𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟰 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁. I’m 4 weeks into Antler Singapore’s Cohort 18, and the pace has been intense. From ideation sprints to problem deep-dives, pitch sessions to rapid validation — it’s been a crash course in early-stage venture building. One standout moment: we grouped up and challenged ourselves to come up with 𝟳𝟱 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲. It really drove home the fact that ideas are cheap, insights are earned. (Thanks Rufus for the ideation tool!) Since then, I’ve explored 5 different problem spaces, each time getting sharper and more focused. Landing pages, prototypes, validation tools — all part of the toolkit. Shoutout to Lovable, Windsurf, and of course, ChatGPT — absolute lifesavers. A few things I’ve learned (or re-learned) along the way: • First-time founders fall in love with the product. The second time around, it’s distribution that matters. • Don’t stop at the surface. The real gold is found by talking to domain experts and digging deeper. • Being surrounded by people going through the same grind makes it 10x easier to keep pushing — especially when you're still searching for “the one” problem. If you're a founder-to-be, I’d genuinely recommend checking out Antler. The structure, community, and momentum are invaluable. 𝗣𝗦: I’m currently exploring the 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲/𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 space with Agastya and would love to connect with folks working in or around it. If you're a domain expert, I’d love to hear your perspective. Let’s build something that truly matters. Lanna Spencer Ronny #startups #founderjourney #Antler #AntlerSG #AntlerSG18 #healthtech #wellness #entrepreneurship

If you’re an “out of network” early stage founder - Being a part of a founder cohort program or Antler or Y Combinator or 500 Startups is a non-negotiable. Being around people who share your obsession with creation changes everything. launch house and Antler showed me something powerful: 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆'𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲. Here's what I learned about founder potential: When you're in an accelerator with a binary outcome (funding or rejection), you discover your true capacity. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝟲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸'𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹? Once you see what's possible under pressure, it permanently reframes your perspective. You start moving at a different pace because you understand your real potential. This isn't about accelerators. It's about surrounding yourself with people who force you to level up and putting yourself in situations where average isn't an option.

2024 was an unexpected journey. I started on a co-founder hunt that took me across India, the UK, Ireland, Spain, and finally to Singapore, where I joined the Antler SG program. What began as a search to build something with others became a journey of building something within myself. The program was intense, unpredictable, and full of surprises. Along the way, I met incredible people—each with unique stories, perspectives, and experiences. It wasn’t just about starting a business; it was about seeing the human side of this journey, shared over late nights, deep conversations, and plenty of laughs at some terrible puns. For anyone considering this path, know that it’s not just about finding a co-founder or starting a venture. It’s about embracing the process, discovering new perspectives, and letting the unexpected unfold. Something is definitely cooking for 2025, and I’m definitely looking forward to what’s coming up next. As a founder, I went out to find—and in the end, I found myself. #AntlerSG #2024Reflections #Entrepreneurship #NewBeginnings

🚀 Week 10 at Antler: Pitch Day is Here! 🎯 What a whirlwind it’s been! With our pitch tomorrow, I thought it’d be the final time to tackle some FAQs about the program 👇 💼 Does Antler take equity? Yes, in exchange for start-up funding. In Singapore, it’s $125k USD for 10% equity, but this varies by each location - so do check! 🤔 Isn’t 10% a lot? Sure, but the real value lies in meeting potential co-founders with complementary skills. 100% of nothing is still nothing! 💡 🎤 Does everyone get to pitch? Not quite. The program is split into phases: 🏗️ Weeks 1-3: Networking, teaming up, and refining entrepreneurial skills. 🔍 Weeks 4-6: Pre-IC milestone to prove traction. 🏁 Weeks 6-10: Intense prep for Investment Committee (IC). Some drop off along the way, but those pitching tomorrow have made it through several hurdles already - it's exhausting but you learn from every section (even if you realise this isn't the path for your business🙏 ) 💡 Is it all about the idea? Actually, no! Antler focuses on team calibre and dynamics. Many businesses pivot post-funding, so the individuals behind the idea matter just as much. 🔮 What happens next? Well we'll find out, but no matter what happens tomorrow, we’re excited for what’s next. It’s been an incredible experience to learn from this cohort, our coach Winnie Khoo and especially my teammates Tym Armstrong and Angelina Terlaki, along with everything they bring 🙏 Here was us at Singapore FinTech Festival last week! 🎉 Best of luck to everyone pitching! Let's go :) 💪 #Entrepreneurship #Antler #Startups #ZeroToOne #Incubator #VC #PitchDay #SFF #Singapore #InsurTech

☕ So, we opened a coffee shop... kinda. Well, not really—but it does feel like our office is a hybrid bar, café, and event space most of the time. That’s just the vibe of Antler Singapore! Here are some FAQs I’ve had: ❓ Do you need an idea to join Antler? Not necessarily! Some come as pre-formed teams, others with an idea (which is part of their interview process), and many apply as individuals! 💻 Tech vs. non-tech balance? Our cohort was about 40% tech, 60% non-tech, but this varies. Within "non-tech," I'd highlight a subtle but key distinction between commercial/business and domain expertise. 🤝 How do you find a team? There's no fixed method. Some teams form instantly; others find their groove weeks in. I lucked out and teamed up early with Tym Armstrong and Angelina Terlaki—driven by a shared mission to simplify insurance. 🌏 Why Singapore? If your ICP (ideal customer profile) is in SEA, Singapore’s a strategic launchpad—especially for regulated industries. Antler has programs globally, but location matters for your network and audience. 🕒 Can you apply with an existing job? No. Everyone’s all in. This program works best when you commit 100%, so think carefully about timing before applying. 💡 What if you don’t get funding? It’s a real possibility, and one you need to consider—but meeting 80+ incredible, like-minded people with a passion for start-ups is a win in itself. You never know what doors it’ll open! Now entering the final stretch... I actually might celebrate with that coffee (or beer) 🌝 🍻 #startupjourney #Antler #VC #VCIncubator #startupresidency #Singapore #founderstories #SEAstartups #whyapply

🤔 Can you imagine building a company with anyone other than the team you have right now? Because I can’t. After five months together across Thailand, Taiwan, and Singapore — there’s just no one else I’d want by my side. We’ve faced every challenge, celebrated every win, and lifted each other up when things got tough. This isn’t just my dream anymore; it’s our dream, our shared vision. If I could do it all over again, I'd approach the exact same people for advice and I'd choose the exact same people on my team every single time. I'll keep this short because we have more announcements coming /very/ soon! For now, I’m thrilled to introduce another teammate we'd choose every single time: Antler. Thank you for believing in us, we won't let you down. Let's blaze. 🔥

Pessimists sound smart. Optimists build. Being a pessimist is a super comfortable place to be since OPPORTUNITY COST is almost impossible to calculate. A pessimist gets to say things like "I've saved the company $100K" by shutting down a million dollar idea. The company will never know if they actually lost a million due to inaction and ROI fetish. Being an optimist is a super anxious place to be as ACTUAL COST can easily be calculated. An optimist might have to say "I just lost the company $100K" if that million dollar idea doesn't work out. The very first investor I pitched Airalo to have literally scolded me telling why this will never work. He sounded very smart with his big words. I almost believed him. And then there is Antler, our first investor. The incubator of optimists🙂 The point of this post all along was to answer a frequent question I always get; Bahadir, should I join Antler to kickstart my entrepreneurial journey? The answer is a very optimistic YES😊 There is a big chance it might change your life🤞

"Every single Series A to Series B investor was introduced to me by Antler," says Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir, Founder & CEO of Airalo, the world's first eSIM store, serving over 10 million customers. Thrilled to have been part of Airalo’s journey as their day zero investor since our residency in Singapore—back in 2019! From being the earliest backer to a long-term capital partner, our continued investment in their latest $60M Series B round from our emerging growth fund, Antler Elevate, reflects our belief in their potential. Onward and upward! 🚀

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller I am thrilled to announce the launch of Frontier AI. We're here to simplify end-to-end procurement processes for enterprises by providing a personalised AI agent that analyses historical and live market data for smarter purchasing decisions. The past few months have been nothing short of transformative. Completing Antler’s gruelling incubation programme has broadened my perspectives through an innovative and collaborative environment. From my first conversation with Toomas, it was clear that our shared passion for solving complex problems would provide the foundation for a successful partnership. Toomas' expertise in AI and my focus on enterprise processes have synergized to create something truly spectacular. A massive thanks to the Antler team - Jussi, Winnie, Rufus, Ryan, Jay, Lanna, our advisors, and everyone who supported us along the way. We're ready to bring procurement to the next frontier. Are you?

