Valerie Van V.

For Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem to be self-sustaining, we need some big changes. There are a few key elements I believe can unlock tremendous opportunity in the region. To name a few: ✅ Deep, varied capital stack - Sufficient capital at various stages from angels to growth capital. ✅ Diverse investors - Knowledgeable investors focusing on various industries and models. ✅ Exits infrastructure - Mechanisms for exits from IPOs to M&A. ✅ Strong founders - Awareness of the nuances of SEA and conviction to depart from “tried and tested” models adapted from matured markets like the US With these in place, it will accelerate interest and success for investors and founders alike. That said, I believe our core approach needs to change. Over the last decade, SEAsia has greatly matured. And with any nascent upstart, it’s applied what’s worked elsewhere... Focusing heavily on growth-at-all-cost and other US-inspired strategies. To the surprise of most, the results have not been the most encouraging as a result of this. On hindsight, the pitfalls were clear: - Unrealistic early-stage valuations. - Chasing very large outcomes in a fragmented market. - Applying US playbooks that don't fit our market. Startups will follow suit to match criteria that VCs set. It’s how the game works. With the current market downturn, it’s a good opportunity to reset and intentionally chart our own course for the region. Investors and founders that know how to meander this market with it’s unique strengths / market dynamics in mind, will succeed. As investors and long-time believers in this region ourselves at Tin Men Capital , We believe in working together to develop the ecosystem. Southeast Asia is still learning to walk before it begins to run. Venture capital is a team sport, and together, we can build a stronger, self-sustaining space for startups to thrive. Let's pull in the same direction and make it happen. 💪

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David Yi (Ethos VC) a.k.a "The VC who hates most VCs" on his Personal Journey and Perspective on Growth:  "As an eight-time founder with two exits, I've seen the landscape from multiple angles. It's not about being a hero but about building a team, learning, and evolving. Whether it's in education or tech, the journey is about adapting and finding your path, not just in Korea but globally." https://lnkd.in/gVduV3MQ #startupswithseoul Chang (CK) Kim

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✨ Breaking: PCA, led by Masaki Hasegawa Announces New Fund.- PCA, led by Masaki Hasegawa Iidabashi Cross Partners: Launched by the Japanese software company PCA in December 2024, this venture capital fund is sized at ¥2 billion

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Why I’m Picking China Over Nasdaq Right Now Let me tell you a little story… Imagine this: you're standing in front of two doors. One leads to Nasdaq Land, the bright, tech dreamland we've all grown used to. The other is China Ville, a place that’s been a bit quieter lately – but if you listen carefully, it’s starting to hum with a new tune. The world’s a bit like a game of Monopoly right now. We've all been buying up Boardwalk (hello, Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft!), but as everyone crowds to grab hotels on it, other properties are going way underpriced. Now, I’m not saying China’s Baltic Avenue, but it’s definitely on sale compared to the tech-driven Nasdaq that's been hogging the spotlight. Now, let’s break down why China’s catching my eye (and hopefully, yours too): China's Hitting Refresh on Its Economy China recently unveiled a big package of economic stimulus, almost like it’s saying, "Hey, I know you forgot about me, but look what I’m bringing to the table!" From tax cuts to infrastructure boosts, the government is taking steps to spur growth – and it’s not every day you get a state-led boost with long-term planning. It’s like they’re giving their economy a double espresso shot! Changing World Order The world is shaking up! China’s emerging with a “let’s make friends” strategy with nations worldwide. The goal? Strengthen alliances, enhance trade, and become a strong competitor to the West. Room to Grow While the Nasdaq has surged in recent years, China’s growth potential could be like a springboard waiting to be launched. Stocks there are undervalued right now, so investing could be like buying a ticket at a discount to the next big show. Don’t get me wrong, Nasdaq’s still the golden child. But as the market matures and the stakes change, sometimes it’s worth exploring new grounds. After all, would you rather be in a crowded room where everyone’s fighting for WiFi – or in a new spot with a stronger connection? So, What’s the Play? In the grand strategy of portfolio balancing, shifting some of your attention (and investment) toward China could offer that perfect blend of growth potential and diversification. Let’s invest where there’s room to grow. Who knows? You might just find that the new world order has your back! #InvestingInChina #GlobalMarkets #ChangingWorldOrder

