Asia Tech Podcast Michael Waitze Media
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- Technology
All Things Asia, All Things Tech
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EP 317 - Ritwik Ghosh and Sauvik Datta - SeedFlex - Bridging the Gap: Redefining Credit for Asia's Micro Entrepreneurs
The Asia Tech Podcast was joined by the co-founders of SeedFlex, Ritwik Ghosh and Sauvik Datta.
Ritwik Ghosh's extensive background in consumer and SME credit, first with Capital One Bank and then with Oliver Wyman, ingrained a deep understanding of credit systems in him, which he further enriched by spearheading Grab's fintech lending division.
Sauvik Datta's career spans over two decades in financial services, marked by significant roles at McKinsey, American Express, and Standard Chartered Bank, before his entrepreneurial venture with Validus Capital. His specialization in risk management, credit scoring, and the application of machine learning models for customer underwriting has positioned him at the forefront of financial innovation.
Some of the topics they covered in detail included:
Identifying and bridging the market gap with a mission-driven approach and addressing the underserved micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs in Southeast Asia
The power of data in unlocking financial services and enabling SeedFlex to extend credit to those deemed too risky by conventional standards
Embracing technological innovation for seamless financial solutions and effectively introducing a "pay as you sell" advance
The emphasis on ecosystem partnerships as a vehicle for scaling and building trust
The creation of tailored financial products that cater specifically to the unique needs of micro-entrepreneurs -
EP 316 - Igor Vincetic - Electrolux - Convenience, Flexibility and Service
In an enlightening episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, Igor Vincetic, the General Manager, Singapore at Electrolux, shares transformative insights into the ever evolving home appliance industry.
Some of the topics that Igor covered in detail included:
The importance of innovation, customer-centricity, and sustainability
innovative business models that focus on flexibility and convenience for consumers
Creating holistic customer experiences, prioritizing service and relationship-building to enhance consumer satisfaction
The necessity for companies to adapt continuously, keeping pace with changing consumer expectations and fostering a culture of agility and resilience
Electrolux's dedication to leading the home appliance industry through innovative strategies, with a focus on sustainability and a customer-focused approach to business
Some other titles we considered for this episode:
Navigating Innovation and Sustainability
The Evolution of Consumer Needs: A Commitment to Service
The Future is Convenient
Leading with Purpose -
EP 315 - Nathaniel Yim - Founder at Nila Studios - You Cannot Sell What You Don’t Understand
The Asia Tech Podcast was joined by Nathaniel Yim, the Founder of Nila Studios and a non-executive co-Founder of Janio Asia. When Nathaniel asserted during our recording, "You cannot sell what you don't understand.", it really resonated with me. When you understand your products and their impact on customers, your enthusiasm, confidence, and sincerity shine through naturally.
Some of the other topics Nathaniel covered:
Understanding your product's value proposition and the problems it solves for customers
How customer empathy enables deep customer connections and fosters trust and credibility
The critical role of content creation and leveraging networks in building brand visibility
The importance of aligning marketing efforts with sales objectives
The significant impact of personal branding and founder influence
Some other titles we considered for this episode:
Whatever You Publish, Make Sure It Is Really Good
You Just Have to Rise to the Occasion
Infantry Is Like Sales
That Opened up My Eyes to the Possibilities of Entrepreneurship
You Have to Learn Everything and Do Everything -
EP 314 - Nirali Zaveri - CEO of Friz - We Want to Simplify the Workflow of a Social Media Manager
In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, we spoke with Nirali Zaveri, co-founder and CEO of Friz, about her transition from a corporate job, to founding a neobank for freelancers to pivoting towards a SaaS platform for marketing tech. Nirali discusses the challenges of scaling her initial venture, the strategic decision to pivot, and the lessons learned from being part of Y Combinator.
Some of the topics that Nirali covered in detail:
The Power of the Ecosystem and Community
The Startup Journey Is a Continuous Learning Curve
Pivoting Is Not a Sign of Failure but a Step Towards Finding the Right Path
The Importance of Being Customer Centric
The Role of Accelerators in Shaping Founders and Startups
Some other titles we considered for this episode:
That Passion Is Really Different When You Can Use Your Own Product
The Interface of the Internet is Going to Change Very Soon
It’s Super Critical That Everything Gets Discussed
They Scaled Their Learning Curve Very Quickly
Be Willing to Fail Publicly -
EP 313 - Maaike Doyer - Epic Angels - Using Wealth as a Proxy for Financial Literacy Just Blows My Mind
The Asia Tech Podcast welcomed Maaike Doyer, a Founder and Managing Partner at Epic Angels, back to the show to discuss a recent article she wrote on 'Why Stricter Angel Investing Rules Miss the Mark'. In the 3 years since Maaike founded Epic Angels along with Hester Spiegel-vdSteenhoven, the network has grown to nearly 300 female investors across 27 countries!
Some of the topics we discussed in detail from Maaike's article included:
The untapped potential of women in angel investing and the importance of creating a supportive network to facilitate their growth
Advocating for less restrictive regulatory criteria that would allow a wider range of individuals, especially women and younger investors, to participate in angel investing
Her passionate explanation for the importance of education and access in empowering more women to become angel investors
How collaboration among relevant stakeholders can lead to more inclusive investment opportunities and regulatory frameworks that recognize the diversity of investors’ backgrounds and experiences
Maaike's unwavering passion for making a difference and challenging the status quo
Some other titles we considered for this episode:
Redefining Risks: A Mission to Diversify Angel Investing
Changing the Game: A Journey to Reshape Angel Investing
The Power of Networks to Unlock Investment Potential
It's More About Courage than Anything Else
Redefine Regulations from Constraints to Catalysts -
EP 313 - Itai Boublil - CCO of KNOTS - How Do We Make Finance Teams Happy?
In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, we explore the entrepreneurial journey of Itai Boublil, a co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of KNOTS. KNOTS is reimagining the workplace for finance professionals; it is the first GenAI employee for finance teams.
Some of the topics that Itai discussed:
A funny story about his first trip to the US from Israel to visit his cousin
The critical role that technology can play is solving complex problems for finance teams
How GenAI will not replace you, but it will surely change the way we work
Building a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
The expectation that KNOTS will evolve into a comprehensive ecosystem that connects different departments within a company, powered by AI
Some other titles we considered for this episode:
It’s Not About What Are We Trying To Build, It’s About What Are We Trying to Change
We Wanted to Provide a New Experience for Finance Teams
How Do You Take 16 Hours of Work and Turn It Into 10 Seconds?
The Idea Is to Humanize the Whole Process
I Enjoy Solving Complicated Problems