Archives: Episode

S1E7 | Truths About Helping Influencers Make A Living In The $68B SE Asian Creator Economy | Paulina Purnomowati, CMO TipTip

Indonesians are voracious consumers of social media, and the creator economy is set to grow massively in the coming years. As the industry grows, unmet needs in engaging and monetizing their content arise.

Read More

AV4 | ‘Self-Serve’ HR And Building A Remote-First Organisation | Jason Kan, Virtual Internships

Getting your team to embrace the culture you want to build is challenging especially when they are remote and distributed across the world. How do you create structures and processes without making it heavy and bureaucratic?

Read More

S4E10 | Startups Need A People Strategy, Even If Not A People Function

In the beginning, startups have nothing but an idea – and a team of true believers who hope to bring it to reality. Everything is riding on the success of that team.

Read More

S1E6 | Truths About Being A Female Leader In The Trillion Dollar Climate Tech Market | Natalia Rialucky, Fairatmos

What are the hard truths about building a climate tech market in a country and region where the awareness, tech and regulations are yet to mature?

Read More

S2E10 | How To Be More Creative With Your Marketing Ideas

Do you have to be a mad genius to be creative? Or get inspired somehow? Or is it something within reach of all of us, something that can actually be executed reliably and within deadlines?

Read More

S1E5 | Truths About Lighting Up One’s Own Path And That Of 60M Workers In Indonesia | Nelly Nurmalasari, Pintarnya

It’s hard to translate vision into reality – and especially so when you are trying to help workers build a better life. But when you see it happening, the moment is magical!

Read More

S4E9 | How To Cultivate Executive Presence

You know how some people can walk into a room and behave as though they own it? Well, in this episode we discuss how you, too, could become one among them, by developing the elusive Executive Presence.

Read More

AV3 | Expanding Regionally – Hire Local And Trust The Team

POPS Worldwide is one of the few Vietnamese companies to successfully expand regionally in SEA. In this conversation, Esther dives into the crucial aspects of trust, attitude, and personal qualities and how she grew the company from a 4 person team in Vietnam to a 400 person team across 3 different countries.

Read More

S2E9 | How To Run LinkedIn Ads

Have you been frustrated with your lead-generation efforts on LinkedIn? In today’s episode we share with you tips and (kind of) a formula that you can apply to attract and nurture quality leads at a reasonable cost.

Read More

S1E4 | Truths About Disrupting India’s Age-Old Manufacturing Industry | Sonam Motwani, Karkhana

What are the hard truths about being a startup builder in manufacturing, and what was Vertex Ventures’ thesis for investing in such a tradition-bound and notoriously difficult space?

Read More

S4E8 | Dealing With Bad Bosses

How do you know when a ‘bad’ boss is really just someone with a different working style – and how do you align your styles for better outcomes? And what do you do when the relationship is truly toxic?

Read More

XA Podcast 029 | The Entrepreneur Gene | Roger Egan, Co-Founder, Nurture And RedMart

When everyone is saying No, how do you eventually get to a Yes? Sheer persistence. Roger Egan, Co-founder of and former CEO of RedMart joins Reza Behnam to discuss his journey of founding RedMart

Read More

AV2 | Articulating Team Values – Velocity vs. Speed | Kartick Narayan, Founder & CEO, Kilo

Is speed really the right thing to optimise for? How do you actually evolve company values? And how should you design your hiring process to ensure your new hire is aligned with company values and is able to hit the ground running?

Read More

S2E8 | What Can I Cut Out Of My Marketing Effort?

Have you found yourself managing two personas, one of an entrepreneur and the other of a coach? Or are you wondering if you should be present on all the major platforms or maybe choose quality over quantity and stick to what’s relevant?

Read More

S1E3 | Opportunities In SE Asia And India | Ben Mathias

Vertex Ventures has been investing in South East Asia and India long before it became fashionable (!) so we know a thing or two about which sectors are on the rise.

Read More

S4E7 | It’s Not Always About The Money!

“I gave her a raise, yet she left.” Dual careers and an increased appreciation for work-life integration sparked during the pandemic have made employees think about work more broadly than just a pay packet.

Read More

S2E7 | On Storytelling, Community, And Making Marketing Beautiful

Have you ever struggled to articulate what your brand stands for? Or wondered how to not just be, but also sound authentic online?

