Vertex Ventures & Venture Capital in Southeast Asia & India with Carmen Yuen

"So already this year we've rolled out 10 of these regions. So two in APJ and Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. But 75 of these locations by the end of the year along with our core computing regions will give us 100 locations where customers can run these workloads, and we're not going to stop there. So we're going to have hundreds of these regions over the next few years, and we're going to focus on those locations where hyper-scalers don't have compute. Africa and South America, for example, have been extremely underserved when it comes to computing capabilities. There's a huge potential for those countries if we could get them the compute. And that's exactly what we intend to do. But, those are extreme regions. Even in places like the U.S., which are well served by the hyper-scalers, there's certainly the middle of the U.S. which is ignored. In Southeast Asia, if you're in Singapore or Jakarta, you're served by everybody. But if you're in Vietnam, how are you served? If you're in Thailand, how are you served? The internet is inherently unfair. We want to make it more fair for our customers and our customers' customers." - Jay Jenkins Fresh off the studio, Jay Jenkins, CTO of Cloud Computing in Akamai, dives deep into the transformative potential of edge AI in a dynamic conversation on Akamai's latest technological advancements. Discussing the company's strategic edge computing platform, Gecko, Jenkins describes how it is redefining cloud computing paradigms by embedding capabilities directly into the edge network. He explores the broader implications of edge AI for real-time applications and generative AI technologies, highlighting Akamai's vision to support the burgeoning demands of data processing and AI inferencing at the network edge. With insights into early trials and future use cases, he shares how Akamai is set to revolutionize industries, from immersive retail to spatial computing and explores what great would look like for Akamai in cloud computing and AI at the edge. Episode Highlights: [0:40] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Jay Jenkins. [1:45] Introduction: Jay Jenkins, CTO of Cloud Computing from Akamai. [4:29] Lessons learnt from Jay’s career journey. [6:31] Total Market Opportunity for AI at the Edge and Akamai’s value proposition. [8:55] Introduction to Akamai and its global footprint. [11:18] Jay’s role as global CTO in Cloud Computing and future vision. [16:23] Generalized Edge Compute aka Gecko and why it differs from the hyper-scalers such as AWS. [19:53] How Gecko enhances the user experience in terms of performance and latency. [22:59] Challenges to integrate cloud native computing at a massive edge network. [25:38] Lessons learned from Gecko’s early trials with enterprise customers of Akamai. [28:01] Applications of Gecko beyond immersive retail. [30:33] The One Thing that Jay knows about Gecko in generalized edge computing that very few do. [33:07] Generative AI with Akamai Gecko’s platform. [37:30] Inference at the edge with Large Language Models (LLMs). [39:41] Role of Edge Computing for real-time AI processes. [41:47] What does great look like for Akamai in the cloud computing space? [43:53] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"The one thing that has become quite clear in Asia, at least it's direct to retail - the government is not ready. The market is not ready. And there still needs to be a very high level of consumer protection. A lot more of a B2B-to-C approach. Where, let's say today's Web3 companies will need to partner up with existing licensed entities, whether they be licensed startups or even licensed institutions to provide their offerings to the retail. That's actually really good. Because it provides safeguards. We saw what happened last time when we didn't have those safeguards. So many retail investors lost money in FTX's spectacular blow-up, right? And that really hurt the space, that really hurt the trust, it really hurt the reputation of the space. So directionally it is inconvenient but necessary. For governments to I would say slow down or make access to retail a lot harder. Like in Singapore, we don't see any upcoming movements that crypto is going to be available to retail or easily available to retail anytime soon. We see the same in Hong Kong. The exception would of course be Dubai, but that's already more on the Middle East part, right? And then in the US, it's like a witch hunt. Basically, the long story short is it's still going to be very B2B2C driven, where the interface towards the masses, the retail, will still lie within licensed institutions." - Qin En Looi Fresh out of the studio, Qin En Looi, partner of Saison Capital, dives deep into the current developments and the future of Crypto and Web3 investments. He began with an overview of Saison Capital and its investment thesis. He shares how Saison Capital invests in the fintech and crypto space, and the current emergence of real-world asset (RWA) monetization, specifically in the tokenizing of physical assets on the chain. Last but not least, he shares what great would look like for Saison Capital. Episode Highlights: [0:00] Quote of the Day by Qin En Loi. #QOTD [1:20] Introduction: Qin En Looi from Saison Capital. [4:09] From entrepreneur to VC. [5:40] Lessons from Qin En’s career journey. [7:15] Overview of Saison Capital as a corporate VC and investment