Podcast: Hard Truths by Vertex | Series 2 | Episode 3 - Unlocking the Trillion dollar SEA Startup Ecosystem - Indonesia's context with Gary Khoeng

Gary KHOENG | 21 Nov 2023

Thank you for your strong support for Hard Truths by Vertex podcast Series 1 - We are now back with Series 2!

Indonesia is the largest market in Southeast Asia but with a nascent startup ecosystem, how can entrepreneurs navigate rapid growth while ensuring bottom-line profitability? In this episode, Gary Khoeng shares insights on Indonesia's startup landscape. Covering topics across profitability, unit economics, and internal governance, Gary provides a pragmatic understanding for navigating the challenges of the evolving market. This episode offers key considerations for those aiming to tap into Indonesia's startup opportunities within the broader Southeast Asian context. Tune in now!

In This Episode

(00:00) Starting the Vertex Journey

(04:57) Growth of Fintech in Indonesia

(09:37) What are some notable trends in the Indonesian ecosystem?

(11:57) Advice for investing in the Indonesian market

(12:58) How to reach out to Vertex for funding?

(16:51) How does Vertex support its portfolio companies

(24:15) At what point should the startup business aim to be profitable?

(28:51) Advice for first time founders

For the full transcript, click here: 

Gary Khoeng

Gary Khoeng is a Partner of Investment at Vertex Ventures Southeast East Asia and India and is the first to set up the team in Indonesia. He has spent most of his career in financial services and management consulting at the Boston Consulting Group in Jakarta before joining Vertex. At BCG, he covered both banks and FMCG clients across South East Asia. Prior to BCG, Gary worked at Citigroup’s Institutional Clients Group in New York, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Follow him at https://id.linkedin.com/in/garykhoeng 

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Your Host

Elise Tan is the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India. Prior to joining Vertex, she has had extensive experience in investor relations and partnership at global venture funds and accelerators with more than $100m in AUM. Elise also currently runs a Southeast Asia-based startup community of nearly 800 entrepreneurs called the Asia Startup network and actively supports their startup journey through panels, meet-ups, and mentoring programs.

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

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In addition to Southeast Asia and India, the Vertex Global Network is comprised of affiliates in Silicon Valley, China and Israel. This provides a unique platform for our portfolio companies to realize their full potential by leveraging the combined experience and resources of our extensive network of global partners.

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