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🙌 Welcome back to Startup Wednesdays, featuring #VC, #founder & #operators here in South-East Asia. For this week, we have Pat Naranpat Thitipattakul, Investment Director at ORZON Ventures 💭 What does Orzon Ventures focus on? The idea is to combine the flexibility and decision-making expertise of a traditional VC with the extensive resources and ecosystem of a large corporate entity like OR. This approach aims to help startups grow by leveraging OR's existing customer base, infrastructure, and market presence. Orzon Ventures focuses on investing in startups particularly in sectors like mobility, lifestyle and food and beverage. The goal is to find innovative solutions that can benefit from OR's resources and customer network, ultimately fostering startup growth and corporate synergy. 💭 What motivated you to join 500 ? Unlike many who are determined to become venture capitalists,I initially applied for a position to manage an accelerator program at Disrupt, which was run by one of the GPs of 500 TukTuks. My interest in startups was piqued when a friend invited me to participate in a hackathon, which turned out to be an exhilarating experience. The fast-paced environment & the opportunity to connect with innovative founders inspired me to apply for the accelerator manager position. During the interview process, the CEO offered me a dual role: managing the accelerator program & joining the venture capital team. Despite my initial unfamiliarity with venture capital, I accepted the challenge. This dual role allowed me to witness the entire journey of startups, from their inception at hackathons to becoming fully-fledged companies. 💭 What are the biggest challenges for Thai startups? The Thai market faces significant funding challenges, with limited early-stage VC funds & a reliance on CVCs that invest mainly in Series A and beyond, creating a funding gap for earlier stages. Investors in Thailand are risk-averse & while there are fragmented angel investors, their limited capital makes funding difficult. This forces many Thai startup founders to reach profitability quickly or bootstrap, which can lead to better investment terms but is challenging. Additionally, foreign investors show interest but often lack confidence due to difficulties understanding the local ecosystem. 💭 What has been the biggest challenge as a VC in Thailand? For Orzon, the biggest challenge has been finding startups that synergize well with OR's existing operations. This adds extra criteria to our investment decisions, such as ensuring the new company does not overlap with current offerings and that there is cultural compatibility between founders and Orzon. 👉 For more news like this on the Southeast Asia startup and tech scene, make sure to hit the "Follow" button to stay updated 🚀 #Thailand #tech #innovation

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36Kr: Guoguang Shuneng Completes Angel Round Financing of Tens of Millions of RMB. Exciting news from Guoguang Shuneng! Recently, the company completed an angel round financing of tens of millions of RMB, with investments from Linear Capital and Sequoia China Seed Fund. Harry Wang, Founder and CEO of Linear Capital, emphasized the importance of electric vehicles in the future and highlighted the need for improved charging infrastructure. He praised Guoguang Shuneng's mobile charging solution, MPS, developed by Dark Horse Original Force, as a game-changer in the new energy consumption landscape. Junfeng Li, Partner of Sequoia Capital China, expressed optimism about the growth of the domestic new energy vehicle market and the demand for infrastructure. He commended Guoguang Shuneng's experienced team and looked forward to their contributions to vehicle design and intelligent charging solutions. Led by founder Deng Xiaoguang, Guoguang Shuneng aims to provide seamless and convenient power supply and charging services through its MPS mobile energy solution. The company plans to utilize the recent funding for product development, talent acquisition, and commercialization pilot projects. Stay tuned for the unveiling of their innovative MPS products, Big White G90 and Little Black G60, as they collaborate with partners and local governments to conduct pilot demonstrations across various sectors. With a focus on flexibility and efficiency, Guoguang Shuneng's MPS products offer promising solutions for grid operation and carbon emissions reduction. Their industry-leading technology ensures battery safety and fast charging capabilities, contributing to the advancement of the new energy vehicle industry. Exciting times ahead as Guoguang Shuneng continues to drive innovation in the electrification and intelligence of the new energy field. Stay updated for more developments!

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Asia’s investment landscape is changing fast on multiple fronts. Money is moving to new countries. Multiple countries compete for startups with free trade zones. Less capital is available for private companies. Exit values are changing, requiring different portfolio strategies for fund managers. This podcast is a great listen for fund managers, LPs and founders alike. Great to hear about it all from Bhavik Vashi from Carta.

