Best David Mattson Podcasts (2025)

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Nathaniel Yim: From Broke Founder to B2B Builder, Logistics Lessons & Why Human Creativity Still Wins – E639 40:48

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3d ago40:48

40:48

Nathaniel Yim, Founder of Nila Studios and former Co-Founder of Janio, joins Jeremy Au to share how he went from a fresh graduate to leading one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing logistics startups and later building a B2B marketing agency. They discuss how to earn trust in a mature industry, why human creativity remains vital in the AI era, and …

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Li Hongyi: Defining Real Performance, Avoiding Burnout & Building Accountable Teams – E638 48:47

6d ago48:47

48:47

Li Hongyi, Director of Open Government Products, and Jeremy Au discuss how leaders can define, measure, and sustain real performance within organizations. They unpack why clarity of purpose matters more than ambition, how to design fair and motivating systems, and how to prevent burnout in high-performing teams. Their conversation bridges lessons f…

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Dominic Law: Reviving Neopets, Nostalgia Economics & How Community Keeps Games Alive – E637 43:01

10d ago43:01

43:01

Dominic Law, CEO of Neopets and Jeremy Au dive into how a beloved millennial-era game evolved from early internet nostalgia into a modern revival story. They discuss the courage it took to spin Neopets out of its parent company, rebuild trust with long-time fans, and adapt a 25-year-old IP for new generations. Their conversation explores the challe…

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BRAVE: Three Generations, Three Revolutions: Walkman, Nokia, and ChatGPT - E636 27:21

13d ago27:21

27:21

Jeremy Au explains how human civilization remained mostly unchanged for nearly a million years before experiencing rapid economic and technological growth in just the last few centuries. He traces this transformation from basic survival to modern innovation, reflecting on how technology, trade, and governance reshaped human life and why Southeast A…

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BRAVE: David’s Slingshot VS. Goliath, Oatly’s Rise & Southeast Asia’s VC Jungle - E635 14:31

17d ago14:31

14:31

Jeremy Au explained how startups evolve from chaos to clarity and how fragmentation in Southeast Asia creates both problems and opportunities. He used the jungle-to-highway model to describe startup growth, compared founders to David facing Goliath, and showed how innovation, like oat milk or vaping turns small experiments into billion-dollar revol…

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Jordan Dea-Mattson: Sci-Fi Futures, Rogue AI, and Why Meta-Skills Will Decide Who Thrives – E634 37:21

20d ago37:21

37:21

Jeremy Au and Jordan Dea-Mattson reconnect to explore how Vernor Vinge’s Rainbows End anticipated today’s world of accelerating technology, reskilling challenges, and demographic shifts. They examine which predictions came true, which fell short, and how these lessons apply to AI adoption, fragile digital systems, and the need for lifelong learning…

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Indonesia Protests, TikTok Suspensions & What Happens When Trust Breaks w/ Gita Sjahrir - E633 32:01

24d ago32:01

32:01

Gita Sjahrir and Jeremy Au analyze Indonesia’s nationwide protests to uncover how economic frustration, political tone-deafness, and social media reshaped the country’s trust in government. They discuss how widening income gaps and stalled reforms triggered anger across generations, how empathy and governance broke down, and how technology became b…

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Persevere or Pivot, Netflix Lessons & Sports Team Culture - E632 11:23

27d ago11:23

11:23

Jeremy Au discussed the founder’s dilemma of when to persevere or when to pivot, and why company culture works better when treated as a sports team rather than a family. He illustrated the points with startup case studies like Instagram, Netflix, YouTube, and Rippling, showing how companies evolved by changing either product or customer. He also em…

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Philipp Renner: From McKinsey’s Golden Cage to Building Dr. Shiba, an Eight-Figure Pet Wellness Brand – E631 37:21

1M ago37:21

37:21

Philipp Renner, Founder & CEO of Dr. Shiba, joins Jeremy Au to share his journey from a global childhood to building one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing pet wellness companies. He reflects on how eight years at McKinsey, the personal challenges of long COVID, and the limits of corporate consulting led him to take the leap into entrepreneurship.…

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Kaizen VS. Boeing Failures, Lean Loops & Startup Learning - E630 12:15

1M ago12:15

12:15

Jeremy Au shared lessons from Toyota’s Kaizen model, Boeing’s safety lapses, and lean startup methods. He explained why small improvements, frontline empowerment, and rapid iteration matter for both manufacturing and startups. The discussion connected MVP thinking with divergence/convergence cycles and how faster learning beats the competition. 00:…

