BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)

The Philippines recently declared a national energy emergency. What does this massive oil and power crisis mean for the economy, local startups, and everyday consumers? In this episode of the Brave Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au sits down with Franco Varona, Managing Partner at Foxmont Capital Partners, to unpack the harsh realities of the region's energy vulnerability and how the country is responding. From the explosive adoption of electric vehicles (like BYD and Xiaomi) and solar technology to resetting geopolitical relations over offshore oil, Franco provides a uniquely optimistic view on the future of Philippine infrastructure. They also dive deep into Foxmont's long-term venture capital thesis: why they are betting on fundamental, real-world solutions—from high-value gyms to female-focused fertility clinics—over trendy tech hype and passing innovations. Tune in for a macro-level masterclass on energy security, venture cycles, and building the future of the Philippines. In this episode: The impact of the Philippine energy emergency on local businesses. How the government is digitizing to combat bureaucratic corruption. The EV boom and why Chinese automakers are dominating the roads. Why Vietnam is going nuclear and how it shifts the Southeast Asian energy grid. Foxmont’s investment strategy focusing on affordability and accessibility. 0:00 - The Philippine Energy Emergency 1:54 - Singapore vs. Philippines: The Speed of Doing Business 4:08 - Can Corruption Scandals Actually Improve Government Efficiency? 6:54 - Why the President Declared a National Energy Emergency 11:38 - Offshore Oil, Geopolitics, & Resetting Relations with China 13:41 - The Breakdown of Communication in the Social Media Age 16:38 - Southeast Asia's Energy Strategies: Vietnam Goes Nuclear 20:45 - Why Solar Energy Works Perfectly for the Philippine Archipelago 24:14 - The Explosive Growth of Chinese EVs (BYD) in the Philippines 28:46 - Foxmont Capital's Investment Thesis: Solutions Over Hype 31:21 - BeFit: Bringing High-Value, Low-Price Gyms to Manila 32:44 - Eluvo: Solving the Accessibility Crisis in Women's Healthcare & Fertility 36:46 - The 10-Year Cycle: Optimism and the Future of Philippine Tech Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/franco-varona-philippines-energy-emergency Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts #Philippines #EnergyNews #Startup #Podcast #southeastasia #techpodcast

Is AI actually making our kids smarter, or just better at cheating? In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au sits down with Adam (Huh Dam), co-founder of Stick ‘Em, a Singapore-based startup bringing affordable STEAM education to the world. From being rejected by his primary school robotics club to winning a $1 million prize in London, Adam shares his "rebel" journey through the Singapore education system (ACS Independent) and his mission to bridge the digital divide. We dive deep into the "disastrous" impact of increased screen time, the ethics of AI in homework, and why learning how to think is more important than ever in the age of autonomous agents. Discover: Why traditional EdTech might be "useless" for actual learning outcomes. The $1M journey: How two student founders from Singapore beat the world’s best. How to scale a hardware-software startup across Southeast Asia. 00:00 – The Disaster of AI in Schools 01:32 – Meet Adam Huh Dam: The $1M Prize Winner 02:20 – Building a Mars Rover at Age 6 03:22 – Rejected! The Traumatic Entry into Robotics 04:31 – The "Rebel" Years: Finding Character in ACSI 05:40 – Student-Led Learning vs. Corporate Teaching 07:22 – Competing on the Global Stage (Vex Robotics) 08:51 – Meeting Co-founder Kai: The Creative & The Strategist 10:33 – Why EdTech? Choosing Impact Over Boston Dynamics 12:22 – The Reality of Building a Social Enterprise 14:18 – Scaling STEAM Education Across Borders 15:50 – Winning the $1M Prize: Authenticity Over Perfection 20:05 – Why Modern EdTech is Failing Students 23:33 – The "Brain Dead" Era: AI and the Death of Homework 27:39 – Will AI Replace Lawyers, Accountants, and Coders? 30:05 – Being Brave: The Lunch That Changed Everything 32:20 – Closing Thoughts: The Future is Human Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/adam-stickem-steam-education Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts #Singapore #EdTech #Startup #Podcast #southeastasia #techpodcast