Thrilled to announce that Datung has completed the Antler program and secured pre-seed funding! This is a major milestone in our mission to empower micro-entrepreneurs in emerging markets and transform how they access capital. My co-founder, Kasper, and I couldn't be more grateful for Antler's support and guidance. Their mentorship and network have been invaluable in shaping our vision and accelerating our growth. A special shout out to Rufus, Winnie, Jussi, Markus, Lanna, Ho, and Ryan for all their guidance and support throughout this process! This is just the beginning. We're excited to continue building our platform, refining our data-driven credit model, and growing our innovative lending solution to empower micro-enterprises, starting in the Philippines. The future is bright, and we're excited to share this journey with you. Stay tuned for more updates as we unlock the potential of the Filipino MSME sector, one loan at a time.

Whenever we talk to people, one of the things that they'd excitedly ask when we tell them we're Antler founders is "When is Demo Day?" Demo Day is not just a highly anticipated day when Antler-incubated startups share their work with a carefully curated group of VCs - it is a day when cohort mates can reunite and a day when we can reflect on our journey as founders. I had a great pleasure and honour of sharing what BorderDollar is doing to create a world where supply chain financing is powered by supply chain players. The 3 minutes I was allocated was short, but based on the audience feedback, it seems like we're on the right track! Big thanks to Antler for holding this Demo Day and inviting us, and much love to Winnie, Jussi, Ryan, Jay and Lanna for your continuous support over these 6 months. We're working with major logistics companies to finance their clients, and we're always looking out for debt capital and 3PLs to work with. Hit me up or Jackie if you're keen to have a chat on how we can transform the supply chain industry.

Super super excited to announce that Intellecs.ai has raised pre-seed funding through the Antler program! This is a significant step in our mission to help students reclaim their time, focus on their passions, and immerse themselves in personal growth. I’m proud to mention as well that I’m Antler’s youngest ever backed founder at 19! I can finally say that I’m old enough to run a venture backed startup but not old enough to have a personal credit card 😅 Honestly, I had doubts going to Singapore for three months to attend a program where investment isn’t even guaranteed but I’ve got to say, it might be the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support the entire Antler team gave during the program! Special mention to these amazing folks: Rufus, Winnie, Jay, Lanna, and Ryan for all their guidance, mentorship, and roasting (💀)! The folks I met & befriended in my cohort are all incredible, and I can't imagine spending all that time with anyone else. A special shoutout to Charan for making sure I didn’t turn into a robot during the program! 🤖 It’s been a year since I first launched and went viral on Twitter with Intellecs.ai's MVP but we’re only getting started! Excited to continue on this path with my co-founder Sydney. Stay tuned as we scale intellecs.ai to the moon! 🚀

He quit his senior corporate job to found a startup. He didn’t have an idea or a co-founder. Meet Nilesh Ghai, co-founder of Levit8 AI. He is currently working on an AI tool that aims to revolutionize HR practices for years to come. But it wasn’t always that way. Nilesh worked high up in corporate before dropping out and joining the Antler program. With no idea or co-founder lined up. Nilesh has experience in Southeast Asia and a solid background in tech, bringing valuable insights to our discussion. In this episode of the Next Big Wave, we cover: 👇🏽 • The real challenges of moving from a corporate job to launching a startup. • How AI and Generative AI are revolutionizing HR practices. • Key insights into the startup scene across Southeast Asia. • Differences between startup accelerators like Antler & Iterative. And much more! Check out the full episode through the link in the comments!

Six weeks in, and my journey with Antler has been nothing short of amazing! From working in an office in rural Manila just a few months ago to now being part of a vast network of resources and like-minded individuals who are all trying to solve problems with innovative solutions. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with founders within my cohort and share in each individual's path to success. What I love about the Antler program is the openness and vulnerability among the cohort. There's nothing to hide, and in fact, so much value to be derived from sharing pain points and hearing other people's perspectives. Being part of such a supportive community that encourages growth and collaboration is refreshing. Working with many talented individuals has validated my passion for the entrepreneurial journey. And let's not forget the incredible experience of visiting Google's APAC headquarters! (They have an amazing latte) Special thanks to Rufus Sorsa, Winnie Khoo, Markus Bruderer, Muaz Mustaffa, Ryan Thoo, Lanna Roche, and Ho Keng Mun Mervin for all the support and guidance!

Today marks the completion of 2 weeks in the Antler program and the experience so far has been profound. It's been a whirlwind of intricate challenges & important wins. I had initially thought that building a business was all about solving a problem for your target audience. However, the program has made me realize that it is much more than that. Over the past two weeks, I have been encouraged to ask myself some tough questions in two areas: 1. Self-reflection: - What does it mean for me to be a startup founder? - Beyond my professional skills, what do I bring to the table as an individual & potential co-founder? - What values do I want my company to embody & why? - Why do I care about solving this particular problem & why am I the best person to solve it? 2. Network (In pursuit of a co-founder) - What does my connection value most- can I help them with their problem? If not, who can I connect them to? - What motivates my peers & does it align with me? - Is my connection in the same headspace as me- what are the things in his/her life that hinder them from performing at their best? is there a way I can help them? Answering these questions is no easy task as there are no right or wrong answers, and they keep evolving. But having a strong network of people who you can talk to has proven to make the process painless & enjoyable. I had the chance to sit down with Samira Gadri & reflect on our first week at Antler. If you are curious about what the journey has been like, give it a watch. Here is a snippet:

Abnormal Founders, Abnormal Outcomes 🚀 Week 4 of my founder journey at Antler Singapore and today's Masterclass with a top VC founder was 🔥 Fascinating insights on what it takes to build a VC-backable startup: 💰 Aim for $100M ARR by Year 8 to justify VC risk/reward VCs need outsized returns to offset the inherent risk in startups: $100M ARR by year 8. But it requires a massive market opportunity and exceptional execution to get there. Founders must relentlessly prioritize growth. 🦄 70% of unicorns are copycats - but think bigger and better Don't be afraid to take inspiration from successful models. Many iconic companies weren't the first movers. The key is to adapt the model to your unique market and improve on the execution. Innovate on the business model, user experience, and technology to build a lasting competitive advantage. 🧠 Founders are abnormal, driven to change the status quo Successful founders have a rare combination of vision, resilience, and a growth mindset. They are dissatisfied with how things are and have a burning desire to create something better, even in the face of extreme uncertainty and setbacks. This "abnormal" mindset allows them to persist where others would give up. That last point really resonated. Perhaps that's why I'm generally unsatisfied with how things are and compelled to take the initiative to improve them, even if it means taking the road less traveled. After all, you must be a bit abnormal to embark on the incredibly challenging and uncertain journey of entrepreneurship. But that same trait is what drives founders to stretch themselves and achieve abnormal outcomes. Excited to see where the next 6 weeks take us. Antler has been an incredible experience so far in pressure-testing ideas, finding co-founders, and laying the groundwork to build something world-changing. What "abnormal" trait has served you well? I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences! hashtag #startuplife hashtag #foundersjourney hashtag #venturecapital hashtag #antler

