BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)

Vikram Sinha, CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, speaks with Jeremy Au about his personal journey, the power of distribution, and why AI is not just another wave of telecom innovation. They retrace his career from selling mobile plans to leading a successful merger, discuss why distribution is still the biggest driver of growth in emerging markets, and unpack how AI must be localized, inclusive, and protected from bad actors. Vikram explains why telcos should stop blaming regulators, focus on customer experience, and build sovereign infrastructure to stay competitive. He shares how his leadership is shaped by integrity, purpose, and prioritizing people over process even when facing fear and uncertainty. 01:33 Career pivot from engineering to business: Vikram switched paths after his mother's passing and landed his first job at Coca-Cola while selling mobile plans during a summer break. 09:16 Learning integrity through a mistake: A personal audit error at Coca-Cola taught him to separate mistakes from dishonesty and to lead with transparency. 13:56 Distribution is telecom’s real advantage: Vikram used FMCG distribution playbooks to build direct rural reach in India, Africa, and Indonesia. 19:01 4G fulfilled 3G’s promises, AI will fulfill 5G’s: He believes AI paired with low-latency 5G will unlock scalable breakthroughs in health, education, and productivity. 25:47 Early AI investment is essential: Vikram urges telcos to move beyond comfort zones and lead national infrastructure efforts to ensure sovereign digital capability. 26:57 Customer experience over excuses: Telcos must stop blaming regulators and instead deliver seamless service that earns long-term user trust. 44:06 Brave leadership in a merger turnaround: Despite industry odds, Vikram led a successful telco merger by focusing on mission, mindset, and team strength. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vikram-sinha-signal-to-scale Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e 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 Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Pav Gill, ex-APAC Head of Legal at Wirecard, joins Jeremy Au to share how he uncovered one of the largest financial frauds in Europe. They discuss Pav’s early career shift from traditional law to fintech, the moment red flags at Wirecard became undeniable, and how an internal whistleblower’s plea led him to launch a covert investigation. Pav reveals how management retaliation escalated into threats, fake HR cases, and even potential physical harm. With support from his mother, he connected with investigative journalists, leading to Financial Times exposés and Wirecard’s collapse. Pav reflects on the limits of legal privilege, the challenges of systemic fraud, and how founding his governance startup, Confide, helps companies act on misconduct before it spirals. 03:00 Pav joined Wirecard for Fintech exposure: He left a low-paid legal role at GoBear and was attracted by Wirecard’s billion-dollar scale and regional autonomy. 07:00 Subsidiary financials didn’t match reported earnings: Pav noticed Asia’s books were consistently late, loss-making, and inconsistent with group-level EBITDA claims. 08:15 A junior employee blew the whistle to Pav: She feared for her life and refused to carry out forged transaction requests, trusting him as a neutral legal party. 13:00 Pav found fake invoices and logos in inboxes: Wirecard staff had blatantly doctored client documents—indicating round-tripping and money laundering. 17:30 Management shut down the investigation and targeted him: Pav faced office intimidation, HR setups, and was asked to travel to Jakarta under suspicious pretext. 33:35 Pav’s mother connected him to journalists: She contacted Clare Rewcastle Brown, who referred them to the Financial Times and helped spark public investigations. Pav Gill: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavgill Confide Platform: https://www.confideplatform.com Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/pav-gill-exposing-the-lie Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e 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 Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au unpacks the real value add of venture capital beyond just funding. Using data and founder behavior patterns, he explains how investor type, timing, team building and university background shape outcomes. The conversation highlights what actually helps founders succeed, how top tier funds scout talent and where undervalued opportunities lie across Southeast Asia. 00:34 Research Insights on Angel Investments: Jeremy shares how angel backing increases startup survival by 14 percent, hiring by 40 percent and exits by 10 percent. The early investor effect is real and measurable. 01:36 Key Components of Successful Entrepreneurs: Success tends to repeat when founders launch at the right time, attract high quality resources and execute well. 02:28 Impact of Top Tier vs Lower Tier VCs: First time and failed founders see more benefit from top tier VCs. Successful founders already have momentum and get less marginal value. 05:39 University Influence on Startup Success: Southeast Asia's top unicorn founders often come from NUS and UI. Meanwhile, Ivy League founders get higher funding but often at higher valuations, limiting upside. Watch, listen or read the full insight at  https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vc-impact-on-founders Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e 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 Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jackson Aw, founder of Mighty Jaxx, joins Jeremy Au after three years to reflect on his leadership journey, the evolution of the global collectibles industry, and how personal growth reshaped his business decisions. They discuss the shift from creative spontaneity to strategic discipline, the emotional psychology behind collectibles, and how AI and tariffs are changing how physical products are made and consumed. Jackson also shares how fatherhood made him more patient, why trust in the next generation is now a core business strategy, and what it takes to stay relevant in a fast-moving market driven by youth culture and fragmented IP. 01:29 Downturns forced a new leadership mindset: Jackson shifted from high-velocity experimentation to a more cautious, calculated approach to survive the macro climate. 