From a small town in Penang to surviving one of the most devastating business collapses during COVID-19, Chen Chow Yeoh, or better known as CC, entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of remarkable. As the former COO of Fave (previously known as KFIT), CC shares the raw, unfiltered story of building and scaling a tech platform across Southeast Asia.
The conversation reveals extraordinary moments of serendipity - like securing $2.25 million from Sequoia Capital without even having a pitch deck - alongside heartbreaking challenges when their business revenue dropped 90% overnight during lockdowns. CC's candid account includes the acquisition of Groupon's Southeast Asian operations and the brilliant, resourceful strategies they deployed to migrate millions of customers to a brand-new platform with minimal losses.
What truly sets CC's leadership approach apart is his people-first philosophy. From creating emotional connections with employees by interviewing their family members in secret, to establishing transparent salary reduction systems during crisis periods, his humane approach to building Fave demonstrates that successful businesses are fundamentally built on relationships and trust.
As CC reflects on Fave's $45 million acquisition by Pine Labs and his current transition to mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs, he offers profound insights on resilience: "News said we raised $20 million. News didn't say 61 rejections, 1 investment. That's a 98% rejection rate." This conversation is a masterclass for anyone navigating the unpredictable terrain of entrepreneurship, revealing that behind every success story lies countless moments of doubt, persistence, and heart.