thesis. [11:10] Definition of Crypto, Web3 and Real World Assets (RWA) monetization. [14:40] Typical day as a VC for Qin En Looi. [17:53] Choice of Blockchains (L2, Alt-L1) for Development. [22:02] Web 2.0 vs Web3. [23:07] Case studies in Web3 and Crypto. [26:54] How Web3 model can reduce operational costs in TradFi. [31:27] Challenges of RWA in different crypto markets. [35:26] Fractional Ownership and Illiquidity in RWA. [36:02] Trends in Web3/Crypto and RWA. [39:45] The one thing that Qin En Looi know about RWA and Web3. [41:45] Role of Web3 in the Finance Industry. [43:06] What does great look like for Saison Capital? [43:45] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"The key thing that I realize every time I look at the data is that the media is telling us a lot of nonsense. I think that the one thing I know is that the data tells a very different story to the media headlines. So I suppose my advice there is, never to accept clickbait at face value. If you're building a marketing plan, do your due diligence, and check the data because the data always surprises me. The one thing I know is that I'm always surprised. There's your key takeaway.” - Simon Kemp Fresh out of the studio, Simon Kemp, co-founder and CEO of Kepios joined us for the 7th year to discuss the Digital Report 2024 and its pivotal insights. The dialogue kicked off with Simon pondering AI's potential impact on his job, then swiftly moved to the report's core findings. Simon also explored how digital marketing and content strategies are evolving due to generational differences, underscoring the necessity for content creators to adapt across diverse social media channels. Last but not least, Simon addressed the current lack of comprehensive data to include generative AI in this year's report. Last but not least, Simon shared his anticipation for what's on the horizon in the coming year. Episode Highlights: [0:55] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Simon Kemp. [1:22] Introduction to Simon Kemp, co-founder and CEO of Kepios. [2:59] Are we going to be replaced by AI? [3:57] Key Takeaways for Digital 2024 report. [5:14] TikTok is still growing quickly despite the headwinds. [10:20] Mobile and social media are still growing especially in India. [12:43] Trendlines for e-commerce and search engine use. [15:22] How do you add generative AI to search engine use, for example, Perplexity AI? [17:51] Do generational differences in online behaviour change how digital marketing and content strategies work? [21:14] How do content creators adapt and decide which social media platforms to use? [23:43] Why the horizontal approach of broadcasting across all social media does not work anymore? [28:16] Success on any social media platform is based on chance and preparation. [32:04] Implications of TikTok’s potential ban in the US and how users shift from one platform to another. [35:25] From X (formerly known as Twitter) to Threads and TikTok to YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. [36:39] Insights on WeChat, Discord, and Telegram. [44:59] LinkedIn: a B2B social media platform for engagement but don’t discount YouTube. [48:57] The One Thing that Simon Kemp knows about Digital Report 2024 that very few do? [50:04] Why Generative AI usage is not in the Digital 2024 report. [54:59] Is Generative AI a new paradigm or should it be incorporated into existing digital use cases? [60:30] How Generative AI changes digital marketing, branding and advertising. [64:17] What Simon wished to add in the Digital 2024 but could not. [65:40] Closing. You can find Simon Kemp at X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/eskimon and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eskimon/ and the Digital Report 2024: https://wearesocial.com/sg/blog/2024/01/digital-2024-5-billion-social-media-users/ Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig. Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

"If we assume that happens, I'm sure TikTok, let alone ByteDance as a company as a whole, will survive - and maybe even continue to thrive after this. Because, let's put things into perspective, right? TikTok has more than 1 billion users globally and then the US represents just a little over a 10th of that, 170 million. So I'm not saying that it's not going to impact TikTok and ByteDance. But does it pose an existential threat? Probably not. I believe given we already talked about how ByteDance has been super profitable. I think that, even if they get banned in the US, this is by no means the end of TikTok or ByteDance." - Jing Yang Fresh out of the studio, Jing Yang, the Asia Bureau Chief for The Information, provided an insightful analysis of the potential implications of the recent U.S. House of Representatives bill to force Bytedance to divest TikTok or face a ban in the US. Detailing a timeline of events, she illuminated how Bytedance and TikTok executives may have misinterpreted U.S. political signals. Despite Bytedance's profitability in China, she shed light on why TikTok is facing financial challenges and the complex dynamics between Bytedance and the investors of the company. Concluding her discussion, she offered her perspectives on the possible future of TikTok globally pending the outcome. Episode Highlights: [0:40] Quote of the Day by Jing Yang. [1:27] Introduction: Jing Yang, Asia Bureau Chief of The Information. [3:53] Lessons shared by Jing Yang from her career journey. [5:19] Chronology of the different