04:20 Collectibles meet emotional and nostalgic needs: Consumers seek affordable joy and identity through physical items tied to their childhood and passions. 09:00 Young women are reshaping the collectibles market: 70% of Mighty Jaxx’s 18–25-year-old customer base are female, a reversal from the male-dominated past. 11:16 Parenthood created better discipline and empathy: Jackson became more intentional with his time and temperament after becoming a father of two. 14:15 The future of IP is fast, digital, and creator-led: New intellectual properties now emerge in weeks via community platforms, flipping the traditional studio-first model. 24:31 Operational agility gives Mighty Jaxx an edge: The company delivers products in as little as three months, unlike legacy players that plan years ahead. 35:25 Founder growth means delegation and resilience: Jackson now invests in mentoring lieutenants, separating personal identity from business outcomes, and accepting that scale requires letting go. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jackson-aw-built-to-collect Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e 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 Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jianggan Li, Founder of Momentum Works speaks with Jeremy Au to unpack how the US-China trade conflict is reshaping global manufacturing, trust in international trade, and Southeast Asia’s role in the crossfire. They explore why businesses are stuck in limbo, how Vietnam and Cambodia became unintended casualties, and what diversification looks like when no one trusts the rules anymore. The two dive into historical analogies, business strategy, and what Chinese multinationals might do next to weather the storm. 01:01 Tariffs surprised both sides and confused manufacturers: China and the US escalated their trade war with aggressive tariffs, leaving factories unsure whether to pause, relocate, or wait. 02:33 Vietnam and Cambodia were hit despite trying to stay neutral: US tariffs targeting Vietnam shocked businesses who had just begun shifting supply chains there, triggering rapid reassessments. 05:21 China prepared a response toolkit in advance: The central government had studied scenarios and released policies, stimulus packages, and papers to manage the impact without acting impulsively. 13:32 The bond market backlash exposed real risks: Rising interest rates from global uncertainty threaten America’s ability to maintain its debt-fueled spending, raising fears across both sides. 17:52 Diversification became a necessity, not a strategy: Both Chinese exporters and Southeast Asian governments are now exploring more trade partners, not relying solely on China or the US. 24:32 New markets are opening up for cross-border trade: With the US less predictable, Chinese firms are turning to Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia to grow exports and presence. 30:04 China’s domestic consumption still lags behind: Without boosting local confidence and spending, China’s manufacturing surplus will continue spilling into foreign markets and intensifying competition. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jianggan-li-when-trade-trust-breaks Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e 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 Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au unpacks how startup failure patterns often begin with charisma unchecked by execution. He explores how founders can avoid false starts, the real reason repeat founders succeed, and why the value of VCs and angels depends on founder maturity. The episode draws parallels between entrepreneurship and professional disciplines like medicine, stressing the need for coaching, humility, and peer learning to improve success odds. 00:54 The Yin-Yang of Founding Teams: Jeremy emphasizes that founding success hinges on pairing sales charisma with product execution, using Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak as archetypes. 04:14 Founder Failure Patterns: Founders fail early when they believe their own hype; trial-and-error has now been replaced by codified frameworks like Lean Startup and Zero to One. 10:13 Repeat Founder Advantage: Successful founders are more likely to succeed again due to better market timing and resource magnetism. 13:57 VC Value Hierarchy: Borrowing from Maslow, Jeremy outlines a VC value pyramid capital, reliability, reinvestment, governance, networks, and coaching. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/avoiding-founder-failure Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e 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 Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Elena Chow, Founder of ConnectOne, provides deep insights into Southeast Asia's evolving hiring landscape after three years. She discusses the shift from urgent hiring to strategic talent acquisition, highlighting Malaysia as a rising tech hub with a multilingual talent pool. The conversation touches on the impact of automation and AI on job functions, especially in Indonesia, where salary corrections are underway. Elena introduces her framework for identifying skills and industries that will thrive in the future, ensuring professionals remain competitive.