“Reality TV — Shark Tank meets Love Island” I’ve lost count how many times I’ve heard that description of Antler's 10 week entrepreneur-in-residence program. One week in, and I can definitely see why people would say that, but Antler has been so much more. Besides meeting over 100 other founders, I’ve heard from several founders about their journey, had masterclasses with the Antler partners and investment team, as well as a chance to work in two bootcamp/workshops with our fellow entrepreneurs. Here’s a few lessons I’ve learned from week 1 💡 1️⃣ Founders come first and ideas can come later — finding the right co-founder who shares your values and vision is key. I’ve pushed myself to meet as many potential co-founders as possible, over coffee and drinks. And it’s important to approach this with an open mind, without pushing my existing ideas onto others. 2️⃣ Fall in love with a problem, not a solution — This is as true in entrepreneurship as it is in product management. This means spending a lot of time really refining the problem statement, drilling down into the drivers of it and leveraging the domain/industry experts we have to bring out the nuances of it. Only after agreeing on a problem statement do we start brainstorming solutions. I’ve realized that this process doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and really appreciated Antler’s masterclasses as it got everyone on the same page. 3️⃣ Managing my energy is key — Even for an extrovert, meeting 100 people can be exhausting. I found that taking small 10-minute breaks by myself in between sessions meant I could get a lot more out of my next coffee chat. Overall - it’s been a great experience and I’m encouraged to learn that my product management background is directly transferable to entrepreneurship. And it’s been amazing to meet people who are just as passionate as I am about building a company of our own. Looking forward to week 2! P.S. apparently Day Zero comes before Day One

Yesterday marked 1 year since we joined Antler in Singapore. What has changed in our lives? This journey represents my first relocation experience outside of the CIS countries. Shamil Akhmedov and I came to Singapore from Kazakhstan, carrying expectations about Southeast Asia and armed with some business connections – but it turned out to be the biggest venture of our life. As Olzhas Zhiyenkul often remarks, whenever he sees founders from Central Asia undertaking something abroad, it's a sign of immense experience and respect. I came to understand this personally through facing challenges myself. But it was definitely worth it. During the first week of acceleration, Shamil Akhmedov and I met with Jacob Vorsø Pedersen and decided to join forces to build something meaningful around B2B, sales, and AI. We made several pivots before settling on the Introdex idea and securing investments from Antler. Our product is innovative, and we sought similar implementations abroad. In the initial months of acceleration, we found little, but after some time, there were dozens of startups globally addressing the same problem area. This highlights the trend and the demand for solutions like ours. Fortunately, this was not the first startup we had worked on or founded. The team's prior knowledge was invaluable for making the right decisions moving forward. Introdex operates on a model with two types of users, functioning more like a platform. Therefore, a team of 3 co-founders was sufficient to accomplish everything on time and at a high pace. We started the company in May and launched our MVP in mid-August. Since then, we have been improving the product week by week, having hundreds of conversations with our customers: B2B companies and connectors. Now, we have paying customers and a growing community of connectors. We've learned the power of a community in the startup world and the importance of globalization for scaling a product and distributing it quickly. We've managed to bring top-notch advisors onto our board to ensure we have a broad range of expertise, with decades of market experience. Today, I have renewed my EntrePass and am looking forward to making our startup even more meaningful. We are beginning to raise the seed round and have ambitious plans for this year. Stay tuned! P.S. If you want to join the next cohort in Antler Singapore, you may take a look here: lnkd.in/deQnrCbB hashtag #antler hashtag #singapore hashtag #kazakhstan hashtag #introdex hashtag #startupjourney

Over the past 4 months, I have been on an incredible journey as a part of the Antler program 🚀 I am glad to have met my co-founder Stephen Jacob during the first 3 weeks of the program. After many brainstorming sessions, customer interviews, and coffee chats with our network, we landed on a solid concept. Between us, we bring a wealth of experience across commercial and tech from prior startups to accelerate the growth of our company Perioko. We are building ReelBlend, an innovative new AdTech platform that will challenge and open new opportunities to the Film and TV advertising industry.📽 More details to follow in the coming weeks! After being selected to join Antler, it has been a truly intense, fun, and rewarding experience. Further to this - To take on this opportunity, I relocated my entire life from the UK to Singapore in just 2 weeks! 🌎 During the 10 weeks, I had the pleasure of meeting passionate founders with decades of domain, business, and technology experience! 🌟 Thanks to Kenneth Yap, Jackie Tan, Steve Ng, Elva Young, Victor Fajardo, Chris Drumgoole, Nilesh Ghai, Dominus Suen, Jeff Lim, Damilola Oni, Junus Eu, Thibaut Briere, Edwin Ong, Kalaiarasu G, Donna Lee, Aizer Ravelo, Akshay Patil™, Unni Krishnan, Sitsari (Sid) Kitisakkul, Kathy Zhao, Dan Clarke, Gregor Vand, Kamini Singh, Sowmiya Skandan, YG (Yichen) Guo and Yibin Ng for making this such a memorable experience and I am certain we have built a community with the SG15 cohort that will last for years to come! 🗒 Applications for the next cohort at Antler in Singapore are now open! If you're interested, drop a message to any of the Antler team tagged below, or apply directly here: lnkd.in/eE2pT6yf Special thanks to the Antler team: Winnie Khoo, Rufus Sorsa, Felix Frenzel, Jay Teo, Lanna Roche, Markus Bruderer, Ryan Thoo, Jussi Salovaara, Shao-Ning Huang 黄小寧, Magnus Grimeland

Ever heard about the "death crawl"? Junus and I are putting together our overall strategy, with the guidance of Winnie. By strategy, I mean putting everything together: vision, OKRs, how do we work together, how do we make decisions, who would have the final on which topic if we have a conflict -everything. If you know Winnie, you know there's no room for fluff (and if you don't I have a trick for you at the end of the post). To kick-off the conversation, she shared with us a video from the movie "Facing the giants"' which very relevant. The link is in the comments, i highly recommend you take 6'28 to watch it. Here are some thoughts: 1. Founders are a bit foolish The main character is a little careless in the first place. He's up for the challenge without realizing what's ahead. I think founders must have this mindset otherwise they simply wouldn't start. 2. Go all-in, don't overanalyze The guy is blindfolded so he cannot measure his progress or overthink. He just goes through the reps and give everything. As founders, we must have the confidence to be somewhat blind and deaf and just put one foot in front of the other. 3. We carry the whole weight of the business Like the main character carries his buddy, we carry the whole weight of the business. It's all on us, period. 4. Swallow the pain "It hurts, it burns": yes building a startup is painful. Being able to take it in and keep going is what differentiates the top 1% founders from the rest. The coach is the lifeline here. 5. Action, then words I like the fact that the coach gives the challenge, yells and screams at the poor guy...and only after explains and makes sense of it all. It can't work the other way. Action is what matter and give a lot more weight to the words. 6. Inspire others by doing the work As the rest of the team sits on the side, they gradually understand what's going on and how much it is exceptional. As founders, that's our job (and let's be honest it's pretty much all we have at this point): we do the work and hopefully people will notice and want to join us. So yes, it's just a movie (which I haven't seen) when we used it as conversation starter between the 3 of us, it really resonated. PS: Shameless Antler plug (I'm not paid to do this, but since the program did magic for me, it might for other people too). So if you don't know Winnie, well...just apply, and you'll have a chance to meet her. Just be careful what you wish for ;). Link is in the comments as well. hashtag #earlystagestartups hashtag #founders #

