We Talk About Tech & Startups
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The American Shadow Over Asian Startups: Why 409A Valuations Matter in Singapore, Bangkok, and Beyond
409A Valuations in Southeast Asia In a narrow co-working loft above Singapore’s Club Street — where the scent of coffee mingles with the tang of fresh ambition — a 32-year-old founder scrolls through her cap table with a worried brow. Her startup just closed a pre-Series A round. The term sheet is signed, the champagne is long gone. Now…
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The Startup Equity Mirage: Why Most Employees Never Cash In
In the high-stakes world of startups, equity awards are often portrayed as golden tickets — a promise that early sacrifices will lead to outsized future rewards. Yet beneath the surface of stock option packages and ownership percentages lies a financial architecture that overwhelmingly favors investors over employees. “In the startup world, hope is sold at…
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Thailand’s Startup Paradox: Where Potential Meets Patience
It begins, as it often does, with a great idea and a founder who believes they can change the game. A Bangkok-born developer quits his job at a multinational to build a platform connecting rural farmers directly with urban grocers. A former management consultant turns her focus to mental health, launching an AI-driven therapy app…
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Unlocking the Potential of ESOPs: A Comprehensive Guide for Startups and Employees
In the fast-paced world of startups, attracting and retaining top talent is a challenge that requires a combination of creativity and financial prudence. One of the most effective tools for addressing these challenges is the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which not only gives employees a stake in the company but also aligns their success…
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The Rise of Thai AI: Language, Sovereignty, and the Quiet Revolution in Code
Rain pattered against the windows of a high-rise in Bangkok, softening the neon sprawl below into an abstract blur. Inside, a small group of developers sat hunched over their laptops, lines of code flickering across their screens like incantations. In another room, a whiteboard bloomed with arrows and acronyms—MoA, LLM, NLU—under the glare of fluorescent…
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Startup Funding in Southeast Asia: From Pre-Seed to Series D
Turning a promising idea into a thriving business requires more than just vision and passion — it requires capital. Especially in Southeast Asia, where the startup ecosystem has been growing exponentially over the last decade, raising funds at different stages of growth is critical to success. From the initial steps of ideation to scaling across international markets,…
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The Anatomy of a Startup Pitch Deck: An Expert’s Playbook for Winning Investors
The modern startup world is brimming with ideas. Every founder dreams of standing in front of a room full of investors, presenting the perfect pitch deck that sparks the interest of a venture capitalist. But beyond flashy slides and buzzwords, what truly captures an investor’s attention? We sat down with Gagan Singh, an expert in venture…
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Cracking the Entrepreneurial Code: Unpacking the DNA of a Successful Founder
The world of startups is often painted as glamorous — where a simple idea can lead to the next billion-dollar company. But behind every unicorn is a journey fraught with failure, relentless iterations, and the near-impossible task of building something out of nothing. What makes some entrepreneurs able to navigate these challenges while others falter?…
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Solving the Startup Challenges in Thailand: A Founder’s Guide
Thailand’s startup ecosystem has gained significant momentum over the past few years, emerging as a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. However, starting and scaling a business in Thailand presents a unique set of challenges. Entrepreneurs must navigate cultural nuances, regulatory complexities, and a developing investment landscape, while also tailoring their business models to fit…
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Unlocking AI’s Potential: Overcoming Stability, Cost, and Accuracy Challenges
Artificial intelligence (AI) is often heralded as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize industries, improve decision-making, and boost productivity. However, despite rapid advancements, AI systems — particularly those built on large language models (LLMs) — still grapple with significant challenges. These include instability, hallucinations (where models generate incorrect or nonsensical responses), and the…
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Navigating the Complexities of AI: Insights from an Expert Conversation with Anders Hasle Nielsen of Fraia
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made significant inroads into numerous industries, yet its path to widespread adoption and efficacy is far from smooth. In a recent conversation with Anders, a leading AI expert with over 15 years of experience in machine learning, big data, and advanced technology systems, we discussed the critical challenges, misconceptions, and untapped…
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ASEAN GenAI Startup Report Launch Roadshow 2024
We recently attended the ASEAN GenAI Startup Report Launch Roadshow 2024 in Bangkok, hosted by AWS. The event was an eye-opener, offering a glimpse into the future of AI-driven innovation across Southeast Asia. If you weren’t there, you missed a fascinating showcase of ideas and insights, all pointing towards the growing momentum of generative AI…