BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)

Jianggan Li [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jianggan/], Founder of Momentum Works [https://www.linkedin.com/company/momentum-works/] speaks with Jeremy Au [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyau/] to unpack how the US-China trade conflict is reshaping global manufacturing, trust in international trade, and Southeast Asia’s role in the crossfire. They explore why businesses are stuck in limbo, how Vietnam and Cambodia became unintended casualties, and what diversification looks like when no one trusts the rules anymore. The two dive into historical analogies, business strategy, and what Chinese multinationals might do next to weather the storm. 01:01 Tariffs surprised both sides and confused manufacturers: China and the US escalated their trade war with aggressive tariffs, leaving factories unsure whether to pause, relocate, or wait. 02:33 Vietnam and Cambodia were hit despite trying to stay neutral: US tariffs targeting Vietnam shocked businesses who had just begun shifting supply chains there, triggering rapid reassessments. 05:21 China prepared a response toolkit in advance: The central government had studied scenarios and released policies, stimulus packages, and papers to manage the impact without acting impulsively. 13:32 The bond market backlash exposed real risks: Rising interest rates from global uncertainty threaten America’s ability to maintain its debt-fueled spending, raising fears across both sides. 17:52 Diversification became a necessity, not a strategy: Both Chinese exporters and Southeast Asian governments are now exploring more trade partners, not relying solely on China or the US. 24:32 New markets are opening up for cross-border trade: With the US less predictable, Chinese firms are turning to Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia to grow exports and presence. 30:04 China’s domestic consumption still lags behind: Without boosting local confidence and spending, China’s manufacturing surplus will continue spilling into foreign markets and intensifying competition. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jianggan-li-when-trade-trust-breaks [https://www.braves] Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at http://www.bravesea.com/www.bravesea.com [http://www.bravesea.com] WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzdehttps://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau [https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz [https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz] Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau [https://twitter.com/jeremyau] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea] English: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0T] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAu?sub_confirmation=1] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464] Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Vs8t6qPo0eFb4o6zOmiVZ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmSAfC8oZMQ&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_6DexuTNkCpmTwKDhRTKGcZ] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brave-teknologi-asia-tenggara-singapura-indonesia-vietnam-filipina-thailand-malaysia-perusahaan-rintisan-pendiri-dan/id1729433475] Chinese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/20AGbzHhzFDWyRTbHTVDJR] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfPbq-Znr90&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_67PEJ85ml-Pa6O8igaixdS] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/brave-chinese-%E4%B8%9C%E5%8D%97%E4%BA%9A%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80-%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%9D%A1-%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E5%B0%BC%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A-%E8%B6%8A%E5%8D%97-%E8%8F%B2%E5%BE%8B%E5%AE%BE-%E6%B3%B0%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C%E9%A9%AC%E6%9D%A5%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A%E5%88%9D%E5%88%9B%E4%BC%81%E4%B8%9A-%E5%88%9B/id1734175342] Vietnamese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0yqd3Jj0I19NhN0h8lWrK1?si=6f62d7350b154cdf&nd=1&dlsi=1e5b79f365724ebd] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9u6ECOP8_5YJeVrhm1JWho-wUmV1tYs] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-vietnamese-c%C3%B4ng-ngh%E1%BB%87-%C4%91%C3%B4ng-nam-%C3%A1-singapore-indonesia/id1758749570]