attempts by the US government to ban TikTok. [7:40] What are the chances of TikTok being banned in the US? [9:34] TikTok’s response to the US government after the announcement of the bill. [11:15] Impact of TikTok's potential ban in the US on content creators & users in the market. [12:52] The one thing that Jing Yang knows about the TikTok situation very few do. [14:10] Why TikTok misjudged the political situation in the US. [17:59] Project Texas and how it encumbered TikTok. [22:17] TikTok’s engagement with USDS. [25:14] Chew Shou Zi’s impact on negotiations with the US government after taking over as CEO of TikTok. [27:45] Assessment of Bytedance and TikTok’s team in handling the US government. [30:04] Why TikTok is in the red and losing money. [32:55] Can TikTok still be profitable with a potential US ban? [36:04] Investors of TikTok distancing themselves from the company. [40:26] Impact of political affiliations and donations on TikTok. [41:43] Future of TikTok [42:43] Closing You can find Jing Yang at X (formerly known as Twitter): https://x.com/jingyanghk and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jing-yang-33548123/ and her articles on The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/u/Jing%20Yang?rc=fk3gq1 Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig. Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl  Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245  Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia

"When I wrote about it, in addition to assuming that all Asia tech companies, particularly in China, were copycats of Western companies, I think there are also a lot of misperceptions about how easy it is to enter a market, especially when they're an Asian market, especially when there are incumbent players already. For example, Uber failed. Basically, they failed. That's a harsh word, but they failed in both China and Southeast Asia, where they were acquired by Didi in China and Grab in Southeast Asia. And then Facebook really fell flat on its face with a lot of markets with free basics, it undermined Net Neutrality and also assumed that consumers just because maybe they had to be price conscious, were willing to access only a handful of sites as opposed to having access to a free Internet. I think people also underestimate the influence that Asia has had in other parts of the world." - Catherine Shu Fresh out of the studio, Catherine Shu reflects on her 12 years at TechCrunch, chronicling the evolution of Asian tech from China to India. She highlights the rise of Chinese apps such as WeChat and TikTok's global impact and the shifting international views on Chinese tech. She explores India's rising tech scene, South Korea's startup growth with the rise of Coupang and Southeast Asia's expanding tech influence, with a focus on Grab. Shu offers her advice for journalists covering Asia's dynamic tech landscape and articulating what great looks like for Asia Tech in the future. Fresh out of the studio, Catherine Shu reflects on her 12 years at TechCrunch, chronicling the evolution of Asian tech from China to India. She highlights the rise of Chinese apps such as WeChat and TikTok's global impact and the shifting international views on Chinese tech. She explores India's rising tech scene, South Korea's startup growth with the rise of Coupang and Southeast Asia's expanding tech influence, with a focus on Grab. Shu offers her advice for journalists covering Asia's dynamic tech landscape and articulating what great looks like for Asia Tech in the future. Audio Episode Highlights: [0:40] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Catherine Shu. [1:38] Introduction: Catherine Shu, former senior reporter for TechCrunch. [2:50] Her thoughts on the TechCrunch recent layoff. [5:04] Catherine’s future plans. [6:34] Catherine shares lessons from her career journey. [8:07] Inspiration behind her last article on TechCrunch: Don’t Ignore Asia Tech. [9:30] Western Perceptions Change on Asia Tech over the decade. [11:02] Early misconceptions about Asia Tech in the West. [12:44] Evolution of Asia Tech from Catherine’s perspective. [15:14] Tech Coverage in Taiwan. [17:17] The one thing about Asia tech Catherine knows but very few do. [19:41] Why China succeeded with WeChat as the super app. [23:26] The rise in TikTok globally for Chinese Tech. [26:40] Perspectives on TikTok recent potential ban. [27:26] What the West learned from the super app revolution in China. [28:52] Why China was caught flatfooted with OpenAI’s ChatGPT in AI. [30:14] The future of Chinese startups. [34:01] How the Indian tech market evolved over the past decade. [35:58] South Korean Startup Ecosystem. [39:00] Is there really a Southeast Asia tech story? [42:34] Advice for future correspondents covering Asia Tech. [44:32] What does great look like for Asia Tech? [46:30] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

