Curiosity comes first.
Discover the people behind the most innovative ideas, brands and technologies in Singapore and explore the resources that shaped them.
Great Owls TV
Great Owls TV Investor Series takes a look at the world of innovation and entrepreneurship through the eyes of investors. Go inside the minds of the leading investors in South East Asia, where they reveal their personal lessons, provide us with an insider's look at their investment strategy and share the trends that will impact our lives.
How to build a high-growth startup in South East Asia.
On Great Owls TV - Carmen Yuen, a Partner at Vertex Ventures. Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India invests in high-growth start-ups seeking their first round of institutional venture capital funding across Asia. Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is part of a global venture fund network Vertex Venture Holdings - one of the longest operating venture capital firms in Asia.
In this episode, Carmen:
- Explains how Vertex Ventures evaluates whether a business is worth investing into
- Describes key investment criteria for high-growth startups
- Shares advice on fund-raising for founders
- Points out key mistakes startups make
- Compares technology and investment trends around the world
- Reveals the one book that has impacted her the most and is must-read for every founder.
5 main factors to get your startup funded.
On Great Owls TV - Vishal Harnal, a General Partner at 500 Startups. 500 startups is a global early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Silicon Valley with over 2000 companies across 60 countries in its portfolio. Vishal is based in Singapore where he leads investments across South East Asia through its dedicated regional fund 500 Durians with over 180 companies, including flagships like Grab, Carousell and Bukalapak.
Prior to joining 500 startups Vishal was a lawyer at one of Asia’s leading law firms and has build a communications training company while still in university. Vishal is also a Kaufmann Fellow and has taught a course on Venture Capital at INSEAD and Entrepreneurship at the Singapore-MIT Alliance.
In this episode, Vishal:
- Reveals 5 main factors to get your startup funded
- Highlights what all successful founders have in common
- Outlines unique trends in the South East Asia’s startup ecosystem
- Shares must read books for every entrepreneur looking for funding or angel investors interested in investing
- Tells the one book that he’s been reading every year for 10 years
Key lessons on winning in South East Asia
On Great Owls TV - Michael Lints, Partner at Golden Gate Ventures. Golden Gate Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm investing across Southeast Asia. Since 2011, the firm has invested in over 30 companies across more than 7 countries in Asia. Before becoming a Partner at Golden Gate Ventures, Michael Lints founded an IT business and his own Dutch SME-focused venture fund. Michael is also a competitive runner and cyclist.
In this episode, Michael:
- shares his lessons from seeing over 1,000 company pitches a year
- explains what makes the most successful companies
- highlights the importance of personal strategy vs business strategy
- gives insider tips for founders to get the most out of the investors
- and reveals the book the has impacted him the most
How to stay ahead of artificial intelligence.
On Great Owls TV - Frank Meehan, a serial entrepreneur and a truly global investor. Frank is the Co-Founder and Partner of Sparklabs Global Ventures, which started as one of South Korea’s first accelerators and has now grown into a network of accelerators and venture capital funds. Frank is also the Co-Founder and CEO of SmartUp.io, a fast-growing micro-learning platform used by startups, business schools and corporates. Previously Frank was the board representative for Horizons Ventures at Spotify, Siri, Summly, and Affectiva. Horizons Ventures is a private investment fund of Mr Li Ka-Shing, one of Asia’s most influential businessman.
In this episode, Frank:
- shares the key lessons he learnt from working at Horizon Ventures @1.28;
- explains his investment strategy and how he prioritises which companies to invest into @3.05;
- tells us about the critical importance of an entrepreneurial mindset in order to stay ahead of artificial intelligence @5.15;
- points out the trends he believes will have a global impact @6.48
- and reveals the book that has impacted him the most @8.35.
INTERVIEWS
Personal lessons and moments of impact
Carmen Yuen
On Great Owls TV – Carmen Yuen, a Partner at Vertex Ventures SEA and India, a venture capital fund that invests in high-growth start-ups across Asia.
Vishal Harnal
On Great Owls TV – Vishal Harnal, a General Partner at 500 Startups, a global early-stage venture capital firm with over 2000 companies in its portfolio.
Debra Langley
Fashion, technology and VC maven Debra Langley talks to us about the top trends and technologies that are shaping consumer behavior, and the skills she believes are most important for the future.
Steve Leonard
Steve Leonard talks to us about why Singapore is at the forefront of innovation and what he believes are the greatest qualities to cultivate for success.
Oliver Tan
Oliver Tan talks to us about why he left a well-paid corporate executive position to jump into a tech start-up, and what he sees as the biggest challenges and potentials of AI.
Phil Townend
Phil Townend of Unruly APAC talks to us about AI, algorithms, and his views on the future of video advertising.
Gilberto Gaeta
Gilberto Gaeta gives us a glimpse into what it takes to succeed in a high-growth tech company and how to stay ahead of the game.
Peng T. Ong
Singapore native Peng T. Ong is one of Asia’s most notable technology entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Peng talks to us about his journey creating three wildly successful start-ups and his thoughts on entrepreneurship, innovation and what success actually means.
Bernard Leong
Bernard Leong shares his learnings from creating one of the best tech podcasts in Asia and describes his life-changing experience at Singularity University.
Mark Shmulevich
Former rocket scientist and current innovation strategist Mark Shmulevich reveals his insights into some of the biggest trends in technology that will shape the future and recommends game-changing books that have changed the way he works.
Mohan Belani
“You’ve got to learn how to un-learn and re-learn again. Things are changing very fast, you can choose to complain about it or you find a way how to get involved.”
Anna Gong
“I networked the hell out of my career, which started in college. I was always taught your life is what you make of it. No one will come and hand you a free lunch. I worked hard at managing and influencing my own destiny.”
WATCH
TED Talks and videos that inspire the Great Owls
Mindset by Carol Dweck
World-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck urges to use the power of mindset to foster outstanding accomplishments.
Recommended by Joanna Catalano, CEO iProspect APAC
Soul Biographies
A profound series of short films that might change the way in which you see yourself and all people.
Recommended by Joanna Catalano, CEO iProspect APAC
Grit as a key predictor of success
Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth explains how grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Recommended by Alex Kahn, Managing Director, AOL Asia & ANZ
Radical Candor
Author Kim Scott explains how to be a good boss through her vital new approach to effective management.
Recommended by Aliza Knox, COO Unlockd
MAKERS
A storytelling platform for the trailblazing women of today and tomorrow.
Recommended by Alex Khan, Managing Director AOL Asia & ANZ
A groundbreaking tour of the mind
Daniel Kahneman, the renowned psychologist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, recommends we all do some “Thinking, Fast and Slow”.
Recommended by Aliza Knox, COO Unlockd
A manual on creating a culture of disciplined creativity
Ed Catmull, President of Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, believes a manager’s job is to make it safe for others to take risks.
Recommended by Mohan Belani, Founder E27
You’ve never seen data presented like this
Statistics guru Hans Rosling debunks myths about the so-called “developing world”.
Recommended by Klemen Drole, CIO Lazada
My Stroke of Insight
Harvard-trained brain scientist Jill Bolte Taylor’s personal journey.
Recommended by Joanna Catalano, CEO iProspect APAC
READ
Books that influenced the Great Owls
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Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Recommended by Carmen Benitez, Founder and Managing Director Fetch Plus
Hard truths to keep Singapore going by Lee Kuan Yew
Recommended by Roshni Mahtani, Founder and CEO of Tickled Media | Female Founders Network | Executive Producer
Setting the Table by Danny Meyer
Recommended by Steve Kalifowitz, Director of Brand Strategy at Twitter, Japan and Asia Pacific
LEARN
Blogs and websites the Great Owls follow
The School of Life
A website devoted to developing emotional intelligence.
Recommended by Joanna Catalano, CEO iProspect APAC
Who Recommends It
Joanna Catalano, CEO iProspect APAC
Reason to bookmark
The School of Life is devoted to developing emotional intelligence.
The School of Life addresses such issues as how to find fulfilling work, how to master the art of relationships, how to understand one’s past, how to achieve calm, and how better to understand and, where necessary change, the world.
The Information
A new tech media website provides deeply-reported articles about the technology industry.
Recommended by Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Who Recommends It
Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Reason To Bookmark
A new tech media website founded by former Wall Street journalist Jessica E. Lessin provides deeply-reported articles about the technology industry.
A16Z.com
Blog and newsletter by legendary startup investors Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz.
Recommended by Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Who Recommends It
Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Reason To Bookmark
Blog by legendary startup investors Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. Their firm,Andreessen Horowitz, provides entrepreneurs with access to expertise and insights in innovation, executive and technical talent, market intelligence, policy and regulatory affairs, business development, and marketing and brand-building.