Jeremy Au unpacks how startup failure patterns often begin with charisma unchecked by execution. He explores how founders can avoid false starts, the real reason repeat founders succeed, and why the value of VCs and angels depends on founder maturity. The episode draws parallels between entrepreneurship and professional disciplines like medicine, stressing the need for coaching, humility, and peer learning to improve success odds. 00:54 The Yin-Yang of Founding Teams: Jeremy emphasizes that founding success hinges on pairing sales charisma with product execution, using Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak as archetypes. 04:14 Founder Failure Patterns: Founders fail early when they believe their own hype; trial-and-error has now been replaced by codified frameworks like Lean Startup and Zero to One. 10:13 Repeat Founder Advantage: Successful founders are more likely to succeed again due to better market timing and resource magnetism. 13:57 VC Value Hierarchy: Borrowing from Maslow, Jeremy outlines a VC value pyramid capital, reliability, reinvestment, governance, networks, and coaching. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.braveshttps://www.bravesea.com/blog/avoiding-founder-failure [https://www.bravesea.com/blog/avoiding-founder-failure] Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at http://www.bravesea.com/www.bravesea.com [http://www.bravesea.com] WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzdehttps://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau [https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz [https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz] Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau [https://twitter.com/jeremyau] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea] English: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0T] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAu?sub_confirmation=1] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464] Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Vs8t6qPo0eFb4o6zOmiVZ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmSAfC8oZMQ&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_6DexuTNkCpmTwKDhRTKGcZ] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brave-teknologi-asia-tenggara-singapura-indonesia-vietnam-filipina-thailand-malaysia-perusahaan-rintisan-pendiri-dan/id1729433475] Chinese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/20AGbzHhzFDWyRTbHTVDJR] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfPbq-Znr90&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_67PEJ85ml-Pa6O8igaixdS] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/brave-chinese-%E4%B8%9C%E5%8D%97%E4%BA%9A%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80-%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%9D%A1-%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E5%B0%BC%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A-%E8%B6%8A%E5%8D%97-%E8%8F%B2%E5%BE%8B%E5%AE%BE-%E6%B3%B0%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C%E9%A9%AC%E6%9D%A5%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A%E5%88%9D%E5%88%9B%E4%BC%81%E4%B8%9A-%E5%88%9B/id1734175342] Vietnamese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0yqd3Jj0I19NhN0h8lWrK1?si=6f62d7350b154cdf&nd=1&dlsi=1e5b79f365724ebd] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9u6ECOP8_5YJeVrhm1JWho-wUmV1tYs] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-vietnamese-c%C3%B4ng-ngh%E1%BB%87-%C4%91%C3%B4ng-nam-%C3%A1-singapore-indonesia/id1758749570]

Elena Chow [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenachow/], Founder of ConnectOne [https://www.linkedin.com/company/connect-one-sg/] and Jeremy Au [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyau/] reconnect after three years to examine how Southeast Asia’s hiring landscape evolved from rapid expansion to cautious, AI-aware decision-making. They explore how employer expectations have become more structured, why talent strategies now vary across the region, and what individuals must do to stay employable in the decade ahead. Their discussion covers the rise of Malaysia as a hiring hub, Vietnam’s growing edge despite language challenges, and how automation is reshaping job functions. Elena also shares her “skills, markets, and industries of the future” framework, helping professionals make better career moves through strategic alignment. 02:00 Hiring shifted from urgency to intentionality: Employers now plan roles more carefully, focusing on outcomes and cost rather than headcount. 04:30 Fractional and contract talent went mainstream: On-demand expertise has become more accepted as startups look to stay lean and agile. 06:43 Malaysia emerged as a sweet spot for tech hiring: Its talent pool is multilingual, well-educated, and more cost-effective than Singapore’s. 08:54 Indonesia's talent bubble burst post-unicorn boom: Average workers were overpaid during the boom and are now facing tough salary corrections. 22:02 AI adoption is redefining job replacement logic: Firms are evaluating AI tools before rehiring, making automation the first line of action. 12:00 Vietnam’s talent quality rises despite English gap: With strong work ethic and improving tools, Vietnam’s engineers are becoming regionally competitive. 29:34 Future-proof careers need 3-point alignment: Elena urges jobseekers to evaluate roles through the lens of future-ready skills, growth markets, and promising industries. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/elena-chow-hiring-vs-ai [https://www.braves] Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at http://www.bravesea.com/www.bravesea.com [http://www.bravesea.com] WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzdehttps://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau [https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz [https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz] Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau [https://twitter.com/jeremyau] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea] English: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0T] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAu?sub_confirmation=1] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464] Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Vs8t6qPo0eFb4o6zOmiVZ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmSAfC8oZMQ&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_6DexuTNkCpmTwKDhRTKGcZ] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brave-teknologi-asia-tenggara-singapura-indonesia-vietnam-filipina-thailand-malaysia-perusahaan-rintisan-pendiri-dan/id1729433475] Chinese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/20AGbzHhzFDWyRTbHTVDJR] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfPbq-Znr90&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_67PEJ85ml-Pa6O8igaixdS] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/brave-chinese-%E4%B8%9C%E5%8D%97%E4%BA%9A%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80-%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%9D%A1-%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E5%B0%BC%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A-%E8%B6%8A%E5%8D%97-%E8%8F%B2%E5%BE%8B%E5%AE%BE-%E6%B3%B0%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C%E9%A9%AC%E6%9D%A5%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A%E5%88%9D%E5%88%9B%E4%BC%81%E4%B8%9A-%E5%88%9B/id1734175342] Vietnamese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0yqd3Jj0I19NhN0h8lWrK1?si=6f62d7350b154cdf&nd=1&dlsi=1e5b79f365724ebd] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9u6ECOP8_5YJeVrhm1JWho-wUmV1tYs] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-vietnamese-c%C3%B4ng-ngh%E1%BB%87-%C4%91%C3%B4ng-nam-%C3%A1-singapore-indonesia/id1758749570]

David He [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davehe/], partner at Gunderson Dettmer [https://www.linkedin.com/company/gunderson-dettmer/] sits down with Jeremy Au [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyau/] to dissect Southeast Asia’s shifting startup and legal terrain. From the fallout of the eFishery scandal to the rise of ESG compliance and convertible notes, they explore how investor behavior and founder strategies are evolving. The discussion highlights governance gaps, tougher diligence, and why regional funding optimism may have stalled again. 07:12 E-Fishery Scandal as a Southeast Asian Theranos: David compares eFishery’s collapse to Theranos—highlighting financial mismanagement, weak controls, and how one scandal can shake an entire region’s credibility. 10:25 Due Diligence Now Takes Months, Not Weeks: Term sheets are no longer quick investors stretch due diligence timelines, run legal and commercial checks in parallel, and uncover more issues late in the process. 12:38 Surge in Use of Convertible Notes: Investors increasingly prefer convertible notes for their downside protection and maturity leverage, especially during uncertain market conditions. 19:15 ESG & Compliance Burden Rising for Founders: Startups now face investor-mandated ESG, AML, and governance standards originally meant for large institutions—often without the internal capacity to manage them. 24:32 Tariffs Trigger Global Uncertainty, Slow Exits: Trump-era tariffs hit Indonesia and Vietnam, affecting investor confidence and delaying IPOs and M&A despite startups themselves not being directly impacted. 27:11 Philippines Up, Indonesia Down: The Philippines is gaining momentum with underexposure and English fluency, while Indonesia cools down from overinvestment and post-eFishery fallout. 30:05 Down Rounds Are Less Stigmatized: Founders and investors alike are more open to valuation markdowns, with flexible deal terms helping break the deadlock in difficult fundraising climates. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/david-he-scandal-shakes-trust [https://www.braves/] Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com [http://www.bravesea.com/] WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzdehttps://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau [https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz [https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz] Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau [https://twitter.com/jeremyau] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea] English: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0T] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAu?sub_confirmation=1] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464] Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Vs8t6qPo0eFb4o6zOmiVZ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmSAfC8oZMQ&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_6DexuTNkCpmTwKDhRTKGcZ] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brave-teknologi-asia-tenggara-singapura-indonesia-vietnam-filipina-thailand-malaysia-perusahaan-rintisan-pendiri-dan/id1729433475] Chinese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/20AGbzHhzFDWyRTbHTVDJR] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfPbq-Znr90&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_67PEJ85ml-Pa6O8igaixdS] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/brave-chinese-%E4%B8%9C%E5%8D%97%E4%BA%9A%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80-%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%9D%A1-%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E5%B0%BC%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A-%E8%B6%8A%E5%8D%97-%E8%8F%B2%E5%BE%8B%E5%AE%BE-%E6%B3%B0%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C%E9%A9%AC%E6%9D%A5%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A%E5%88%9D%E5%88%9B%E4%BC%81%E4%B8%9A-%E5%88%9B/id1734175342] Vietnamese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0yqd3Jj0I19NhN0h8lWrK1?si=6f62d7350b154cdf&nd=1&dlsi=1e5b79f365724ebd] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9u6ECOP8_5YJeVrhm1JWho-wUmV1tYs] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-vietnamese-c%C3%B4ng-ngh%E1%BB%87-%C4%91%C3%B4ng-nam-%C3%A1-singapore-indonesia/id1758749570]

Jeremy Au breaks down why most startups fail and why it’s rarely just one thing. Backed by funnel data and battle-tested case studies, he reveals six patterns that repeatedly kill ventures, no matter how visionary the founders are. From premature scaling to bad macro timing, this talk shows how failure is often structural, not personal. 00:05 Startup Funnel Reality: Out of 1,100 seed-funded U.S. startups, only 12 reached unicorn status. Failure happens at seed, Series A, Series B and beyond. 01:26 Case Study: Jibo’s $73M Fall: The world’s first social robot died from engineering overruns, leadership disruption, and Amazon’s cheaper, voice-only Echo. 03:53 Defining Failure: A startup fails when early investors don’t get their money back regardless of user love, media buzz, or product quality. 08:00 Six Killer Patterns: Startups fail from co-founder misalignment, building without validation, misreading early traction, scaling too fast, bad timing, or relying on too many risky bets—all seen in cases like Quincy Apparel, Triangulate, Baroo, Fab.com, and Iridium. 22:40 Rebound & Revenge: Failed founders often bounce back—some become professors, others launch billion-dollar revenge startups like Rippling and Anduril. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/anatomy-of-startup-failure [https://www.braves] Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at http://www.bravesea.com/www.bravesea.com [http://www.bravesea.com] WhatsApp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CeL3ywi7yOWFd8HTo6yzdehttps://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau [https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz [https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz] Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau [https://twitter.com/jeremyau] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea] English: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/4TnqkaWpTT181lMA8xNu0T] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyAu?sub_confirmation=1] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/brave-southeast-asia-tech-singapore-indonesia-vietnam/id1506890464] Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Vs8t6qPo0eFb4o6zOmiVZ] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmSAfC8oZMQ&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_6DexuTNkCpmTwKDhRTKGcZ] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brave-teknologi-asia-tenggara-singapura-indonesia-vietnam-filipina-thailand-malaysia-perusahaan-rintisan-pendiri-dan/id1729433475] Chinese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/20AGbzHhzFDWyRTbHTVDJR] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfPbq-Znr90&list=PLl9u6ECOP8_67PEJ85ml-Pa6O8igaixdS] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/brave-chinese-%E4%B8%9C%E5%8D%97%E4%BA%9A%E7%A7%91%E6%8A%80-%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%9D%A1-%E5%8D%B0%E5%BA%A6%E5%B0%BC%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A-%E8%B6%8A%E5%8D%97-%E8%8F%B2%E5%BE%8B%E5%AE%BE-%E6%B3%B0%E5%9B%BD%E5%92%8C%E9%A9%AC%E6%9D%A5%E8%A5%BF%E4%BA%9A%E5%88%9D%E5%88%9B%E4%BC%81%E4%B8%9A-%E5%88%9B/id1734175342] Vietnamese: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0yqd3Jj0I19NhN0h8lWrK1?si=6f62d7350b154cdf&nd=1&dlsi=1e5b79f365724ebd] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9u6ECOP8_5YJeVrhm1JWho-wUmV1tYs] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/brave-vietnamese-c%C3%B4ng-ngh%E1%BB%87-%C4%91%C3%B4ng-nam-%C3%A1-singapore-indonesia/id1758749570]