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The Generalists

The Generalists

By: Raz Kotler and Michael Smith Jr.
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 The hosts Raz Kotler & Michael Smith Jr., interview people around how they arrived in Singapore, their careers, their personal journeys and how the concept of being a Generalist influences their life and career. All episodes currently filmed F2F in the Poddster Singapore studios.Raz Kotler and Michael Smith Jr. Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • Don't Start a Business, Buy One (ep 68)

    Don't Start a Business, Buy One (ep 68)
    Feb 11 2026
    GenCap Partners breaks down how entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA) and search-fund style investing are creating a practical path to buy and grow small businesses in Singapore and Malaysia.Instead of starting from zero, Zachary Lee and Eric Koh explain how operators can acquire existing cash-flowing SMEs, professionalize management, and scale with clearer downside protection than many early-stage startup bets. They cover how GenCap matches operators to assets, how SPV-based deal structures change incentives, and why seller motivation often determines whether a deal closes.📖 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow ETA and search-fund models differ from traditional VC fundsWhy GenCap targets consistency over power-law outcomesHow risk, return, and loss ratios compare across VC, PE, and SME dealsThe four core underwriting lenses: asset quality, valuation, team, and structureWhy seller motivation is a first-meeting diligence priorityCommon SME red flags: key-man risk, customer concentration, and weak controlsHow SPV structures reduce forced deployment and forced exitsHow succession trends and demographics are shaping SME opportunitiesWhere AI and tech modernization can improve post-acquisition operations🎧 Listen and SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2apfGY403NGr1EyTNkJfG4Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-generalists🎙️ HostsMichael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/Raz Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razkotler/👤👤 GuestsZachary Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leehuisiang/Eric Koh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koheric/🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned🏢 Companies and ProductsGenCap Partners: https://www.gencap.asia/Dorje AI: https://dorje.ai/Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/NVIDIA: https://www.nvidia.com/SGX (Singapore Exchange): https://www.sgx.com/Bursa Malaysia: https://www.bursamalaysia.com/📚 Concepts and FrameworksSearch Fund: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_fundEntrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA): https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/case-studies/case-search-fund-entrepreneurship-through-acquisitionSpecial Purpose Vehicle (SPV): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special-purpose_entity👥 People and ProfilesCodie Sanchez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codiesanchez🎙️Podcasts and MediaThe Diary Of A CEO: https://www.thediaryofaceo.com/The Game Of Impossible: https://open.spotify.com/show/2pZcmJ2r4v98VqywQCFeXk📖 BooksDie With Zero (Bill Perkins): https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/bill-perkins/die-with-zero/9780358567097/
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    58 mins
  • Meta Bought a Singapore Startup for Billions (ep 67)

    Meta Bought a Singapore Startup for Billions (ep 67)
    Feb 3 2026
    A high-signal, no-filter roundtable with Hian Goh (OpenSpace Capital), Alex Dwek (COO, Nas.io), Michael Smith Jr. (The Generalists), and Raz Kotler (The Generalists).The Manus AI acquisition by Meta just became the biggest tech acquisition of a Singapore-based entity and the table breaks down the geopolitics, the deal mechanics, and what it really means for the ecosystem. From there, the conversation moves to Level3AI's funding and why usage-based pricing is eating SaaS, Singapore's S$1 billion AI commitment, the fundraising journey of a Singapore Series A startup, why US investors are finally writing checks into Singapore, and what Wikipedia vs. Grokpedia tells us about truth infrastructure. This is the full uncut Round 3 — sharp takes, inside baseball, founder lessons, and real talk about what's working.📖 What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy Meta acquiring Manus AI is a landmark validation for Singapore regardless of how the company got thereWhat China might (or might not) do about the deal, and the inside baseball on why the money may not get distributedThe "Singapore-first vs. flip" distinction and why it matters for the next wave of Chinese foundersLevel3AI's raise and why pay-per-outcome pricing is replacing SaaS seatsSingapore's S$1 billion AI budget: where it goes and why S$250M/year is meaningful for a small countryNas.io's fundraising journey: 9-day term sheet in 2021, 50+ pitches in 2025 and what changedWhy US funds are finally comfortable investing in Singapore (the "exclusion list" shift)Hian's FOMO vs. "Screw It" framework for how venture deals actually get doneWikipedia vs. Grokpedia: locked articles, editor cartels, and the future of truth infrastructureClaude Code, Cowork, and building a full-stack app without writing a single line of code🔔 Listen and SubscribeYouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcast⁠Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/2apfGY403NGr1EyTNkJfG4⁠Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-generalists🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ The TableHian Goh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiangoh/Alex Dwek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexdwek/Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/Raz Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razkotler/🔗 Links & MentionsManus AI: https://manus.imMeta: https://about.meta.comLevel3AI: https://www.level3.aiNas.io: https://nas.ioNas Daily: https://www.youtube.com/@nasdailyOpenSpace Capital: https://www.openspace.vcIntercom: https://www.intercom.comSierra AI: https://sierra.aiAirwallex: https://www.airwallex.comBenchmark Capital: https://www.benchmark.comTiger Global: https://www.tigerglobal.comByteDance / TikTok: https://www.bytedance.comClaude Code / Cowork (Anthropic): https://www.anthropic.comMarvell Technology: https://www.marvell.comCelestial AI: https://www.celestial.aiNvidia: https://www.nvidia.comMicrosoft: https://www.microsoft.comGrokpedia (xAI): https://grokpedia.comWikipedia: https://www.wikipedia.orgCarousell: https://www.carousell.comSGX (Singapore Exchange): https://www.sgx.comA*STAR: https://www.a-star.edu.sg
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    1 hr
  • COA Chocolate: Fermented Protein for Better Snacks (ep 66)