A few weeks ago, I started my journey as a founder with Antler Here are my favorite learnings so far: ➡️ Antler invests in founders, not in ideas - ideas are cheap ➡️ When evaluating startups, consider 1. market size, 2. team, 3. growth rates, 4. timing, in this order (from guest VC) ➡️ A successful moat need not be in deep science, but simply excellent customer support, top-notch UI/UX, ensuring your business is built for the future, support from the ecosystem ➡️ Have thick skin - all initials sales of a startup should be founder-led - don't hesitate to walk up to strangers to sell your product (this and above from guest Founder Ahmet Bahadir Ozdemir) A heartfelt thank you 🙌🏻 to Winnie Khoo and Rufus Sorsa for their wonderful mentorship, and kudos to Jay Teo and Lanna Roche for making the program experience exceptional 🎉. Immense gratitude to Magnus Grimeland and Jussi Salovaara for creating such a vibrant founder community 🤝. The outcome is EigenAI (eigenai.co) with Unni Krishnan, Kurtis Ma, and Achuth I. Lastly, a huge shoutout 👏 to my entire cohort from which I learned a lot: Damilola Oni Thibaut Briere Edwin Ong Kalaiarasu G Chandra Kuncara Aizer Ravelo Chris Drumgoole Nilesh Ghai Steve Ng Victor Fajardo Miguel Zepeda Arjun Shankar Akshay Patil™ Jeff Lim Junus Eu Prashant Srivastav Jackie Tan Kenneth Yap Coco Li Shankar Sahai Bibi Ho Immense thanks to Steve Ng for the photos. Applications for the next cohort at Antler in Singapore are now open! If you're interested, do drop a message to any of the Antler folks tagged above, or apply directly here: lnkd.in/gFhdVa2n

After completing the Antler program, the real work begins now to get our venture off the ground in 2024! I am often asked how it feels and what I did in the program. I am happy to share my experience and tips if you are considering to participate in one near your city. I want to express my immense gratitude to the Antler team Magnus Grimeland Jussi Salovaara Winnie Khoo Rufus Sorsa Jay Teo Ryan Thoo Ho Keng Mun Mervin Lanna Roche Felix Frenzel for SG15 and making it a memorable experience. Thank you for your invaluable guidance, support, and patience with our team Victor Fajardo Elva Young. You can read my post on Medium, and I hope it inspires you for a great start in 2024! Link to Medium: medium.com/@yamamizu-sng/my-antler-residency-journey-an-experience-in-pictures-at-sg15-00dfdb0dac8e

Just over 10 weeks ago, I took the leap into the unknown and joined Antler, an early-stage startup incubator, on a mission to build something meaningful. The journey has been nothing short of transformative, and today, I'm thrilled to share the highlights of this incredible experience. Joining Antler meant embracing uncertainty – no idea, no co-founder. (I mean, I had ideas, but ideas are free.) The challenge: find a co-founder, ideate, iterate, and pitch in just 10 weeks. I knew this would be an intense program, but I didn't know what truly to expect. The 10 weeks felt like a condensed MBA for startups. Masterclasses covered everything from ideation to co-founder matching, rapid MVP development, idea validation, startup metrics, pitching to investors, and term sheets. Lifelong lessons packed into a whirlwind experience. Today I am happy to announce the birth of my next startup – Levit8, and I couldn't be more thrilled. With Antler's seed investment, they've not only invested in our idea but also in our potential to create something impactful. Thanks to my Co-Founder Nilesh. It's been a fun journey these past 8 weeks developing this idea, and I believe we have quite the ride ahead of us! Special gratitude to our mentor Winnie and the entire Antler team – Jussi, Rufus, Shao-Ning, Lanna, Jay, and the others! Their guidance, support, and incredible enthusiasm turned our journey into an amazing adventure. While phase 1 of the Antler program has concluded, phase 2 has begun: it's just the beginning for us and Levit8. Armed with newfound knowledge and support, we're ready to embark on the journey of building, innovating, and making our mark. For those interested in building something amazing, applications for SG16 in Singapore is now open with Antler. Go check out deets at: lnkd.in/gGyibJYP hashtag #startupjourney hashtag #AntlerAlumni hashtag #Levit8 hashtag #buildingthefuture

*** Why Antler? *** Getting a bunch of questions about Antler after my last LinkedIn post on closing the pre-seed for ZOLO. Let me address the two big ones publicly: (1) Is Antler a founder-friendly investor? (2) How to get funding from Antler? For those looking for a quick response, just scroll to the last paragraph 😀 Seems like some folks who went through the Antler program but missed out on the investment are tossing around thoughts like "it is a factory", "just hit or miss", or "super transactional". Sharing my personal story to give you a new angle here. Back in 2017, I moved from Kazakhstan to Singapore to pursue my MBA at Nanyang Business School. I was eager to explore this country as an entrepreneurial hub and collaborate closely with individuals shaping the future of the digital economy. Post-grad, I jumped into a corporate-backed tech startup doing B2B supply chain stuff for retailing. Five years in, learned a ton but missed that startup chaos. Fast forward to late 2021, my experiments with side gigs with all the scars and wounds brought me to join the Antler Executive Program (designed for working professionals) and learn from top-notch practitioners. It was a truly transformative experience. A high concentration of smart, driven, and like-minded founders coupled with high-quality mentorship by battle-tested operators creates absolutely unique environment where your clarity sharpens 10x. During the program, my tech buddy and I easily ditched one startup idea that we were working on a few months prior (!), explored a few promising ideas/problem statements in proptech/fintech, passed pre-IC selection and faced rejection at the final IC. End of the story, right? Not really! During the program, I also met my co-founder Mark KEM. We pitched ideas but didn't team up back then. A year later, we finally collaborated to explore new ideas within the B2B supply chain space. ZOLO was born out of these endeavours. After validating the concept with customers, building a no-code MVP, conducting light-scale pilots, and gaining early traction, we decided to raise funds and go all-in. Antler was our top pick for a lead investor, our alma mater where it all started. The pre-seed round? Closed it with founder-friendly terms and solid support! I share this personal story as a reference for aspiring entrepreneurs considering Antler or keeping doors open post-program. Somehow, dots will connect in future. New applications are currently open for early 2024. Wholeheartedly, go for it! If you are applying in Singapore, strive to have Winnie Khoo as your mentor. She was our mentor too and trust me, it is a game-changer. hashtag #founders

What a journey it has been. 10 weeks ago, I joined the Antler program literally upon Jackie Tan's recommendation, when he simply said, 'come crash'. I had other things planned for Q4 this year and hardly had expectations for the program, but fast forward today, I am immensely grateful to have gone through this journey with so many incredibly talented people. Here are my top 3 insights: 💡 The Power of Community The sheer amount of experience and talent in the room was evident from Day 1 of Antler SG15 cohort - I found myself talking to people with solid experience in their various domains, and that really was evident when we embarked on our bootcamps/hackathons. Everyone brought something to the table, and being able to operate in cohesive teams with complementary skillsets really allowed us to bring our A-game as a team. That aside, I am glad to have revisited old friendships and forged new ones, ones that will endure beyond the end of the SG15 cohort. 🏃‍♂️ Building a Startup Is Like Running a Marathon at a Sprint Pace As a team, we really pushed ourselves to aim higher week after week. When Magnus Grimeland said to 'tell your friends you will be busy', he was seriously not kidding. Despite the late nights and hard work, being able to be able to keep moving the needle was incredibly gratifying. We also found a support system with the Antler team, who have been instrumental in giving the tough love sorely needed in startups. Big thank you to our coach Winnie Khoo in doling out that tough love with so much kindness, Jay Teo in going above and beyond to support us + Jussi Salovaara Rufus Sorsa Lanna Roche and the rest of the team for really challenging ourselves to do our best. 🚀 Being Mission-driven Really Helps Us Focus on the North Star When the Going gets Hard I am super grateful too to have Thibaut Briere (again) and to be working together - I can't tell you how important it is to have co-founders who truly hand-to-heart believe in The Why of what we do. Like he says -  'there's some magic here, and the conviction and ambition grows every day' because we both feel that we are building something that we truly believe will have societal impact. To quote Mackemore: I heard you die twice, once when they bury you in the grave And the second time is the last time that somebody mentions your name So when I leave here on this earth, did I take more than I gave? Did I look out for the people or did I do it all for fame? With that, applications for SG16 is now open with Antler, the most active investor in Singapore who invest from day zero and keep backing our companies for their whole journey. Go check out deets at: lnkd.in/gGyibJYP

Following on from part one of what Roy Nahum and I did to get Siftee funded by Antler - here is part two which goes through what happened after passing pre-Investment Committee and how we managed to secure pre-seed funding. linkedin.com/pulse/how-siftee-got-funded-antler-part-22-tim-phang-2n2ac Also, thanks for the positive feedback to part one!