Read More

XA Podcast 028 | Backing Founders For Life | Allen Taylor, Endeavor Catalyst

What would you say about a VC that uses all its profits to help establish economic opportunity in emerging markets? Or one that professes to back entrepreneurs for life, rather than on the strength of their business plan?

Read More

AV1 | How It Feels To Be An Early Employee

Hau Ly and Adrian Latortue kick off the season with a discussion about their own experiences as early employees in Vietnam-based startups.

Read More

S1E2 | Building Nium Into A Unicorn | Pratik Gandhi, COO, Nium

Starting with a little office in a dilapidated old building to joining the rarefied ranks of unicorns in Southeast Asia, Nium has come a long way. But what did it take to keep it going even when the chips were down and fresh funding was hard to come by?

Read More

S4E6 | What To Do When Your Manager Needs Managing

So you’ve expanded your team and yet you find yourself having to defer important things to handle day to day questions? The answer might lie less in behaviour and more in process.

Read More

XA Podcast 027 | Two Sides Of The Startup Investing Table

In this episode, a little reminiscent of a Shark Tank investing recap, we bring together a founder and their investor to hear both sides of the investment story.

Read More

S2E6 | How To Scale Your Content Creation Process

Everybody understands the struggles of creating unique content with consistency. This episode charts the pains and gains of content creators as they are encouraged to explore new mindsets and approach newer topics that abet success

Read More

S1E1 | Building An Enduring VC W/ Kee Lock Chua, CEO Vertex Holdings

How did Vertex Ventures get started as one of the oldest VCs in the region? And what’s our secret recipe for identifying high-potential founders? Find out in this episode

Read More

S4E5 – “Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years?”

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” is THE dreaded interview question. And you know what, it’s okay not to have answers! Your career path is exactly that—a path. One that deserves exploring.

Read More

JT25 | Paolo Garde On Transitioning From Operations To Software Engineering

Paolo garde on transitioning from operations to software engineering, safety net thought process and planning, application orientation and learning process, Progressing in software engineering etc.

Read More

MT28 | Kanishk Pratap Singh On How To Invest In Startups When You’re Not Yet A Millionaire

How do you invest in startups when you only have a little money? Is there a way to do it with just a few hundreds or thousands?

Read More

ST21 | The Realities Of Being A Part-Time Author

Getting started in the logistic space? Challenges and issues are on the way to success. Explore this episode to learn how to exit from your startup.

Read More

What Should Be My Marketing Plan For 2023?

It’s a new year! For many of us, that means a new planner and a new beginning. This is even truer for marketers, who have a whole new world of social media content, email campaigns, blogs, websites, and other cool things to work on.

Read More

Holiday Crossover: Damn Good Storytelling

It’s the holiday season! And that means it’s time for something special! This week, we’re excited to bring you the first-ever crossover episode with our sister podcast The Damn Good Marketing Podcast. In this episode, Subha and Hasita discuss a topic dear to both their hearts: the power of storytelling and its ability to make…

Read More

Holiday Crossover: Small Talk About Storytelling

We’re excited to bring you the first-ever crossover episode with our sister podcast Small Talk with RainKraft- a podcast for those who feel passionately about growing their career

Read More

S4E4 – Can We Do Goal Setting Differently This Year?

Every year around this time we take stock of our achievements versus the goals we had made. But are we going about it the right way?

Read More

AVV Founders And Friends Podcast: Trailer

Follow the AVV Founders and Friends podcast for insights into the early days of venture building from successful founders in Vietnam and South East Asia.

Read More

S2E4 | Why Are My Landing Pages Not Converting?

In this episode, Hasita and Subha discuss what actually makes a landing page effective and how brands should approach making one.

Read More

XA Podcast 026 | Board Composition With Abby Adlerman And Sze Meng Soon | Governance Series

Abby Adlerman and Sze Meng Soon join guest host Reza Benham to discuss board composition, what a board can do for a start-up and when it’s a good time to form one for a company.

