Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr. :: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠
• Razko Kotler :: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/⁠

Guest:

• Amanda Cua :: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cua/

Episode Overview:

In this episode, hosts Michael Smith Jr. and Razko Kotler welcome Amanda Cua, the Founder and CEO of BackScoop, a media startup shaping the future of business media in Southeast Asia. Amanda shares her remarkable journey from the Philippines to Singapore, detailing the inception and growth of BackScoop, her role as the first employee at the Y Combinator-backed edtech Avion School, and her recognition as a Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 Honoree for 2024.

Amanda delves into her experiences navigating the challenges of launching a media platform and balancing personal growth with professional responsibilities. She offers insights into the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem, the importance of resilience, and the transformative power of taking calculated risks. Amanda also provides practical advice for young entrepreneurs and discusses the evolving landscape of media and technology in Southeast Asia.

Links Mentioned:

• BackScoop: https://backscoop.com
• Avion School: https://avionschool.com
• Morning Brew https://www.morningbrew.com

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr. :: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
• Razko Kotler :: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/

Guest:

• Zoran Vasiljev :: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoran-vasiljev-928657/

Episode Overview:

In this engaging episode, hosts Michael Smith Jr. and Razko Kotler welcome Zoran Vasiljev, a seasoned serial entrepreneur, founder, C-Level executive, mentor, investor, and speaker. With over 30 years of international management and operational experience across the EU, MENA, USA, and APAC regions, Zoran is currently the Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Partnerships at Xsolla, a leading company in digital monetization for the gaming industry.

Zoran shares his inspiring journey from Belgrade, Serbia, to establishing a significant presence in Singapore’s tech ecosystem. He delves into his entrepreneurial ventures, including founding Centili and Forty.5 Ventures, and his strategic roles at companies like Infobip, Apigate, and Axiata Digital. Beyond his corporate achievements, Zoran discusses his passion for basketball, exemplified by founding a semi-professional basketball league in Singapore, and his commitment to personal wellness and continuous learning.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into digital monetization strategies, the dynamics of scaling businesses globally, the importance of building strong teams, and balancing professional success with personal well-being. Zoran also offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and shares his perspectives on the evolving tech landscape, particularly in the U.S. and Southeast Asia.

Links Mentioned:

• Xsolla: https://xsolla.com
• Centili: https://centili.com
• Forty.5 Ventures: https://forty5ventures.com
• Infobip: https://infobip.com
• Apigate: https://apigate.io
• Axiata Digital: https://axiata.digital
• Teddy Swims: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV5EavjPHK7yECiQ9o4L0yw
• Pro-Am Singapore Basketball League: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-Am_Singapore_Basketball_League

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr. https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/

Razko Kotler https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/

Guest:

Craig Bristol Dixon https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigbristoldixon/

Episode Overview

In this episode, Michael and Raz welcome Craig Bristol Dixon, Co-Founder and General Partner of Accelerating Asia Ventures. Craig shares his journey from a finance career at Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch to becoming a leading figure in Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem. He discusses founding Zumata, a B2B travel tech company later acquired by Rakuten, and his pivotal role at muru-D, Telstra’s accelerator program.

Craig provides unique insights into the ASEAN startup scene, including the challenges of scaling startups, the evolution of Singapore’s startup infrastructure, and why B2B models often outperform B2C in the region. He also dives into the emerging potential of the Bangladeshi startup ecosystem and shares practical advice for founders, plus his personal wellness and productivity habits.

Links

Accelerating Asia Ventures: https://acceleratingasia.com

Zumata: https://zumata.com (Historical)

muru-D: https://muru-d.com

Noah Opinion Substack: https://www.noahpinion.blog

Econ102: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/econ-102-with-noah-smith-and-erik-torenberg/id1696419056

Enterprise Singapore: https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr. https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/

Razko Kotler https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/

Guest:

Mustafa Rasheed https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafarasheed/

Episode Overview:

In this episode, Michael and Raz welcome Mustafa Rasheed, a seasoned professional in the SME and startup ecosystem. Mustafa shares his fascinating journey, from growing up in Pakistan to his return to Singapore and contributions to the startup landscape. With over a decade of experience at KPMG, ING Bank, and Enterprise Singapore, Mustafa has helped over 3,000 businesses.

They discuss his approach to generalism, investment in the Bangladeshi startup Priyo Shop, and Singapore’s role as a hub for frontier market startups. Mustafa also shares his thoughts on personal growth, mental wellness, and lessons learned from working across diverse startup ecosystems. The episode concludes with practical advice for founders, insights into crafting effective pitch decks, and Mustafa’s personal development habits.