With the BackScoop announcement of the latest start-ups funded by Antler, I wanted to share how Roy Nahum and I went through the program and what we did for Siftee to get chosen. It's worth reading if you're thinking about embarking on your #founder journey, and I've split it into two parts. The first part is here: linkedin.com/pulse/how-siftee-got-funded-antler-part-12-tim-phang-pew4c

It's been an incredible 8 weeks since I kicked off my founder journey with Antler and I'm thrilled to share some of the invaluable lessons I've gathered along the way: 1. Co-founder Matchmaking: It's Like Dating for the Long Haul Finding the right co-founder is akin to dating, and you're essentially committing to a partnership that could span the next 10 years. Weeks 1-3 felt like speed dating, where I connected with like-minded individuals, explored compatibility, and collaborated on shaping a robust business model together. 2. Embrace Critics and Dance with Feedback In the startup world, criticism is a powerful dance partner, and feedback, especially the negative kind, is your greatest teacher. Whether it comes from mentors, coaches, cohort mates, or potential clients, being open and receptive is key. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking your idea is foolproof, but the magic happens when you let constructive feedback reshape your perspective. 3. The Hustle Never Stops: Embrace the Grind Bootcamps week after week can be exhaustive, but this relentless pace is what immerses you in the startup environment, making you more resilient and adaptable. The journey is challenging, but the constant hustle refines your skills, hones your instincts, and prepares you for the unpredictable twists of the startup world. Personal Highlights: Amidst the whirlwind of learnings, I've had the pleasure of meeting incredible people, learning from inspiring mentors, and witnessing outstanding pitches and ideas. The feedback, both positive and negative, has been instrumental in shaping my entrepreneurial mindset. Reflecting on the Journey: This experience has been a whirlwind of discovery, growth, and collaboration. A huge shoutout to the Antler community for their unwavering support. As I continue this journey, I'm excited about the challenges ahead and the opportunities to turn them into successes. Applications for the next cohort at Antler in Singapore are now open! If you're passionate about startups, take the plunge. Reach out to any of the Antler folks tagged below or apply directly lnkd.in/gsqBHgS2. Jussi Salovaara Winnie Khoo Rufus Sorsa Ryan Thoo Lanna Roche Jay Teo Let's build something extraordinary together! And not forgetting my cohort mates- you bunch of hustlers! Damilola Oni Thibaut Briere Edwin Ong Kalaiarasu G Victor Fajardo Arjun Shankar Chandra Kuncara Aizer Ravelo Chris Drumgoole Steve Ng Miguel Zepeda Akshay Patil™ Junus E. Yibin Ng Jackie Tan Dominus Suen Hemal Kana

WE'VE RAISED $60 MILLION USD SERIES B 🔥 🔥 🔥 Yes! The cat is out of the bag. One might even say that the bag is catless now. Basically, the space within the bag that was once occupied by a cat is now cat-free. A wise man once said; "If you are building the world's biggest telecom company for one billion travelers then make sure you have some of the best telcos join your series B round." And oh boy! what a cap table this has turned out to be 😎 Etisalat's e& capital, Liberty Global, Singtel Innov8, Orange Ventures, Deutsche Telekom's T.Capital, KPN Ventures and Telefónica alongside with Antler, Rakuten, Peak XV Partners and I2BF Global Ventures have just given us $60 million USD so that we can make Airalo even better. Huge thanks to my cofounder Abraham Burak and the whole Airalo team. From day one of sketching Airalo's UI on a paper to millions of downloads today, this still feels surreal sometimes. And what better picture than the cofounders' crossed arms pose can say "we have just raised a new round"?

Recently, Jacob Vorsø Pedersen and I attended the Tech in Asia Conference and represent Introdex in Jakarta. While Admet Akhter was in Kazakhstan on the Digital Bridge event and our business development team Zukhra Akhtoikenova, Zarina Akhter was operating in Singapore, we discovered fresh opportunities in the Indonesian market. Venturing into extensive business development outside of Singapore was an interesting experience. Here are some key takeaways from the event: 1) We received over 5 partnership requests from Indonesian companies. They recognize the potential benefits of collaborating with Introdex, especially since many of their clients face challenges with cold outreach. 2) Our customer waitlist has grown significantly, underscoring the big interest in our product in this market. We've also onboarded new connectors from Indonesia and I will share updates on this front soon. 3) We had the opportunity to pitch our product at Antler's Demo Day to numerous VCs. It was a great experience to receive direct feedback and understand the market from another side. I want to express gratitude to the whole Antler team for supporting us in this journey! Winnie Khoo, Jay Teo, Ryan Thoo, Markus Bruderer, Felix Frenzel you are the best guys! hashtag #techinasia hashtag #introdex hashtag #ai

***FUNDED*** Throwback to the first time we dressed up for a pitch about Smilie - it's been less than 10 weeks and Wenhao Dong and I are super happy to have received our pre-seed funding from Antler. 🎉 We are building a better and more sustainable gifting and relationship management ecosystem! We've been having a blast working together and as someone who's built and run a startup as a solo founder for the last 2-3 years - am I stoked to have a partner on this journey, FINALLY! 😁 We are so aligned on our vision, our purpose in entrepreneurship (and even how we party 😅 ) and I look forward to our journey ahead. 🧡 To all who have supported us in the journey, especially the Antler team, our coach, our cohort mates, and our first clients - a big thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Winnie Khoo Zeke Chew Rufus Sorsa Jay Teo Ho Keng Mun Mervin Jussi Salovaara

I don't post much but this deserves a shout-out. 6 Weeks of preparing and then 8 Weeks of my journey at Antler as a Founder is more than memorable. It is the best opportunity I have ever received based solely on what I can do, not who-I-know or where I come from. This is rare, anywhere. It is perhaps the only place where I could have done things like these..... 1. Meeting several like minded people, who have immense drive, are smarter and execute on ideas at time-bending speed. I am sure we will be crossing paths several times in our journey. 2. Having the best support from Antler partners Jussi Salovaara Rufus Sorsa Winnie Khoo Shao-Ning Huang 黄小寧 and analysts extraordinary Jay Teo & Lanna Roche You all made it easy. 3. Meeting and hearing about the journey of several founders like Ersin Dalkali Vivek Sodera (superhuman) and so many more. 4. Hearing from different VCs and getting super real in Q&A. 5. Fellow co-founders who have spent weeks working with each other and supporting even those outside their team so everyone can win. Thank you to everyone who helped me, I only hope I can return the favor down the road. 6. I was told this was 10x learning experience as would be any such venture, I can tell you that is an understatement. 7. I would never learn any of this at any job, or even in the best schools. Even having done startups, this is where I learned what went wrong and could have been avoided. 8. hashtag #Execution and your hashtag #mindset is the most important differentiator. The whole world then is just a distorted reality around what you want to build. For better or worse you need this mindset. 9. I used to have an imposter syndrome, hence my journey though several scale-ups. I was able to finally prove to myself that this isn't the case. I do not believe it would be possible without Winnie Khoo and Rufus Sorsa showing me the way to figure out the blockers. Feel free to ping me about hashtag #Antler and I would be happy to help you in your journey in anyway I can. hashtag #AntlerSG15 Apply here lnkd.in/gvZHf33N