Marc co-created the highly influential Mosaic Internet browser and co-founded Netscape, which later sold to AOL for $4.2 billion. Prior to a16z, Ben and Marc were co-founders of Opsware, which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2007 for $1.6 billion.
Joi Ito
Joi Ito is the Director of MIT Media Lab. In this blog, Jo shares his learnings about the future of art, science, design and engineering.
Recommended by Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Who Recommends It
Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Reason To Bookmark
Joi Ito is the Director of MIT Media Lab. In this blog, Jo shares his learnings about the future of art, science, design and engineering.
Edith Yeung
Personal blog from a leading VC focused on mobile trends, virtual reality and consumer internet startups.
Recommended by Aliza Knox, COO Unlockd
Who Recommends It
Aliza Knox, COO Unlockd
Reason To Bookmark
Edith Yeung is the General Partner at 500 Mobile Collective Microfund primarily focusing on investing in mobile, VR, AR, IOT and consumer internet startups. She also founded RightVentures – seed stage investment firm focusing on mobile and consumer internet companies.
Stratechery
A blog about technology with a focus on business and strategy by Ben Thompson.
Recommended by Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Who Recommends It
Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Reason To Bookmark
A blog about technology with a focus on business and strategy by Ben Thompson.
Seth Godin
Influential thinker writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership and most of all, changing everything.
Recommended by Anna Bory, GM, Marketing at Audi
Who Recommends It
Anna Bory, General Manager, Marketing at Audi, Singapore
Reason To Bookmark
Seth Godin is a thought leader in the marketing and business world. He is the author of 18 books that have been bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than 35 languages. He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership and most of all, changing everything. His newest book, What To Do When It’s Your Turn, is already a bestseller.
Longreads
An eclectic mix of nonfiction and fiction stories from the best storytellers on the web.
Recommended by Joanna Catalano, CEO iProspect APAC
Who Recommends It
Joanna Catalano, CEO iProspect APAC
Reason to bookmark
An eclectic mix of nonfiction and fiction stories from the best storytellers on the web.
Featured stories
Gates Notes
In this blog, Bill Gates shares what he learns from the extraordinary people he connects with and gives reviews of his favourite books.
Recommended by Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Who Recommends It
Mohan Belani, Founder E27
Reason to bookmark
In this blog, Bill Gates shares what he learns from the extraordinary people he connects with and gives reviews for his favourite books.
Brain Pickings
Personal blog covering art, science, psychology, design, philosophy, history, politics, anthropology, and how these disciplines illuminate one another.
Recommended by Steve Kalifowitz, Director of Brand Strategy at Twitter, APAC
Who Recommends It
Steve Kalifowitz, Director of Brand Strategy at Twitter, Japan, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa
Reason to bookmark
Brain Pickings is a blog by Maria Popova covering art, science, psychology, design, philosophy, history, politics, anthropology, and how these disciplines illuminate one another, directly or indirectly.
LISTEN
Podcasts that keep the Great Owls thinking
Analyse Asia with Bernard Leong
The media platform that dissects the intersection between business & technology in Asia.
Recommended by Aliza Knox, COO Unlockd
A16Z
Podcast by legendary startup investors Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz.
Recommended by Mohan Belani, Founder E27
The Investor’s field guide by Patrick O’Shaughnessy
An ongoing investigation into stocks, markets, investing strategies, and ways of thinking.
Recommended by Steve Kalifowitz, Director of Brand Strategy at Twitter APAC
Tim Ferris
A fascinating deconstruction of world-class performers.
Recommended by Mohan Belani, Founder E27
The Knowledge Project by Shane Parrish
Podcast about mental models and actionable strategies that help you make better decisions.
Recommended by Steve Kalifowitz, Director of Brand Strategy at Twitter, Japan and Asia-Pacific
Customer development for startups by Steve Blank
A great guide for building and scaling startups.
Recommended by Greg Satell, Innovation Author
Exponent
A tech and society podcast hosted by Ben Thompson and James Allworth.
Recommended by Steve Kalifowitz, Director of Brand Strategy at Twitter, Japan and Asia-Pacific
This American Life
A weekly public radio show recommended as the best storytelling in the world.
Recommended by Carmen Benitez, Founder and Managing Director Fetch Plus and Steve Kalifowitz, Director of Brand Strategy at Twitter, Japan and Asia-Pacific
Watch
TED Talks and videos that inspire the Great Owls
Read
Books that influenced the Great Owls