Read More

Hard Truths By Vertex: Trailer

Follow/ subscribe to Hard Truths By Vertex for a behind the scenes view of the most promising startups and investment opportunities in SE Asia and India. Vertex Ventures South East Asia & India is an early-stage investor in the region’s most promising sta

Read More

S4E3 – How Not To Take A Layoff Personally

Layoffs are just business, not personal. But when you get laid off unexpectedly and it throws a curveball at your career, how can you help but not take it personally?

Read More

S2E3 | What’s My First Step In Building A Personal Brand?

In this episode, Hasita and Subha discuss what personal branding is, how it differs from company branding, and what it takes to create a successful personal brand.

Read More

XA Podcast 025 | Eric Cheng On Building A Leading E-Commerce Marketplace | Founder Series

Eric Cheng, an entrepreneur who built Southeast Asia’s largest car e-commerce platform from scratch, shares his idea of start-up stages, business growth, and strategy.

Read More

TS11 | Cryptocurrency And Ahe (NOT SO) Secretive Blue Dollar Economy Of Argentina

Pablo shares his journey from not being able to open an investment account in a bank to trading in cryptocurrency full-time.

Read More

S4E2 – Why Do I Struggle To Delegate? Here’s A Mindful Approach For Every Busy Professional

Do you find yourself doing a lot yet feeling like the work never ends? Are you still doing things that you mastered a few years ago or in your previous role?

Read More

S2E2 | Is There A Right Way To Do Email Marketing?

Emails, emails everywhere, not a single one worth reading. Out of 50 emails of all shapes, forms, and varieties, we receive each day, we probably read one. The recipe for a good email consists of some ingredients- like understanding exactly who you want to speak to, knowing in depth the subject you’re writing about, and giving…

Read More

XA Podcast 024 | From Inception To Acquisition: Tracking The Journey Of A Successful Start-Up With Max Bittner

Michele Ferrario in conversation with Max Bittner about his journey of founding and building his startup, the Lazada Group.

Read More

TS10 | Donovan Choy On Why Principles Should Come First In The NFT And Crypto Space

Donovan Choy talks about the importance of sticking to first principles in crypto trading and the future potential that Web 3 holds.

Read More

S4E1 – Your Career Doesn’t Need The Pressure Of Being Your Passion!

We’ve often heard that if you make a career out of your passion, you’d never have to work a day in your life. But then again, we’ve also heard it said- find your passion and let it slowly kill you!

Read More

S2E1 | Why Do My Digital Marketing Efforts Keep Failing?

Welcome back! It’s season 2, and we’re starting, as always, with the big questions. If you’ve had failed digital marketing experiences, it is only natural to be unsure about trying it again. In this episode, we discuss why some things fail, and others succeed, with seemingly no explanation offered. In this episode, we discuss why…

Read More

XA Podcast 023 | Board Fundamentals For Startups With Carmen Yuen And Ferish Patel | Governance Series

High quality startups spend time establishing a responsible and active Board so they don’t end up in hot water! Find out how.

Read More

TS9 | ChanelCoco On Tasty Toastys, Transitioning To Web3 And Community-Building

How Chanel transitioned to Web3 and then to founding Tasty Toastys, the power of NFT communities and her top tips for navigating Web3

Read More

XA Podcast 022 | Alex Gold On C-Suite Hiring, Self-Awareness And Culture | People And Talent Series

Alex Gold, MD of True Search SEA, discusses his experiences hiring top tech talent in South East Asia as well as his learnings about teams and culture

Read More

XA Podcast 021 | Relationships, Experimentation And Founding Teams With Vicky Chai | People And Culture Series

Vicky Chai, former Group Head of People for SingLife discusses how to build a great founding team, handling crises and enabling experiments

Read More

XA Podcast 020 | Resilience, Change And Culture With Shweta Shukla | People And Talent Series

How did Netflix maintain its strong culture through hyper-expansion? And what are some of the lessons in that for growth-stage founders?

Read More

TS8 | Understanding Gas Fees

What are Gas Fees in an NFT transaction and how do they work? How do you optimise them to save money on your purchase?

Read More

XA Podcast 019 | A Startup Approach To Nation-Building | People And Talent Series

Startup founders often associate government organisations with being plodding creatures, slow to adapt and reluctant to embrace change. But what if the organisation in question is a tech startup of it’s own, tasked with implementing the tools and tech needed by a future-friendly and foward-looking government? What does it take to build a culture of…

Read More

TS7 | NFT Investing Strategies

First people seemed to be making millions on NFTs. Now they seem to be losing their shirt. What strategies can one follow to try and build wealth via NFTs?