Marking 8 weeks in my founder journey ✈️ with Antler! Since I joined as a solo founder, I have been able to build a network of like-minded individuals who inspire, motivate, and sometimes hold a mirror to industry realities. The entrepreneurial journey 🧗🏻 is a continuous process of learning, growth, and adaptation. It is not a race to a finish line 🏁 but rather a lifelong commitment to innovation 🔬, problem-solving 🥷🏻 , and creating value 💎. Successful entrepreneurs are those who embrace this mindset and continually seek out new opportunities for learning and improvement. As a result of my experience, I've gathered some valuable lessons 📝 ➡️ Even a brilliant idea falls short without validation, product-market fit, and a clear understanding of the target audience. ➡️ Building industry connections is a must for diving deeper into your idea and gaining valuable insights. ➡️ It is crucial for a successful product to have a right co-founder and team who fully understand the problem they are solving. ➡️ The startup world is constantly evolving, and adaptability is essential for survival. Be prepared to pivot your strategy, adjust your product, and overcome challenges as they arise. A heartfelt thank you 🙌🏻 to Rufus Sorsa and Winnie Khoo for their wonderful mentorship, and kudos to Jay Teo and Lanna Roche for making the program experience exceptional 🎉. Immense gratitude to Magnus Grimeland and Jussi Salovaara for creating such a vibrant founder community 🤝. Lastly, A huge shoutout 👏 to my entire cohort, with special appreciation for my co-founder, Coco Li. We're making incredible progress! 🚀 I still remember Winnie Khoo's words during our initial virtual meeting when I asked her what does a typical day at Antler looks like? She answered, "In Antler, Every day is a brand new day☀️". Yeah....🤘🏻absolutely…..💯 Curious to see how?🤔 Applications for the next Antler cohort in Singapore 🇸🇬 are open! Drop a message to the fantastic Antler folks tagged below or apply directly here: lnkd.in/ghdBfdzY Akhilesh Gupta. A Bibi Ho Steve Ng Victor Fajardo Sitsari (Sid) Kitisakkul Arjun Shankar Dominus Suen Chandra Kuncara Jeff Lim Thibaut Briere Harinda Danangalage Akash Jain Akhil Modi Aizer Ravelo Nilesh Ghai Chris Drumgoole Kalaiarasu G Edwin Ong Jackie Tan Kenneth Yap Donna Lee Deepali Mittal Sowmiya Skandan Kamini Singh Shreya Kamath Magda Milczarska Elva Young Junus E. Sakura Seet hashtag #founderjourney hashtag #antlercommunity hashtag #earlystagestartups hashtag #hustler hashtag #startupfounders

Amidst the hustle and bustle of every end of year, this year feels refreshingly different as I embarked on an amazing journey in Antler’s Founder in Residence program 9 weeks ago. Besides the startup building fundamentals from Antler SEA team, it’s a program where everyone genuinely cares. The partners at Antler invest their time and expertise in providing direct, constructive feedback, while fellow founders go the extra miles to brainstorm solutions, even when it’s not about their own project. Among the many valuable learnings, here are my top 3 favorites📝- 1️⃣The Foundation of Validated Problems➡️Any startup idea should stem from a true problem, one that causes enough pain for people to willingly pay for a solution. User interviews are crucial for idea validation, and their effectiveness hinges on eliminating anchoring questions. 2️⃣Retention over Acquisition in the Initial Stage➡️100 early adopters with high retention is more valuable than 1000 users who quickly drop off. The early adopters don’t need to be big spenders, but they need to come back. 3️⃣Think and Test Monetization Early➡️It will help validate your business model, drive your product development decisions and guide marketing and sales strategies. The most valuable learning overall, of course, is how to build a startup end-to-end, from co-founder match, idea validation and product-market fit, to VC pitching and equity arrangement. 📢Applications for the next Antler cohort in Singapore are now open📢! To know more, reach out to any of the Antler folks tagged below or apply directly here: lnkd.in/gwvvH3GK. They say building a startup gonna be a long and lonely ride, but hopefully by starting your Day 0 with Antler, you'll never not alone❤️. hashtag #entrepreneurship hashtag #earlystagestartups hashtag #foundersjourney hashtag #antler hashtag #startuplife

End of week 4 at Antler. We're in the thick of it 🥸! Many people don't get this: it's not a school. We're building a business, and it's freaking hard. I think Steve's pictures somehow capture this. Now, here are some examples of what I mean. 𝟭. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 We just don't have enough time to do what we need to do. We run in weekly cycles and in each cycle we need to talk to people, research the market, find gaps we could fix, build stuff, see if our hypotheses make sense, etc. This creates a feeling of constantly running behind which is uncomfortable, but you know what? It'll never stop, so better to get used to it early. 𝟮. 𝗜𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 The things above require very different mindsets and types of brain activity. Just today, we're working on a website, then we'll pitch, then we'll b̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶m̶o̶l̶i̶s̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶b̶y̶ work with our coach, then we're running customer discovery interviews. So when my friends ask what i'm gonna do tonight, my brain freezes 😅. 𝟯. 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 3 of us started working on our idea. But we had to part ways with one. It's hard to have these conversations and it takes a massive brain space. 𝟰. 𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 I'll post more about this, but we're trying something in the caregiving space, especially for elderly. It's as boring and unsexy as it gets, lots of very old-school players, quite a few startups but still a massive problem where literally everyone loses right now. We're trying to escape competition and find a new approach. I think we have a shot, but if we do it's going to be a fine line. I love it but it's so massive that it's intimidating and -let's be honest- a little crazy. 𝟱. 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 Again I love this stage where everything is on the table, but it's really hard to find anchors to make progress. Who are we going to target exactly? What problems do they say they have? How can we find them? What should we say to get their interest? It all comes down to knowing the market in and out. Only then we can be relevant and put the pieces together to create this massive, beautiful puzzle. In for the win -there's no turning back! hashtag #earlystage hashtag #startups hashtag #founders hashtag #pmf hashtag #getshitdone

7 weeks ago, I started my journey as a founder with Antler A fundamental revelation that has significantly influenced my approach is the emphasis on starting with the problem rather than hastily diving into a solution. Witnessing the pitfalls many founders encounter when prioritizing product development over understanding the core problem has underscored the need for a meticulous problem-solving approach at the outset. Equally, if not more impactful, is the realization that the choice of a cofounder can make or break a startup. In this short span, I've come to appreciate that finding the right collaborator is more critical than the brilliance of the startup idea itself. It's the synergy of shared vision and complementary skills that lays the foundation for success. Navigating the intricate terrain of innovation, I've learned how easy it is to become entrenched in our own ideas, blinding us to potential pitfalls. Acknowledging this tendency, I've embraced the importance of seeking validation early on from genuine potential users. Their insights serve as a reality check, guiding our development in a direction that aligns with actual needs and preferences. Beyond the lessons learned, the experience of being part of a cohort of 80 like-minded individuals has been an immense source of inspiration. Engaging with my peers has not only enriched my understanding of diverse perspectives but has also created a vibrant and supportive community. Building this network while concurrently developing ideas and finding the right cofounder has been a dynamic and rewarding process. Expressing my gratitude for the enriching experience thus far, I look back fondly on the connections forged and the knowledge shared within the Antler community. Meeting with fellow founders, mentors, and industry experts has added a layer of depth to my entrepreneurial journey that extends beyond the mere development of a startup. Applications for the next cohort at Antler in Singapore is now open! If you're interested, do drop a message to any of the Antler folks tagged below, or apply directly here: lnkd.in/gwvvH3GK . Let's build something incredible together! Jay Teo Lanna Roche Winnie Khoo Rufus Sorsa

