010: The Global Perspective on Accelerators & Venture Capital w/ SparkLabs' Bernard Moon
Release Date: 01/21/2020
052: THE MIDDLE EAST STARTUP ECOSYSTEM: The money is there, now what?
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If you keep up to date with the latest technology news, you know that the momentum and investment has shifted from Asia to the Middle East. But gone are the days where countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE just import technology and talent - the new trend across the Middle East is how to create a home-grown technology startup ecosystem - and this is what we are going to cover in today’s podcast. Let’s face it - money is not going to be an issue - but as we have seen from other countries, just throwing money at the startup ecosystem is no guarantee that it will be successful. ...
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051: AI, CHATGPT & FLYING TAXIS: How Government-led initiatives drive the Middle East's Innovation Ecosystem
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In Part II of our Middle East Deep Dive, we talk with Carrington Malin to find out how the government's in the Middle East are driving unprecedented growth and innovation. But it's more than just the tech, they are up-skilling their workforces and training students on how to leverage emerging technologies to transform the traditional industries that support their economies - and develop new ones. Exciting times to say the least... Show Notes: 1:00 Intro to Carrington Malin and the various roles he has played in the Middle East’s technology ecosystem for the past 30 years. 5:00...
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050: RECESSION? WHAT RECESSION? How the Middle East is driving technology innovation and spend
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This is the first in a series on Technology and Innovation trends in the Middle East. Things have gone quiet in Asia post-pandemic - and the global recession has not helped. However, the Middle East is thriving. Hardly a week goes by where there isn’t another jaw-dropping announcement related to emerging technologies like AI, autonomous vehicles and the Metaverse in the Middle East - or the massive investment in initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s NEOM. To help us delve deeper into the Middle East’s technology innovation landscape, I’m joined by . He's based in Abu Dhabi,...
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049: PROPTECH 2023: Moving Beyond the Buzzwords
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In this episode, we are joined by Jordan Kostelac, co-founder of Deploy Capital, to discuss the current state - and what the future holds - for PropTech in Asia Pacific. Show Notes: 02:50 What the hell is PropTech and is it still a buzzword? 02:45 Intro to Jordan Kostelac, Asia’s PropTech Provocateur 06:45 Jordan’s experience working with PropTech startups with the JLL & Lendlease “Propell Asia” accelerator programme. 08:05 Examples of PropTech startups in Asia that are delivering value 13:45 How will PropTech in Asia evolve in the future? 22:15 AI & PropTech: so many...
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048: Why RETURN TO THE OFFICE Strategies FAIL (Hint: FREE BEER is not enough)
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We need to face the facts - our Return to the Office strategies are failing. Giving away free beer once a week is not enough to make our employees WANT to come back to the office. So what will make them? That’s what we are going to discuss today. I’m joined by Helen Snowball, JLL’s Global Head of People Solutions and Experience, to discuss how showing empathy, creating purpose and delivering enhanced employee experiences are the keys to attracting and retaining talent in the post pandemic world. Show notes: 00:30 Intro to , Global Head of People Solutions and...
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047: Driving INNOVATION and SUSTAINABILITY in the F&B Industry
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One of the challenges with Sustainability is that while people like talking about it, it can be hard to find people driving real impact. But luckily for you, today’s guest is one that it driving impact. In this episode of the TechBurst Asia podcast, we will speak to Adrien Desbaillets, the CEO and Co-Founder of Salad Stop, about the growth of his business - and how they were able to deliver SouthEast Asia’s first Net Zero F and B outlet. 00:30 Intro to Adrien & SaladStop! 05:00 How technology and a drive to innovate has contributed to their expansion to 65 stores in...
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046: 2022 GADGET FIX: How APPLE's new SMARTPHONES & SMARTWATCH will impact the industry
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Apple recently announced it's latest smartphones and smartwatch, so it's time to bring Asia's top device analyst - IDC's Bryan Ma - back onto the TechBurst Asia podcast to discuss what these launches mean to the industry. 00:45 Overview of the Apple Launch Event 02:00 Apple goes after the competitive athlete market with the Apple Watch Ultra - what does it mean for vendors like Garmin and Suunto? Or the other leader smartwatch - the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro.? 08:00 Bryan’s view of the new Apple iPhone 14 Satellite communications eSIMs 09:30 Why does the new iPhone 14 have a...