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Valerie Vu: Vietnam’s Tech Reforms, Energy Battles & Surviving Trump’s Tariff Shock – E629 36:44

1M ago36:44

36:44

Jeremy Au and Valerie Vu sit down in Singapore to examine how Southeast Asia’s private capital markets, Vietnam’s reforms, and regional politics are shaping investor sentiment and startup opportunities. They explore slower fundraising cycles, Vietnam’s push toward technology-driven growth, and how energy shortages and tariff shocks impact manufactu…

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Joshua Wang: Reprogramming Cancer, Biotech’s Funding Shift & Why AI Will Rewrite Biology – E628 47:54

1M ago47:54

47:54

Jeremy Au and Joshua Wang reunite after three years to explore how biotech startups navigate scientific breakthroughs, funding challenges, and leadership growth. They discuss Joshua’s work at VerImmune on repurposing the immune system to treat cancer, the shift in early-stage global biotech financing from founder-led ventures to the “professionaliz…

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Dmitry Levit & Shiyan Koh: eFishery Fallout, Indonesia’s Growth Reset & Agritech’s Future - E627 49:19

1M ago49:19

49:19

Jeremy Au, Shiyan Koh, and Dmitry Levit dissect the collapse of eFishery, the breakdown of Indonesia’s growth narrative, and the systemic risks that resurface in Southeast Asia’s venture ecosystem. They explore how IPO failures and inequality capped consumer demand, why bad faith actors gained visibility, and how boom-era fads like embedded lending…

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Talent Gaps, AI Adoption & Southeast Asia’s Startup Winter, China Subsidies & Sequoia’s Split - E626 19:03

2M ago19:03

19:03

Jeremy Au explored how talent, policy, and capital flows shape startup ecosystems across Southeast Asia, India, and China. The discussion covered talent strengths and weaknesses across countries, the role of industrial policy and government subsidies, the challenges of building large language models outside the US and China, and the impact of US Ch…

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Southeast Asia Unicorns VS. China’s Time Machine, Golden Age Thesis & Fragmented Markets - E625 18:17

2M ago18:17

18:17

Jeremy Au explored why venture capitalists hunt unicorns and how Southeast Asia fits into this global race. He discussed the Asia Partners golden age thesis, the importance of technology stack progression, and how localization shapes billion dollar outcomes. The conversation compared the US, China, India, and Southeast Asia, broke down country stra…

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Anonymous Q&A: Moving to Silicon Valley from Southeast Asia, USA Hiring & Visa Roadblocks and Talent Ecosystems – E624 56:23

2M ago56:23

56:23

Jeremy Au and an anonymous guest discuss the challenges of pursuing career opportunities in the United States from Singapore. They talk about how visa rules limit options, why overseas LinkedIn applications often fail, and the appeal of Silicon Valley’s innovation cycles. They also cover cultural differences that require stronger self-promotion, an…

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Portfolio Construction, Power Laws and Fund Differentiation in Venture Capital - E623 9:58

2M ago9:58

9:58

Jeremy Au broke down how venture capital funds design LP decks, allocate capital, and differentiate themselves in competitive markets. The discussion covered portfolio construction math, capital call strategy, the role of opportunity funds, and how funds highlight unique value-adds like founder wellness programs. 02:12 Capital Calls and Timing Fund…

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Jianggan Li: China Price War Chaos, EV Subsidy Battles & Why Firms Flee Abroad – E622 30:37

2M ago30:37

30:37

Jeremy Au and Jianggan explore why China business environment is locked in cycles of over-competition that destroy margins and push firms to seek growth abroad. They trace how JD, Meituan, and Alibaba’s food delivery war escalated into billions of yuan in subsidies, why regulators hesitate to intervene, and how clusters like Shenzhen and Hangzhou s…

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Gita Sjahrir: Indonesia Corruption Protests, eFishery Police Detention & Public Mistrust vs. Startup Governance – E621 36:50

2M ago36:50

36:50

Jeremy Au and Gita Sjahrir unpack Indonesia’s turbulence, from corruption scandals and startup economic uncertainty due to the collapse of eFishery. They contrast Singapore’s stability with Indonesia’s volatility, explore how weak rule of law erodes trust, and discuss how scandals damage both founders and investors. They also analyze the role of bo…

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DJ Tan: $4.2M Fundraise Flavor House, Bean-Free Coffee Product-Market Fit & Climate Change vs. Food Tech – E620 40:11

