エピソード

  • Joe Lu: From Meta Layoff to HeyMax, Rebuilding Value, Miles & the Future of Consumer AI – E644

    Joe Lu: From Meta Layoff to HeyMax, Rebuilding Value, Miles & the Future of Consumer AI – E644
    2025/11/16
    Joe Lu, Co-Founder of HeyMax, joins Jeremy Au to unpack how layoffs, timing, and conviction turned a setback into a startup opportunity. They trace Joe’s journey from Shanghai to Michigan to Facebook Singapore, and how getting laid off in 2022 pushed him to co-found HeyMax. The conversation explores his reflections on building a consumer-first fintech, understanding mindshare arbitrage, and predicting how AI will reshape loyalty and value distribution between businesses and consumers. Joe also shares how fatherhood, risk-taking, and curiosity shaped his path as a founder. 00:45 From Shanghai to Silicon Valley engineer: Joe recounts growing up in China, studying in the U.S., and joining Expedia and Facebook during the golden age of software engineering. 06:27 Building Facebook Singapore’s tech office: He helped establish one of Facebook’s first Asia engineering hubs, seeing firsthand how global tech scales into the region. 12:17 Meta layoffs spark a new beginning: Losing his job in 2022 became the catalyst to start HeyMax with three co-founders instead of returning to corporate life. 19:15 Pivoting from AI-for-money to credit card tools: The team experimented with finance bots before hitting traction with a merchant category search tool that drew thousands of users. 23:50 Discovering the miles community: Joe realized that while few people care about miles, those who do care deeply, creating a niche with high engagement and clear demand. 30:37 Building a consumer-first value model: Joe envisions a future where AI helps people capture their own value directly from brands instead of intermediaries taking the largest cut. 46:42 Being brave as a founder and father: Joe shares how starting a company during a funding drought with two young kids taught him resilience, balance, and optimism. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/joe-lu-money-meets-ai 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 #HeyMax #JoeLu #StartupJourney #AIFintech #MilesAndRewards #ConsumerEmpowerment #FounderLife #MetaLayoff #SoutheastAsiaTech #BRAVEpodcast
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    53 分
  • Larry Susanto: From Berkeley to Jakarta, Climate Tech’s Next Frontier & Indonesia’s Green Opportunity – E642

    Larry Susanto: From Berkeley to Jakarta, Climate Tech’s Next Frontier & Indonesia’s Green Opportunity – E642
    2025/11/09
    AVP of Investments at ACV Larry Susanto and Jeremy Au discuss Larry’s journey from a Berkeley-trained engineer to a climate-tech investor shaping Indonesia’s sustainability future. They trace how his career evolved across research, product management, and consulting, and how Southeast Asia’s climate ecosystem compares to Silicon Valley’s innovation-driven model. Their conversation explores Indonesia’s renewable potential, capital gaps, and the role of government policy in turning natural resources into long-term value creation. Larry also shares how courage, learning agility, and purpose guided each of his career leaps across industries and continents. 00:00 From lab to venture capital: Larry shares how curiosity for chemistry and sustainability led him from UC Berkeley to the Bay Area’s solar startup scene. 05:32 Choosing home over the U.S.: Larry reflects on returning to Indonesia to give back despite visa hurdles and more advanced R&D ecosystems abroad. 10:42 Strategy at Bain: Larry deepened his business acumen, joining sustainability projects such as EV strategy, plastic recycling, and Bain’s Green Economy Report. 15:12 Climate tech in context: He contrasts the West’s deep-tech innovation with Southeast Asia’s business-model adaptation and localization approach. 19:36 ACV’s five climate pillars: Renewable energy, electric mobility, energy efficiency, climate-smart agriculture, and waste circularity form their investment focus. 25:22 Indonesia’s EV and mineral opportunity: Despite abundant nickel and raw materials, the nation must improve downstream capacity to capture more value. 30:22 Untapped green potential: With 500 gigawatts of solar capacity and 120 million motorbikes ripe for electrification, Indonesia holds a massive opportunity. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/larry-susanto-indonesia-green-leap 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 #ClimateTech #Sustainability #GreenEnergy #IndonesiaStartups #RenewableFuture #ElectricMobility #VentureCapital #CleanInnovation #SoutheastAsiaTech #BRAVEpodcast
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    39 分
  • Franco Varona: Philippines’ Startup Boom, Global Diaspora Power & Why First Movers Win – E641