Is Antler a travel bag? Should I join Antler in the next upcoming batch? I'm halfway through the program and had friends reaching out for opinions. TL;DR: Yes, you should if there is an opportunity. Going from 0 to 1 can be incredibly challenging. It will involve moments of frustration, confusion, and staring blankly at the whiteboard. It's during this stage that you will form an unbreakable bond with your fellow founders. This is the 8th idea we are working on since the start of the program. The quote by Justin Kan is the best "First-time founders are obsessed with product. Second-time founders are obsessed with distribution.” It took me two weeks to detox from my "solution mode" mindset. After two weeks, I noticed a positive improvement in my approach to problem discovery and customer empathy. A great quote "It's natural for humans to think that their idea is the best." Instead of being attached to your idea or solution, fall in love with the problem. Fancy talk and pretty slides can only take you so far. The true test lies in your willingness to get your hands dirty and do the work. Building a startup is hard, and it's up to you to make progress. One of my most memorable moments when I walked in the rain with another founder, going door to door to interview customers if our business idea made sense for them. We were soaked, but we shared a good laugh 🌧 This program is a test of your perseverance, determination, and commitment. You need to be flexible and adaptive! In return, I grew as an individual, acquiring more knowledge, and pushing to the next level. Wow, I even learned how to calculate TAM, SAM, and SOM, and discovered the amazing opportunities in FinTech! This program is like a condensed MBA in just 10 weeks! The program's true strength lies in the cohort and the coaches from Antler. I can always reach out to anyone as a sounding board and everyone here is eager to support each other's success. While receiving feedback from Winnie Khoo, Rufus Sorsa, Ryan Thoo, Felix Frenzel, Ho Keng Mun Mervin, and Jay Teo can be painful sometimes, it serves as tough love to guide you closer to your goals. Receiving my first feedback on the pricing model we developed was memorable and it was a valuable lesson that I will carry on when pricing future products or services. Overall, I have no regrets and continue to enjoy the experience of the program every day. There will be days when you feel ecstatic and there will also be days when you face endless rejections. You may struggle to get out of bed or want to hide yourself. There will be days when you see momentum and feel unstoppable. However, there will also be days when you feel like shit 💩 and have a bad hair day 😑 Such is life in building a dream, but don’t give up! I'm grateful for this program as it has allowed me to meet amazing people in this cohort and explore ideas along the way. Now, I'm preparing for part 2 of the program! Wish us luck! hashtag #hustle hashtag #startup hashtag #nevergiveup hashtag #antler

While Thanksgiving is an American tradition, its spirit of gratitude and reflection can be celebrated universally. Here in Asia, where Thanksgiving is not a widely observed holiday and therefore not a given celebration, it takes a little bit more effort to organize, a little bit more effort to find the right ingredients for the classic dishes, and just a little bit more effort to connect with loved ones-- but we made it happen! 🤗 This year, as I reflect, I cannot help but think of all the interactions and moments that led me to this pivotal moment in my career: to start my own company! 😱 8 weeks ago, I joined Antler as a founder and was immediately immersed into a diverse group of individuals from all walks of life, each with their unique stories, aspirations, and expertise. However, we all shared a passion for learning and growth, with a deep hunger to build and make impact. Big thanks to my entire cohort (picture below), especially my cofounder Akash Jain -- y'all are the real heroes. 😭 It took a village to get me here, so special shoutout to Kaniyet Rayev, Saken Wang, and Jingjing Zhong for paving the way as former Antler founders and Lanna Roche, Jay Teo, Rufus Sorsa, Felix Frenzel, Ryan Thoo, Winnie Khoo, and Jussi Salovaara for not just giving me a chance, but guiding, coaching, and providing tough love to optimize success. 🙏 Lastly, I want to thank Google's Bard for giving me the courage and helping me find the words to say it just right. ✌😬 Shameless plug: Give love to Antler's SG15 cohort, as these guys will change the world! Jackie Tan Kenneth Yap Kathy Zhao Dinali de Silva Steve Ng Stephen J. Arjun Shankar Chris Drumgoole Nilesh Ghai Yibin Ng Abhishek Dujari Aizer R. Akhilesh Gupta. A Akshay Patil™ Artas Oorzhak Bibi Ho Brock Kaye Chandra Kuncara Lee Jian Wei Darren Donna Lee Edwin Ong Elva Young Gregor Vand Jeff Lim Junus E. Thibaut Briere

8 weeks ago, I embarked on my journey as a founder with Antler 🚀 I never envisioned being here, nor did I plan for it. I must say, it's been an incredible journey, engaging with some of the brightest minds from different countries, all converging in one place to create magic. 🌍 Having access to amazing mentors, Rufus Sorsa & Winnie Khoo Khoo has been truly invaluable. They've guided and coached us throughout these 8 weeks. Here are my favorite learnings so far: 1. Ability to Identify Problem Statements & Evaluate Them: The boot camps were instrumental in reshaping how I approach problem identification, idea generation, and evaluation. It's fascinating how much you can accomplish in a couple of days compared to the weeks it used to take. The speed at which things move when you work as a team in a bootcamp is amazing. We discussed around 100+ problems and ideas, even eliminating some, and that's a crucial part of the Antler experience. 2. Founders & Values First: Ideas can change, but the importance of enjoying working with your team and aligning values cannot be overstated. Antler's process for selecting the right founder is excellent. Having the right people with aligned values, ethics, and working styles is crucial for the long journey ahead. It’s okay to breakup when things don’t work and move ahead. 3. Learning from Fellow Founders: The knowledge each individual brings is invaluable. Every conversation with fellow founders is a learning experience. Idea validations within the cohort were common due to the diverse experiences each one carries from different industries. It's been wonderful meeting such amazing people. We had had regular interactions with experienced founders & Thanks to Antler, I had the opportunity to meet the Vivek Sodera , co-founder of Superhuman, a product I adore. The key takeaways were "Identifying the right ICP is very important" & "Qualify the users based on the details they give, not just based on First Come First Serve." I've made great friends here who've helped me grow personally and professionally. Special thanks to my friend and partner, Bibi Ho for his unwavering support. Akshay Patil™ for being my companion in everything outside Antler. A big shoutout to Jay Teo & Winnie Khoo for selecting me for this amazing cohort and for their continuous support throughout my journey here. Lanna Roche for making the experience of program so wonderful. Thanks to Magnus Grimeland and Jussi Salovaara for building such a vibrant community for the founders. I absolutely loved the Antler hunt with Steve Ng , Lawrence, Kit ! 🕵️ If you want to know what that is and experience it, join the next cohort. Applications for the next cohort at Antler in Singapore are now open! If you're interested, drop a message to any of the Antler folks tagged, or apply directly here: lnkd.in/gy_3aGUG PS: I just realised that you can only tag 30 photos is LinkedIn. Couldn’t tag each one of you