Links:

• Priyo Shop: https://priyoshop.com

• Accelerating Asia: https://acceleratingasia.com

• Enterprise Singapore: https://www.enterprisesg.gov.sg

• Udemy: https://www.udemy.com

• JFDI (Historical): https://www.jfdi.asia

Hosts: Michael Smith Jr. https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/ Razko Kotler https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/ Guest: Geraldine Gauthier https://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldine-gauthier-coach/ Episode Overview:

In this episode, hosts Michael and Raz sit down with Geraldine Gauthier, the founder of GoMasterCoach and a Master Certified Coach (MCC) passionate about helping others achieve their fullest potential through coaching and personal development. Geraldine discusses her transition from the finance industry to executive coaching, and how her personal growth journey inspired her career change. She shares her insights on common challenges faced by executives, including confidence issues, managing relationships, and overcoming burnout. Geraldine also dives into her philosophy of blending physical fitness with mental well-being, and the importance of coaching in developing resilience. Additionally, she reveals details about her new stealth AI startup aimed at enhancing coaching skills through digital tools, and offers her views on democratizing coaching across Southeast Asia.

Geraldine opens up about breaking boundaries, embracing new challenges, and how "daring more" can help anyone overcome personal limitations. She also provides advice for aspiring leaders and executives on leveraging their strengths, and offers tips for overcoming self-doubt. The conversation concludes with insights into Geraldine’s personal wellness routines, her new startup venture, and a thought-provoking discussion on how coaching can shape leadership in the Southeast Asian ecosystem.

Links: GoMasterCoach: https://www.gomastercoach.com F45 Fitness: https://f45training.com Yoga Movement: https://yogamovement.com Live Coach School Podcast: https://thelifecoachschool.com/podcasts Brooke Castillo - The Life Coach School: https://thelifecoachschool.com

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr. https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
• Razko Kotler https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/

Guest:

• Carl Gough https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-gough/
  

Episode Overview:

In this episode, hosts Michael and Raz speak with Carl Gough, the dynamic Founder, Philanthropist, and CEO of meetmagic.org, a platform that links executives with cutting-edge technology trends like AI, Cybersecurity, and Digital Transformation, while making a social impact. Carl talks about bootstrapping his business, the role of generalism in his career, and how meetmagic is contributing to both tech advancements and charitable causes.

Carl also shares his thoughts on the importance of Singapore as a strategic business hub, despite residing in Sydney, and reflects on the post-COVID landscape of business meetings. He emphasizes the necessity of social impact in business, discusses how he overcomes challenges as a founder, and offers advice to young entrepreneurs on navigating fear and building resilience.

Links:

• MeetMagic.org: https://meetmagic.org
• Ground2Cloud: https://ground2cloud.co
• Rory Sutherland’s Book “Alchemy”: https://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Surprising-Power-Ideas-Make/dp/0753556529
• Raphael Rowe Foundation: https://www.raphaelrowefoundation.org
• Inside the World's Toughest Prisons (Netflix Series): https://www.netflix.com/title/80116922
• DevRev: https://www.devrev.ai
• RingCentral: https://www.ringcentral.com
• Maybank Securities: https://www.maybank.com
• Salesforce https://www.salesforce.com/

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
• Razko Kotler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/

Guest:

• Denning Tan https://www.linkedin.com/in/denning-tan-7a26737/

In Episode 8, hosts Michael and Raz sit down with Denning Tan, an experienced entrepreneur and partner at the GenAI Fund, to explore his dynamic career in Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem. Denning recounts his transition from a litigator in Malaysia and China to working with major companies like AWS, 123RF, and Carsome.

Denning dives into the rapid rise of B2B Gen AI startups, how remote work has transformed the region, and the strategic focus of the GenAI Fund, which supports pre-seed and seed-stage startups solving critical industry challenges. He offers his perspective on Malaysia’s startup scene, shedding light on the country’s potential and the evolving nature of its ecosystem, especially in comparison to tech powerhouses like Singapore and Indonesia.

Links:

• Pieter Kemps https://www.linkedin.com/in/pieterkemps/
• Laurence Si https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurencesi/
• GenAI Fund https://genaifund.ai
• 123RF https://www.123rf.com
• AWS (Amazon Web Services) – https://aws.amazon.com
• Carsome https://www.carsome.com
• Peak XV Partners https://www.peakxv.com
• SeedPlus https://seedplus.com
• Yahoo https://www.yahoo.com
• Catcha Group https://www.catcha.com
• Mayfield https://www.mayfield.com
• GSR Ventures https://www.gsrventures.com
• Qunar https://www.qunar.com
• Kleo (Netflix Series) – https://www.netflix.com/title/81234567