2M ago40:11

40:11

Jeremy Au and DJ Tan sit down to discuss how Prefer grew from a bold bean-free coffee experiment into a flavor house tackling climate-threatened ingredients. They explore the evolution from naive product launches to customer-driven adoption, why B2B positioning makes more sense than B2C in food tech, and how shifting investor expectations shaped th…

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Kristie Neo: Southeast Asia’s Mood Shift, Middle East Optimism & Gen Z’s AI Job Crunch – E619 49:20

2M ago49:20

49:20

Kristie Neo and Jeremy Au compare Southeast Asia and the Middle East, exploring how mood shifts, tariffs, scandals, and cultural codes are shaping technology and finance. They discuss Southeast Asia’s dampened atmosphere after 2021, the role of sovereign wealth in the Middle East, and how generational challenges meet an AI-driven job market. Their …

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Rob Liu: Bootstrapping to Millions, Why Venture Capital Is Credit Card Debt, and Learning Science for Impact – E618 40:32

2M ago40:32

40:32

Rob Liu, Founder of ContactOut, and Jeremy Au dive into the realities of building a profitable SaaS business, the myths of venture capital, and the role of lifelong learning. Rob shares how he scaled ContactOut by stacking insights from competitors, why bootstrapping gave him more control, and how he now invests in young founders. Their conversatio…

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Choosing Personal Success Before Professional Glory - E617 11:22

2M ago11:22

11:22

Jeremy Au spoke about the dangers of chasing only professional success and why it can lead to emptiness despite external achievements. He explained the importance of balancing career ambition with personal happiness, introduced a shifting framework for finding purpose, and shared stories that highlight resilience, injustice, and the values that tru…

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Javier Lorenzana: Startup Failure to Social Media Star and Building Influence that Lasts – E616 32:06

2M ago32:06

32:06

Javier Lorenzana, former EdTech founder turned content creator, joins Jeremy Au to revisit their first meeting during an On Deck podcasting course and trace his journey from startup building to social media success. They discuss the creation and shutdown of his pandemic-born company Upnext, the personal and professional fallout that followed, and h…

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Sang Shin: Startup Rebel, Investor Philosopher and Life in a Simulation – E615 56:46

3M ago56:46

56:46

Jeremy Au and Sang Shin trace Sang’s journey from a privileged childhood in the Philippines to his evolution as an entrepreneur, investor, and philosopher. They unpack the pivotal moments that shaped his outlook, the hard lessons from building a privacy-first startup that challenged big tech, and his creation of Fafty, a belief system grounded in t…

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Health, Purpose & Criticism Choosing Your Pain, Building Resilience and Leading for the Long Haul - E614 12:45

3M ago12:45

12:45

Jeremy Au shares why long-term career success depends on investing in health, cultivating purpose, and learning to handle inevitable criticism. He explains the link between purpose and happiness, why choosing your challenges makes them more bearable, and how treating yourself as your own best friend helps you grow despite setbacks. 02:00 The Role o…

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Adrian Choo: Career Skeletons, AI Assistants & Why Singapore is Losing Jobs to KL and Bangkok – E613 53:01

3M ago53:01

53:01

Adrian Choo, CEO of Career Agility International, joins Jeremy Au to explore how AI, job insecurity, and shifting regional trends are reshaping the future of work in Southeast Asia. They discuss why Singapore is losing its dominance as a regional employment hub, how mid-career professionals are getting priced out, and why Gen Z graduates are enteri…

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Jianggan Li: China Rare Earth Power, Vietnam USA Fast Deal & Labubu's Global Rise – E612 35:19

3M ago35:19

35:19

Jianggan Li, Founder of Momentum Works, joins Jeremy Au to unpack the evolving trade dynamics between China, Vietnam, and the United States. They compare Vietnam’s swift concessions with China’s calculated rare earth strategy, discuss the blurred lines of transshipment, and explore how Apple, Pop Mart, and Labubu reflect larger trends in global man…

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Fairness Isn’t Real, Power Awareness & Small Fish Career Strategy – E611 12:27

3M ago12:27

12:27

Jeremy Au speaks about the uncomfortable truth that the world isn’t fair. He urges listeners to let go of idealism, understand real-world power dynamics, and make deliberate career choices. From decoding hypocrisy in leadership to choosing when to be a small fish in a big pond, he shares how to survive and thrive by thinking both outside-in and ins…

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Tiang Lim Foo: Start-Up Governance, VC Math Reality & How AI Is Rewiring SEA Startups – E610 45:53

