In Episode 36 of The Generalists Podcast, we sit down with Shiyan Koh, Managing Partner at Hustle Fund, for a full-length conversation on how geography shapes entrepreneurship—and why the East-West divide isn’t as wide as you might think.

From Silicon Valley to Southeast Asia, what really sets these startup worlds apart?

What You’ll Learn:

• The cultural and operational differences in startups across regions
• How founders approach risk, fundraising, and growth in the East vs West
• Why local context matters for product-market fit and scaling
• Common misconceptions about global startup strategies
• The “density advantage” of Silicon Valley vs generalist talent in SEA
• Democratizing entrepreneurship via Hustle Fund’s Angel Squad
• Stack-ranking opportunities across emerging markets
• The generational shift in risk tolerance and ambition

Hosts:

• Michael Smith Jr.: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp⁠
• Razko Kotler: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/razko282⁠

Guest:

• Shiyan Koh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiyankoh/

Resources & Links:

• Hustle Fund: https://hustlefund.vc/
• Reap: https://reap.global/
• Jan Health: https://jan.health/
• CharterSpace: https://charterspace.co/
• Angel Squad: https://www.hustlefund.vc/squad
• A History of the People’s Action Party: 1985–2021: https://nuspress.nus.edu.sg/products/a-history-of-the-peoples-action-party-1985-2021