The Founders Peak Podcast

Welcome to a brand-new season of The Founders Peak Podcast, live from the heart of innovation at the GFTN Forum in Tokyo, Japan! This season, we are diving deep into a theme that every founder, investor, and builder can relate to: resilience. In a tough market, these stories come from the front lines of what it takes to not just survive, but thrive.Across these 10 talks, you will find a thread that connects them all: the courage to redefine what is safe, what is average, and what is possible. These are not just business stories. They are windows into how the most extraordinary builders think, feel, and decide. Tune in for a masterclass in the founder’s mind.

Is being under estimated a disadvantage, or a secret weapon? Caroline Tran, founder of Hello Clever, flips the script on the challenges female founders face, arguing that these very obstacles cultivate distinct advantages—like sharper judgment and more resilient strategies. A powerful lesson in how to turn bias into a profitable edge.

Is your pitch a static document, or a living story? Evan Burkosky, a solo sailor turned AI founder, makes the powerful argument that constantly refining your narrative is the most critical survival skill in the startup world. Learn why storytelling is the key to raising capital, closing deals, and building a team that truly believes.

Do you need to be a superhuman to build a successful company? Joe Lu, an “accidental entrepreneur” who failed his YC interview three times, dismantles the myth of the perfect founder. In this refreshingly honest talk, he shares how his own feelings of being average and flawed ultimately gave him a unique and powerful edge.

What does “safety” truly mean in today’s world? Keisuke Kimura grew up with a mother who, scarred by financial instability, urged him to find a “safe job.” In this talk, he shares his journey of defying that definition to prove that true security comes not from a corporate safety net, but from the courage to build your own value.

How do you find the courage to build something that has never existed before? Aishwarya Jaishankar, co-founder of Hyperface, reveals the simple but powerful question that has guided her entire career: “Why the hell not?” Learn how this mindset helped her navigate the chaos of India’s demonetization and turn complexity into courageous progress.

How do you survive when a $20 million funding deal vanishes overnight? Ritesh and Deepak Jain, co-founders of FlexiLoans, share a powerful lesson in leadership and collective calm. Discover how their pact to “not panic at once” and the discipline to say “no” became their ultimate survival strategy in a moment of crisis.

In a fragile and rapidly changing world, is the greatest risk standing still? Yusuke Jindo, a crypto-native CPA and new father, makes the compelling case that becoming an entrepreneur was the most stable and conservative decision he could make. A fascinating perspective that challenges everything you think you know about risk.

What do you do when your most important partner tries to exploit your dependence? Himanshu Chandra of Progcap shares a cautionary tale every founder needs to hear. He recounts the moment his company had to make an impossible choice, revealing how the painful decision to walk away ultimately saved their business.

Can technology solve the global loneliness epidemic? Felix Wong, a global citizen and founder of EMOKA, asks a profound question. Inspired by a conversation with a NASA astronaut about the loneliness of space, he explores how AI can be a tool not just for efficiency, but for connection, and what it takes to build an AI that truly knows how to care.

What happens when you reach the peak of your corporate career and realize you are on the wrong mountain? Sanjay Tripathy, co-founder of BRISKPE, shares his incredibly honest story of walking away from comfort and security, revealing that the biggest challenge wasn’t changing his business model, but fundamentally changing himself.

Welcome to a super special Season 15 of The Founders Peak Podcast, live from the 10th milestone edition of the Singapore FinTech Festival! This season is a homecoming to our flagship event, where we immerse you in the heart of the startup ecosystem. Over three days, 23 exceptional founders from around the world took the stage to share their deepest, unfiltered wisdom from their founder journey. Tune in for the most authentic conversations from the global startup world.

What does it mean to truly win? Dilip Modi, founder of Spice Money, shares his journey from chasing inherited ambition to being led by a deeper purpose. In this talk, he reveals how redefining his own definition of “winning” became his greatest success and the key to empowering over a million rural entrepreneurs in India.

For a true survivor, every obstacle is an opportunity. Rosaline Chow Koo, founder of CXA Group, delivers a masterclass in perseverance, reminding us that every setback is data, every pivot is progress, and every failure is fuel for what comes next. A powerful lesson for every founder.

In new markets, should you build product or build trust first? In this energetic and unconventional talk, FailSafe co-founders Flynn and Wui share how choosing “Hard Mode” forces clarity and why, sometimes, the most logical path is the one that doesn’t make sense to anyone else.

Can fear be a founder’s greatest asset? Qin En Looi of Onigiri Ventures delivers a raw and powerful reflection on how fear can be a founder’s greatest teacher—teaching courage through action, identity beyond achievement, and conviction even when no one else believes.

