SCALE UP - December Recap 2023

12/27/23 • 4 min

I hope you have enjoyed the very last month of SCALE UP this year.
This very last month’s scaling lesson is all about navigating the cycle of life. I think as most of us reflect back this year, one thing we have all learned is that life operates in cycles. From the pandemic-fueled hyper-growth phase to this entire year of navigating uncertainties in the tech world and beyond, both companies and individuals experience these cycles every few years or decades. No one can truly escape this perpetual ebb and flow. High tides and low tides are constants. However, the wise adapt and work with these rhythms of life.
James Raybould emphasized the importance of forever networking in life. Whether we find ourselves riding high or facing challenges, networking should never be neglected. Because time’s most crucial element is compound interest. The depth and duration of our relationships, especially human connections, compound over time. Even when you’re comfortable or feel invincible, remember to extend a helping hand to others. So when your tide recedes, you’ll need that same support.
So how do you work with the tide? You need to get creative and you need to execute. Like Mohan Belani mentioned, it is not the end of the world, good funding environment or bad funding environment. If you are building a good product, you learn to work, pivot and tweak your approaches along the way. This is part of the journey and probably sth that will make you come out stronger. You have to get creative, you have to look at other avenues and you have to execute. Don’t just anticipate. You can do the perfect forecast. But if you don’t execute nothing will materialize and it will become too late after your prediction or forecast is complete.
I hope you have enjoyed this month’s and this entire year’s scale up episodes. Happy to announce that the SCALE UP podcast has also landed in the most popular Chinese podcast channel Xiaohongshu and 即刻App.
👉 Subscribe to never miss an episode! See you in 2024!
#scaleup #podcast #happynewyear

Previous Episode

SCALE UP - Conversation with Mohan Belani, Co-founder & CEO @ e27

My guest this week is Mohan Belani, the Co-founder and CEO of e27, the preeminent platform for fostering connections, providing insights, and facilitating funding opportunities within Southeast Asia's dynamic startup ecosystem. With a compelling vision to equip entrepreneurs with the essential tools for nurturing and expanding their businesses across the Asia-Pacific region, e27 stands as the go-to resource.

Mohan is a trailblazing figure in the Southeast Asian startup and venture capital landscape, having embarked on this journey over a decade ago. His investment journey commenced shortly after completing his studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and he has since achieved notable success as an early-stage investor. Among his noteworthy portfolio companies are ]gLife, NirogStreet, Mindbloom and some early stage funds including Golden Gate Ventures, Kearny Jackson and Foxmont Capital.

In our conversation, I had the privilege of delving deep into Mohan's invaluable insights on scaling, tailored for both investors and startup founders. He also shared invaluable advice for founders navigating the challenges of the current funding landscape, often referred to as the 'funding winter.' Furthermore, Mohan shared the inspiring trajectory of his own personal journey and reflected on the significant leadership transformations he has witnessed over the years.

“Be willing to be misunderstood.”

Subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter for detailed write-ups of the interview.

Next Episode

SCALE UP - Conversation with Dr. Fermin Diez, ex-Senior Partner at Mercer

My guest this week is Dr. Femin Diez, a rewards expert, ex-Senior Partner at Mercer, Professor, Top HR Influencer and Book author. Over the last 40+ years, Dr. Diez has witnessed the evolution of the rewards space through conducting his own research, teaching and working with innovative companies across diverse international markets. One of his lifelong passions is to drive innovation and change in the rewards discipline, which unfortunately haven’t gone through much transformation throughout the last 40-50 years. The way we think about rewards design, motivation, performance and incentives are still largely based on an age-old job-based compensation system that was once developed to solve a labor crisis in the 1940s. In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Diez shares his first-hand research and industry experience on innovative concepts and practices in the rewards space. He also discusses the history and evolution he has seen over the last 4 decades, and the rationale behind why he urges us to challenge old assumptions and adopt a customized approach in the new design. Lastly, he shares his inspirational career story and advice for growth stage startup rewards best practices. "The future of pay - what got us here won’t get us there!" Subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter for detailed write-ups of the interview.