The Exponential Show

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At The Exponential Show, we bring you conversations with startup founders, investors, and thought leaders, delivering insights that help you in your founder journey.

  1. Ankit Upadhyay: Building a Venture Ecosystem | Ep #33

    MAR 2

    Ankit Upadhyay: Building a Venture Ecosystem | Ep #33

    In Episode 33 of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Ankit Upadhyay, Founder & General Partner at A2D Ventures, Co-Founder & CEO at VentureGrid, and Co-Founder of Venture Spark, for a deep conversation on building startup infrastructure across Thailand and Southeast Asia. From venture platforms to founder enablement and ecosystem building, Ankit shares how he approaches investing beyond just writing cheques — focusing instead on building systems, networks, and platforms that help startups scale sustainably. We explore ecosystem gaps, regional opportunity areas, sector trends beyond the AI hype cycle, and what early-stage founders in Thailand can do differently to increase their odds of success. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 02:10 – Origin Story. Key career milestones and the motivations that led to launching A2D Ventures. 09:04 – Building an Ecosystem of Your Own. The startup infrastructure challenges Ankit is addressing through A2D Ventures, VentureGrid, and Venture Spark. 24:23 – Regional Trends. Opportunities and structural challenges for startups in Thailand and the wider Southeast Asia region. 26:46 – Sector Trends Beyond the AI Buzzwords. Where real investor activity is flowing, and which verticals are showing long-term potential. 36:02 – Advice for Early-Stage Founders. Hard-earned lessons from investing in and working closely with startups across the region. 43:27 – What Can We Do Better? How The Exponential Show can better tell founder and business stories in Southeast Asia. 46:58 – Embracing Failure. Ankit reflects on his biggest professional setback and the lessons it taught him. 50:28 – The Next Frontier. What major goals and ambitions he is working toward in the coming months. This conversation is especially relevant for founders, operators, investors, and anyone interested in how Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem is evolving. A special thank you to our episode sponsor, True Digital Park, Thailand’s most comprehensive soft-landing platform for international individuals and companies.True Digital Park brings together workspace, community, and ecosystem support to help businesses and talent launch, grow, and scale in Thailand. If you’re building in Thailand or exploring expansion into the region, this ecosystem matters. If you enjoy conversations at the intersection of startups, venture capital, and ecosystem building in Southeast Asia, make sure to subscribe to The Exponential Show.

    57 min
  2. The Game Changer - Outlook 2026 & Beyond | Ep #32

    FEB 17

    The Game Changer - Outlook 2026 & Beyond | Ep #32

    On the 3rd and 4th of February, our host, Mayank Singh, had the privilege of representing Exponential at The Game Changer – Outlook 2026 & Beyond, a milestone 2-day gathering of business leaders with Thai, regional, and global footprints. Hosted at the stunning Nai Lert Park in Bangkok, the event is part of a larger series leading up to the World Bank and IMF Annual Meeting 2026 in Bangkok. Over two packed days, leaders across geopolitics, finance, AI, family business, digital assets, cybersecurity, and global trade shared powerful insights on navigating uncertainty and building long-term resilience. Below is a breakdown of the key themes and conversations from the event. – Setting the Stage: The Spirit of Dialogue & Global ‘Disorder’Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi (former Director General, WTO & UNCTAD) reflects on global uncertainty, geopolitical fractures, and the importance of smaller nations participating actively in shaping the future. – Risk vs Opportunity in a Changing World OrderDr. Suthiphand Chirathivat (Chairman, Central Group) discusses AI, climate risk, geopolitical instability, and Thailand’s role in global discourse. – Generational Stewardship & Global ScaleCount Gerald van der Straten Ponthoz (AB InBev) shares lessons on long-term stewardship in multi-generational businesses. – Thailand’s Path to a Proptech UnicornMichael Kenner (Lifull Connect / FazWaz) outlines why Thailand hasn’t produced a proptech unicorn yet—and the structural shifts that could change that. – Stewardship, Values & Going Global the Thai WayDr. Harald Link (Chairman, B. Grimm) reflects on leadership, partnership, and leaving organizations better than we found them. – Kaizen & Sustained Growth in Uncertain TimesRamesh Raju (Kaizen Institute Thailand) shares why only 1 in 9 companies sustain growth over a decade—and how continuous improvement changes that. – Traditional Finance Meets Digital AssetsWin Phromphaet (Kasikorn Asset Management), Sakolkorn Sakavee (Bitkub), Poramin Insom (Satang/Firo), and Pichai Chawla (B2 Hotel Group) explore global debt, decentralization, blockchain, and contrarian investing. – Cybersecurity in the Age of Quantum ComputingG T Venkateshwar Rao (Posidex Technologies) explains why quantum-safe cryptography will become critical for financial institutions. – Thailand 2026 & The World Bank PerspectiveKwanpadh Suddhi-Dhamakit (World Bank) highlights high-potential sectors for Thailand including advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, digital services, sustainable tourism, and creative industries. – Geoeconomics, AI & the Rise of a Multi-Polar WorldDr. Supachai returns to discuss weaponized economics, digital transformation, and the need for balanced multilateralism. – Emerging Markets, Commodities & Asset BubblesDr. Marc Faber shares his views on global economic shifts, lean governance, and emerging market opportunities. – Building Human Bonds in BusinessChef David Thompson reflects on fulfilment, mentorship, and Thailand’s cultural rhythm. – AI as Infrastructure, Not Just a ToolParuey (CEO, Spacely AI) shares how AI must be measured by business outcomes, not adoption metrics. – Automate or Be Automated: The AI Reality CheckTiwa York closes the event with a grounded perspective on AI, LLMs, AGI, and the future of work. This special episode is a reflection on leadership, long-term thinking, AI, geopolitics, finance, and Thailand’s place in an increasingly complex world A big thank you to K. Prinn Panitchpakdi for the invitation and for hosting such a meaningful dialogue-driven event. Thanks again to Plethora IT for supporting this episode. And thank you to our audience for tuning in. If you enjoy conversations at the intersection of business, policy, AI, and entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia — make sure to subscribe.