3M ago45:53

45:53

Tiang Lim Foo, General Partner at Forge Ventures, and Jeremy Au discussed how Southeast Asia’s tech and venture capital landscape is evolving through cycles of hype, correction, and AI-driven transformation. They unpack the eFishery scandal as a clearing event, reframe expectations around exits, and debate whether venture capital remains viable in …

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Sudhir Vadaketh: Building Jom, Managing Fear & Publishing Bravely in Singapore – E609 47:45

3M ago47:45

47:45

Sudhir Vadaketh, Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Jom, returns to BRAVE after four years to share how he built a long-form journalism outlet in Singapore. He and Jeremy Au discuss the journey from solo writer to team manager, the real risks and support systems behind independent media, and how Jom navigates Singapore’s evolving boundaries on speec…

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Shiyan Koh: Singapore Studies Nuclear Energy, SEA Startup Pessimism & AI Waifus – E608 44:38

3M ago44:38

44:38

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner at Hustle Fund, joins Jeremy Au to explore Singapore’s exploration of nuclear energy, the Southeast Asia startup downturn, and how AI is changing both business and social behavior. They discuss how the government seeds long-term energy strategy, what optimism looks like in a bear market, and why human interaction must r…

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Startup Failure Patterns, AI Job Risk & Founder-Problem Fit - E607 11:37

3M ago11:37

11:37

Jeremy Au breaks down why most startups fail and what it really takes to succeed in the AI age. He explains the six patterns of startup failure, the tricky economics of service businesses, and why AI will wipe out average workers. He also explores how caring about a problem gives founders their edge and why listening, not output, is the real marker…

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Daniel Thong: Bootstrapping AI, Spinning Out AI, and Surviving the VC Downturn – E606 45:38

3M ago45:38

45:38

Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code BRAVESEA for an extra 4 months at www.surfshark.com/BRAVESEA Daniel Thong, founder of Nimbus, returns to BRAVE to share how he built a profitable, tech-enabled service business without venture capital. He and Jeremy Au unpack the rise and fall of tech companies like Zilingo, examine the structur…

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Prime Time 89 Moana Wheelon 54:24

3M ago54:24

54:24

David talks story with Moana. FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/primetime89hawaii/ https://bekgnhiauggd9noygaput8.captivate.fm https://www.facebook.com/primetime89hawaiiBy David Mattson

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Freshman Run 3:30

3M ago3:30

3:30

Classmates Lawnie, David and Moana share memories from KS Freshman 15k Run. Enjoy! FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/primetime89hawaii/ https://bekgnhiauggd9noygaput8.captivate.fm https://www.facebook.com/primetime89hawaiiBy David Mattson

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From One Filipino To Another 5:36

3M ago5:36

5:36

Classmates Travis, Shane, Jennifer, Kamaunu, Jason and Cara share their thoughts about being Filipino and the food. FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/primetime89hawaii/ https://bekgnhiauggd9noygaput8.captivate.fm https://www.facebook.com/primetime89hawaiiBy David Mattson

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AI Companions, Unicorn Odds, and Southeast Asia’s Next 100 Years of Startups - E605 13:30

3M ago13:30

13:30

Jeremy Au explores how exponential tech progress is reshaping the future, why Southeast Asia is positioned for a surge in unicorns, and how venture capitalists evaluate founders. From AI relationships to realistic startup odds, this discussion challenges assumptions about the next 100 years of innovation and entrepreneurship. 01:15 100 Years of Pro…

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Bernard Leong: How AI Is Reshaping Development, Business Models, and Startup Growth – E604 40:46

3M ago40:46

40:46

Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code BRAVESEA for an extra 4 months at www.surfshark.com/BRAVESEA Bernard Leong, founder of Dorje AI and host of Analyse Asia, joins Jeremy Au to explore how AI is transforming software development, business models, and professional roles across Southeast Asia. They break down why dev houses are losi…

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Saurabh Chauhan: From EF to YC, Beating the Hype & Building AI Finance Agents – E603 40:46

3M ago40:46

40:46

Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code BRAVESEA for an extra 4 months at www.surfshark.com/BRAVESEA Saurabh Chauhan, Co-founder and CEO of Peakflo, returns to BRAVE with Jeremy Au to reflect on their journey since first meeting at Entrepreneur First in 2020. They unpack how Saurabh identified pain points in finance ops during his tim…

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Double Down or Walk Away: Instacart, Unicorn Portfolios, and Southeast Asia’s Exit Problem - E602 16:23

