S03E30: From ex-AWS Engineer and ex-Bukalapak SVP of Engineering to Full Time Angel Investor, Tech Due Diligence, and Emerging Tech Trends in Southeast Asia with Mohammed Alabsi On Call with Insignia Ventures

We're back with another episode in partnership with Insignia Ventures Academy. We went on call with another mentor who not only has been helping out with the program, but has also been a participant of the first cohort: startup advisor, angel investor, ex-Bukalapak and Amazon engineering leader Mohammed Alabsi. We talk about his journey from Seattle driving cloud services and microservices for AWS in the late 2010s to leading engineering at Bukalapak and now angel investing. He shares highlights from his experience at Insignia Ventures Academy, advice for aspiring angel investors, and his views on tech due diligence and hot tech topics including AI, cybersecurity, no-code platforms, and DeFi. 

Transcript

Timestamps

00:27 Paulo introduces Mohammed Alabsi;

01:21 The multiple hats of Mohammed;

02:27 How the emergence of cloud and microservices led him to AWS’s early days in Seattle and then Bukalapak in Indonesia;

05:34 Biggest challenges and contributions as VP of Engineering at Bukalapak;

07:41 Becoming a full-time startup advisor and angel investor;

09:07 A day in the life of Mohammed as angel investor;

10:07 Mohammed value-add as an angel investor;

11:36 Most common pitfall of early-stage startup teams from a tech POV;

12:54 Highlights of Mohammed’s experience in Insignia Ventures Academy;

14:32 How the Academy influenced Mohammed’s investing; 

15:17 Sneak peek into Mohammed’s Tech DD session;

17:19 What Mohammed is excited for 2022 Southeast Asia tech;

18:08 Mohammed’s thoughts on AI adoption in Southeast Asia;

19:26 Cybersecurity for early-stage startups;

21:47 Advice for engineers and tech operators becoming angel investors;

22:52 Investing in Dishserve; 

23:59 Rapid Fire Round;

About our guest

Mohammed Alabsi is a technology leader and angel investor active across both sides of the Pacific, based out of both the East Coast and Jakarta, an advisor to several startups here in Southeast Asia, and part of the XA Network. Previously he was Senior VP of Engineering at Bukalapak, and a Senior Software Development Manager at Amazon in Seattle. He is an alumnus of Insignia Ventures Academy’s first cohort and also helps the program as a mentor.

Music: Cool Upbeat Background Music For Videos by MorningLightMusic

Tags: startup, Southeast Asia, founder, entrepreneurship, business, technology

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.


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