    COA Chocolate: Fermented Protein for Better Snacks (ep 66)
    Jan 27 2026
    Eduardo Burg, founder of COA chocolate, shares his journey from corporate generalist to food tech entrepreneur in Singapore. Learn how fermented protein, whole food ingredients, and founder-led marketing are shaping the future of functional snacks.Eduardo explains his 16-year specialist career in marketing at major companies like Danone and PepsiCo, followed by his transition to becoming an ultra-generalist managing director and then food tech founder. He reflects on the importance of understanding what good looks like across functions, the risks specialists face in the AI era of going too deep into silos, and why generalists need deep domain knowledge to leverage AI effectively.The conversation dives into the food tech ecosystem in Singapore, including R&D facilities at Nurasa, manufacturing partnerships across Vietnam and Indonesia, and the challenges of building brand awareness through social media and influencer marketing. Eduardo shares candid lessons on embracing failure, dealing with rejection, the reality of being a solopreneur, and why connecting personally to the problem you're solving is essential for surviving the entrepreneurial journey.📖 What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy generalists need deep domain knowledge to leverage AI effectivelyHow Singapore's food tech ecosystem enables R&D and innovationThe difference between ultra-processed protein isolates and whole food fermented proteinWhy fermentation creates more bioavailable, nutrient-dense ingredientsBrand building challenges: social media, influencer marketing, and authentic storytellingThe reality of being rejected while sampling productsWhy incumbents cannot create healthier versions of their iconic brandsManufacturing and supply chain across Vietnam, Indonesia, and SingaporeSolopreneur mindset: embracing failure and separating business from identityHealth span vs lifespan and the growing demand for functional foods🔔 Listen and SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2apfGY403NGr1EyTNkJfG4Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-generalists👤 HostsMichael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/Raz Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razkotler/👤 GuestEduardo Burg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardo-burg-mlynarz/🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned🏢 Companies and ProductsCOA Chocolate: https://eatcoa.com/Danone: https://www.danone.com/PepsiCo: https://www.pepsico.com/Nurasa (Temasek Food Tech Innovation Centre): https://nurasa.com/Little Farms: https://littlefarms.com/BFT (Body Fit Training): https://bodyfittraining.com/F45 Training: https://f45training.com/Anytime Fitness: https://www.anytimefitness.com/Yo-Chi: https://yochi.com.sg/📚 Concepts and FrameworksTempeh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TempehFermentation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FermentationBioavailability: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioavailabilityProtein isolates and concentrates: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy_proteinHealth span vs lifespan: https://peterattiamd.com/longevity101/Stoicism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StoicismZone 2 training: https://peterattiamd.com/VO2 max: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VO2_maxAntifragility: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifragility👥 PeoplePeter Attia: https://peterattiamd.com/Alex Hormozi: https://www.acquisition.com/Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily): https://nasdaily.com/📖 BooksThe Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/books
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    57 mins
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