Welcome to a super special Season 15 of The Founders Peak Podcast, live from the 10th milestone edition of the Singapore FinTech Festival! This season is a homecoming to our flagship event, where we immerse you in the heart of the startup ecosystem. Over three days, 23 exceptional founders from around the world took the stage to share their deepest, unfiltered wisdom from their founder journey. Tune in for the most authentic conversations from the global startup world.
What does it mean to truly win? Dilip Modi, founder of Spice Money, shares his journey from chasing inherited ambition to being led by a deeper purpose. In this talk, he reveals how redefining his own definition of “winning” became his greatest success and the key to empowering over a million rural entrepreneurs in India.
For a true survivor, every obstacle is an opportunity. Rosaline Chow Koo, founder of CXA Group, delivers a masterclass in perseverance, reminding us that every setback is data, every pivot is progress, and every failure is fuel for what comes next. A powerful lesson for every founder.
In new markets, should you build product or build trust first? In this energetic and unconventional talk, FailSafe co-founders Flynn and Wui share how choosing “Hard Mode” forces clarity and why, sometimes, the most logical path is the one that doesn’t make sense to anyone else.
Can fear be a founder’s greatest asset? Qin En Looi of Onigiri Ventures delivers a raw and powerful reflection on how fear can be a founder’s greatest teacher—teaching courage through action, identity beyond achievement, and conviction even when no one else believes.
How do you go from designing aircraft engines to building a fintech unicorn? Arthur Mak, co-founder of YouTrip, shares a powerful lesson in how curiosity and optimism can help you build something that truly matters. This talk reminds us that purpose isn’t found—it’s built in the value you create and the people you serve.
What can a mountain teach you about leadership? Adeeb Ahamed, founder of LuLu Financial Holdings, reveals how the simple Swahili mantra of “pole pole” (slowly, slowly) taught him that sustainable leadership lies in balancing purpose, pace, and people. Learn when to surge and when to steady the rhythm for your team.
When you’re generating billions in new credit, hypergrowth isn’t a goal—it’s a daily reality. Avital Pardo, co-founder of Pagaya, breaks down how to manage the chaos by focusing on three pillars: people, product, and process. This is a playbook for scaling at breakneck speed and knowing when to level the plane.
Building a unicorn is an emotional rollercoaster. Mathias Imbach, co-founder of the world’s first digital asset bank, Sygnum, gives an essential guide to navigating the intense swings of entrepreneurship, showing how passion, people, and positivity can help you turn that volatility into fuel.
In the world of venture-backed startups, playing it safe is the riskiest move of all. Anna Joo Fee, a solo, non-technical founder, gives a masterclass in conviction, teaching us that avoiding death is not the same as thriving. To truly succeed, you have to stop playing not to lose and start playing to win.
What does it take to go from village roots to building one of Southeast Asia’s largest fintech companies? Shou Dong, co-founder of ADVANCE.AI, shares an inspiring story about the three kinds of GUTS a founder needs: the courage to never give up, the courage to change, and the courage to serve a mission bigger than yourself.
After leading two unicorns (Freelancer.com and Bukalapak) through massive IPOs, Willix Halim knows what it takes to win. In this rapid-fire masterclass, he delivers eight incredibly sharp and usable insights, covering everything from metrics and fundraising to the critical importance of speed and knowing your numbers to survive and thrive.
In the startup world, there is only one strategy that truly matters: survival. Ankit Ratan of Signzy tells a gripping and honest story of near-death moments, teaching us that cash buys you time, and sometimes, the oxygen you need to survive comes from the most unexpected places.
What if being underestimated is your greatest advantage? Vincent Iswara, co-founder of DANA, delivers an inspiring message for every founder who feels overlooked, showing us that being the underdog gives you the freedom to rewrite the rules and the hunger to be undeniable.
From commercial pilot to co-founding Latin America’s biggest unicorn, Rappi, Juan Pablo Ortega knows about navigating turbulence. In this talk, he offers a powerful reminder that the greatest companies are not just built on hustle, but on a deep, unwavering purpose that fuels you through the inevitable storms of the founder’s journey.
Your greatest idea might be hidden in your deepest frustration. Joe Kinvi, founder of Borderless, delivers a powerful lesson on how your personal pain can be your greatest asset, revealing a systemic problem that, when solved, can unlock economic empowerment for an entire generation.
Can code dismantle inequity? Winston Damarillo, a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, delivers a powerful call to action, urging us to use the meritocracy of code not just to build products, but to disrupt systemic inequality and create true economic freedom for everyone.
Starting a company is like “eating glass while staring into the abyss.” Vince Vissers of Firsty gives a raw and hilarious tour of the founder’s marathon, reminding us that the joy isn’t in the comfort of the finish line, but in the courage you discover during the brutal, glass-eating climb.
How do you lead a company through a military coup and a global pandemic? Brad Jones tells the powerful story of Wave Money in Myanmar, revealing that true resilience is built on three pillars: prioritizing your people, cultivating adaptability through brutal honesty, and leading with deep empathy.
The entrepreneurial journey takes a toll that no one talks about. Shivashish Chatterjee, co-founder of DMI Group, delivers a candid and necessary conversation about the hidden neurological costs of being a founder and the critical importance of managing the one risk we often ignore: our own well-being.