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/
    Show More Show Less
    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
    Show More Show Less
    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
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Lovable for Cyber | Product-Led Growth, Not Cold Outreach (ep 65)

    Lovable for Cyber | Product-Led Growth, Not Cold Outreach (ep 65)
    Jan 20 2026

    Guy Flechter, co-founder and CEO of Sola Security, shares how he transformed disappointment into learning opportunities while building a global product-led growth cybersecurity platform with 5,000+ customers. From getting ghosted by VCs to securing Microsoft as an investor, Guy reveals the frameworks behind his second-time founder success—including why choosing learning over disappointment became essential for managing the founder rollercoaster, and how he built Sola's global go-to-market strategy using three pillars: social networks, PLG product design, and a global-first mindset.

    He breaks down the B2P (Business to Practitioner) model for cybersecurity startups, why product marketing and UI/UX designers should be top-10 hires for non-American founders, how AI is creating generalist security practitioners, and practical wellness strategies like daily 7-8km walks to combat burnout. If you care about building a modern cybersecurity startup with a product-led growth motion, this episode delivers concrete mental models and playbooks you can apply.📖 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    • How reframing disappointment as a learning opportunity builds founder resilience
    • Why founder‑led fundraising still involves rejection and ghosting—and how to respond
    • The principles of product‑led growth (PLG) and why a self‑service product scales globally
    • How to use social networks and a B2P mindset to reach practitioners worldwide
    • Why early hires should include product marketing and UI/UX professionals
    • The case for global teams and flattening the emotional ups and downs of startup life
    • How AI‑powered tools will shift security from specialists toward generalists
    • Lessons on respectful hiring and firing from a second‑time founder

    The importance of curiosity and lifelong learning for aspiring cybersecurity professionals🔔 Listen and Subscribe

    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcast
    • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2apfGY403NGr1EyTNkJfG4
    • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-generalists


    👤 Hosts

    • Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
    • Raz Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razkotler/

    👤 Guest

    • Guy Flechter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-flechter-ba475535/

    🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned🧠 Concepts and Research

    • System and Organization Controls (SOC 2): https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/landing/system-and-organization-controls-soc-suite-of-services
    • Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governance,_risk_management,_and_compliance
    • Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): https://www.shopify.com/encyclopedia/customer-acquisition-cost
    • Net Revenue Retention (NRR): https://www.klipfolio.com/resources/articles/what-is-net-revenue-retention

    🏢 Companies

    • Sola Security: https://www.solasecurity.ai
    • Cider Security: https://www.cidersecurity.io
    • AppsFlyer: https://www.appsflyer.com
    • LivePerson: https://www.liveperson.com
    • Lovable: https://www.lovable.dev
    • Cursor: https://www.cursor.sh
    • Stripe: https://stripe.com
    • Monday.com: https://monday.com
    • Notion: https://www.notion.so
    • Wix: https://www.wix.com
    • Figma: https://www.figma.com
    • Canva: https://www.canva.com

    🎧 Podcast and Media

    • Lenny’s Podcast: https://www.lennyspodcast.com
    • Pattern Breakers Podcast: https://www.patternbreakers.com/podcast

    📚 Books and Articles

    • Pattern Breakers by Mike Maples Jr. & Peter Ziebelman: https://www.patternbreakers.com/book
    • The New AI Growth Playbook: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/the-new-ai-growth-playbook
    • The Rise of Cursor: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/the-rise-of-cursor

    #ProductLedGrowth #cybersecurity #SecondTimeFounder
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Hard Truths from Indonesia’s Startup Scene (ep 64)

    Hard Truths from Indonesia’s Startup Scene (ep 64)
    Jan 13 2026
    Martyn Terpilowski shares a candid, finance-driven perspective on Indonesia’s startup ecosystem, venture capital culture, and the structural challenges facing innovation in emerging markets. Drawing on his background in hedge funds and years of operating a bootstrapped B2B company, he explains why many venture-backed businesses failed to build sustainable revenue models.The conversation explores why market size alone does not guarantee success, how unrealistic return expectations distort investment behavior, and why meritocracy and long-term thinking are essential for building resilient companies. Martyn also reflects on why Singapore has become a more attractive base for global expansion, the importance of regulatory trust, and the role of foreign investment in accelerating real innovation.📖 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy revenue quality matters more than growthThe limits of TAM-driven investment logicHow retention proves real product valueWhy meritocracy drives stronger companiesThe role of regulation in investor trustWhy Singapore attracts global capitalHow unrealistic VC expectations hurt foundersThe importance of long-term executionWhy innovation needs real incentivesHow market structure shapes outcomes🔔 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/👤 GuestMartyn Terpilowski: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyn-terpilowski-66aba850/🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned📚 Concepts and ResearchVenture Capital: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_capitalTotal Addressable Market: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_addressable_marketMeritocracy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MeritocracyForeign Direct Investment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_direct_investment🏢 Companies and ProductsBhumi Varta Technology: https://bvarta.comWeWork: https://www.wework.comHitachi: https://www.hitachi.comNTT: https://group.ntt/enGoldman Sachs: https://www.goldmansachs.com👥 People and ProfilesAdam Neumann: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Neumann🌏 Additional ReadingIndonesia Economy Overview (World Bank):https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/indonesia
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Forget Product Market Fit (ep 63)

    Forget Product Market Fit (ep 63)
    Jan 4 2026

    Meiran Galis (Scytale) breaks down the essential B2B SaaS metrics every founder needs to track. Learn how founder-led sales and SOC 2 compliance drive startup growth from 0 to 1.