    Franco Varona: Philippines’ Startup Boom, Global Diaspora Power & Why First Movers Win – E641
    2025/11/05
    Franco Varona, Managing Partner of Foxmont Capital Partners and returning guest from episodes 357 and 516, joins Jeremy Au to unpack why the Philippines is fast becoming Southeast Asia’s next big investment and startup hub. They explore the country’s rapid digitization, growing middle class, and unique strengths like its global diaspora and English fluency. The conversation covers how Foxmont’s latest fund is backing local solutions to Filipino problems, the rise of accessible health and wellness ventures, and the government’s evolving role in supporting innovation. Franco also shares why first movers can dominate the Philippine market and how solving for price and accessibility unlocks massive opportunity. 01:34 Foxmont Capital’s journey and fund milestones: Franco shares how the firm built three funds since 2019, making 45 investments focused on the Philippines’ growth story. 04:53 Philippines’ digital leap fuels investment: From 30% digital wallet penetration pre-pandemic to 99% today, the country’s digitization and rising middle class are reshaping its economy. 08:00 Private capital surge matches Indonesia: Annual startup investments now top $1 billion, signaling growing global confidence in the Philippines. 16:46 Diaspora drives growth and return talent: Millions of overseas Filipinos send money home while second-generation entrepreneurs return to launch startups. 19:27 Language and cultural edge: The Philippines’ English fluency and global mindset make it an ideal second expansion market for regional startups. 22:58 First movers win big: Filipinos’ strong brand loyalty and investor collaboration help early entrants dominate categories like coffee chains and gyms. 25:23 Investing in accessible health and fitness: Foxmont backs BeFit, an affordable gym chain, and women’s clinics offering localized, comfortable care solutions. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/franco-varona-philippines-rising 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 #PhilippinesStartups #SoutheastAsiaTech #VentureCapital #FoxmontCapital #DigitalEconomy #EmergingMarkets #DiasporaInnovation #AffordableGrowth #TechInvestment #BRAVEpodcast
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    40 分
  • Shao Ning: Southeast Asia’s Startup Winter, Founder Discipline & How Angels Are Shaping the Next Wave – E640

    Shao Ning: Southeast Asia’s Startup Winter, Founder Discipline & How Angels Are Shaping the Next Wave – E640
    2025/11/02
    Shao Ning, Cofounder of AngelCentral and returning guest from Episode 267, joins Jeremy Au to reflect on Southeast Asia’s startup evolution from the fundraising highs of 2021–2023 to today’s disciplined recalibration. They unpack how founders, investors, and angels are adapting to longer fundraising cycles, stricter due diligence, and a renewed focus on cashflow and execution. Shao Ning shares lessons from building AngelCentral, how she balances investing and family life, and what she tells her four sons about navigating an AI-driven future. Their conversation spans shifting market dynamics, founder accountability, and why sustainable growth now matters more than rapid expansion. 06:00 Market highs turned to prolonged winter: After the 2021–2023 boom, the ecosystem faces a slowdown as valuations drop and LPs demand real returns. 10:00 Fundraising timelines doubled: Founders now need up to 18 months to close rounds, making cost control and financial discipline critical to survival. 15:00 Over-optimism gave way to realism: Southeast Asian startups once chased rapid growth across markets, but the focus is shifting back to fundamentals and measured scaling. 17:00 Founders must prioritize business over fundraising: Shao Ning reminds entrepreneurs to build traction and sustainability instead of chasing term sheets or inflated valuations. 19:00 Balance investor advice with founder instinct: Founders should listen but make their own calls, since they understand operations and timing better than their investors. 25:00 Investment discipline returns: AngelCentral halves its annual outflow and targets post-seed founders with real revenue and strong cashflow management. 32:00 Preparing the next generation: Shao Ning urges her sons to combine hard skills with soft skills, invest in themselves, and build adaptability as AI transforms the job market. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/shao-ning-surviving-startup-winter 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 #StartupWinter #SoutheastAsiaVC #AngelCentral #FounderDiscipline #CashflowStrategy #VCInsights #AIandEntrepreneurship #ResilientFounders #StartupRecovery #BRAVEpodcast
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    39 分
  • Nathaniel Yim: From Broke Founder to B2B Builder, Logistics Lessons & Why Human Creativity Still Wins – E639

    Nathaniel Yim: From Broke Founder to B2B Builder, Logistics Lessons & Why Human Creativity Still Wins – E639
    2025/10/29
    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 what resilience looks like when founders face real hardship. The conversation highlights lessons on credibility, adaptability, and building lasting value through learning by doing. 03:14 Startup leap over job offers: Right after graduation, Nathaniel turned down stable job offers to co-found Janio with friends after one pivotal conversation that reshaped his career path. 07:55 Cracking Southeast Asia’s logistics puzzle: Janio built a software-driven, asset-light platform to integrate fragmented cross-border supply chains and navigate customs. 14:22 Reverse logistics as a new frontier: He explains why product returns remain one of the region’s toughest and least profitable challenges in e-commerce logistics. 18:36 Wearing every hat as a founder: Nathaniel evolved from marketer to sales and operations leader, even managing warehouses to improve efficiency and execution. 23:48 Building credibility from zero: Without industry experience, he earned trust through partnerships, educational events, and consistent public storytelling. 28:55 From internal team to agency: After struggling with external vendors, he built Janio’s in-house marketing team, which later inspired his current venture, Nila Studios. 35:40 Defining bravery through scarcity: Nathaniel recalls surviving with only a few dollars before Janio’s first funding, learning that progress, not comparison, sustains founders. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/nathaniel-yim-startup-grit-growth 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 #FoundersJourney #SoutheastAsiaStartups #B2BMarketing #LogisticsInnovation #StartupGrit #CrossBorderCommerce #HumanCreativity #AIandMarketing #EntrepreneurshipLessons #BRAVEpodcast
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    41 分
  • Li Hongyi: Defining Real Performance, Avoiding Burnout & Building Accountable Teams – E638