🚀 8 weeks ago, I started my journey as a founder with Antler. What a ride it has been with my co-founder Kenneth to build Asia's best trade financing platform, coached by the amazing and experienced Winnie! There are plenty of learnings, but here are my favorite three so far: 🔨 Iron sharpens iron As the African proverb goes - "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together". The talent team at Antler has nothing been short of amazing in shortlisting and admitting great folks - these are experienced operators, serial entrepreneurs, and generally all-round smart people. This means that at any point in time during the program, you'll always have a good sounding board, anytime. It's really refreshing to be able to build a startup in a motivated community, rather than doing it alone. 😍 People, not tech This part of the journey has been quite a meaningful one in many ways. Apart from the excitement of building a new venture, it's also given me a good excuse to hit up old contacts to catch up, or to ask for help. It's been a really wonderful time reconnecting with old friends, some friends even from literally 12 years ago. Without these contacts, it was very tough to move the needle in a meaningful way. In a way, it takes village to raise a venture, and not coding. 🏃‍♂️ Pacing + momentum = progress I particularly enjoyed the weekly pitching and coaching sessions. The pitches are great because putting your idea out there allows it to be challenged constructively by the judges, and the added bonus is that the other founders can chime in. The coaching sessions exposes what remaining holes need to be filled (figuratively). The regular cadence really propelled us in the early stages, and ensure that our venture is watertight with validation. 🎊 Highlights This is a tough one because every day has been a highlight, from the small spark of insight from talking to a random person to securing LOIs from important clients. It's a cop-out, I know, but that's really how I feel! 😭 Feeling the FOMO? Applications for the next cohort at Antler in Singapore is now open! If you're interested, do drop a message to any of the Antler folks tagged in the comments, or apply directly in the link also in the comments P.S. I also record my Antler journey in my Tiktok (I'll let you figure out where that is) 😛 P.P.S. Sorry I couldn't tag everyone - I got tired + I don't have some of your LinkedIns + I had a hard time telling people apart

6 weeks ago, I started my journey as a founder with @Antler Here are my favorite learnings so far: Learning 1: It's not easy to find a lifetime partner! Yes, coming from me, never married with no kids, it was tough to find a cofounder who will compliment my skills and attitude towards work. Saw several partnership breakups, but then eventually found not just one cofounder, but two. In the end, people is the most important thing in a company. Learning 2: Bootcamps are really helpful! It pretty much made it easier for us to understand how to tell a story using ones deck. It was how you can give light and make people understand what your message is, without even having to say much. Learning 3: Masterclasses are points to ponder on. Experienced startup founders sharing their secrets to success, Q&A sessions, and experiences (struggles) they encountered while and during their startup. What better way to learn, if not listen to people who have been there and done it. Learning 4: Getting the right coach / coaches. It is as equally important to learn from the Bootcamps and Masterclasses, but the coaches will support and guide you all the way! We are fortunate enough to have coaches who wants to see us succeed and make it through IC. Their value is priceless! I was accepted at Antler 2 weeks before it started. Actually was telling my girlfriend jokingly, that I probably am an outlier, and was just accepted as a filler :). I had a hard time coping my first few days, as everyone was more inclined than me in the startup world. This is probably due to my absence in the industry for almost 4 years, when I focused on my restaurants and bar. So I had to double my effort and learn more. In fact, I probably did more research as an Antler Founder as compared to when I was in school. And my never quit attitude brought me to focus on what is needed to be done. Hence, I was able to adjust and get caught up. The people I met in Antler were very supportive. Of course it is still a very competitive atmosphere, but you just ask for help, and everyone will be there for you. And believe me, we all know how to PARTY too! It's the experience of camaraderie that will be hard to forget. Alas, a working prototype! Steve Ng Elva Young Applications for the next cohort at Antler in Singapore is now open! If you're interested, do drop a message to any of the Antler folks tagged below, or apply directly here: lnkd.in/d-VEmGRx Winnie Khoo Jay Teo

7 weeks ago, I embarked on a transformative journey with Antler Singapore as a pre-formed team with Perfingo and my co-founder Sakura Seet The experience has been both enlightening and challenging, and I'm excited to share some of my key learnings: 1️⃣Validation Over Obsession: One crucial lesson was the importance of validating a product before becoming too attached. It's essential to create something that's not just close to your heart, but also in demand in the market. 2️⃣Thinking Big: Another vital insight was about market size and scalability. To attract venture capital, it's not enough to have a profitable idea; it must also have the potential for significant growth. We shifted our mindset from running a profitable lifestyle business to dreaming big and aiming for a VC-backable venture. 3️⃣Mentorship and Real Feedback: Coming fresh out of college, the mentorship and feedback on our pitches have been invaluable. It’s been a game-changer to receive guidance from experienced professionals who not only share their knowledge but also help steer us in the right direction. A particularly impactful piece of advice was to start charging users, which helped us overcome our fears and take a crucial step forward. Giving a special shoutout to our mentors Ryan Thoo and Jay Teo If you've ever dreamed of starting something impactful and changing the world, Antler Singapore provides the tools and community to turn your dreams into reality. Applications for the next cohort are open now open! If you're curious, excited, or ready for this journey, reach out to any of the Antler folks or apply directly here:

Although I don't post much, this one has to be shared. After spending 8 weeks with Antler as a founder in Singapore, I'm feeling pretty lucky to be restarting my journey with them. It's been a great time of learning and making good connections. I've had some really helpful guidance from Antler mentors Rufus Sorsa, Winnie Khoo, and Ryan Thoo on my ideas. Their one-on-one & office hours sessions, gave me directions to approach my startup. Antler also organized some cool learning sessions from change-makers like Magnus Grimeland, Jussi Salovaara, Vivek Sodera from Superhuman, Abheek Anand from Peak XV, Jeffrey Paine of Golden gate VC, and Marcus Tan of Carousel. They shared wisdom about funding, markets, GTM strategies, customer fit etc. I also want to give a shout-out to Jay Teo and Lanna Roche for making the program easy to follow. From all this, I've picked up some important lessons: 1. Focus on the problem, not just the solution – don't get too attached to your idea if it's not solving a real problem. 2. Figure out who your customer is – not everyone is your customer; you need to define a specific target customer who actually needs your solution. 3. Keep testing and changing until your product fits the market – your first idea might need some tweaking to really help your customers. Pivot and Pivot quick. Big cheers to the other founders on this journey – you've made it a great experience. And for anyone looking to start up, Antler Singapore is taking applications – just apply at lnkd.in/dt-CQQdp to get going on your own startup adventure.

🚀 6 weeks ago, I embarked on an incredible journey as a founder with Antler It's been a whirlwind of learning, growth, and discovery. Here are my favourite learnings so far: 1️⃣ Leveraging Team Strengths Amidst High Expectations: As a preformed team (Perfingo) entering the program, Lee Jian Wei Darren and I brought a different dynamic compared to many solo participants seeking co-founders. This came with its own set of advantages and heightened expectations. We were so eager to showcase what we had built, but we also learned the importance of balancing confidence in our existing strengths with the humility to embrace new challenges and learning opportunities. 2️⃣ The Best Validation is a Paid Customer – Show Me the Money!: During one of our weekly pitches, we were encouraged to start charging our users. Making the leap from beta testing to a paid product launch was transformative. True validation emerged when customers were willing to pay for our product. This phase not only proved our market fit but also opened up invaluable channels for direct customer feedback, guiding us to tweak our product based on their insights. It underscored the importance of being responsive to market needs and the value of iterative development based on real user data and feedback. 3️⃣ The Value of Diverse Perspectives: Building a solution is always more than just having a good idea, it's about viewing it from every possible angle. Our coach, Ryan Thoo constantly challenged us to think deeper and consider different viewpoints. 🌟 Personal Highlight: A standout experience has been interacting with an amazing SG15 cohort of founders. Bouncing ideas around and immersing ourselves in this vibrant environment has significantly contributed to our growth. 🌐 The journey at Antler has been nothing short of transformative, and it still continues. If you're looking to dive into the world of startups and innovation, this is your chance! 📢 Applications for the next cohort at Antler in Singapore are now open! 🔗 The link to apply is in the comments! hashtag #startup hashtag #founderjourney hashtag #perfingo hashtag #antler