“Let's remember if the leadership wants to do something, they have all the tools at their disposal and I don't think that they will want to underwrite massive unemployment. I think the Chinese leadership wants stability above all. So I will not rule out any kind of stimulus and perhaps it would look different than in the past. It will not go through the popular market, but it could well happen that you will see greater lending, perhaps in a select industries like autos or semiconductors, whatever it might be. But I've seen so many cycles at this point. I started investing in China in 2008. And 2007 was a boom, 2010, another boom, 2013 was a low in the Asian market. It felt very much like today. I would go to these conferences and meet local investors and they were just so despondent. I feel very much the same kind of sentiment today. People say there's nothing, they can't see anything positive and that's fine, but we can't predict the future.” - Michael Fritzell Fresh out of the studio, Michael Fritzell, Founder of Asian Century Stocks, shared invaluable insights in Asia's financial markets and discussed the recent tumultuous situation in Chinese equities and what the potential government responses are possible. He provided a high-level overview of the Asian stock market, contrasting it with markets in the US and Europe and stressed the importance of understanding corporate governance and the role of short-sellers in exposing corporate frauds in Asian markets. He delved deep with his unique insights into forensic accounting challenges and the future potential of Asian stocks and the dynamic and intricate nature of these evolving markets. Audio Episode Highlights: [0:40] Quote of the Day: Michael Fritzell. [1:56] Introduction: Michael Fritzell from Asian Century Stocks. [4:59] Perspectives on Asia after living here for over a decade. [6:28] Lessons from Michael’s career journey. [8:15] What just happened with the Chinese equities tanking in the stock market? [13:43] The response from the Chinese government to stabilize the stock market. [17:14] Should we be optimistic about the Chinese publicly listed companies? [19:40] An Introduction to the Asian Stock Markets. [23:47] The motivation behind Asian Century Stocks. [25:32] The intended audience for Asian Century Stocks. [26:40] How do subscribers utilize Asian Century Stocks? [28:52] What are the things to watch out for when buying Asian stocks. [31:42] The one thing that Michael Fritzell knows about Asian stocks that very few do. [33:24] Understanding Fraud in Asian Companies. [37:05] Key indicators to watch out for in Asian Companies. [40:58] The role of short-sellers on Asian stocks (including China). [44:51] How do short-sellers short Asian stocks? [46:28] What does great look like for Asian stocks in the next decade? [48:57] Closing. You can find Michael Fritzell's Asian Century Stocks: https://www.asiancenturystocks.com/  and on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-fritzell-1aab10/  and X: https://twitter.com/mikefritzell  Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl  Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245  Analyse Asia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnalyseAsia  Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia  Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Analyse Asia Threads: https://www.threads.net/@analyseasia  Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup  Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288 

"So in our view, great would be when everyone can find the best place to put their money to work. To whatever cause they want. It could be investing. It could be protecting their family. It could be long-term. It could be a nonprofit. It could be helping a local business. Today in the world, there is Google to find information, right? There's Amazon to find products. But what about financial opportunities? There is no one place to find financial opportunities. We wanna be able to create that for the world where anyone who's looking to put their money to work has a place to put their money to work. And anybody who's looking for help in building whatever business or, growing whatever they want to grow, can meet, these people who are looking to put their money to work." - Caesar Sengupta Fresh out of the studio, Caesar Sengupta, the CEO and co-founder of Arta Finance, shares the story of how the startup democratizes family office wealth management to accredited professionals in the digital era. Caesar shares the company's vision and mission, highlighting their alignment with current financial trends and their disruptive approach to traditional family office models. Following the conversation, he explains how Arta Finance leverages technology to provide personalized financial solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families and discusses the company's global strategy and its approach to navigating diverse financial regulations across different countries. Last but not least, he shares his vision for Arta Finance's future success in the coming years. Episode Highlights: [0:52] Quote of the Day by Caesar Sengupta. [1:38] Introduction: Caesar Sengupta. [2:05] What was Caesar's inspiration to become a startup founder? [3:10] Career lessons from Caesar Sengupta. [4:10] Total Market Opportunity for the Wealth Management Business. [8:07] Vision and Mission of Arta Finance. [11:00] How do accredited investors engage Arta Finance? [13:36] How can Generative AI enter into wealth management? [16:27] How does Arta Finance approach wealth management differently from traditional private banks? [20:55] The One Thing Caesar knows that very few people do on tech & wealth management. [24:21] The investors behind Arta Finance. [26:29] Challenges faced while building Arta Finance and how they overcame it. [29:20] How does Arta Finance establish trust? [31:41] How Arta Finance expands across the different regions. [33:17] What does great look like for Arta Finance? [34:27] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig.