Is the "Uber for Southeast Asia" era officially over? In this episode, Jeremy Au sits down with Wing Vasiksiri of Analog Ventures to analyze the massive shift in the regional venture landscape. As immigration to the US tightens, Singapore has emerged as the global magnet for top-tier engineering talent from China, India, and across ASEAN. They dive deep into why Wing transitioned from a Solo GP to joining Analog Ventures, the emergence of second-time technical founders, and the critical "funding gap" currently facing the region. The conversation also tackles the brewing energy crisis in Thailand and its second-order effects on data centers, agriculture, and the potential for a nuclear future in Southeast Asia. In this episode: 00:00 Intro: The struggle for local startups in 2026 02:04 Why Wing Vasiksiri joined Analog Ventures 04:00 The "lonely" reality of being a Solo GP 07:30 The missing product: Institutional Lead Seed Investors 09:40 The Southeast Asia funding gap (Seed to Growth) 11:50 Global-first: The new Singapore startup thesis 14:40 US Immigration: Why talent is choosing Singapore over SF 19:10 The rise of technical and "indigenous" founders 27:10 AI App Store moments and Deep Tech tailwinds 31:10 The 3 challenges of commercializing R&D in Singapore 36:30 Thailand’s Energy Crisis: 90% oil dependency 42:50 Second-order effects: Data centers and Biofuels Resources: Thailand’s Power Generation Mix December 2025 https://www.jewelarc.com/performance/ Global Energy Shock: Southeast Asia & China Effects & Countermeasures - BRAVE E679 https://youtu.be/bkA6VTDSBB0 Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/wing-vasiksiri-singapore-venture-capital Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts #Singapore #Thailand #VentureCapital #Startup #Podcast #southeastasia #techpodcast

Is farming in a skyscraper-filled city a genius move or a foolish one? In this episode of the BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast, Jeremy Au talks with Ryan Ong, the founder of Fogo Fungi. Ryan moved from a comfortable path in his family’s hospitality business to the "dark, cool, and laborious" world of indoor mushroom farming. Ryan pulls back the curtain on the Singapore agritech scene, explaining why vertical farms are struggling and how he found a "sweet spot" growing gourmet Pink Oyster and Lion’s Mane mushrooms for Michelin-starred chefs. We discuss: The "Accidental" Founder: How a random YouTube video led a 26-year-old to start a bootstrap startup. The Cold Chain Advantage: Why local mushrooms beat imports on shelf-life and "Day Zero" freshness. The 1% Land Problem: A realistic look at Singapore’s food security goals and the high cost of energy and rent. Gourmet vs. Commodity: Why $50/kg mushrooms are a viable business model when button mushrooms are not. Leading "Unorthodox" Teams: How to hire and manage talent in an industry that AI cannot replace. 00:00 – Why "weirdos" are attracted to the mushroom industry 02:23 – Introduction to Fogo Fungi and Singapore indoor farming 04:18 – The career pivot: From hospitality to agriculture 08:47 – The YouTube video that sparked a mushroom startup 11:48 – Debunking common myths: Do mushrooms grow in the dark? 15:32 – Button vs. Gourmet: The unit economics of $50/kg crops 20:52 – Singapore’s "30-by-30" goal and the 1% land challenge 28:37 – How to gain experience: From bedroom kits to commercial farms Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/ryan-ong-fogo-fungi-mushroom-farming Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts #Singapore #Startup #Podcast #southeastasia #techpodcast

Is the era of cheap energy over for Southeast Asia? In this special three-person debate, Jeremy Au, Jianggan Li, and Valerie Vu break down the reality of the current energy crisis and its disproportionate impact on Vietnam, China, and Singapore. As oil prices spike by 30-50% in some markets, the team explores the second and third-order consequences that most businesses are missing. From the sudden reduction of traffic in Ho Chi Minh City to China’s multi-decade "Coal and Renewables" diversification strategy, this episode is a deep dive into geopolitical resilience. Key insights include: The Vietnam Vulnerability: Why 90% reliance on a single oil source (Kuwait) has left the Vietnamese stock market in shock. China's Energy Fortress: How the "big cousin" uses a mix of 60% coal and 10% renewables to insulate itself from Middle Eastern conflict. The "Hormuz" Dilemma: A look at how the Straits of Malacca and Hormuz remain the ultimate chokepoints for Asian growth. Industry Winners & Losers: Why the crisis is accelerating EV adoption and Nuclear research while crushing the textile and garment sectors. The Wealth Migration: Tracking the movement of capital and family offices between Dubai and Singapore as global instability rises. 00:00 – Real-world impact of the energy crisis in Vietnam 02:38 – Analyzing the 50% fuel price spike in Southeast Asia 07:13 – AI simulations of the US-Israel-Iran geopolitical conflict 12:43 – China’s energy strategy: Balancing coal, gas, and renewables 17:50 – How energy costs drive regional food inflation and logistics 23:30 – Net exporters vs. importers: Economic winners and losers 26:50 – Impact on aviation and the Southeast Asian tourism outlook 32:18 – Environmental trade-offs: Rising coal usage and air quality Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/global-energy-shock Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at https://www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter X : https://x.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts #Vietnam #China #Malaysia #Singapore #Thailand #Philippines #Indonesia #IranWar #News