Ecosystem Q&A #2: Roger Lim | Founding Partner of Neo Global Capital (NGC)
In this edition we interviewed Roger Lim, a strong supporter of the Aergo project, and a founding partner at NEO Global Capital (NGC).
Background
Roger is a successful entrepreneur and dynamic business leader who has setup, built, and divested into successful companies in Asia. Roger was Co-Founder and Group CEO of Webvisions, a successful Pan-Asian cloud hosting company.
After Webvisions, he joined Innosight Ventures as General Partner. Innosight is a Venture firm based in Singapore that leverages applied research by thought leaders like Clayton Christensen of Harvard Business School, best known for his theory of disruptive innovation.
He is an advisor to many other successful blockchain projects like Bluzelle, Selfkey, QLC Chain, TomoChain, Switcheo, BlockCloud, MultiVAC and Top Networks helping them to successfully raise over USD 500 million.
NGC x Aergo
In late 2018, Aergo and NGC established a strategic partnership to work together on growing the Aergo ecosystem.
Roger commented:
“Our partnership with Aergo will allow us to grow its dApp ecosystem while introducing them to future lighthouse customers, open-source developer communities, technology providers, system integrators, and consumers.”
Since then, NGC has provided Aergo with tremendous assistance in advising the management team as well as introducing them to key industry players.
With that in mind, let’s carry on with the Interview session.
Q1. How did you find out about the blockchain market and industry? What pulled you in?
I bought my first bitcoins on exchanges like Vircurex in 2012; that was mostly to satisfy my curiosity. Some years later, one of my funds invested in Antshares (NEO) and that was when I started taking an interest in the space.
Specifically, the advent of smart contracts and ICO’s ushered in new ways of funding and doing things on the blockchain.
Q2. Having advised and invested in dozens of blockchain projects, what do you see as the most important thing needed for blockchain companies to be successful in making their products see adoption?
Well, blockchain companies are very much like start-ups in this aspect. Very briefly, one needs to identify a business problem and offer a solution that can find an early audience i.e. early adopters. You then need to execute on that early vision and keep improving your product. Obviously the many key ingredients like great talent, team fit, and availability of funding are important too.
You need blockchain companies with technology know-how and great ideas to have an opportunity to disrupt existing industries. They’ll need to offer solutions that solves real problems in a manner that is more efficient, affordable, or accessible.
Q3. What led you to find Aergo and what are some key factors that influenced your involvement in the project as a backer?
There are not many blockchain projects that focus on business adoption. Aergo is one with an impressive team headed by Phil Zamani, a very good friend and an incredibly capable CEO. They have massive experience given their very close partnership with Blocko who have built many enterprise blockchain solutions. Finally, a bunch of very strong VCs backing the project. Its an easy choice.
Q4. What do you see as the best use case(s) for blockchain technology? What industries do you see blockchain disrupting most?
Obviously payment and settlement systems are the best use case at the moment, we see that with ICOs (fund raising), Ripple’s settlement systems, and obviously Amazon and Facebook coming into the space; Then there are areas like DeFI.
Cloud & Edge Computing, IOT, Supply Chain, Healtcare and Insurance. I am excited by what opportunities blockchain will bring over the next 10–20 years.
Q5. What do you believe the crypto and blockchain sphere needs in order to advance and see real, mainstream adoption?
I think Phil said it really well at Deconomy that the largest companies like IBM, Facebook, or Amazon have begun to validate blockchain as a technology. This is an important first step and companies will now seriously consider the technology. Its also worth to point out that the millennials are adopting blockchain at a very fast rate. I think its just a question of time.
“As a firm, we invest not just in people, companies, or technologies, but look broadly at the future of financial technology as a whole. We do everything we can to help blockchain projects with a pragmatic approach to expanding their global reach.”
— Roger Lim, 2018
That wraps up our second Aergo Ecosystem interview. If you haven’t already, check out our first interview with the founder of Aergo.ru.
We’ll be continually filling the Aergo Ecosystem segment with rich interviews with critical ecosystem stakeholders and players. ‘Till then..
Watch this space!