“One thing I can add is the awakening, the shaking up, the shaping up of the rest of the global auto industry from the Chinese is in full swing. The Chinese are coming. And if the Western automakers are prepared, they're going to have a much tougher moment than when they confronted the Japanese or the Koreans. The Japanese [and] Koreans, they're very successful. Let's say in the U.S., but this is a whole different issue - the geopolitical aspect. But you know, they're coming.” - Lei Xing Fresh out of the studio, Lei Xing, founder of AutoXing & co-host of China EVs & More, shared his insights into the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market and its implications for the global EV market. Lei discussed his career journey and the inspiration behind covering the China EVs market through his podcast. He broke down the competitive dynamics between Tesla and BYD based on their current strategies for global market expansion and technological challenges. He shared his perspectives on whether Chinese EV makers can rinse and repeat the solar panel strategy against the rest of the automotive companies in the world. Last but not least, he shared the groundbreaking innovations at CES 2024 and emphasized the challenges and opportunities ahead for Chinese manufacturers and their vision for long-term success in the EV industry globally. Episode Highlights: [0:50] Quote of the Day #QOTD by Lei Xing. [1:21] Introduction: Lei Xing from China EVs & More. [8:60] China EVs and more podcast and their coverage. [10:17] Lessons learnt from Lei Xing’s career journey. [11:40] Overview of the global EV landscape & China’s market share in EVs. [15:27] The China smart EV makers after BYD. [20:15] The competitive advantage of Chinese EV makers. [23:26] How Tesla Invigorates the EV Competition in China. [24:36] The one thing that Lei Xing knows about China EV makers that very few do. [27:00] How Chinese EV makers are competing in the global market. [30:57] Can Chinese EV makers rinse and repeat the solar panel strategy to win the EV market? [32:50] How BYD emerged in the US since 2011. [37:21] Tesla vs BYD in AI, autonomous driving and robotics. [41:43] How Tesla is competing in China and other parts of the world. [46:40] Breakthroughs in EVs and self-driving cars at CES 2024. [51:14] The bet on hydrogen fuel cars by Japanese automotive makers. [53:14] Outlook for Chinese EVs in the 5-10 years. [56:33] Will China EVs go upstream to the hypercars against Ferrari? [58:03] What does success mean for Chinese EV companies in the next 5-10 years? [59:43] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig.

