While the rest of Southeast Asia was chasing the "super app" dream and burning cash on subsidies, Qualgro took a different path. For the last decade, this VC firm has quietly focused on the "boring back end of the internet", B2B software, data, and AI.



General Partner Weisheng Neo joins us to explain why this approach is paying off. 

He also discusses why the NASDAQ isn't always the best exit for regional startups (and why the Tokyo Stock Exchange might be), why he views the current funding climate as a "natural correction" rather than a crisis, and how to build companies for "quality growth" in an era of high interest rates.



We discuss:


Why Qualgro bet on B2B software over consumer tech.


The "mid-market ceiling": Why $200-400M exits are the sweet spot for SEA.


The Appier case study: Why they listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.


Identifying "AI-native" startups vs. ChatGPT wrappers.


Why "management by consensus" is a death knell for startups.



Image Credit: Shutterstock

While the rest of Southeast Asia was chasing the "super app" dream and burning cash on subsidies, Qualgro took a different path. For the last decade, this VC firm has quietly focused on the "boring back end of the internet", B2B software, data, and AI.General Partner Weisheng Neo joins us to explain why this approach is paying off.&nbsp;He also discusses why the NASDAQ isn't always the best exit for regional startups (and why the Tokyo Stock Exchange might be), why he views the current funding climate as a "natural correction" rather than a crisis, and how to build companies for "quality growth" in an era of high interest rates.We discuss:<ul><li>Why Qualgro bet on B2B software over consumer tech.</li><li>The "mid-market ceiling": Why $200-400M exits are the sweet spot for SEA.</li><li>The Appier case study: Why they listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.</li><li>Identifying "AI-native" startups vs. ChatGPT wrappers.</li><li>Why "management by consensus" is a death knell for startups.</li></ul>Image Credit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/close-map-southeast-asia-displaying-thailand-2648220493?trackingId=729ac902-78f4-4c78-91c8-d806a3f9c1ee">Shutterstock</a>

The flagship entrepreneurship show on BFM, featuring personal business stories from early stage start-ups, all the way to billionaire octogenarians in Malaysia and abroad. Notable guests include Martin Cooper (father of the mobile phone), Julian Assange (founder of WikiLeaks), Ralph Henry Baer (father of video games), Tony Buzan (Mindmap Guru), Isaac Tigrett (Hard Rock Cafe founder), Robert Kiyosaki (Financial Guru), Nick Vujicic (motivational speaker) and more. Tap into this valuable resource of shared experiences for the SME industry, which also touches on news, issues and trends affecting the business community and beyond.

Open For Business

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