    17 min
  3. Pratt Hetrakul: The Science (& Art) of Marketing | Ep #31

    JAN 29

    Pratt Hetrakul: The Science (& Art) of Marketing | Ep #31

    In this episode of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Pratt Hetrakul, Chief Strategy Officer at Movefast, to unpack how marketing leaders should think about measurement, media effectiveness, and decision-making in an increasingly complex, AI-driven world. With a career spanning analytics, marketing science, and performance measurement, Pratt shares a practitioner’s perspective on what it really means to scale media outcomes, where companies go wrong with measurement, and how leaders can balance data, models, and human intuition when making high-stakes decisions. This conversation is especially relevant for marketers, founders, and business leaders navigating growth in Thailand and Southeast Asia. What we cover in this episode Origin story: Pratt’s journey into analytics, marketing science, and strategic decision-makingBuilding a measurement mindset: What “scaling media outcomes” truly means from a measurement perspectiveCommon measurement mistakes: The biggest errors companies make when trying to measure marketing performanceScaling with science: How strong measurement frameworks change campaign outcomes and business decisionsData vs intuition: Balancing models, data, and human judgment in leadership decisionsThe Thailand context: How mature media measurement is in Thailand and the region todayWhat’s next: How measurement is evolving as media, AI, and technology continue to change🎯 Episode Sponsor This episode is supported by True Digital Park, Thailand’s most comprehensive soft-landing platform for international individuals and companies. True Digital Park brings together workspace, community, and ecosystem support to help businesses and talent launch, grow, and scale in Thailand.

    40 min
  4. Michael Ray: Hydrating Thailand | Ep #30

    JAN 20

    Michael Ray: Hydrating Thailand | Ep #30

    In this episode of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Michael Ray, Co-Founder & CEO of WILDER Hydration, for a wide-ranging conversation on building modern consumer brands, community-led growth, and the evolving fitness and wellness landscape in Thailand. Michael shares the thinking behind launching WILDER, what makes it resonate with today’s health-conscious consumers, and why community, partnerships, and real-world activations play such a critical role in brand building. The discussion also explores distribution, content, startup realities in Thailand, and what lies ahead as WILDER continues to grow. This episode will resonate with founders, operators, brand builders, and anyone interested in the intersection of sports, fitness, wellness, and entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia. IntroductionMichael’s origin story and the journey behind WILDERWhat problem WILDER solves and why the product resonates todayCommunity-led growth: WILDER Training Club, events, and activationsDistribution & reach: what has worked and what hasn’tFitness & wellness trends shaping Thailand todayThe startup ecosystem in Thailand: opportunities and challengesLooking ahead to 2026: goals and milestones for WILDERClosing reflectionsThis episode is sponsored by Swish. Swish operates sports rental facilities across multiple locations in Bangkok, with a strong focus on basketball and community-driven sports experiences. Beyond court rentals, Swish runs Swish Academy for basketball training, hosts pick-up games, leagues, and events, and actively collaborates on partnership activations across sports, fitness, and wellness. Swish is playing a meaningful role in building active, connected communities through sport in Bangkok. A special thank you to Syd Sanchez, founder of Swish, who personally hand-delivered Swish merch for both the guest and the host — a gesture that perfectly reflects the community-first ethos behind what Swish is building.

    37 min
  5. Surasit Sachdev: Building an O.T.A. for Restaurants | Ep #29

    12/30/2025

    Surasit Sachdev: Building an O.T.A. for Restaurants | Ep #29

    In the final episode of The Exponential Show for 2025, host Mayank Singh sits down with Surasit Sachdev, Founder & CEO of Hungry Hub, to unpack the journey of building and scaling one of Thailand’s leading dining marketplaces. From early motivations to market expansion, this conversation explores the realities of building a two-sided platform in Southeast Asia, navigating cross-border growth, and staying close to both restaurant partners and diners. Origin story and what led to Hungry HubSolving for restaurants and diners at the same timeKey pivots and evolving market dynamicsExpanding to Singapore and Malaysia - lessons from new marketsCatering to international travelers in ThailandLessons for the next generation of Thai foundersWhat’s next for Hungry Hub in 2026 and beyond 🙏 Episode SponsorThis episode is sponsored by Naivedyum — home-made fusion, vegan and vegetarian food made with fresh ingredients and aromatic spices, cooked with love, care, passion, and pride.