4M ago16:23

16:23

Jeremy Au breaks down the hidden math behind venture capital: why only a few startups matter, how VCs double down or walk away, and what real exits look like. Using the case of Instacart and Southeast Asia IPOs like SEA, Grab, and GoTo, he explains what separates paper value from cash returns, and why timing is everything. 01:07 VC Fund Economics a…

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Kelvin Subowo: 7 Failures, Cloud Kitchen Collapse & Building Indonesia’s F&B Avengers – E601 34:25

4M ago34:25

34:25

Kelvin Subowo, CEO of Daily Co., joins Jeremy Au to share how he built one of Indonesia’s fastest growing F&B groups after seven failed ventures. They talk through how Kelvin’s early failures taught him the realities of Indonesia’s price sensitive market, how cloud kitchens initially succeeded but quickly collapsed post-Covid, and how Daily Co. piv…

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America's VC Wall, Singapore’s Job Crunch & How AI Is Rewiring Relationships with Adriel Yong – E600 44:36

4M ago44:36

44:36

Adriel Yong, Orvel Venture Partner, joins Jeremy Au to reflect on five years of career transitions from investing to building startups across Southeast Asia and the US. They unpack how American venture capital has turned inward, the unintended consequences of remote work, and why AI is upending both work and relationships. Through candid stories fr…

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Power Struggles in Southeast Asia: VC Rights, Founder Conflicts and the Return of Convertible Debt - E599 12:52

4M ago12:52

12:52

Jeremy Au breaks down the evolving power dynamics between VCs and founders in Southeast Asia, diving into board control, investor rights, and why most startups fail despite support. He shares practical lessons from both sides of the table, highlights the return of convertible debt, and explains how founders should think about conflict, dilution, an…

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Janine Teo: How AI Empowers Youth, Reinvents Learning & Sparks Motivation – E598 42:08

4M ago42:08

42:08

Janine Teo, CEO of Solve Education, returns to BRAVE after three years to explore how AI is reshaping education for marginalized youth. She and Jeremy Au unpack the double-edged nature of AI in learning, how Solve Education leverages gamification and AI coaching to drive motivation, and the shifting job market where entry-level roles are disappeari…

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Leaked Power Calls, Cannabis Crackdown & Why Thailand’s Startup Scene Is Quietly Rebooting with Wing Vasiksiri – E597 33:29

4M ago33:29

33:29

Wing Vasiksiri, investor and ecosystem builder, returns to unpack the recent political upheaval in Thailand, the shifting startup landscape, and how these dynamics intersect. He and Jeremy Au explore the Prime Minister’s suspension, the ripple effects of leaked diplomacy, and what these events signal for foreign investment and local sentiment. They…

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The Funding Game: Mastering SAFE Notes, Board Seats & Control - E596 13:13

4M ago13:13

13:13

Jeremy Au broke down the real stakes behind early-stage fundraising—where founders trade equity for survival, and investors negotiate for control. He explained how financing tools like SAFE notes, convertible notes, and priced rounds shape who gets rich, who gets a say, and who gets left behind. From legal traps to boardroom dynamics, this session …

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How Vietnam’s Economy is Rewiring for Tech & Trade Battles with Valerie Vu – E595 32:18

4M ago32:18

32:18

Vietnam’s rapid economic transformation is reshaping its future. Valerie Vu, General Partner at Ansible Ventures, joins Jeremy Au to explore how Vietnam is shifting from export dependence to a tech-driven, domestic growth model. They discuss the rollback of anti-corruption campaigns, intensified U.S. trade negotiations, and how food safety scandals…

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Demographic Collapse, Broken Visas & Why Global Talent Is Rerouting to Southeast Asia – E594 46:46

4M ago46:46

46:46

Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner at Hustle Fund, joins Jeremy Au to examine how geopolitical shifts, demographic decline, and education policy are reshaping global talent and innovation flows. They explore Japan and Korea’s push into Southeast Asia, the unexpected impact of smartphone culture on fertility, and how political actions in the US are disrup…

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Edtech's Real Buyers, Startup Law Traps and Why Founders Need Better Equity Deals - E593 13:43

4M ago13:43

13:43

Jeremy Au breaks down the hidden risks in Southeast Asia’s edtech sector and early-stage startup law. He explains why edtech often fails to scale, how founder disputes emerge without early agreements, and why choosing the right jurisdiction like Singapore matters for survival. From investor alignment to taxation nightmares, this episode guides foun…