Hard Truths By Vertex

Vertex Ventures interviews leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists and industry experts to uncover the Hard Truths about startups and venture investing

Hosted ByElise Tan

Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we share and uncover Hard Truths – raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital experience across Southeast Asia & India. Tune in to hear from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists and industry experts in the region and to gain industry insights from those in the know.


All Episodes

S3E2 | Burnout, Feedback, and the Making of a Leader: PatSnap CEO’s Story

In this episode of Hard Truths By Vertex, I sit down with Jeffrey to explore how he turned tough feedback into fuel for growth. From starting PatSnap right out of university to leading a global tech company, he shares candid lessons about leadership, building strong teams, and navigating challenges.

S3E1 | Will India hit its EV Targets? | Akshay Shekhar from Kazam

In this episode of Hard Truths By Vertex, we chat with Akshay, co-founder of Kazam, who’s on a mission to revolutionize how we think about EVs and energy.

S2E9 | She dropped out of Harvard to change the lives of 600M women in India — Achitha Jacob

What motivated Achita Jacob to shift her focus from a career in a Fortune 500 healthcare company to founding Proactive for Her, and how does she envision the impact of her work on women’s health in India?

S2E8 | How Guan Dian built a Tech Unicorn from Ground up to address the Trillion-dollar R&D market

Imagine building a global tech powerhouse from scratch. That’s the story of Guan Dian, CMO and APAC GM of PatSnap, a pioneer in AI-powered patent analytics.

S2E7 | How Roshni went from babysitting to owning SEA’s largest parenting empire

In this episode Hard Truths by Vertex, we have a conversation with Roshni Mahtani Cheung, the founder and CEO of The Parentinc, a pioneering parent-tech leader renowned for owning the largest content-community-commerce online platform for parents in the region.

S2E6 | PayPal Mafia Insider on Winning In a Tough Market | Jack Selby

Join host Elise Tan in this special episode of the Hard Truths by Vertex podcast, as she sits down with member of the PayPal mafia, Jack Selby, venture investor and independent film director.

S2E5 | Unlocking the trillion dollar Indian startup ecosystem with Nikhil Marwaha

In this episode, Nikhil Marwaha, Senior Executive Director, shares his extensive investment journey spanning early and later-stage companies in sectors like consumer, B2B enterprise, and healthcare.

S2E4 | Unlocking the Trillion dollar SEA Startup Ecosystem – the Malaysia’s context with Chan Yip Pang

In this episode of Hard Truths by Vertex podcast, Chan Yip Pang, Executive Director at Vertex Ventures SEA & India, explores the Malaysian startup ecosystem, delving into his journey and the three phases of Malaysian tech development.

S2E3 | Unlocking the Trillion dollar SEA Startup Ecosystem – the Indonesia’s context with Gary Khoeng

Indonesia is the largest market in Southeast Asia but with a nascent startup ecosystem, how can entrepreneurs navigate rapid growth while ensuring bottom-line profitability?

S2E2 | Hard Truths about minting the next Indian Unicorn with Piyush Kharbanda

In this episode of Hard Truths by Vertex podcast, Elise Tan and Piyush Kharbanda discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Indian startup ecosystem, drawing insights from successful ventures like KukuFM and Kissht.