In this episode we sit down with Hian Goh—founder of Openspace Ventures (US $800 M AUM) and one of Southeast Asia’s most influential early-stage VCs. A former Salomon Smith Barney tech-banker who built and sold the Asian Food Channel, Hian now backs companies such as Gojek, Love Bonito, MAKA Motors and Lucence. We unpack his hunt for a “post-NVIDIA” hardware champion, how he bridges A*STAR research to market, and why a home-built pizza oven teaches him more about founders than term sheets ever could.

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest:

Hian Goh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiangoh/

Links Mentioned:

• Openspace Ventures: https://openspace.vc
• Asian Food Channel: https://www.asianfoodchannel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiancancook
• Plunge: https://theplunge.club/
• A*STAR: https://www.a-star.edu.sg/

Books & Media Mentioned:

• Zero to One by Peter Thiel & Blake Masters: https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296/
• Monocle: https://monocle.com/magazine/
• Blinkist (short-form book summaries): https://www.blinkist.com/
• Vito Iacopelli YouTube (Pizza craft): https://www.youtube.com/@vitoiacopelli

In this episode, we sit down with Sina Meraji — a self-described polymath and deep tech founder reshaping education and societal structures. Sina is the Founder & CEO of Integral HQ, a personalized app for online social communities. We unpack his journey across Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystems, his polymath mindset, and his long-term mission to create universal systems for education, justice, and healthcare. From his early struggles as an immigrant in Malaysia to his aspirations for billion-dollar impact, Sina shares raw, unapologetic insights on resilience, ambition, and systems change.

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guests:

Sina Meraji: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinameraji/

Links Mentioned:

• Learning Loop: https://www.learningloop.ai/
• Integral HQ: https://integralhq.com
• Entrepreneur First: https://www.joinef.com/
• Mindvalley: https://www.mindvalley.com/
• WeGoWhere: https://www.wegowhere.io/

• 
  

Books & Media Mentioned:

• Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Bets-Making-Smarter-Decisions/dp/0735216355/
• How to Solve Tough Problems by Adam Kahane: https://www.amazon.com/Solving-Tough-Problems-Adam-Kahane/dp/1576754642/

In this episode, we sit down with one of Singapore's most iconic power couples in tech — Der Shing Lim and Shao-Ning Huang, Co-Founders of AngelCentral. From meeting at the University of Michigan to bootstrapping JobsCentral (which they later sold to CareerBuilder), raising four boys, and then founding AngelCentral — their journey has been nothing short of incredible. We go deep into building businesses as a couple, bootstrapping during the dotcom era, becoming active angel investors, and reflecting on how Singapore's startup ecosystem has evolved. Also: what’s tougher — startups or parenting?

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guests:

Shao-Ning Huang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaoning/

Der Shing Lim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dershing/

Links Mentioned:

• AngelCentral: https://www.angelcentral.co
• JobsCentral (now part of CareerBuilder): https://www.careerbuilder.com.sg/
• Grab: https://www.grab.com
• Carousell: https://www.carousell.sg
• ShopBack: https://www.shopback.sg
• PatSnap: https://www.patsnap.com
• Entrepreneurs First: https://www.joinef.com
• JobStreet (now SEEK): https://www.jobstreet.com.sg
• JobsDB: https://www.jobsdb.com
• Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com

Books & Media Mentioned:

• Squid Game: https://www.netflix.com/title/81040344
• The Substance: https://www.variancefilms.com/project/the-substance
• The Expats: https://www.amazon.com/Expats-Season-1/dp/B0CMHG544V

Nicole Lee left the safety of UBS, a top-tier bank where she climbed the ladder from Associate Director to Executive Director, to embrace the unknown. Now the founder of You Never Know and host of her own podcast, Nicole is helping others transform through authenticity, vulnerability, and soul-driven leadership. In this episode, she opens up about walking away from structure, finding her voice through adversity, and creating space for Singaporean professionals to redefine success on their own terms.

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest:

Nicole Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleleethisisme/

Links Mentioned:

• You Never Know (YNK) with Nicole Lee: https://youneverknow.co
• YouTube: YouTube.com/@nicoleleethisisme
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5uRGujeye6cPVvaIGsAt7p?si=M5hKPV4iQoyKOK7TMB83bA
• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-never-know-with-nicole-lee/id1789080795

• ADDX : https://www.addx.co
• UBS : https://www.ubs.com

Books & Media Mentioned:

• Higher Self Podcast by Danny Morel
  https://www.youtube.com/@DannyMorel
• Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett
  https://www.youtube.com/@TheDiaryOfACEO

In this episode, we welcome Rob Bier, a leadership coach, founder, investor, and author of Smooth Scaling: 20 Rituals to Build a Friction-Free Organization. Rob has coached over 40 scale-ups, including several unicorns and a decacorn, and brings deep insight into what makes organizations scale effectively. We dive into rituals, team dynamics, and frameworks like the Productivity & Positivity 2x2. Rob also discusses the limits of OKRs, the myth of training, and why great dialogue is more valuable than great systems. A must-listen for founders and leaders serious about smooth scaling.