Read More

MT27 | Prasenjit Dasgupta On How I Built Wealth Despite A Late Start

Can you live a happy, financially secure life, even if you start investing in your 30s? Or if you start so late, do you need to boost your returns with day trading derivatives or crypto? Not really!

Read More

XA Podcast 18 | Driving Change During Hypergrowth At Gojek | People And Talent Series

What worked as a new startup invariably stops working as you scale, especially so with people and teams. But the changes you need to make through various stages of growth can be surprisingly simple yet very effective. Discussion Topics: Driving Change During Hypergrowth at Gojek | People and Talent Series Role of a Chief People…

Read More

TS6 | Five Rules To Avoid Getting Scammed

The NFT world is like the wild west. There’s great opportunity but it’s also full of scamsters and people trying to con you for a quick thousand dollars or two. But fear not – there are common sense ways to safeguard yourself

Read More

Season 1 Finale- Much Ado About Digital Marketing?

All mentions of the metaverse aside, this one’s a very ‘meta’ episode. For the final episode of this season, we look back at what we said during the season and test whether that advice still holds. After all, in marketing, there’s always a shiny new tool to buy, or advice to follow. And yet, good…

Read More

Bonus – Serena And Sebastian And Identity Clarity

Some events just have us making a mad dash to the podcast studio! Not just because we want to talk about them but because we have already been talking about them!

Read More

XA Podcast 017 | Opportunities And Challenges In SE Asian FoodTech W/ Andre Menezes, Fengru Lin And Saurabh Bajaj

Many startups aim to be disruptive and revolutionary, but how many can claim to be changing habits ingrained in us since the dawn of evolution? In this episode, we discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by Foodtech entrepreneurs as they navigate the consumer adoption, regulatory and production challenges of changing the way we eat. Discussion…

Read More

TS5 | How To Buy An NFT On A Marketplace

So there’s this NFT that you’ve been eyeing for a while and it’s now at a price you might be able to afford. How do you buy it from a marketplace like OpenSea?

Read More

MT26 | Hena Mehta On How Money Works Differently For Women

Women face very specific issues around expenses, credit and disproportionate impacts of difficult situations and their needs are not being met today

Read More

How Do I knock My Marketing Goals Out Of The Park?

Over time, Hasita’s favorite marketing saying has become this- most people do not have marketing goals, they have marketing dreams. Marketing campaigns can (and should) be creative and fun and even a bit outrageous. Marketing goals, however, need to be rooted in reality, plain hard facts, and be oftentimes, boring. How do you move from…

Read More

XA Podcast 016 | XA Network And The South East Asia Angel Investing Landscape

What do successful angel investors look for in South East Asian startups? What are they advising their investees to do in the current market environment? And how does an influential angel network like the XA Network help with business growth and sustainability? Find out in this episode with Alap Bharadwaj (Director, Google), Tony Zameczkowski (VP,…

Read More

TS4 | How To Mint An NFT

Before you can show off your shiny new NFT, you need to ‘mint’ it in order to bring it into existence. In this episode we will discuss how an NFT is minted and some issues and points to take note

Read More

How Can I make Instagram Do The Heavy-Lifting For My Brand?

Yep, one of us has a cold here, and it isn’t the guest. We apologize in advance for the ‘nn’s that sound like the ‘dd’s. Pranoy Thipaiah of Kerehaklu knows something, almost viscerally, that a lot of brand managers, marketing folk, and businesspeople miss- no one hangs out on social media to hear from brands….

Read More

S3E21 – It’s OK To Quit, Right?

Uncover the truth about stepping away and embracing change in the corporate world. Join the Small Talk with Rainkraft podcast for career empowerment and fresh perspectives. Season 4 awaits!

Read More

S3E20- Small Talk With Neeraj Kakkar- Drinks, memories, And Selling A Story At Scale

As the CEO of Hector Beverages, Neeraj Kakkar has created one of the most iconic beverage brands to come out of India in recent times- Paper Boat. 