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The potential for collaboration in East Asia has never been clearer, and now feels like the perfect time to build on it. And so we shall. Just over a year into my venture capital journey, I’ve had the chance to meet and befriend incredible founders, investors, and ecosystem builders across East Asia. I’ve seen firsthand how each region brings something unique to the table. Japan offers precision, Korea brings energy and boldness, Taiwan shines with agility and adaptability, and places like Hong Kong and Singapore bring strong financial ecosystems and global connectivity. With recent expansions like the Korea Tourism Startup Center (KTSC) and Startup Island Taiwan establishing branches in Japan, Korea and Taiwan are making a strong impact in fostering regional synergy. (Those of us who participated in this year’s SusHi Tech can certainly relate!) A few of us have been gathering to brainstorm how we can create a vibrant community that connects East Asia’s brightest minds—a space to reflect, exchange ideas, and push each other forward. But how do we get started? What makes a community whole and worth joining? If you’re someone who believes in the power of cross-regional collaboration and are ready to be part of a movement to connect, innovate, and grow -let’s make this happen. Reach out, share your thoughts, and let’s build something meaningful together! 🚀 #Startups #EastAsia #VentureCapital #CommunityBuilding #Collaboration

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🌟 TLDR 🚀 Tech executive discovers financial freedom through innovative real estate investing and helps others by providing creative financing solutions and passive investment opportunities. My journey to Real Estate Innovator and Capital Raiser 🏢💼 In my fast-paced career in the tech industry, I often found myself yearning for more. Despite my success, the constraints of corporate life left me craving financial and creative freedom. This desire sparked a journey of exploration and discovery in real estate investing. Initial Ventures and Challenges 📦📚 I tried various avenues, from drop shipping to e-book writing, but none provided the fulfillment or financial returns I sought. I then ventured into wholesaling and fix-and-flipping, but I quickly realized these paths required substantial capital and time commitments for limited rewards. The Big Discovery💰 It was during this exploration that I uncovered a game-changing opportunity: the power of private money lending in real estate. Intrigued by the impressive returns, I dove deeper, focusing on providing crucial financing for earnest money deposits, double closes, and gap funding. This niche expertise naturally evolved into commercial real estate lending, opening doors to even greater opportunities. 🚪 Current Focus and Functions 📈 Today, my business thrives at the intersection of private lending and commercial real estate financing. I've expanded into multifamily investing, not just as a passive participant but as an active fund manager. My company serves two critical functions for real estate investors: 1. Securing Optimal Financing 🤝     I leverage relationships with over 100 lenders across all 50 states to offer creative funding solutions for a wide range of real estate projects. 2. Facilitating Passive Investments: 📈     For those looking to diversify their portfolios, I curate high-yield multifamily investment opportunities that provide a hedge against stock market fluctuations. Creating Win-Win Scenarios 🌍 By solving the capital-raising challenges for both active investors seeking funding and passive investors looking for stable returns, I’ve created a win-win ecosystem in the real estate industry. Throughout this journey, I remain committed to continuous learning, participating in elite real estate masterminds to stay at the cutting edge of the industry and provide the best possible service to my clients. 💡  P.S. It took me a lot of courage and a few cups of coffee to finally hit "post" on this! Who knew sharing my journey would feel like standing on stage in my pajamas? But hey, if I can do it, so can you! Let’s inspire each other! 😅🎤

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Check out our Mangusta Capital Vertical AI breakdown below!

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Congratulations to Sean (Xiang) Ren, Tyler Z. and Sahara AI team for a successful Series A fundraising. SCB 10X is excited to participate in this strategic funding round, co-led by Pantera Capital and Polychain Capital, along with Samsung Next, Matrix Partners, Nomad Capital, Tangent Ventures and others. Founded in 2023, Sahara AI is developing a decentralized AI platform that offers high performance, provenance, data privacy and security. The network allows both individuals and businesses to deploy proprietary data and build personalized AI models. Additionally, it leverages blockchain technology to enable incentive distribution to data and model contributors, creating a collaborative ecosystem for AI development. SCB 10X is looking forward to working with Sahara AI team for a future of open and inclusive AI. https://lnkd.in/g5jqCm7p #artificialintelligence #generativeai #ai #startups #vc

