagency process on U.S. economic strategy in Asia and was a member of the U.S. negotiations team for the G-20 and G-7. Before joining the NSC, he worked at the U.S. Department of the Treasury in the Office of the U.S.–China Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Earlier in his career, he was in technology investment banking at Jefferies in Silicon Valley.He holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Carleton College. 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.

    35 min
  3. Jonathan Yip, Head of Innovation Banking, Asia at HSBC on the Future of Innovation Capital and CFOs

    May 25

    Jonathan Yip, Head of Innovation Banking, Asia at HSBC on the Future of Innovation Capital and CFOs

    In this episode of On Call with Insignia Ventures, host Paulo Joquino sits down with Jonathan Yip, Head of Innovation Banking, Asia at HSBC, recorded live at HSBC’s office in downtown Singapore. The conversation explores what “innovation banking” actually means in practice — from how a global bank serves two unusually demanding sets of customers (founders and venture capital firms) to the specific liquidity, treasury, and cross-border needs of companies that are born global from day one. Jonathan and Paulo dig into how the AI cycle is broadening the demand for capital across applications, foundational models, hardware, data centers, and energy, why CFOs in this environment can leapfrog the traditional finance-team maturity curve, and how multipolarity is reshaping — but not unwinding — the global flow of talent and capital. The episode closes with Jonathan’s framework for what makes companies endure in this cycle: the three Cs of customers, connections, and capital. Timestamps (1:08): What Is Innovation Banking (2:10): HSBC Innovation Platform (3:55): Liquidity and Treasury Needs (5:46): Scaling Across Borders (7:18): Asia Innovation Learning Curve (8:51): Credit Demand in AI Era (10:39): AI Tools for Modern CFOs (13:10): Geopolitics and the Three Cs About Our Guest Jonathan Yip is Managing Director and Head of Innovation Banking, Asia at HSBC, where he leads teams across the region serving high-growth technology businesses and the venture capital firms that back them. HSBC formally appointed him to the role in September 2025 to scale its innovation banking platform across key Asian markets. Since joining HSBC in 2008, Jonathan has held a number of international roles across Global Banking in Hong Kong, New York, and San Francisco, with a coverage focus on global technology and media companies, and he previously served as Head of Global Banking for HSBC Korea, where he led the franchise’s expansion into the new economy and sustainable finance. HSBC launched its Innovation Banking arm in 2023 to provide a tailored suite of banking and financial services to start-ups and their investors, and now operates the platform across ten of the world’s leading innovation hubs within HSBC’s wider 57-market footprint. Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in Canada. 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.

    18 min
  4. Why you should take stablecoins seriously with Coinbase Singapore Country Director Hassan Ahmed

    Apr 14

    Why you should take stablecoins seriously with Coinbase Singapore Country Director Hassan Ahmed

    This special episode, recorded live at the Insignia Ventures Partners office at the Singapore Exchange Centre in Singapore with VP of Strategic Development and Operations Allen Chng, explores a question that feels increasingly urgent: if money is becoming more digitally-native, what happens to the systems built for an earlier era? Drawing on Hassan Ahmed’s experience across traditional finance, fintech, and now Coinbase Singapore, the conversation unpacks why stablecoins are gaining traction, why Singapore matters in that shift, and where new opportunities may emerge for builders and investors. Transcript Timestamps (02:15) Three Generations of Money (05:47) Stablecoins and Wall Street (11:10) The Role of Singapore for Coinbase in Asia (15:11) Agent Payments and Coinbase's X402 (19:01) Builder Risks and Stablecoin Rules (22:56) Future of Payments: Agentic Commerce, Local Stablecoins (26:28) Unbanked to Unbrokered: The Next Big Fintech Innovation Wave (28:37) Outlook for Builders and Investors About our guest Hassan Ahmed is the CEO and Country Director for Coinbase Singapore. Based in Singapore, he leads Coinbase’s operations and strategy in the Southeast Asia region, focusing on expanding the platform’s presence, fostering partnerships, and supporting the local developer ecosystem. Before joining Coinbase, Hassan served as CEO of Coins.ph, a major crypto brokerage in the Philippines, and Head of Strategy for GoPay in Indonesia under GoTo Group. He also held roles in New York, including at eToro USA as Director of Finance & Operations, Venmo as the Head of Business Operations, and Merrill Lynch as the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. Hassan holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. Directed by Paulo Joquiño Produced by Paulo Joquiño Follow us on LinkedIn for more updatesThe 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.

    36 min
  5. The right way to bridge fintechs and banks with Standard Chartered Head of Fintech, Asia Luke Boland

    Mar 12

    The right way to bridge fintechs and banks with Standard Chartered Head of Fintech, Asia Luke Boland

    Luke Boland shares insights from his journey spanning over 15 years in banking, from managing merchant relationships during the early days of contactless payments in Australia to building Standard Chartered's FinTech client coverage across Asia. In this conversation, he discusses the evolution of bank-fintech relationships, the bank's approach to supporting both global players and homegrown innovators like StraitsX and Finmo, the role of stablecoins in bridging traditional finance and digital innovation, and practical advice for FinTech founders on building strong partnerships with financial institutions. About our Guest Luke Boland is the Executive Director and Head of Fintech for ASEAN, South Asia, and GCNA (Greater China and North Asia) at Standard Chartered Bank, based in Singapore. In this role, he leads the Corporate & Investment Banking initiatives within Banks & Broker Dealers, focusing on expanding Standard Chartered's FinTech client coverage across Asia and the bank's global network. Boland joined Standard Chartered in March 2020 as Director of FinTech, and was promoted to his current executive director role in January 2024. His career spans over 15 years in banking, with a strong focus on transactional banking, cash management, and payments. Prior to Standard Chartered, he spent over a decade at National Australia Bank (NAB), where he held various leadership positions across Singapore and Melbourne, including Director of Transactional and Trade Asia and Associate Director of Transactional Banking Asia. Boland's early career included a role as Business Relations Manager at Merchantlink, a merchant acquiring business, where he developed deep expertise in card acceptance and payments infrastructure. He holds a Bachelor of Business in International Business (Applied) from RMIT University in Melbourne. Throughout his tenure at Standard Chartered, Boland has been instrumental in fostering partnerships with leading fintechs in the region, including Xfers (now StraitsX), Finmo, and Atome. He has been at the forefront of the bank's digital asset strategy, supporting the integration of stablecoin infrastructure and blockchain technology into traditional banking services. Under his leadership, Standard Chartered has positioned itself as an active participant in Asia's evolving FinTech ecosystem, supporting both global players and homegrown innovators. 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.

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

    Mar 5

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

    Feb 6

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

    Jan 8

    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
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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.

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