BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Enterprise Explores  >  Why SEA Startups Should Ditch the Silicon Valley Playbook

Why SEA Startups Should Ditch the Silicon Valley Playbook

Dr. Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Co-Chair, Soonicorn Collective

14-Nov-24 12:00

Why SEA Startups Should Ditch the Silicon Valley Playbook

Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem is growing, but is the Silicon Valley playbook holding it back? In this episode of Enterprise Explores, I speak with Dr. Sivapalan Vivekarajah, Co-Chair of the Soonicorn Collective and Senior Partner at ScaleUp Malaysia Accelerator, about the pitfalls of adapting Silicon Valley’s approach to Southeast Asia—especially in Malaysia.

We dive into the revenue-driven pressures faced by startups, question whether the $100 million revenue benchmark is realistic for the region, and explore how rethinking valuations could unlock Southeast Asia’s true entrepreneurial potential. Dr. Siva also unpacks why moving beyond the Silicon Valley mindset might be the key to building sustainable, high-margin ventures that thrive in this unique market.

Key areas of discussion include:

- Revenue Pressures: Why the $100 million target is unrealistic for Southeast Asian startups and the structural challenges it highlights.

- Market Size Dynamics: How VC priorities like market size and revenue multiples often overlook the realities of Southeast Asia’s industries.

- Rethinking Valuations and Mindsets: The need for alternative valuation methods that better reflect Southeast Asia’s market potential, with a focus on building profitable, high-margin businesses.

- VC Dynamics: The pressures on venture capitalists to deliver high returns and how that impacts funding strategies in Southeast Asia.

Produced by: Carol Wong

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  economymanagingmarketsentrepreneursinvestmentsinternational

Tags:  startupsventure capitalsilicon valleysoutheast asia





Play / Pause

Listen now : Open For Business : LIGNO Biotech's co-founders on how they turned a...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Mizuho Bank, tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Denise Wong, Bloomberg Intelligence gives us an outlook of China's infrastructure sector.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of the North-South Initiative on foreign workers in the country

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Human Rights Lawyer Siti Kassim and Tengku Mohamed Fauzi Hamid of SUHAKAM discuss critical issues facing Orang Asli communities.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Dr Hasdy Haron of the National Transplant Resource Centre weighs in on Malaysia’s urgent organ donor shortage and potential reforms to save more lives.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Mizuho Bank, tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Denise Wong, Bloomberg Intelligence gives us an outlook of China's infrastructure sector.

9:35 AM

Ringgit & Sense

Fazrul Farouk, licensed financial planner, I-Max Financial talks about the proposed monthly withdrawals from EPF for retirees,

10:05 AM

Open For Business

LIGNO Biotech's co-founders on how they turned a PhD project on Tiger Milk Mushroom into a profitable and patented RM13M business with global ambitions.

11:00 AM

Tech Talk

Prateek Pashine, Chief Enterprise Business Officer at Maxis, discusses an IDC study on AI adoption in Malaysia — where we stand regionally, what’s holding us back, and how businesses can drive real AI transformation.

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Knight Frank's Allan Sim on why Malaysia's logistics real estate market (warehouses) is holding steady despite a regional slowdown and what it means for investors.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Siti Kassim, Human Rights Lawyer & Tengku Mohamed Fauzi Hamid, Vice Chairman, The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM).

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

How Gendered Disinformation Is a Threat to Women’s Political Participation

4:05 PM

Health & Living

The recently published National Health and Morbidity Survey 2024 focussing on nutrition revealed just how bad Malaysians’ diets are. Now that’s probably not a surprise to most of us but the question remains: what can we do about it? Here to help us break down how we can easily improve our diets and make sure we get all the nutrients we need is dietitian Prof Dr Winnie Chee.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Talkback Thursday

8:00 PM

BBC World Service

This episode of Crowd Science explores all things light - from its properties to its potential.