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The quick commerce space in India continues to see a steady stream of funding news in recent months, and while comparing Southeast Asia with India reveals challenges, it also highlights a lot of opportunities for growth in SEA, as companies here can tap into similar growth by adapting their approach to fit the local market. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 In India, quick commerce has become a top-of-mind option for grocery shopping and daily needs, supported by efficient operations and product diversification, including high-margin items like beauty products and electronics. Southeast Asia has the same potential. By optimizing operations, targeting the right demographics, and diversifying products, the demand for quick commerce can be met without compromising bottom line. 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 Having invested in BeepBeep!, I'm confident of the promising future of quick commerce in SEA. From a macro perspective, the online grocery market is set to grow. As cities expand, infrastructure gets better, logistical issues are ironed out, and more people get hooked on the convenience of digital services, demand will go up. Grocery delivery is a permanent trend. Market behavior will keep shifting towards on-demand deliveries as they become more accessible, and as consumers expect more products to be available "instantly." At the same time, people want convenience and deals, and nimble businesses with innovative models (like quick commerce companies) are in a great position to meet these needs. #QuickCommerce #SoutheastAsia #RetailTransformation #BeepBeep #GenesiaVentures #OnDemand #Grocery #VentureCapital

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Now is the best time to invest in China Today's guests on Business Podcast by Roohi is Wei Yong who is part of the investor relations team at XVC - XVC is a 1.3 B research driven VC Fund - Their USD Fund II was ranked No. 7 Global (No.2 in Asia) best-performing VC funds among 2015-2020 vintages in the $250-499 million category Link to listen and watch the episode in the comments

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It's hard to do startups, and it's even harder in SEA, when funding is currently lacking. We do need a systemic change in the way startups grow and how VCs invest. Until the tap of 'free money' opens up, it's going to be fairly dry. The expectations of return by VCs are based on the SV model, and we need to recalibrate to the environment of SEA. Hopefully, new funds that are about to launch have this in mind and not ape what SV is doing. The gap has even widened with AI plays driving the market into stratospheric region, in terms of money and valuation, one that SEA market isn't able to meet. This doesn't mean we don't have a chance, just need to really take in the last twelve years of lessons and recalibrate. Nice article from DSA in their latest report. https://lnkd.in/g9ANhJwk

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Congratulations to our True Global Ventures portfolio company Animoca Brands and team (Kenneth Shek Yat Siu Evan Auyang Jared Shaw Minh Do Alan Lau) with their US$23.9 million committed at 12x oversubscription on the MOCA Token Launch! 🌟 The total pre-deposited funds of US$29.3m was conducted on MocaList, a new co-branded token launchpad jointly launched by Mocaverse and CoinList. Access to the offering was gated by Moca ID, the MOCA Token Launch was the top-funded sale on CoinList so far in 2024, with participation by nearly 17,000 unique KYC-ed users from 123 different countries and record participation from the Mocaverse community. The MOCA Foundation serves as the platform to build the largest interoperable cultural economy in the Web3 space powered by the MOCA Token, and support the growth of Moca DAO, where members will take the lead in co-creating Migration Infrastructure Providers (MIPs) and engaging in cross-DAO empowerment through unique delegation models. I see KYC-Identity interoperability across Web3 applications accelerating ease of mass market adoption such that when you onboard onto one MOCA Ecosystem Web3 application you easily onboard onto all at the same time! https://lnkd.in/d6XTA-5D

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What Do VCs Really Look For in a Financial Model? 💡 E27 Article: https://lnkd.in/g8zzKBeP Every VC has slightly different priorities when reviewing a financial model. Some focus on how you plan to scale to SGD100M in revenue, while others are assessing your commercial instincts and the logic behind your numbers. But amidst the variability, there are universal factors that every investor pays close attention to: 📈 Traction & Sales Funnel: Clear insights into your sales and marketing funnel, showcasing traction and your ability to grow consistently. 💰 Unit Economics: Are your economics sustainable? Investors want to see profitability at the unit level, reflecting a scalable foundation. 🚀 Route to Profitability: A clear plan for turning your business into a sustainable, profit-generating enterprise is essential. 🔍 Funding Gap: It’s critical to highlight your growth strategy and account for working capital and capex needs, ensuring the numbers make sense over time. Crafting a compelling financial model is about telling the right story with the right data. Founders, what are your go-to strategies for aligning with VC expectations in your financial models? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #Startups #VentureCapital #Fundraising #FinancialModels #GrowthStrategies

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No wonder why there 're around 11 more WealthTech startups pending in my 2nd draft of Vietnam FinTech Market Map 2024 😄 "According to insight by McKinsey, the personal financial assets (PFA) market of #Vietnam is projected to reach $600 billion by 2027, growing at a rate of 11% per year from a baseline of $360 billion as of the end of 2022." #vietnamfintech #fintechvietnam #vietnamwealthtech

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