FIA3: Julian Kwan – Investacrowd (Founders in Asia)

Podcast highlights:

• 12:00 How did Julian Kwan get started in Singapore? It's the best place to start a property tech business. Thinking where the investment comes from is critical
• 24:25 The huge sense of belief and 150% conviction that you need to have in starting a business. The dilemma startups face with an idea that's too early for the market (like real estate token exchanges)
• 39:50 Asian companies don't support startups like Western companies do. Raising money from traditional sources is much harder in Asia than in The West - but is this situation changing in recent years?

Podcast notes:

• 00:05 Welcome Julian Kwan to Asia Tech Podcast Founders in Asia with Jodie Collins
• 01:25 How did Julian Kwan get into Asia? A backstory on Julian backpacking in and around Asia, studying in Beijing, then working in Shanghai on different jobs before moving onto real estate development and renovating a prosthetics factory in Shanghai
• 06:35 Did Julian have any local partner to work with in the renovation of the prosthetics factory project? Turning it to a hotel, raising money from a big American entrepreneur, opening it, eventually signing up a couple of deals with real estate developers in China then expanding into other parts of Asia
• 08:50 Did Julian move to Sri Lanka permanently for a project there? The challenges Julian faced in doing business at Sri Lanka
• 12:00 How did Julian Kwan get started in Singapore? It's the best place to start a property tech business. Thinking where the investment comes from is critical
• 15:05 What is Investacrowd? A real-estate financing company, a tech platform where global investors can access high-quality commercial real-estate investments - a diversification tool
• 17:35 Did Julian develop the Investacrowd technology in Singapore? Expansion plans into adopting the blockchain technology and the shareholdings into the smart contracts instead of old paper contracts
• 20:50 How did Julian develop the idea behind Investacrowd? What was his inspiration for starting the business and how did Julian transition from idea to making it happen?
• 24:25 The huge sense of belief and 150% conviction that you need to have in starting a business. The dilemma startups face with an idea that's too early for the market (like real estate token exchanges)
• 28:20 Does Julian see ICTX (Investacrowd Token), an extension of the Investacrowd business, as a pivot away from what he is doing?
• 30:25 As the CEO, how does Julian balance out his team in terms of where their focus is on the existing business versus the new business? And how are the "old-world" real estate companies moving into the blockchain space?
• 35:55 Being a business founder now working in an area that is moving at an extremely fast pace, how does Julian manage that from a health and time perspective?
• 39:50 Asian companies don't support startups like Western companies do. Raising money from traditional sources is much harder in Asia than in The West - but is this situation changing in recent years?
• 42:35 Where are the most interesting markets for property technology in Asia?
• 44:30 Julian's tips for founders who are looking to move or are interested in Asia - find and go what's behind the curve; work in an accelerator or VC fund, see all the different things and come up with something of your own; understand the cost space; play the long game otherwise people won't work with you