Founder Stories
Explore founders’ untold challenges and pivotal decisions in their journey to success.
Mar 13, 2025
10 schools, 3 continents, 1 mission: how Resolve Foundation’s founder is advocating inclusivity in Hong Kong
With a childhood spanning Spain, the US and Central America, Victoria Wisniewski Otero’s frequent moves culminated in her settling in Hong Kong. The founder of the Resolve Foundation now shares how these formative years influenced her views on inclusivity
Mar 7, 2025
Ms Read executive director Kristy Yong reflects on finding her own footing and learning to trust herself leading a brand that’s over two decades-old
Entrepreneur and second-generation business leader Kristy Yong shares how strong leadership that helps a business outlive its founders’ success
Mar 6, 2025
Blood, sweat and—corn? The Singaporean menstrual health startup rewriting the rules with plant-based pads
Afflicted with debilitating period cramps, Tan Peck Ying co-founded menstrual health company Blood and developed sanitary pads made from corn to foster real and “uncute” conversations about periods
Mar 1, 2025
Why slowing down is the future of beauty, according to KraveBeauty founder and YouTuber Liah Yoo
From a refillable lip oil made with upcycled plum oil to investing in sustainable agroforestry, Liah Yoo, founder of KraveBeauty, is changing the beauty industry one intentional product at a time
Feb 27, 2025
When AI revolutionises home living: Butler’s Jonathan Lam on the future of real estate
What started as a service for city dwellers seeking housekeeping help by Jonathan Lam has transformed into an AI-powered building management system trusted by Hong Kong’s top property developers
Feb 27, 2025
The “tough guy” myth is affecting men’s health—and how this Filipino entrepreneur wants it gone
Many men tend to avoid doctor visits, dismissing symptoms in an effort to “tough it out”. But what starts as neglect can lead to undiagnosed conditions and serious health risks. Kiyanusch Braun, co-founder of GoRocky, is on a mission to change that
Feb 6, 2025
How iMotorbike co-founder Sharmeen Looi fended her way to success in a male-dominated industry
From funding her education through beauty pageants to co-founding iMotorbike, Sharmeen Looi shares how a single email changed her life and set her on the path to building one of Southeast Asia’s leading motorcycle marketplaces
Jan 31, 2025
Christophe Bariou was told he had weeks to live. Now he’s building a sustainable future
While he has long been a champion for fighting harmful environmental impacts, a cancer diagnosis truly propelled Christophe Bariou to dedicate his career and life to advocating for a more ethical and sustainable world
Jan 25, 2025
20,000 users in 48 hours: YouTrip CEO Caecilia Chu on nailing product-market fit
“The most important quest of an entrepreneur is to focus on your customers,” says YouTrip co-founder and CEO Caecilia Chu on the latest episode of Tatler Gen.T’s Crazy Smart Asia podcast
Jan 23, 2025
This Chinese unicorn company uses AI to help Unilever and L’Oréal with their content
Chinese unicorn company Tezign, co-founded by Fan Ling, uses AI to help the likes of Unilever and L’Oréal to manage, produce and distribute content
Jan 16, 2025
Why Validus co-founder Nikhilesh Goel hears everyone, but listens to no one
The group CEO of Singapore-based fintech startup Validus discusses his view on making decisions and assessing feedback, and the toll of being an entrepreneur
Jan 9, 2025
How Mulan Group’s Giada Zhang turned her identity crisis into a culinary success
Much like the Disney heroine Mulan, Giada Zhang, a second-generation Chinese immigrant living in Italy, transformed her identity struggle into a source of strength to steer a leading Asian cuisine venture in Europe
Jan 3, 2025
Growth, grind, and vision: How Venon Tian brewed success with Zus Coffee
From e-commerce and laundromats to coffee, Venon Tian’s entrepreneurial journey is grounded by perseverance, adaptability, and a vision to bring Southeast Asian coffee to the world
Jan 4, 2025
How AI Guided’s Florence Chan helps the visually impaired navigate the world better with a smart belt
In a tech-savvy world, startup founder Florence Chan was shocked to learn that many visually impaired people still use traditional navigation aids. Her solution? An AI-powered belt
Dec 27, 2024
Focus on profitability not revenue, says Cloversoft’s Angela Sim
As Cloversoft turns ten this year, co-founder Angela Sim reminisces about its journey and how the fear of death inspired the creation of her plant-based, sustainable personal care brand
Dec 23, 2024
How GloStudy’s Fiona O realised being a mother would not be the end of her entrepreneurial career
Inspired by fellow female entrepreneurs, edtech founder Fiona O realised she didn’t have to choose between motherhood and her career as she welcomed her first child
Dec 19, 2024