    Li Hongyi: Defining Real Performance, Avoiding Burnout & Building Accountable Teams – E638
    2025/10/26
    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 from public service and startups, showing how structure, accountability, and empathy build lasting excellence. 00:56 What is performance: Hongyi explains that success begins with clarity. Teams fail when they skip defining what “high-performing” means before chasing results. 03:15 Why clarity matters more than profit: In the public sector, lacking a clear anchor like profit causes teams to chase noise instead of purpose. 06:43 Designing the right metrics: He suggests tracking three to five key metrics that collectively prevent failure while balancing usability, reliability, and cost. 12:44 Communication through signposting: Hongyi shares that being explicit with intent by saying “this is advice” or “this needs to be done” reduces confusion and builds trust. 14:15 Rethinking performance reviews: Self, peer, and manager evaluations should gather information for better decisions rather than serve as political rituals. 27:00 The danger of over-promotion: Advancing too quickly can destroy confidence and create anxiety. Steady, sustainable growth builds stronger leaders. 31:00 Burnout and sustainable success: True progress comes from building skills, not just adding hours. Leaders must create space for learning and recovery. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/li-hongyi-measure-what-matters 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 #PerformanceCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalClarity #PublicSectorInnovation #BurnoutPrevention #MetricsThatMatter #AccountabilityInAction #TeamBuilding #WorkplaceGrowth #BRAVEpodcast
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    49 分
  • Dominic Law: Reviving Neopets, Nostalgia Economics & How Community Keeps Games Alive – E637

    Dominic Law: Reviving Neopets, Nostalgia Economics & How Community Keeps Games Alive – E637
    2025/10/22

    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 challenges of updating old technology, the role of community-led development, and how emotional attachment can sustain a brand through decades of change. Dominic also reflects on leadership lessons from managing a turnaround, the balance between nostalgia and innovation, and why staying transparent keeps fans loyal for the long run.

    00:45 Rediscovering Neopets sparked a new mission: Dominic found the brand’s hidden potential while restructuring NetDragon’s overseas business and proposed a management buyout to revive it.

    03:30 Nostalgia and fandom kept the brand alive: A small but passionate community sustained Neopets through decades of inactivity, proving the power of emotional connection.

    06:00 Missing the mobile era hurt growth: Neopets stayed static during key shifts to mobile and social gaming, losing younger audiences and momentum.

    10:20 Collecting and trading define Neopets’ core: Digital ownership, customization, and item trading remain the game’s central appeal across generations.

    13:45 Turning nostalgia into a family experience: Neopets now aims to become a shared parent–child game, offering safe, creative play and educational value.

    26:00 Leadership shaped by transparency: Dominic learned that honesty, realistic timelines, and community dialogue rebuild trust better than overpromising.

    38:20 Bravery defined the spinout: Taking the leap to lead Neopets independently was a high-risk, high-conviction move guided by belief in its legacy.


    Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/dominic-law-rebuilding-neopets


    #NeopetsRevival #GamingNostalgia #DigitalCollectibles #CommunityLeadership #GameReboot #TransgenerationalPlay #OnlineCommunity #IPTurnaround #NostalgiaEconomics #BRAVEpodcast
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    43 分
  • BRAVE: Three Generations, Three Revolutions: Walkman, Nokia, and ChatGPT - E636

    BRAVE: Three Generations, Three Revolutions: Walkman, Nokia, and ChatGPT - E636
    2025/10/19
    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 Asia’s development tells a unique story. 00:42 A Million Years of Sameness: Jeremy describes how humans lived by farming, hunting, and foraging for generations, using the same tools and passing down the same skills over time. 02:00 Flat Growth for Centuries: He explains that for hundreds of thousands of years, the global economy grew only about 0.05% per year, with little change in productivity or living standards. 06:40 Francis Bacon’s Utopia: Jeremy shares how in 1626, Francis Bacon imagined a future where humans could create light and see distant or microscopic objects, which were once seen as miracles. 09:00 Three Generations of Technology: He compares the Walkman era, the Nokia phone generation, and today’s iPhone and ChatGPT world, showing how fast technology evolves within three generations. 20:10 Southeast Asia’s Economic Divergence: He highlights how Singapore’s GDP per capita now matches the United States, while Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines remain far lower. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/future-shock 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 #HumanProgress #TechnologyEvolution #FutureShock #EconomicGrowth #InnovationJourney #SoutheastAsia #AIRevolution #GenerationalChange #DigitalTransformation #BRAVEpodcast
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    27 分