Michael Waitze Media

04/01/2024

The Greatest Risk Is Not Finding the Right Opportunity

India GameChanger was fortunate to speak with ⁠Praveen Grover⁠, the VP and Managing Director in India for AHEAD⁠. Ahead builds and manages digital platforms that accerelates digital transformation for their partners to create significant and sustainable business impact.

Some of the topics that Praveen discussed in detail included:

- Challenges as stepping stones to success
- Risk-taking and risk mitigation as a calculated strategy
- Strategic expansion into India requires a blend of risk-taking and pragmatism
- Building Ahead in Inida and what its future looks like
- Companies must see India as a strategic long-term destination
- The importance of fulfillment in one's career and life

Some other titles we considered for this episode:

1) Risk Often Leads to Reward
2) Most Entrepreneurs Are Not Risk Takers
3) I Was Missing the Action
4) There Is No Upper Limit to Wisdom, Beauty, and Wealth
5) Failure Is an Inevitable Step to Your Success
6) Young People Don’t Make Good Mercenaries

Listen here ---> https://bit.ly/48HCsqk

03/12/2023

The Evolution of Grab - From Ride Hailing Pioneer to FinTech Powerhouse

In a fascinating conversation at the Singapore FinTech Festival, Kell Jay Lim, Regional Head of GrabFin, shared his insights on the growth and transformation of Grab, a company that has become synonymous with innovation in Southeast Asia. Here are five critical insights drawn from our discussion revealing the journey of Grab from a ride-hailing service to a multifaceted digital platform.

1. The Power of Adaptation and Expansion

Kell Jay Lim recounted how Grab evolved from its origins as a taxi booking app into a diverse digital platform offering food deliveries, grocery deliveries, and financial services. This trajectory highlights the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing environment. The decision to expand into food delivery, after acquiring Uber's business in Southeast Asia, was a pivotal moment.

2. Technological Self-Reliance: Building Custom Solutions

A significant milestone for Grab was developing its mapping system, a move driven by the desire for a product tailored to regional needs. Lim's discussion about this strategic shift underscores how companies can gain from creating in-house solutions that cater to unique operational requirements. This move improved service efficiency, emphasizing the importance of technological self-reliance and innovation.

3. Financial Inclusion as a Mission

Grab's journey into financial services wasn't just a business expansion; it was a step toward fulfilling its mission of empowering everyday entrepreneurs. Lim highlighted the financial struggles of drivers and small merchants who often find themselves excluded from traditional banking services. GrabFin's focus on providing accessible financial products, including loans and insurance, to this underserved demographic illustrates a commitment to social responsibility and inclusivity.

4. Building a Super App: A Seamless Ecosystem

The evolution of Grab into a 'super app' allowed Lim to explain how integrating payment solutions like GrabPay improved user experience and opened doors to further financial services. This integration not only offers convenience to users but also cements customer loyalty and engagement, showcasing the benefits of a seamless, multifunctional digital ecosystem.

5. Future-Forward Thinking: Digital Banking and Beyond

Lim discussed the launch of digital banks in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This strategic move illustrates Grab's forward-thinking approach, where leveraging the power of their platform and understanding their customer base's needs allows them to compete effectively in the digital banking space. It also highlights how companies can use their strengths to diversify into new, yet complementary, business areas.



Watch the full video here:

Join us to discuss Grab's Beginnings, Grab Maps and GrabFin with Kell Jay, Regional Head at GrabFin. Banking, Fintech, and the Insurance Revolution – What Ar...

29/11/2023

We Created Our Whole System to Be Augmentive

The Asia Tech Podcast welcomed Daniel Lim⁠, the Founder and CEO of Pi-xcels⁠, a technology company that specialises in digital receipt issuance, offering an eco-friendly alternative to paper receipts for retailers, corporates, and any establishment that utilises receipts. But it is so much more than that!

Some of the insights I learned from Daniel included:

- The Value of Embracing a Non-Linear Career Path
- The True Power of Collaboration
- The Value of Shopper-Centric Data
- Augmenting Existing Systems for Greater Impact
- Balancing Perfection and Good Enough

This was an incredible conversation. Daniel may tell you otherwise, but he whip smart!



Listen here:

https://asiatechpodcast.com/2023/11/29/ep-304-daniel-lim-pi-xcels-we-created-our-whole-system-to-be-augmentive/

04/11/2023

Focus on the Value, Not on the Valuation

In an upcoming episode of IndiaGameChanger.com, Aashish Mehta, the ceo of nRoad shares his entrepreneurial journey and his experiences of building and exiting multiple companies, the joy of creating real value for his customers and the excitement of starting from scratch all over again.

Watch this quick snippet for a sneak peak into this new episode!

18/10/2023

A Safe Home Is the Foundation of a Good Life

The Asia Tech Podcast recently spoke with ⁠Rhonda Wong⁠, a co-founder and the CEO of Ohmyhome | NASDAQ:OMH⁠.

Ohmyhome is a one-stop prop-tech company that aims to be the most trusted and comprehensive property solution for everyone.

Some of the topics that Rhonda discussed in detail include:

- How her personal journey taught her the importance of having a stable and loving family
- The simple need to provide a better experience to families moving home
- Combining the financial aspect of real estate transactions with a genuine focus on the well-being and satisfaction of Ohmyhome's customers
- Getting comfortable with being an outlier across domains
- The genuine joy she feels when customers reflect their satisfaction with her and the team

Some other titles we considered for this episode:

1) I Come To Work Expecting to Solve Problems
2) You Don’t Need to Have a Larger Place to Be Happy
3) The Power of Aligning Business and Purpose
4) Building Trust in the Property Market
5) A Vision for a More Transparent Real Estate Industry

Full episode here:

https://asiatechpodcast.com/2023/10/18/ep-298-rhonda-wong-ceo-at-ohmyhome-a-safe-home-is-the-foundation-of-a-good-life/

24/09/2023

How Artificial Intelligence Drives Real Business Growth

I had the pleasure of speaking with Malay Parekh, the CEO of Unico Connect, a software development agency based in Mumbai, India. During our conversation, Malay shared his journey in the tech industry and discussed the impact of technology on his life and the world.

Some of the topics Malay Covered:

- How getting his first computer made him the go-to-guy for computer-related questions as a youngster
- Studying for his Masters degree at USC and what he learned from Silicon Valley
- The significance of low-code and no-code platforms in software development
- The challenges of managing projects remotely and building software products that create real impact
- AI’s practical applications and how it drives real business growth



Listen here ---> https://indiagamechanger.com/2023/09/24/ep-45-how-artificial-intelligence-drives-real-business-growth-malay-parekh-unico-connect/