Escape velocity from singapore aws '17
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The document discusses the potential for Singapore to create globally desirable technology startups, emphasizing the importance of starting in larger markets like the US and China rather than solely testing ideas in Singapore. It highlights the significance of customer service, data-driven decision-making, and building a strong company culture as key components for success. Additionally, it suggests outsourcing technical infrastructure while focusing on superior product performance and market strategy.
![The controversy
“While it might seem like common wisdom to first test (an idea) in
Singapore, and then take it regionally and to the world”, he felt
that, “with all due respect to the government, […] it doesn’t make
sense in today’s world”.
Why?
“Furthermore, by the time you’re done with test-bedding in
Singapore, somebody’s already tested the same (idea) in China, or in
California, reaching out to North America and so forth. You’re
better off starting in the US and China from the get-go.”](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/escapevelocityfromsingapore-aws17-170413025410/85/Escape-velocity-from-singapore-aws-17-14-320.jpg)
Escape velocity from singapore aws '17
- 1. Escape Velocity from Singapore - possible lah?This is not a promotion for Singlish! Michael Smith Jr. SeedPlus.com
- 2. Things don’t have to change the world to be important Steve Jobs 1996 Jobs quotes > Woz quotes
- 3. I can be reached: Pro-tip: adding evie to the email won’t help SeedPlus.com SeedVC.blog @dreampipe (till twitter dies) michael at SeedPlus.com
- 4. My background coder (bad) enterprise sales (good) product marketing (okay) product management (better than okay) restaurant/pub owner (bad) evangelist (good) biz dev (better than okay) VC (apprentice)
- 5. It’s okay not to do a startup Don’t do it just because the cool kids are Take a gig first at a cool company Learn @ what you like - what you are good at
- 6. (GDP) Gross Domestic Product (GNP) Gross National Product (GNH) Gross National Happiness (From Bhutan ) (GDT) Globally Desirous Thing
- 7. Nike Shoes Rolex Watches Thai Food iPhones American TV Shows
- 8. All achieved escape velocity to become a GDT
- 9. (hello thingmakers) Can Singapore build a GDT?
- 14. The controversy “While it might seem like common wisdom to first test (an idea) in Singapore, and then take it regionally and to the world”, he felt that, “with all due respect to the government, […] it doesn’t make sense in today’s world”. Why? “Furthermore, by the time you’re done with test-bedding in Singapore, somebody’s already tested the same (idea) in China, or in California, reaching out to North America and so forth. You’re better off starting in the US and China from the get-go.”
- 15. Food for thought: Singapore is as capable (even more so than some places) as any other City/State to: 1. Build a tech startup 2. Launch it onto the global stage 3. Kick Ass There is no one way to do it but let’s discuss this more
- 16. Important stuff for your success toolkit Pro-tip: Taking notes is not cool
- 18. Karma has everybody’s address
- 19. At all times: Be cognizant of how you treat others You never know when you will cross paths again You may eventually work with, be bought by or merge with competition The world is smaller than you think
- 20. Luck is also useful but karma is the precursor
- 21. People always make the difference
- 22. Look at character as much as tech/business skills Groom the up and comers for greatness Despite the hype - it’s usually a marathon and not a sprint - therefore build a culture of longevity Help people lead themselves (act like a coach) Empower employees to make decisions If you are a young/new management team - get help early on how to build the right people culture
- 23. Data can no longer be an side project
- 24. No matter what your product/service - data is key to your long term success It is always better to augment decisions with data - this helps to support a gut reaction - or helps you to confirm when your gut was wrong Instrument everything even if you can’t deal with analysis now. Some day you will (simply store logs on S3 for later import into Redshift for example) Share data internally and externally if possible Hire people who also care about data
- 25. Keep it simple, stupid
- 28. Pro-tip: Green is good. Red is bad
- 29. Customer delight is the best form of virality - Andy Rachleff (Benchmark & Wealthfront)
- 30. Very few startups make it Very few startups become a runaway success However, apart from creating a great product one could also focus on amazing customer service It is imperative to cultivate a process of customer service in everything you do Takes time to bear fruit but is the best marketing ever
- 32. I mean your servers not your coders
- 33. Building a product is only the start It is important to offer superior performance, uptime and to push the envelope AWS offers the biggest cloud in SEA, the largest on the ground team and lots of help to startups With AWS you can have global reach (GDT) from Singapore Pro-Tip: Andrew is your man
- 34. The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do - Michael Porter (founder of The Monitor Group) Pro-Tip: Competitive Strategy is a must read
- 35. If you are building a 1 country business then make sure it is the biggest 1 country business ever (gojek) (Massive TAM) Pro tip: VC’s love massive TAM If you are going regional - think cities instead of countries since this is where the masses are. (SEA is all about the cities) Force yourself early to test new cities & determine the playbook city by city After SEA possibly consider ANZ region as a good entry into the US or North America Get strategy help from your network, advisors, angle & VC’s
- 36. What I asked earlier: Can Singapore build a GDT?
- 37. No time like the present!
- 38. Struggle more, hustle less...
- 39. Q and A