Blockchain technology is poised to reshape the future of payments and finance through its unique programmability and decentralized nature. One of its most significant advantages is the ability to settle transactions instantly, eliminating the delays and risks typically associated with traditional payment systems, especially in cross-border scenarios.

In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, Tianwei Liu, a co-Founder and CEO of StraitsX, discusses the evolving landscape of digital currencies, including stablecoins, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and tokenized bank deposits.

Some of the topics Tianwei covered in detail:

• Emphasizing how vital it is to empower developers with the right tools to innovate. By building better APIs, StraitsX opened up a world of possibilities for other entrepreneurs and engineers to create more efficient payment systems.
• Working closely with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to ensure StraitsX' operations met regulatory standards. Tianwei explained how StraitsX was the first fintech in Singapore to be granted the widely accepted stored value facility license, which allowed them to scale operations.
• Stablecoins represent a significant evolution in the payment ecosystem, offering the benefits of blockchain technology while maintaining the stability of traditional currencies.
• Tianwei highlighted the immense potential of programmable money, which allows for the automation of business logic—such as expiration dates, discount vouchers, or conditional payments.
• Despite the complexity of blockchain and the technologies behind it, Tianwei believes the ultimate goal is to make these innovations invisible to the end user.

In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, John Lombard, CEO for APAC at NTT DATA, shared his leadership journey and key insights gained from a career spanning consulting, international business, and technology. John also discussed the future of AI and its transformative potential, comparing it to the impact of electricity.

Some of the topics John discussed in more detail include:

• The importance of flexibility, cultural awareness, and the ability to make informed decisions based on past cycles
• He emphasized that AI will be human-led in the near term, supporting rather than replacing human intelligence
• The growing demand for lightweight, specialized AI models
• John further stressed NTT DATA’s commitment to sustainability, particularly in reducing energy consumption in data centers and developing green technologies.
• The need for companies and individuals to invest in AI skills

Financial empowerment, especially for women, is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of personal development. Recently, the Asia Tech Podcast spoke with Pauline Kirk, the founder of Femvestorsglobal. Pauline's mission to empower women through financial literacy and independence is both inspiring and a call for change.

Some of the topics that Pauline discussed in detail:

• Pauline uses the term "The Disney Effect" to describe how societal norms and childhood influences shape women’s attitudes toward money.
• Pauline candidly shared her own experiences with financial highs and lows, and turned her "mess" into a message, advocating for financial literacy and empowerment.
• She emphasizes that understanding and managing one's emotions around money is crucial to developing a healthier relationship with money.
• Embracing failure as a necessary step toward success. In the context of financial empowerment, it means acknowledging past mistakes without letting them define your future.
• Financial independence starts with good habits, stressing the importance of developing and maintaining habits that align with long-term financial goals.

In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, we explore the rapidly evolving startup ecosystem in Southeast Asia with Fannie Soubiele, Head of Venture Capital Business Development Southeast Asia at Google Cloud. Fannie shares her journey from working at some of the region's earliest venture capital firms to her current role at Google Cloud and her involvement with Epic Angels, a female-led angel investment network.

Some of the topics that Fannie covered included:

• Resilience as a fundamental trait for any successful entrepreneur. Maintaining the determination to keep moving forward, learning from failures, and staying committed to the vision despite setbacks.
• The evolution of Southeast Asia'a startup ecosystem. It is not just about the number of startups but also about the increasing sophistication of the support networks, including accelerators, VCs, and government initiatives.
• How visionary leaders are crucial for setting the direction of a startup and rallying their team around a common goal. Their ability to see beyond the immediate challenges and focus on long-term objectives make the difference between success and failure.
• A thriving startup ecosystem has far-reaching impacts beyond just economic growth. It can drive social change by providing new ways to address societal challenges and by fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
• The potential for angel investing to democratize wealth creation. Through platforms like Epic Angels, experienced professionals from diverse backgrounds can contribute to and benefit from the startup ecosystem.

In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast featuring Rob Bradley, Senior Vice President of Digital Revenue Strategy and Operations at CNN International Commercial, we explored the profound impact of technology on the media industry.

Some of the topics that Rob discussed in detail included:

• The media industry has always been at the forefront of technological innovation.
• How programmatic advertising changed the game and made the sales role more complex and valuable.
• While technology enables scale and efficiency of ad placement, a human touch still drives storytelling and creativity.
• The necessity to be data-driven to build trust and maintain long-term client relationships.
• How the media industry’s evolution has been relentless, with new platforms, technologies, and consumer behaviors constantly reshaping the landscape.

"I want Woodstock to be a go to place for any investing so whether you're investing in as you know, stocks or bonds or crypto and FX, whatever that is. And our priorities will obviously change, and things would take a long time, but for sure, Woodstock could be a good, a good place where people trust and, you know, they if I go there, I can get valuable advice, advices, and not like, recommend, stock recommends, but like, as in, like, you know, just people just giving, you know, coaching, like, oh, you know, this is, this is a good book, or this is a, you know, how you should think, like, that kind of advice, right? So this is where people should come for the community. They're valuable community, and also for easy access to markets, and also easy access to a bunch of different financial products, but also just be a better, you know, financial literate. Just increase your literacy in the markets, and therefore just become a better professional." - Brian Yun

The Asia Tech Podcast spoke with Brian Yun, a co-Founder and CEO of Woodstock, during which we explored key insights from his entrepreneurial journey. His experiences in engineering, trading, and tech, have equipped him with a unique skill set that he has leveraged to build Woodstock.

Some of the topics that Brian discussed in detail:

• How patience and persistence are essential for sustaining a business through its formative years.
• How his engineering background helps him understand and build complex systems.
• The immense power of social media in building audience, community and engagement.
• Investing is as much about understanding human psychology as it is about financial acumen.
• The importance of improving financial literacy and empowering individuals to make informed investment decisions.

"...when you bring technology into those communities, you can see how the child mortality goes down. You can see how the GDP in the country goes up. You can see all these fantastic innovations coming out of these countries and the entrepreneurship it sparks. But to answer your original question, it's easier to fundraise from organizations and businesses, because they really get it. " - Mea Thompson

The Asia Tech Podcast spoke to Mea Thompson, a co-founder and CCO of Unconnected.org. Mea shared some of her insights into the critical work of bridging the digital divide. Unconnected.org focuses on providing meaningful technology access to underserved communities worldwide, particularly emphasizing the importance of affordability and community-driven solutions.

Some of the issues Mea discussed in detail:

• The digital divide is more than just a connectivity issues. Many communities simply cannot afford the hardware and maintenance costs.
• Community-driven initiatives are key to driving connectivity success.
• Local teachers actually play a pivotal role in the digital inclusion process.
• Empowering local entrepreneurs to run and manage the telecommunications infrastructure, Unconnected ensures that its initiatives continue to benefit the community long after the initial setup.
• The impact of providing internet access goes beyond mere connectivity. It can transform communities economically, socially, and culturally.
• The sheer joy of making a difference in the world and seeing real, tangible impact.

"I think one of my biggest values as a human being is curiosity. I do try to show up a lot every day with curiosity. And so I think that the difference then is that instead of approaching something with judgment, I often approach it from a place of curiosity. I'm like, okay, well, tell me more. I also have a master's degree in conflict resolution, which is a really interesting background for an investor." - Kalsoom Lakhani

The Asia Tech Podcast was joined by Kalsoom Lakhani, a co-Founder and General Partner of I2I Ventures. As a daughter of a Bangladeshi mother and a Pakistani father, Kalsoom grew up with a rich tapestry of cultural experiences, which shaped her into a third culture kid adept at navigating diverse environments. This background fueled her curiosity and empathy, key traits that have significantly influenced her professional life and her approach to investing in Pakistan's nascent but growing startup landscape.

Some of the topics Kalsoom covered in detail:

• The evolution of the Pakistani startup ecosystem, which was still nascent when I2I was started in 2011
• The challenges of ecosystem building requires the convergence of multiple elements—entrepreneurs, investors, regulatory frameworks, and support systems.
• The resilience and ingenuity of Pakistani founders, who often operate with limited resources in challenging environments.
• The growing influence of artificial intelligence and the importance of addressing its ethical and societal implications.
• A recurring theme was the importance of embracing nuance and complexity. Whether in cultural identity, ecosystem building, or technology, Kalsoom advocates for a deeper, more empathetic understanding.