Meet Tim Yap, the ‘eventologist’ who puts the spotlight on passion, people and possibilities
If there were ever a personification of “larger than life”, Tim Yap would be it
Dec 16, 2024
Wati co-founder Bianca Ho on how her grandmother inspired her startup dreams
The co-founder and COO of automated conversation software company Wati initially didn’t believe the idea behind her company would work. Today, its technology of simplifying messaging for businesses is being used in over 160 countries
Dec 5, 2024
Meet the lawyer behind Parlon, a one-stop beauty and wellness platform
Combining her legal acumen, tech expertise and creativity, Claire Ongcangco created Parlon, a platform that has transformed how Filipinos discover, book and buy beauty and wellness services
Dec 5, 2024
How Livescape Group’s Iqbal Ameer is taking live entertainment into the future
Livescape Group CEO Iqbal Ameer is transforming the industry using AI and blockchain technology, democratising fan experiences and empowering stakeholders to take risks
Nov 30, 2024
With OceanX, Mark Dalio is bringing Hollywood filmmaking to ocean research and education
What started as a childhood fascination with nature evolved into OceanX, a non-profit initiative that Mark Dalio and his investment mogul father co-founded to promote ocean awareness and research through storytelling
Nov 28, 2024
How Halia’s founder Alexandra Jocom champions sustainability, one biodegradable period pad at a time
Revolutionising menstrual care with eco-friendly innovation, Alexandra Jocom’s Halia proves that sustainability and comfort can flow hand in hand
Nov 15, 2024
How Press Start Studios’s Vince Siu went from playing games to building his own
For Vince Siu, what started as a hobby of playing board and card games with friends and family has evolved into a business of helping people learn and realise their creativity through play
Nov 8, 2024
‘You have to have a healthy disrespect for industry experts’: Transcelestial’s Rohit Jha is connecting the world using deep space
Using lasers and a proprietary shoebox-sized device, Rohit Jha’s company Transcelestial is increasing connectivity speeds and access around the globe—and soon beyond it
Oct 31, 2024
She Loves Tech’s Rhea See on what the current investment landscape can learn from the way women build businesses
As the startup accelerator She Loves Tech turns ten this year, co-founder and CEO Rhea See tells us how things have changed for female entrepreneurs in the past decade
Oct 24, 2024
From gamer to gamechanger, Tryke Gutierrez is on a mission to bring Philippine esports to the top tier
From childhood victories to leading one of the biggest esports agencies in Southeast Asia, Tryke Gutierrez has always played to win—and now he’s changing the game itself
Oct 10, 2024
Turning her pain into power, Cheryl Wee is on a mission to build a holistic wellness ecosystem
The rebranding of Cheryl W Wellness and Weight Management to Company of Wellness reflects Cheryl Wee’s journey of personal transformation and a commitment to holistic wellness
Sep 26, 2024
This organisation aims to remove 10 million kilograms of plastic from the oceans by 2025
Tom Peacock-Nazil, founder of Seven Clean Seas and a first place winner of the Blue Water Heroes 2023, is working towards his dream of a plastic-free ocean
Sep 3, 2024
The Singapore startup using AI to transform traditional health screenings
Chew Tee-Ming of Mito Health discusses how his startup is using AI to reduce the cost and time taken to generate health screening results and personalised health plans for clients
Aug 24, 2024
Why running a startup is like playing 3-D chess, says Reach52’s Edward Booty
Edward Booty, whose startup Reach52 is improving healthcare and health literacy in rural communities across the world, discusses finding your move out of difficult situations, taking VC money and his favourite tattoo
Aug 19, 2024
What it’s like to fundraise for a high-growth startup while pregnant, according to ThoughtFull’s Joan Low
The founder and CEO of mental health startup ThoughtFull discusses navigating parenthood and startup life and the biases that female founders continue to face
Jul 29, 2024
Beyond the cashmeres, Carolina Cucinelli is continuing her family’s legacy in gentle luxury
It might not shout about itself, but among the world’s most influential people, Brunello Cucinelli is everywhere. Its co-chairman and co-creative director Carolina Cucinelli tells us why its high-end ubiquity is built on its rock-solid values
Jul 19, 2024
Draco Evolution’s Steve Chen and Jack Fu on building legacy and the future of finance
The co-founder of YouTube and former hedge fund manager met in Taiwan and started the company at the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020. In this exclusive interview, the pair speaks with Gen.T honouree Sarah Chen-Spellings on the listing of their first ETF on the New York Stock Exchange