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045: Beyond ESG: Why IMPACT INVESTING needs to be the NEXT BIG THING
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Just 10 years ago, today's guest (Rafael Aldon) worked in telecoms in the UK. But over the past decade, he moved to Singapore as he first transitioned to Private Equity, then early stage Venture Capital, and finally into Impact Investing. It's been quite a journey! He’s also the co-host of 2 podcasts (Investing for Impact and Disruptors for Good) on Cause Artist, which is a discovery hub for conscious consumers, social entrepreneurs and impact investors. If you don’t know what impact investing is, you’ll love this episode because it will give you a solid understanding not only...
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044: AR/VR and the METAVERSE: What's REAL and What's HYPE?
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After a decade of struggling to live up to the hype, augmented reality and virtual reality are finally gaining traction in the B2C and B2B spaces. Today, we will sit down with Auggd’s Matthias Krampe to discuss the 3 main reasons for this. First, the technologies and ecosystems that support AR & VR have evolved considerably. Second, B2B customers are starting to understand how these technologies can be leveraged to deliver tangible business value through a variety of use cases. And third, they are intrinsically linked to the Metaverse, which has to be approaching the top of the hype...
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043: SMART CITIES 2022: Unblocking the MEGA-BLOCKERS
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We bring together 3 panelists representing the supply, demand and design sides of the Smart Cities ecosystem to discuss what it will take for Smart Cities to move beyond the hype.
info_outlineHear the latest insights on the global accelerator and venture capital industries from one of Silicon Valley’s leading players, SparkLabs Group Partner & Co-Founder, Bernard Moon.
01:15 Intro to the SparkLabs Group accelerators and VC funds - and how back in 2012 they came up with the concept to launch their first accelerator in Seoul
04:45 What locations are you planning for the launch of the next SparkLabs accelerators?
06:05 Overview of one of the latest SparkLabs initiatives - SparkLabs Frontier - which partners with universities to drive innovation
- The first program is with Arizona State University - the #1 ranked US university for innovation
09:30 Many accelerators start in the US and go global. SparkLabs started out as a global accelerator. Did that make it harder or easier to raise funding and attract applicants?
10:30 The SparkLabs strategy is to grow slowly, but the model and culture works. Bernard cites how Edgar Chiu has turned SparkLabs Taipei into the leading accelerator in Taiwan in the first two years after launch.
11:40 Startups don’t come to SparkLabs for the money, they come to be part of the SparkLabs Ecosystem.
- How does SparkLabs differentiate from the other leading accelerator programs, like Y Combinator, TechStars and Plug & Play?
13:30 What makes a good accelerator program?
- Are there too many accelerators?
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- 60% of corporate accelerators fail within 2 years - CB Insights
- 100+ accelerators and incubators in Singapore alone
- Is the industry set for a shake-up?
17:30 An overview of the SparkLabs venture capital funds
19:50 SparkLabs has invested in over 260 companies, what are some of the highlights?
22:00 Silicon Valley has long been the home of venture capital - but many firms are now looking to Asia. Where does the Valley see the opportunities in Asia?
- The next billion middle class in Asia
25:00 Overview of the recent launch of SparkLabs Foundry - SparkLabs’ “Innovation as a Service” offering for the Fortune 500 - and it’s partnership with SRI International, one of the world’s leading research and innovation institutes.
27:25 Bernard just launched his 13th Annual Industry Predictions on VentureBeat - titled “2020: Our meatless, cashless, city-less future” - what are the highlights?
32:25 You live in Silicon Valley, but the other co-founders live in Korea, the UK and Singapore. How do you manage to keep everyone in contact - and on the same page - with regards to your investment strategy, expansion plans, etc.?
34:00 Let’s say SparkLabs doesn’t exist - and you wanted to start an accelerator today. Where would you locate it - and why? (spoiler alert: it’s not Silicon Valley)
35:15 What do you know today - that you wish you knew when you started SparkLabs?
36:50 Final question - tell us something about yourself that we don’t already know.