    1h 1m
  6. Prinn Panitchpakdi: Thai Economy 2026 - Opportunities and Challenges | Ep #28

    12/25/2025

    Prinn Panitchpakdi: Thai Economy 2026 - Opportunities and Challenges | Ep #28

    This episode features Prinn Panitchpakdi, Chief Executive Officer at Four Seasons Advisory and a seasoned leader across finance, investments, policy advisory, and capital markets, in conversation with our host Mayank Singh. With decades of experience spanning financial advisory, government-linked initiatives, capital markets, and startup advisory, Prinn brings a rare, ground-level perspective on how Thailand’s business and investment landscape is evolving — and what founders, investors, and operators should be paying attention to as we move toward 2026 and beyond. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore Prinn’s professional journey, Thailand’s opportunities and structural challenges, the realities of raising capital locally, and the role networking and policy play in long-term business success.🎧 What we cover in this episode Introduction: Setting the context for the conversation with Prinn PanitchpakdiPrinn’s career journey: Key milestones across finance, advisory, policy, and leadership rolesThailand’s business landscape heading into 2026: Emerging opportunities, risks, and structural challenges for businesses and startupsThe role of government policy in shaping growth: How policy decisions influence capital flows, industries, and investor confidenceRaising capital in Thailand: What founders often get wrong, and how to approach fundraising more strategicallyPersonal branding and networking for leaders: Why visibility, trust, and long-term relationships matter more than everLessons for founders and business leaders: Advice for SMEs, startups, and executives building in Thailand todayClosing reflections and final takeaways🤝 Episode Sponsor This episode is sponsored by Plethora IT. Plethora IT partners with startups and SMEs to navigate their marketing, branding, and digital growth journeys — combining strategy, execution, and technology to help businesses scale sustainably. Learn more about Plethora IT here: https://www.plethorait.com/ If you’re a founder, investor, or business leader building in Thailand — or considering Southeast Asia as your next growth market — this episode offers grounded insights from someone who has worked across policy, capital, and execution at every level. 👉 Subscribe to The Exponential Show for more conversations with founders, investors, and leaders shaping the region’s startup and business ecosystem.

    59 min
  7. Louise Blein & Amarine Erbs: Giving Things a Second Life | Ep #27

    11/25/2025

    Louise Blein & Amarine Erbs: Giving Things a Second Life | Ep #27

    In Episode 27 of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Louise Blein and Amarine Erbs, co-founders of Yours — a fast-growing platform reshaping how Thailand buys and sells pre-loved items. Yours is not just a marketplace. It’s a movement toward circular living, more mindful consumption, and community-powered sustainability. In this conversation, Louise and Amarine break down what it takes to build trust in the pre-loved space, how they’re growing a loyal community, and why educating consumers and stakeholders is key to driving long-term change. This episode is packed with insights for: ✔️ Early-stage founders ✔️ Sustainability and circular-economy advocates ✔️ Marketplace builders ✔️ Anyone curious about Thailand’s startup landscape A special thank you to Space Bangkok for sponsoring this episode, and to Jenn Weidman, whose leadership in supporting meaningful entrepreneurship (including through the WE-Can women’s entrepreneurship program) has helped empower founders across Thailand. 📌 About Yours Yours is a centralized platform for buying and selling pre-loved items in Thailand, with a mission to make sustainable consumption easy, accessible, and community-driven. Learn more: https://www.yours-th.com/

    44 min
  8. Kari Harteva: High Performing Leaders, Teams, and Organizations | Ep #26

    11/20/2025

    Kari Harteva: High Performing Leaders, Teams, and Organizations | Ep #26

    This episode features Kari Harteva, partner at August Leadership, in conversation with our host, Mayank Singh. Kari draws from his incredible wealth of experience to shed light on: Kari's journey in corporate and business leadershipLeadership: why organizational success starts at the very topTeams: identifying and managing A, B, and C players Mentoring & coaching leadersPersonal branding and thought leadershipUnderstanding the Thai business landscapeAdvice for leaders and managersThis episode is sponsored by NoMorr - premium plant-based gelato crafted with love 🫶🏻. Dairy-free, no added sugar, and low calorie - perfect for guilt-free indulgence. Grab yours today: linktr.ee/nomorr.gelato

    36 min
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About

At The Exponential Show, we bring you conversations with startup founders, investors, and thought leaders, delivering insights that help you in your founder journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Exponential
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Exponential
  • Show Website
    The Exponential Show