"Indonesia is not of the scale of China and India. And some people argue that India and China are so vast that you can almost consider: North China, South China, East China and different parts of the world. But because Indonesia normally gets lumped into ASEAN, right? People think about, well, I don't want single country risk with a country of this size. And so that's where the differentiation came out. Nonetheless, this is our thesis. And we believe that the last 10 years have proven that thesis. So we continue to double down on that thesis. Again, we've invested in companies that are regional that come into Indonesia." - Adrian Li Fresh out of the studio, Adrian Li, founder and managing partner of AC Ventures joined us in a conversation to delve into the dynamics of the venture capital scene in Indonesia. He commenced by tracing his entrepreneurial journey, which spanned from the United States to China, and ultimately to Southeast Asia, culminating in his transition to venture capitalist. From there, he shed light on the investment thesis of AC Ventures, their decade of investing that led to their recent successful raise of US$210m to their 5th fund. He provided an in-depth analysis of the entire venture capital landscape in Indonesia, discussing its evolution over time. To conclude, Adrian shared his vision for AC Ventures, focusing on their intensified commitment to nurturing startups in Indonesia and across the broader Southeast Asian region. Episode Highlights: [0:44] Quote of the Day from Adrian Li #QOTD [1:16] Introduction: Adrian Li, Founder & Managing Partner, AC Ventures. [2:27] How did Adrian start his career? [4:36] Adrian’s first entrepreneurial pursuit till his move to China & then Southeast Asia. [8:13] The origin story of AC Ventures. [10:10] The three key things he looks for when evaluating investment opportunities. [13:52] AC Ventures, their perspective on the Indonesian market and their investment thesis. [17:35] Typical day for a VC like Adrian Li [19:23] The red flags that Adrian Li watched out for in founders & startup teams. [21:14] The startup class of 2021 vs the class of 2023. [24:40] The Indonesia Venture Capital Report 2023 by AC Ventures and Bain & Co. [25:22] How investors are adjusting their strategies to the Indonesian market. [27:24] Investor preferences, unit economics and valuations on the Indonesian market. [29:11] The challenges that the Indonesian startups face and how they are adapting to them. [32:00] The verticals that are working in the Indonesian market. [34:43] Indonesia's regulatory environment is supportive of startups. [37:01] The exit landscape for startups in Indonesia. [41:48] The Indonesia startup landscape after the ZIRP era. [45:12] The one thing that Adrian Li knows that very few do about VC in Indonesia. [47:38] In-country VCs vs regional VCs in Southeast Asia. [49:43] How should investors perceive Indonesia as a single market like China & India? [51:29] Can foreign entrepreneurs thrive in the Indonesia startup ecosystem? [53:22] What does great look like for AC Ventures? [54:24] Closing Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig.

"The whole of Southeast Asia has to come up as a group. Hence, my secret about what I know about the VC industry that people don't know. The secret is that you've got to be very sane when you come to investing, right? So, if you invest so high, we can't get exits. When we can't get exits, we can't return money to LPs, and then the investors will say, ‘Oh, Southeast Asia cannot find exits one.’ It cannot be, right? So to me, we must be able to show exits. That's the proof of the pudding.” - Carmen Yuen Fresh out of the studio, Carmen Yuen, general partner from Vertex Ventures SE Asia & India, joined us to discuss the current state of venture capital in Southeast Asia & India after the difficult fundraising climate in the past year. Carmen began the story of her career, moving from the government sector to venture capital. She shares the evolution of Vertex Ventures from their investment thesis to the portfolio of startups and evaluates the startup class of 2023 vs 2021. Last but not least, Carmen describes exits as the leading indicators for startup success and elucidates what great would look like for Vertex Ventures. Episode Highlights: [00:50] Quote of the Day #QOTD from Carmen Yuen. [01:21] Introduction: Carmen Yuen, General Partner, Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India. [02:16] Carmen’s career story from the government sector to venture capital. [05:03] Career lessons from Carmen Yuen. [08:32] Introduction to Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. [12:41] Perspectives on Markets: Southeast Asia & India. [14:50] Finding Local champions vs Regional players in Southeast Asia. [16:12] The verticals that Carmen Yuen invests in Southeast Asia & India. [18:48] Carmen’s typical day as a VC. [20:22] Traits of Founders & Startup Teams that Carmen invests in. [22:50] The red flags that deter Carmen from investing in startups. [24:46] Solo Founders vs Startup Teams. [26:55] Interesting companies under Vertex SE Asia portfolio. [32:05] Advice to founders on market expansion in Southeast Asia. [35:44] The startup class of 2023 vs the startup class of 2021. [38:19] Outlook for 2024: Headwinds and Tailwinds. [40:00] The one thing that Carmen Yuen knows as a VC that very few do. [42:36] Advice to Startup Founders in a difficult fundraising climate. [44:42] How do you explain the Southeast Asia to LPs? [46:50] Exits are key to success in Southeast Asia: M&A and IPOs. [47:36] What does great look like in Vertex Ventures SEA and India? [48:11] Closing. Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. Proper credits for the intro and end music: "Energetic Sports Drive" and the episode is mixed & edited in both video and audio format by G. Thomas Craig.