David He, partner at Gunderson Dettmer sits down with Jeremy Au to dissect Southeast Asia’s shifting startup and legal terrain. From the fallout of the eFishery scandal to the rise of ESG compliance and convertible notes, they explore how investor behavior and founder strategies are evolving. The discussion highlights governance gaps, tougher diligence, and why regional funding optimism may have stalled again. 07:12 E-Fishery Scandal as a Southeast Asian Theranos: David compares eFishery’s collapse to Theranos—highlighting financial mismanagement, weak controls, and how one scandal can shake an entire region’s credibility. 10:25 Due Diligence Now Takes Months, Not Weeks: Term sheets are no longer quick investors stretch due diligence timelines, run legal and commercial checks in parallel, and uncover more issues late in the process. 12:38 Surge in Use of Convertible Notes: Investors increasingly prefer convertible notes for their downside protection and maturity leverage, especially during uncertain market conditions. 19:15 ESG & Compliance Burden Rising for Founders: Startups now face investor-mandated ESG, AML, and governance standards originally meant for large institutions—often without the internal capacity to manage them. 24:32 Tariffs Trigger Global Uncertainty, Slow Exits: Trump-era tariffs hit Indonesia and Vietnam, affecting investor confidence and delaying IPOs and M&A despite startups themselves not being directly impacted. 27:11 Philippines Up, Indonesia Down: The Philippines is gaining momentum with underexposure and English fluency, while Indonesia cools down from overinvestment and post-eFishery fallout. 30:05 Down Rounds Are Less Stigmatized: Founders and investors alike are more open to valuation markdowns, with flexible deal terms helping break the deadlock in difficult fundraising climates. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/david-he-scandal-shakes-trust Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e 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 Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Jeremy Au breaks down why most startups fail and why it’s rarely just one thing. Backed by funnel data and battle-tested case studies, he reveals six patterns that repeatedly kill ventures, no matter how visionary the founders are. From premature scaling to bad macro timing, this talk shows how failure is often structural, not personal. 00:05 Startup Funnel Reality: Out of 1,100 seed-funded U.S. startups, only 12 reached unicorn status. Failure happens at seed, Series A, Series B and beyond. 01:26 Case Study: Jibo’s $73M Fall: The world’s first social robot died from engineering overruns, leadership disruption, and Amazon’s cheaper, voice-only Echo. 03:53 Defining Failure: A startup fails when early investors don’t get their money back regardless of user love, media buzz, or product quality. 08:00 Six Killer Patterns: Startups fail from co-founder misalignment, building without validation, misreading early traction, scaling too fast, bad timing, or relying on too many risky bets—all seen in cases like Quincy Apparel, Triangulate, Baroo, Fab.com, and Iridium. 22:40 Rebound & Revenge: Failed founders often bounce back—some become professors, others launch billion-dollar revenge startups like Rippling and Anduril. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/anatomy-of-startup-failure Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e 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 Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Joanna Yeo, founder and CEO of Arukah and former institutional investor, speaks with Jeremy Au to explore how Southeast Asia’s agri-waste can be transformed into a global carbon credit engine. They unpack how her education at Harvard, Cambridge, and Stanford shaped a mission to connect vulnerable communities to opportunity, and how she learned from finance, blockchain, and rapid tech scaling to build a climate startup grounded in data, incentives, and farmer equity. Joanna shares why embedded finance failed to scale in agri, how she discovered the commercial viability of biochar and biogas, and why her company commits 50 percent of carbon revenue to participating farmers. The conversation highlights how Southeast Asia’s agriculture base, low-cost advantage, and digital infrastructure can lead the world in transparent, high-trust climate solutions if builders focus on real data, real problems, and real upside sharing. 05:05 The Impact of Education on Joanna's Career: Gratitude and exposure to global inequality led her to a clear goal to connect vulnerable people to markets at scale. 10:46 First Steps in Finance: Private Equity and Morgan Stanley: She learned how capital shapes the world, how sustainability can be measurable, and how investment logic is structured. 20:38 Reflecting on a Rapid Growth Journey: Joining a unicorn gave her a close look at how top tech firms manage speed, tracking, and execution discipline. 22:28 Addressing Poverty in Southeast Asia: Joanna links her mission back to the post-pandemic data showing up to 100 million people falling below $2/day. 23:16 Founding a Climate Tech and Agritech Startup: She founded Arukah to bring embedded financing and carbon monetization to underserved farming communities. 28:50 Building Sustainable Business Models: After embedded finance proved unreliable, she pivoted toward waste conversion with high verification standards. 36:49 Commitment to Farmers and Long-Term Vision: Bravery means holding the line on fairness Arukah gives farmers 50% of carbon revenue and builds with long-term trust. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/joanna-yeo-turning-farm-waste-to-wealth Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e 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 Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts