Sep 19Strategic Approaches for Emerging Markets Early Stage Funds in 2023In the complex and multifaceted realm of venture capital and startups in 2023 post 2022 slow down, emerging markets present a unique set of opportunities and challenges. A significant challenge is the potential diminution of later-stage follow-on funds and a concurrent decline in the quality of later-stage investors. This situation…2 min read2 min read
Sep 18Quick and dirty experiment — Top SEA Startups and where the founders went to schoolAn Analysis of Founder and Executive Education Backgrounds at Top Southeast Asian Startups I conducted an analysis of the educational backgrounds of founders at 99 of the highest-funded startups in Southeast Asia. …2 min read2 min read
May 25, 2022Member-onlyTime to sharpen your pencilsFirstly, let me apologize for this really tardy post. I have been wanting to post this back in late 2019 and again in mid 2021. …Startup3 min readStartup3 min read
Jan 10, 2022Member-onlyStartups have a new Squid GameI have been asked many times about smaller startup ecosystems in Southeast Asia what they should do to generate large technology startups and thus attract more foreign direct investment in their countries. …Startup3 min readStartup3 min read
Oct 6, 2020Member-onlyThe 1% focus99% of companies should not raise capital from venture capital firms.Startup1 min readStartup1 min read
Sep 30, 2020Member-onlyAccelerators — any tips?Accelerators should exist in every country where a startup ecosystem has been initiated whether they raised private capital to operate or are government supported, here are a few tips for operators of accelerators (especially in emerging markets): 1. Go sector focused if you can as they are more dependent on…Startup2 min readStartup2 min read
Jun 25, 2020Member-onlyInvesting without meeting foundersIn the next many months, this might be the new normal. Meeting founders for the first time over Zoom and making bigger efforts with personal reference checks. Perhaps, if investors have a wide network or have team members in various outpost offices (for e.g. …Venture Capital1 min readVenture Capital1 min read
Jul 16, 20163 Focal Points when Fund RaisingPoints to note when you are fund raising: 1. Do your homework — Your job is to get your fund raising materials (deck, financials) to a level that is ready to be communicated and consumed. It will constantly be updated as you move along in your business as well as…Venture Capital2 min readVenture Capital2 min read
Jul 2, 2014How does someone get into the venture capital industry in Singapore?I get this question quite a lot in the last 3-6 months from students and professionals from the industry. To not repeat myself over and over, I thought I will just blog about it. Venture capital is broadly categorized under Private Equity as a financial asset class. “Venture capital” here…3 min read3 min read
Mar 25, 2014Choose your beach head market wisely from SingaporeStartups and movies have quite a bit in common. Los Angeles, the Entertainment capital of the world. San Francisco Bay Area, the Startup capital of the world. We know that to some extent but somehow it does not truly hit home. If you produce an English movie in Singapore looking…3 min read3 min read
