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

Jeremy Au reflects on the most important insight that he learned from interviewing hundreds of tech leaders across the region. Every secret has a shelf life, as private information diffuses into the public markets and becomes known by everyone. Leaders who discern emerging patterns before they become common wisdom can take action and make high-conviction bets while others mock them. He also underscores the value of understanding other's personal narratives to uncover motivations and predict future actions in a rapidly-evolving web of relationships.


Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/brave-secrets


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Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com


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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea


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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.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


Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co 

​​Parin Mehta, Venture Partner & Board Member at Menyala, and Jeremy Au talked about three main points:


1. Google & Airbnb GM Career: Parin's journey began with his parents' migration from Uganda to the UK. Moving to Japan to teach English was a transformative experience that spurred his desire to return to Asia one day. He shared how he made the jump in 2007 from management consulting to Google rapidly scaling across USA, Europe, Africa, and eventually Singapore. He then stepped up as Airbnb's Asia-Pacific General Manager to lead the division for growth and through the pandemic.


2. Tech Executive to Founder Coach: Initially, coaching was a necessity because he led teams with more qualified individuals (which made directing them less effective) and thus focused on asking questions and removing blockers. This naturally evolved into a coaching style, which he has refined over the years through practice, certification and intentional development into a more reflective approach. He shared the joy and power of asking the right question at the right time.


3. Leadership Advice: Executives and founders are often lonely, stuck with difficult decisions, and actually responsible for the company challenges they now face. People seeking coaching will eventually come to understand that it’s not about getting answers but discovering insights through thoughtful questions. He stressed the importance of creating a safe environment for reflection and deep thinking, which leads to more meaningful actions.






Jeremy and Parin also discussed the importance of chemistry between coach and coachee, the misconceptions about coaching vs. consulting or mentoring, and  COVID-19’s impact on team dynamics.


Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/parin-mehta


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观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/parin-mehta-cn


Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/parin-mehta-vn


Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com


WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzde


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.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


Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co 

Valerie Vu, Founding Partner of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed three main themes:


1. Putin Bamboo Strategy: Vietnam’s “bamboo strategy” foreign policy involves maintaining strong roots while being flexible, which allows Vietnam to navigate relationships with global superpowers like the US, China, and Russia. Valerie highlighted that in less than a year, Vietnam hosted visits from Presidents Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, and Vladimir Putin. This balancing act is crucial for Vietnam given its historical ties with Russia for military supplies and Vietnam war support, and its growing economic connections with the US and China. Valerie also pointed out that while the US expressed disappointment over Putin’s visit, Vietnam’s neutral stance is essential for its strategic, political, and economic interests.


2. Data Sovereignty & 49% Foreign Ownership Limit: Vietnam's new data sovereignty laws require tech giants like Amazon and Google to store data locally, similar to China and USA. They also discussed the foreign ownership cap, which limits foreign entities to 49% ownership in sensitive sectors like banking to safeguard national interests. However, insufficient local data capacity has led Vietnam to now allow 100% foreign ownership in data centers to attract more data center operators.


3. Investment Landscape: Valerie shared insights into the sectors thriving in Vietnam despite global financial uncertainties. She mentioned that consumer goods, healthcare, and education are performing exceptionally well. She discussed the challenges faced by fintech startups in Vietnam, particularly due to the lack of an open regulatory sandbox and the dominance of well-established banks.


Jeremy and Valerie also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions on FDI in Vietnam, the importance of infrastructure development for sustained economic growth, and the shift in educational trends.


Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vietnam-bamboo-strategy


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观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vietnam-bamboo-strategy-cn


Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vietnam-bamboo-strategy-vn


Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com


WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzde


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.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


Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co 

Jeremy Au reflects on the transformative power of asking questions by sharing his personal career experiences. He reveals how an early experience in the army working for a boss who discouraged questions shaped his initial approach to leadership and masculinity. He had to face a pivotal internship experience where not asking questions nearly derailed his career in order to learn the importance of transforming feedback into growth. Acknowledging what we don't know and being brave to confront social vulnerability is key to eventually reaching high performance.


Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/dont-ask-stupid-questions


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Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/dont-ask-stupid-questions-vn


Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com


WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzde


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.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


Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co

Karl Mak, Cofounder & CEO of Hepmil Media Group, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes:


1. Viral Memes Founder: Karl shared the story of how SGAG was born out of boredom during his university days at Singapore Management University (SMU) where he and his co-founder Adrian spent time creating side businesses. The breakthrough came in 2012 when Singapore's McDonald's ran out of curry sauce, a rare headline that inspired them to create a viral meme. This led to the creation of SGAG, a Facebook page where they posted memes that quickly gained popularity. They realized the potential of their reach when they saw that their memes were engaging millions of Singaporeans weekly. They initially monetized by selling t-shirts but soon found it unsustainable. They got inspired by BuzzFeed and Vice and shifted to integrating brands into their content, leading to their first big break with Scoot Airlines.


2. Hepmil Media Evolution: Despite challenges, such as a failed M&A with a large media company in 2018, they persisted and reimagined the business, leading to significant growth, with the company now employing 200 people across six offices in Southeast Asia. Karl described how they expanded both geographically (from Singapore to Malaysia and Indonesia, reaching 15 million young people) as and with new verticals like Hepmil Creators Network to support young content creators on platforms like TikTok. This led to a successful Series A funding and by 2021, they ventured into social commerce, leveraging their network for live streaming sales in Vietnam and the Philippines.


3. The Price of Fame: Karl reflected on why people want to be famous and the challenges that come with it. He categorized people into three groups: artists with a creative itch, those who become famous accidentally, and those seeking recognition for vanity reasons. He highlighted the downsides of fame, such as loss of privacy and the pressure to constantly post content, leading to burnout and identity crises. He also stressed the importance of mental and physical well-being, advising creators to take breaks and maintain a clear separation between their personal and online personas. He shared his own coping mechanisms during COVID-19, such as running and cycling, which helped him manage stress and maintain his mental health.


Jeremy and Karl also discussed the impact of accidental fame, the evolving nature of media consumption, and strategies for mental health and well-being for content creators.


Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/karl-mak


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Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/karl-mak-vn


Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com


WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzde


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.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


Learn more about Evo Commerce at bback.co and stryv.co 

Gita Sjahrir, Head of Investment at BNI Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed:


1. 200% China Import Tariffs: Jeremy and Gita explored Indonesia's recent imposition of up to 200% tariffs on Chinese imports like footwear, clothing, textiles, cosmetics, and ceramics. Indonesia's trade minister's remarks "I told my colleagues not to be afraid or hesitant. America can impose tariffs of up to 200 percent on ceramics and clothing; we can too" show that America is serving as a role model for further trade decoupling and is no longer a champion for free trade. They discussed the rationale of "protecting MSMES" - with varied impacts on different sizes and types of local businesses. Gita highlighted Indonesia's historical tendency towards protectionism and the broader implications of such policies on the country's business environment. Jeremy and Gita agreed that while tariffs might provide short-term relief, they do not address the underlying systemic problems around industrial policy or "ease of business" reforms.


2. Ransomware Attacks on 282 Agencies: Jeremy and Gita discussed the recent ransomware attack that compromised the data of millions of Indonesian citizens. Gita explained that hackers held government data hostage and later returned the key due to the government's unpreparedness. She mentioned that ministers and heads of security showed a lack of responsibility and accountability, which highlights the urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures. Gita and Jeremy also discussed the broader implications of such lapses on public trust and governance. They emphasized the importance of having knowledgeable leaders in charge of technology and security to prevent future breaches.


3. 27,000+ Government Apps Consolidation: Jeremy and Gita touched on the Indonesian government's initiative to consolidate over 27,000 government apps into a more efficient system. President Jokowi's directive aimed to reduce redundancy and improve cybersecurity. Gita mentioned that one ministry alone could have over 500 apps, and the government spent around $386 million in the past year creating new apps. They explained that the consolidation effort is intended to streamline operations and enhance security by reducing the surface area vulnerable to attacks. They also discussed the challenges of implementing such a consolidation and the resistance from those benefiting from the current inefficiencies. They emphasized the importance of political will and effective communication in driving these large-scale changes. They also added that the agency responsible for this initiative would be called GovTech Indonesia, similar to Singapore's successful model.


Jeremy and Gita also discussed the potential relocation of Chinese companies to Indonesia, Indonesia’s private sector’s resilience despite governmental challenges, the need for cybersecurity improvements following recent data breaches, and strategies for reducing bureaucratic red tape to foster a better business environment.


Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/china-import-tariffs


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观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/china-import-tariffs-cn


Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://www.bravesea.com/blog/china-import-tariffs-vn


Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com


WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzde


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz


Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea


English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts


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