How do you go from designing aircraft engines to building a fintech unicorn? Arthur Mak, co-founder of YouTrip, shares a powerful lesson in how curiosity and optimism can help you build something that truly matters. This talk reminds us that purpose isn’t found—it’s built in the value you create and the people you serve.

What can a mountain teach you about leadership? Adeeb Ahamed, founder of LuLu Financial Holdings, reveals how the simple Swahili mantra of “pole pole” (slowly, slowly) taught him that sustainable leadership lies in balancing purpose, pace, and people. Learn when to surge and when to steady the rhythm for your team.

When you’re generating billions in new credit, hypergrowth isn’t a goal—it’s a daily reality. Avital Pardo, co-founder of Pagaya, breaks down how to manage the chaos by focusing on three pillars: people, product, and process. This is a playbook for scaling at breakneck speed and knowing when to level the plane.

Building a unicorn is an emotional rollercoaster. Mathias Imbach, co-founder of the world’s first digital asset bank, Sygnum, gives an essential guide to navigating the intense swings of entrepreneurship, showing how passion, people, and positivity can help you turn that volatility into fuel.

In the world of venture-backed startups, playing it safe is the riskiest move of all. Anna Joo Fee, a solo, non-technical founder, gives a masterclass in conviction, teaching us that avoiding death is not the same as thriving. To truly succeed, you have to stop playing not to lose and start playing to win.

What does it take to go from village roots to building one of Southeast Asia’s largest fintech companies? Shou Dong, co-founder of ADVANCE.AI, shares an inspiring story about the three kinds of GUTS a founder needs: the courage to never give up, the courage to change, and the courage to serve a mission bigger than yourself.

After leading two unicorns (Freelancer.com and Bukalapak) through massive IPOs, Willix Halim knows what it takes to win. In this rapid-fire masterclass, he delivers eight incredibly sharp and usable insights, covering everything from metrics and fundraising to the critical importance of speed and knowing your numbers to survive and thrive.

In the startup world, there is only one strategy that truly matters: survival. Ankit Ratan of Signzy tells a gripping and honest story of near-death moments, teaching us that cash buys you time, and sometimes, the oxygen you need to survive comes from the most unexpected places.

What if being underestimated is your greatest advantage? Vincent Iswara, co-founder of DANA, delivers an inspiring message for every founder who feels overlooked, showing us that being the underdog gives you the freedom to rewrite the rules and the hunger to be undeniable.

From commercial pilot to co-founding Latin America’s biggest unicorn, Rappi, Juan Pablo Ortega knows about navigating turbulence. In this talk, he offers a powerful reminder that the greatest companies are not just built on hustle, but on a deep, unwavering purpose that fuels you through the inevitable storms of the founder’s journey.

Your greatest idea might be hidden in your deepest frustration. Joe Kinvi, founder of Borderless, delivers a powerful lesson on how your personal pain can be your greatest asset, revealing a systemic problem that, when solved, can unlock economic empowerment for an entire generation.

Can code dismantle inequity? Winston Damarillo, a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, delivers a powerful call to action, urging us to use the meritocracy of code not just to build products, but to disrupt systemic inequality and create true economic freedom for everyone.

Starting a company is like “eating glass while staring into the abyss.” Vince Vissers of Firsty gives a raw and hilarious tour of the founder’s marathon, reminding us that the joy isn’t in the comfort of the finish line, but in the courage you discover during the brutal, glass-eating climb.

How do you lead a company through a military coup and a global pandemic? Brad Jones tells the powerful story of Wave Money in Myanmar, revealing that true resilience is built on three pillars: prioritizing your people, cultivating adaptability through brutal honesty, and leading with deep empathy.

The entrepreneurial journey takes a toll that no one talks about. Shivashish Chatterjee, co-founder of DMI Group, delivers a candid and necessary conversation about the hidden neurological costs of being a founder and the critical importance of managing the one risk we often ignore: our own well-being.

How do you hit profitability in three months and scale to an 8-figure revenue in less than a year? Salim Dhanani of Pave Bank offers a masterclass in execution, showing how the greatest opportunities for innovation and value creation lie at the edges of convention, in the spaces that others overlook.

An entrepreneur’s journey is rarely a straight line. David Hanna, founder of Finmo, shares his brilliant story of evolution from delivering cupcakes in a beat-up van to building global payment infrastructure. This talk is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is the accumulation of small failures and moments of resilience.

In a world of conventional wisdom, your greatest advantage might be the one no one sees coming. Saurav Bhatia delivers a masterclass in contrarian thinking, arguing that the only unfair advantage left is being yourself and trusting your own judgment, especially when everyone else expects you to conform.

Is financial inclusion the end goal, or just the beginning? Dr. Yanan Wu, a former nuclear physicist turned fintech founder, shows us that the future isn’t just about access, but about “agentic inclusion,” where technology empowers true agency. This talk reminds us that in the long run, it’s not about who runs fastest, but who can last to the finish line.

Welcome to Season 14 of The Founders Peak Podcast, live from a brand new city on our circuit: Tbilisi, Georgia! For the first time, we planted our flag at the Tbilisi Finance Summit to bring you unfiltered stories from nine exceptional founders from across the Silk Road. This season is all about resilience, reinvention, and the courage it takes to build something from nothing. Tune in for the real stories behind the startups.

What happens when a world-class chess Grandmaster, one of the few to hold a winning record against the legendary Garry Kasparov, steps away from the board? Joel Lautier shares his journey of reinvention, applying the strategic mind of a champion to the world of venture capital. In this talk, Joel offers a fascinating look at how the skills of a truth-seeker can be adapted to any new playing field, and how true reinvention is about evolution, not erasure.

What happens when you’re three days away from giving up on your dream? Nato Toronjadze shares the inspiring story of hitting rock bottom after leaving her corporate career to build a startup. This talk is a testament to how vision, friendship, and a sense of humor can help you find your breakthrough just when you’re about to quit.

Is quitting always a failure? Solo founder Lisa JY Tan argues that sometimes, it's the wisest move a founder can make. In this incredibly honest and vulnerable talk, Lisa explains why she chose to kill her first startup. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes the bravest choice isn’t to pivot, but to compost the entire meal and start cooking again.

After receiving 235 rejections from investors, Alex Tavkhelidze learned a vital lesson: confidence is a skill you build, not a trait you’re born with. In this talk, the Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur delivers a masterclass in self-belief, sharing how he went from being unable to speak clearly to winning pitching competitions and proving that your biggest obstacle is often your own self-doubt.

In the world of startups, crisis is inevitable. But what if you had an algorithm for resilience? Aleksi Khoroshvili, Founder & CEO of JSC Silk Bank, shares his powerful framework for finding opportunity in every challenge. This talk explores his 'resilience algorithm' and proves why the only true failure is giving up.

Sometimes the most powerful entrepreneurial move isn't a pivot or a new product—it's having the courage to quit. Hasan Hasanov tells the candid story of betting on himself, and how that one recurring thought can be the spark for extraordinary change. This talk is a powerful story about the realities of the founder’s journey and the courage it takes to build your own path.

What if the key to building the future of finance is to let go of control? Siddharth Shetty, a self-described “plumber of financial industry pipes,” shares his vision for the Finternet—a universal, open fabric for value. This talk explores how a snowboarding accident cracked open the illusion of control for him, unlocking a more intuitive and powerful way to build, lead, and live.

Many startups feel like they have nine lives, but few actually live to tell the tale. Davit Kvitsiani, co-founder & CEO of CNICK, shares the rollercoaster journey of his company, which was declared dead before being reborn. This is a powerful lesson in persistence and how sometimes you have to fail multiple times before finding your breakthrough product-market fit.

Welcome to Season 13 of The Founders Peak Podcast - recorded live from the Point Zero Forum 2025 in Zurich. This special edition hits different. Over two soulful hours on stage, six remarkable founders shared sharp, usable wisdom drawn from real-world building.From Silicon Valley’s shifting ethos to learning how to let go, from grief as entrepreneurial fuel to the raw truths behind leadership - these stories are deeply human, fiercely honest, and refreshingly unfiltered.If you’re done with startup hype and hungry for startup truth...you’re in the right place. Tune in!

Theremin player, horror film composer, and Tradeshift co-founder Gert Sylvest reflects on the Silicon Valley ethos that shaped him - and why it may be heading off course. In this powerful talk, he asks the question every founder must face: Where are we really going? A thought-provoking episode on tech, trust, and finding your true compass.

Dr. Lidia Kurt built her first computer with a screwdriver - and later built Switzerland’s first DLT trading system. In this bold, reflective talk, she shares the hard truths of letting go, rewriting the rules of global finance, and becoming a builder in uncharted territory. Grit, reinvention, and real talk.

What happens when the people who believe in you - your family, friends, mentors - also back your startup? CrowdSports co-founder Leroy Bächtold opens up about the guilt, pressure, and unexpected leadership lessons that come with raising money from your closest circle. A heartfelt and brutally honest listen.

At 18, he dreamed of windsurfing. Now, he’s leading two companies fighting financial crime. But it was one in-flight conversation that changed Joel Winteregg’s leadership forever. This is his candid journey of delegation, ego, and growth - and a lesson in what happens when holding on starts holding you back.

Monique Morrow didn’t plan to be a tech pioneer, but life had other plans. In this intimate talk, she shares how loss, rejection, and grief became unexpected sources of strength. Vulnerable, deeply human, and full of purpose - this episode shows that sometimes, our hardest moments forge our boldest missions.