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest:

Rob Bier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbier/

Links Mentioned:

• Rob Bier Official Site / Smooth Scaling Book: https://smoothscalingbook.com
• Trellis Partners: https://www.trellis.partners
• MoneySmart: https://www.moneysmart.sg
• OnLoop: https://www.onloop.com
• Waggle (AI for Better Meetings): https://www.waggle.team

• Athletic Brewing Co. (non-alcoholic beer): https://athleticbrewing.com
• Lightspeed Southeast Asia Report: https://www.lsvp.com/research/southeast-asia-startup-ecosystem

Books & Media Mentioned:

• Smooth Scaling: 20 Rituals to Build a Friction-Free Organization by Rob Bier
  https://www.amazon.com/Smooth-Scaling-Rituals-Friction-Free-Organization/dp/1739158807
• Occupied (TV Series, Norway): https://www.netflix.com/sg/title/80092654
• Go Ahead Brother (TV Series, Poland): https://www.netflix.com/sg/title/81613239

We welcome the ever-energetic and thought-provoking Avi Liran, Chief Delighting Officer and global speaker on culture, leadership, and kindness. Avi breaks down the art and science behind delighting people, building resilient leaders, and how a playful mindset combined with strategic depth can transform companies. From Israeli diplomacy to coaching Fortune 500 executives, Avi brings stories, frameworks, and radical rethinking that challenge conventional wisdom. We also explore his unique rituals like "smell the flower," his reflections on failure, and the importance of asking better questions. Get ready for an inspiring, funny, and heartfelt conversation that will stick with you.

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest:

Avi Liran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avizliran/

Links Mentioned:

• Avi Liran Official Website: https://deliveringdelight.com
• WD-40 Culture Story by Garry Ridge: https://www.wd40company.com/our-culture/
• CLP Group Hong Kong: https://www.clpgroup.com
• Six Seconds EQ Network: https://www.6seconds.org
• Ministry of Education, Singapore: https://www.moe.gov.sg

• 
  

Books & Media Mentioned:

• The Kings of Shanghai by Jonathan Kaufman: https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Shanghai-Rival-Dynasties-Changed/dp/0735224434
• "Lonely People" by America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrfZCChc0xk
• "Streets of London" by Ralph McTell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiWomXklfv8
• "Sympathy" by Rare Bird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWHW9K9XK9g

We sit down with Jeremy Tan, Managing Partner at Tin Men Capital, to discuss the evolution of Southeast Asia’s B2B startup ecosystem, his transition from investment banking to venture capital, and his perspectives on founder life balance. Jeremy shares insights into the challenges and opportunities in scaling B2B companies, the need for a stronger exit pathway in Singapore, and his thoughts on what can be done to drive a more robust startup ecosystem.

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest:

Jeremy Tan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremytanpz/

Links Mentioned:

Tin Men Capital: https://www.tinmencapital.com

• LSVP Southeast Asia Startup Ecosystem Report: https://www.lsvp.com/research/southeast-asia-startup-ecosystem

• Morgan Stanley: https://www.morganstanley.com

• 
  

  Books & Media Mentioned:

  • Peace is Every Step – Thich Nhat Hanh:
    https://www.amazon.com/Peace-Every-Step-Mindfulness-Everyday/dp/0553351397
  • Squid Game Season 2 (TV Series):
    https://www.netflix.com/title/81040344

• 
  

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Meyers, Founder & Head Coach of Asia Founder Coaching, a coaching practice supporting founders and senior executives of fast-growing companies in Asia. Paul also runs Founders Circle, a monthly founder support group in Southeast Asia.

A pioneer in Asian digital media and senior executive leadership, Paul has over 30 years of experience in media, telecom, and payments verticals. He has founded and built six regional Asian startups, successfully exiting three (1 x NASDAQ, 2 x trade sales). Early in his career, he wrote and directed award-winning science documentaries, and spearheaded Asia Business News' (now CNBC Asia) first interactive news service.

We explore his journey into Singapore, insights from his vast startup experiences, his transition into coaching, and his views on founder mental health. He also shares his take on the Bangkok vs. Singapore startup scene, and what the future of Southeast Asia's startup ecosystem looks like. If you're keen on startup scaling, founder mindset, and navigating regional tech landscapes, this episode is a must-listen!

Hosts:

Michael Smith Jr: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Razko Kotler: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest:

Paul Meyers: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmeyers/

Links Mentioned:

Asia Founder Coaching: https://www.asiafoundercoaching.com
Founders Circle: https://www.asiafoundercoaching.com/founders-circle
CNBC Asia (formerly Asia Business News): https://www.cnbc.com/world/?region=asia
Muru-D Accelerator (Formerly Telstra’s Program): https://www.telstra.com.au/muru-d
ShopUp: https://shopup.org/

Books Mentioned:

• The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Power-Glory-Evangelicals/dp/006322688X

• The Tiger by John Vaillant : https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-True-Story-Vengeance-Survival/dp/0307389049

• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: https://www.amazon.com/Anna-Karenina-Leo-Tolstoy/dp/0486437965