    Meiran explains how founder-led selling, trust-building, and relentless learning shaped the company’s early years, and why the first phase of a startup is less about perfect strategy and more about judgment, grit, and moving fast despite uncertainty. He reflects on product-market fit vs. problem-market fit, SaaS metrics like churn and NRR, and the trade-offs between SMB and enterprise go-to-market paths.

    The conversation also dives into hiring mistakes, culture, solo-founder psychology, segmentation in outbound sales, and why founders must operate as generalists — doing legal reviews, negotiations, product, partnerships, and customer conversations long before teams exist. Looking ahead, Meiran shares his views on AI as the next major infrastructure wave, and Scytale’s role in trust, security, and compliance in an AI-driven world.

    📖 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    • Why early-stage startups operate in “survival mode” and why every deal matters
    • Problem-market fit vs product-market fit — and why founders should solve pain before building scale
    • How founders can build trust without a product by asking the right questions
    • Why churn, retention, CAC, and NRR shape SaaS sustainability
    • The trade-offs between SMB vs enterprise go-to-market paths
    • How segmentation, culture, and timing affect outbound sales success
    • Lessons from early hiring mistakes and what to look for in first employees
    • The reality of being a solo founder and making decisions without consensus
    • Why founders must become generalists across sales, product, legal, and partnerships
    • How AI is reshaping compliance, trust, and infrastructure at a global scale

    🔔 Listen and Subscribe

    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcast
    • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2apfGY403NGr1EyTNkJfG4
    • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-generalists

    👤 Host

    • Raz Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razkotler/

    👤 Guest

    • Meiran Galis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meiran/


    🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned

    • Scytale (Company): https://scytale.ai
    • SOC 2 System and Organization Controls: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_and_Organization_Controls
    • Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governance,_risk_management,_and_compliance
    • Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_acquisition_cost
    • Net Revenue Retention (NRR): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_revenue_retention

    #AIRevolution#SaaS#entrepreneurship
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
  • Year-End Reality Check: Show & Startup (ep 62)

    Year-End Reality Check: Show & Startup (ep 62)
    Dec 31 2025

    This Year End episode looks back at how The Generalists grew through consistency, experimentation, and momentum across the year. Michael and Raz reflect on building the show, learning from live events and community, and how creative discipline turns into muscle memory when you keep shipping.

    The conversation also explores Raz’s nine month startup journey and the decision to step back when timing and alignment were not right. They discuss learning through experience, identity as a builder, and how to think about what comes next when a path is not linear.

    Final episode for the year and we will return in January with Season 3!

    📖 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    • How The Generalists grew through consistency and experimentation
    • Why momentum matters more than perfect planning
    • What Raz learned from nine months building a startup
    • How to process setbacks without losing identity as a builder
    • Why careers and founder journeys are rarely linear
    • How timing, alignment, and self reflection shape the next step

    🔔 Subscribe for more strategy, career insights & founder reflections

    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcast
    • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2apfGY403NGr1EyTNkJfG4?si=a25c777a19854616
    • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-generalists

    👥 Hosts

    • Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
    • Raz Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razkotler/
    Show More Show Less
    48 mins
  • Why Comfort is Killing Your Success (ep 61)

    Why Comfort is Killing Your Success (ep 61)
    Dec 26 2025
    From flying military rescue helicopters in life-or-death missions to advising leadership teams inside global corporations, Dr. Paul Taylor explains why accountability, meaning, and psychological hardiness matter more than ever in modern work and life. Paul contrasts the peer-to-peer accountability found in small, high-trust military teams with what happens as organizations scale — where responsibility diffuses, standards slip, and people quietly “get away with it.”He introduces Dunbar’s Number (~130 people) to explain why trust, purpose, and clarity begin to erode as teams grow, and why the solution isn’t more process or hierarchy, but reconnecting daily work to mission, behavior, and shared standards of performance.The conversation goes deeper into hardiness vs resilience, hormesis, stress physiology, leadership under adversity, parenting for capability instead of comfort, and why exposure to challenge — rather than protection from it — builds confidence, health, and agency.📖 What You’ll LearnWhy peer accountability beats top-down control in high-performance teamsHow accountability erodes as companies scale and how to prevent itWhat Dunbar’s Number explains about trust, purpose, and complexityWhy startups lose alignment as they grow and how mission gets dilutedThe difference between hardiness vs resilience (and why it matters)How stress perception rewires physiology - challenge vs threat responseWhy debriefs and learning from failure are essential in elite teamsHow parents unintentionally weaken resilience and what to do instead• Practical frameworks for meaning, purpose, behavior, and leadership under stress🔔 Listen and SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2apfGY403NGr1EyTNkJfG4?si=a25c777a19854616Apple 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/👤 GuestDr. Paul Taylor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpauljtaylor/🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned🧠 Concepts and ResearchDunbar’s Number: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar%27s_numberOrganizational Silos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizational_siloHarvard Business Review Accountability and Teams: https://hbr.org/📚 Books by Dr. Paul TaylorDeath by Comfort: https://www.drpauljtaylor.com/death-by-comfortThe Hardiness Effect: https://www.drpauljtaylor.com/the-hardiness-effect🎧 PodcastThe Hardiness Podcast: https://www.drpauljtaylor.com/podcast📚 Additional ReadingCourage Under Fire James Stockdale: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courage_Under_Fire_(Stockdale)The Daily Stoic Ryan Holiday: https://dailystoic.com/
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins