Afleveringen
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How did a teenage obsession with Pokemon and Runescape spark a global movement to transform the $31B anime industry? In episode 7, I sit down with Alex Xu (aka Zagabond), founder of Azuki, the groundbreaking NFT project with over $2B in trading volume.
We explore his journey from childhood hobbies to a career at Google and Amazon, and how he built one of the most innovative ventures in the anime and NFT space. Alex shares the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial path, including controversies that shaped him as a leader. We also dive into Azukiâs future plans, including the acquisition of Anime.com and his vision to democratize the anime industry.
Whether youâre a fan of NFTs, anime, or entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration. Donât miss it!
Highlights:00:00:00 - Trailer00:10:47 - Correlation of childhood trauma & founder success00:15:18 - How RuneScape & Pokemon cards made a difference00:25:55 - Sparking a $1.9B dollars global movement00:29:56 - "Now they want to see this character fail"00:41:27 - Reinventing Anime.com00:49:59 - What would you say to 20 year old Alex Xu?Full access: https://beacons.ai/ymile_podcastTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@youmakeitlookeasy
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A startup idea born at a bus stop? In episode 6, I sat with the ex-COO of Traveloka, Alfan Hendro, to explore how identifying simple customer problems can spark game-changing businesses.
Alfan shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting as a lecturer in Brunei, where he founded SG House, a real estate property portal later acquired by iProperty Group. From there, his journey took him to Indonesia, where he built Voucher Hotel, a hotel booking platform, before joining Traveloka, Southeast Asiaâs leading travel tech unicorn, to scale its hotel booking business and tackle unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now leading his latest venture, RevScaler, Alfan focuses on acquiring and supercharging enterprise SaaS businesses. In this conversation, he highlights the role of curiosity, adaptability, and mentorship in overcoming obstacles and building successful ventures. Whether youâre an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned founder, this episode is packed with insights to inspire and guide your journey.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Spencer Yang shares his journey from co-founding multiple startups to becoming a venture builder and investor. We dive into his early struggles, growing up in an immigrant family, feeling outcasted in school, and finding his tribe in computer games and basketball. These experiences shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and relentless drive.
It was fascinating to understand how Spencer treats life as a series of experiments, taking calculated risks, and embracing failure, helped him transition from startups to corporate roles to angel investing. Most notably, his big break when his previous company was acquired for a reported $400M by the largest crypto exchange. He credits much of his success to serendipitous meetupsâwhat he calls âluckââwhile showing us how we can make our own luck by staying open to opportunities.
This episode is packed with insights on navigating challenges, identifying emerging trends, and building a fulfilling career. Whether youâre an aspiring entrepreneur or simply seeking inspiration, this conversation offers actionable lessons for success.
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At just 26 years old, Luca Netz has already achieved what most can only dream of. From living homeless and couch-surfing with his mom to becoming the CEO of Pudgy Penguinsâa brand that has generated over $1 billion in trading volumeâLucaâs story is one of grit, vision, and relentless determination. Known as the âElon Musk of crypto,â heâs not just building a business; heâs setting the gold standard for innovation in the space.
Before Pudgy Penguins, Luca built a resume that speaks for itself: scaling Gel Blaster into a $100M+ toy empire, playing a pivotal role in the rise of iconic brands like Von Dutch, and contributing to the success of tech giant Ring, which later sold to Amazon for $1B. These milestones are a testament to his ability to spot trends, build brands, and drive exponential growth.
In this episode, Luca reveals his mindset for staying ahead, his journey from zero to millions, and what makes him the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in building both brands and communities. Whether youâre an entrepreneur, a trend-spotter, or someone intrigued by the next big thing, this conversation will inspire you to think bigger and aim higher. Donât miss this deep dive into the story of a leader reshaping the future of digital innovation.
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In this episode, I sat with Karl Mak, co-founder and CEO of Hepmil Media Group, who takes us through his surprising path from aspiring competitive swimmer to media powerhouse in Southeast Asia. If you're a fan of SGAG, MGAG, or PGAG, you have them to thank for! Karl opens up about his leap from a 6-digit real estate career into the startup world, inspired by none other than Jack Maâs big-thinking philosophy. Things didnât always go smoothly, thoughâKarl talks about the reality of his early startup life, like the data breach that nearly took down his first venture, Televate, and what it took to keep going.
Karl dives into the ups and downs of building Hepmil, which started as a comedy platform and quickly expanded into a regional media brand reaching millions. He shares stories of resilience, his belief in the power of teamwork, and how he leaned on his core team to keep the company moving forward. We also talk about the value of mentorship, especially from his investor, Jeffrey, whoâs been a solid guide during the companyâs toughest times.
In this episode, Karl gets real about what it takes to stay positive, build a trusted team, and create growth that actually lasts. His insights arenât just about businessâtheyâre about pushing through and finding purpose even in the toughest moments. If youâre curious about what goes on behind the scenes of building in Southeast Asia, this oneâs for you. Karlâs story shows that sometimes, itâs the craziest setbacks that lead to the most valuable lessons. Tune in for a raw and inspiring chat on the realities of entrepreneurship.
Follow our socials đ â https://beacons.ai/ymile_podcastâ
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In this episode, I sat down with Adrien, co-founder and CEO of SaladStop!, Asiaâs largest health food chain. With over 800 employees and more than 75 outlets globally, this was a highly anticipated episode, as SaladStop! is the only F&B company Iâve interviewed for Season 1.
Adrien shares his unique background, growing up in a vegetarian household and traveling the worldâexperiences that deeply influenced his approach to food and business. We dive into the early days of SaladStop!, including the unwavering support of his family, who even mortgaged their home to help launch the venture.
Adrien discusses SaladStop!âs focus on innovation, sustainability, and adapting local cuisines for a fast-casual setting. He reveals how the companyâs use of technology and data has enabled them to scale while maintaining a strong connection with customers and employees. I hope listeners will gain insights into the challenges of running a family business, navigating the impacts of COVID-19, and Adrienâs vision for SaladStop!âs future growth across Asia. This conversation offers an authentic look at entrepreneurship, food, and building a purpose-driven brand.
Full access đ â https://beacons.ai/ymile_podcast
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Ray Chan is the co-founder & CEO of 9GAG, one of the internetâs largest social platforms with over 200 million monthly users. Known for his fresh take on internet culture, Rayâs influence has expanded into Web3 with Memeland, which has hit a peak market cap of over $1 billion.
From minimum wage to building 9GAG into a social media giant, who knew that Rayâs early odd jobsâworking as a kitchen hand in a fast-food restaurant, a news anchor, and even an intern at a Taoist templeâwould pave the way for his success?
After building one of the worldâs largest social platforms, heâs now venturing into the new internet frontier with Memeland. You wonât believe Rayâs unconventional advice that he credits for his massive success.
Full access đ https://beacons.ai/ymile_podcast
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This project has been on my mind since becoming a podcast fan back in 2019, and itâs heartening to see it finally culminate in Season 1âwith 10 episodes launching over the next few weeks. Here's what to expect!Special thanks to my incredible guests & friends for being so open and real with me. In true start-up fashion, Iâve rolled up my sleeves to record, edit, and produce everything myself! So if you have any feedback, Iâd love to hear it.