Read More

XA Podcast 015 | From Inception To IPO: Culture, Economics And Timing W/ Hari Krishnan, CEO Of PropertyGuru

Have you ever wondered what it takes for a company to go public? How does the CEO prepare for the journey? What do investors look for? Find out directly from Hari Krishnan, CEO of recently-listed PropertyGuru about the steps and missteps they had on their journey to IPO Discussion Topics: From Inception to IPO: Culture,…

Read More

TS3 | Connecting With NFT Communities

NFTs can be complicated creatures. The space is always evolving and it’s not always easy to figure things out by yourself. That’s when you need to turn to others who are further along on the journey. But where do you find them?

Read More

Do I Even Matter On The Internet?

Existential crises aside, we ask this question (and get asked often as well) – do I matter in the larger scheme of (virtual) things? Being on social media can be hard both for individuals and brands, and yet there is a reward for consistency, for having opinions and being able to articulate them in ways…

Read More

S3E19 – The Challenge Of Building And Changing Careers

For many of us, there’s a fundamental challenge in identifying the difference between a job and a career. Should we commit to one field and become the best in it?

Read More

S3E18 – Being A Multipotentialite And Curating Your Digital Presence – With Nandita Iyer

When you don’t define yourself just by your professional qualifications or limit yourself to one job/one hobby, the possibilities are endless.

Read More

XA Podcast 014 | One And Done: Building A Profitable Company On A Single Funding Round W/ Le Hong Minh, Founder Of VNG Corporation

Could you ever imagine your “hobby” landing you in a position to impact millions of people around the globe? Or, better yet, heading down the path to IPO on just a single funding round? Well, that’s the story of Le Hong Minh, whose interest in playing online games led him to venture into the field…

Read More

TS2 | Your First Steps With Crypto

While NFTs do intrigue many people, the steps to enter this world make it overwhelming for most. So, here we are with Vnstr who shall break it down for you so you can start investing in the crypto world without any further delay.

Read More

Everyone Seems To Be On LinkedIn. But What About Me?

After avoiding the subject for as long as possible (no we’re just kidding, we’ve been dying to do an episode on LinkedIn), Subha and Hasita wade into the realm of social media. And what better place to start, than with the world’s largest professional networking platform? Looking at LinkedIn today, it is hard to see…

Read More

Bonus Episode – WeCrashed, Work Cultures, And Where The Best-Laid Plans Go Awry

Have you had a chance to watch WeCrashed on Apple TV+ yet? If not, we’d strongly recommend that you do, definitely for Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway

Read More

S3E16 – Do You Know How To Say No?

The ability to turn down things we’ve outgrown, things we don’t want to be doing, and things we never wanted to do but got cajoled into, is one of the most underrated skills of our century.

Read More

XA Podcast 013 | Active Intelligence And The Early Days Of VC In SEA W/ Hian Goh, Co-Founder And General Partner, Openspace Ventures

What do you expect from a market that doesn’t have a developed ecosystem? Many investors are extremely cynical about it and rightly so.

Read More

TS1 | What Are NFTs And How Are They Used?

NFTs! Blockchain! Millions of moolah! I’ve heard all these words but what do they mean? Also, while you’re at it, could you help me understand how can I get started? Am I too late? Can I create my own NFT? If you have similar thoughts when you hear about

Read More

Am I Building A business, Or Building A Website?

We hear your frustration! If you want to find out how successful a marketing team will be in the future, get them all to agree on how to go about building a website. Because of its front-facing significance, its dynamic nature, its role in reflecting evolving company goals, and its complexity in mapping, and the list…

Read More

S3E15 – Creating Organisational Resilience By Being A Perpetual Learner – With Srideep Kesavan

Turning around one business is a big deal in itself, but what do you do when you find yourself in situations where you need to turn several businesses around throughout your career?

Read More

ST20 | The Transition From An Offline To An Online Model Of Business

Want to take your offline business online? Here are some effective tips shared by Siti Nurmaisyah on the transformation of your business from offline to online.

Read More

S3E14 – Are You A New Face At The Old Workplace?

You know the saying, one person’s Google Meet is another person’s poison? Some of us have started working with new companies during the pandemic and are only now beginning to see our colleagues in a real-world environment.

Read More

XA Podcast 012 | The Roxy Dynamic: Building Great Co-Founder Relationships W/ Ronald Ros And Rexy Dorado, Co-Founders, Kumu

Building Great Co-Founder Relationships – Developing fund-raising strategy, becoming the Disneyland of social media, Evolution of Kumu from messaging to livestreaming.

Read More

ST19 | Making The Transition From Corporate Leader To Consultant

Arvind Sankaran talks about making the transition from corporate leader to a consultant. He is a successful advisor who provides strategic direction to businesses.

Read More

The Token Singaporean – Trailer

The Token Singaporean is a show about Non Fungible Tokens, the new blockchain based technology poised to change the world of digital art, collectibles and revolutionise the very concept of ownership. It’s brought to you by Vonster, a Singaporean who’s liv

Read More

Do I really Need Someone Else To Tell My Brand’s Story?

Well here’s a super-common question we get asked- if we don’t really know our story, how can we count on a consultant to tell us? Personally, we’ve grappled with this question quite a bit, too. However, having sat in on several brand strategy workshops now, we’ve come to understand that the role of a brand…

Read More

ST18 | Santosh Katti On Learning From Objections When Launching A New Product

In this episode of ShopTok, we’ll learn from Santosh how he found ways to keep going while trying to sell the value proposition of his nascent product.

Read More

S3E13 – Why Does A Voice Inside My Head Keep Telling Me I’m Not Good Enough?

We all have fears and many times these fears save us from doing something dangerous. Some fears turn into limiting beliefs – negative judgments about ourselves that we hold to be true.

Read More

XA Podcast 011 | Coffee Or Froth? Challenges In Finding Sustainable Businesses W/ Peng T Ong, Co-Founder And Managing Director, Monk’s Hill Ventures

Peng T. Ong – Coffee or Froth? Challenges in Finding Sustainable Businesses, Matching people to the right jobs, Market valuations, Learning how to be a VC etc. to explore more listen this podcast

Read More

Why Does My Ideal Customer Not Care About Me?

Genius. Billionaire. Playboy. Philanthropist. Who is this? Subha and Hasita guessed two very different people, which made us think about ICP or the ideal customer profile. Often, our best efforts to engage prospects fail because we don’t understand the real-world context of a client. We group them by age, gender, location, and income, but never…

Read More

S3E12 – Getting Smart About Artificial Intelligence With Kashyap Kompella

Kashyap kompella on getting smart about artificial intelligence, Harmful effects of AI, AI audit and its concept, Advice on starting a career in AI, Metaverse – the concept and experiencing it. Listen Now!

Read More

ST17 | Aanan Khurma On Using E-Commerce Platforms To Jumpstart Your Business

Aanan khurma is talking about ecommerce platforms to jumpstart your business, Acquiring brands and building partnership, Secrets to do well on platforms like Amazon, SnapDeal, etc

Read More

S3E11 – Going From Zoom To The Room

Hybrid work has a particular penchant for being trickier than it sounds. Do we over-communicate when we aren’t all around each other?

Read More

ST16 | Sahil Mehta On Building A Profitable D2C Brand Portfolio

Sahil Mehta on building a profitable D2C brand portfolio. He talks about the challenges that come with market penetration and building a diverse portfolio.

Read More

How Do I Make My Content Go Viral?

Welcome! This episode has Subha and Hasita discussing a topic that’s immensely close to their heart- content marketing. CRED ads are a cult of their own, but how do you really go viral like they did? Should you indulge in moment marketing? Should you write blogs? Build case studies? We answer these questions and many…

Read More

S3E10 – Building A Sustainable Business, One Toy At A Time With Meeta Sharma Gupta

Meeta Sharma Gupta is talking about building a sustainable business, one toy at a time, Handling unfamiliar and new things in entrepreneurship, Tips and learnings from women entrepreneurs and Shumee etc.

Read More

ST15 | Darpan Seth On How To Exit From Your Startup

Today, we are talking to Darpan Seth, founder of Nextuple, which is his second business after a successful exit with his first one.

Read More

S3E9 – Why Is Giving And Receiving Feedback So Difficult?

We don’t always know what does or doesn’t maketh a person, but feedback certainly breaketh us. Why do we hate giving and receiving feedback so much? Why do we take it so personally each and every time?

Read More