BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Enterprise Explores  >  What Taiwan-based VC AppWorks is Looking For in Malaysia (and SEA)

What Taiwan-based VC AppWorks is Looking For in Malaysia (and SEA)

Sophie Chiu, Principal Leading the Southeast Asia Arm, AppWorks

19-Mar-24 12:00

What Taiwan-based VC AppWorks is Looking For in Malaysia (and SEA)

“Founders gotta be a little silly”

Enterprise Explores what Taiwan-based VC firm AppWorks is looking for in Malaysia and Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem with Sophie Chiu, Principal leading the Southeast Asia Arm at AppWorks.

We explore Sophie's role leading AppWorks' expansion efforts into Southeast Asia and the mandate given to her by HQ. We also reflect on her criteria for selecting portfolio companies, insights into the venture capital landscape in Southeast Asia, and how her background informs her approach to supporting and investing in startups.

AppWorks has 532 active startups and 1,6622 founders in its alumni network. Its ecosystem has raised a total of US$5.8 billion in funding to reach a total valuation of US$32.4 billion.

Founded in 2009, AppWorks provides 2 main services that cater to startups in 2 different stages. There’s AppWorks Accelerator which helps seed-stage startups go from 0 to 1, AppWorks Funds which provides financing to help growth-stage startups scale faster, and also AppWorks School which provides education to talents and prepares them for a career in the startup world.

Sophie is leading AppWorks' expansion efforts into Southeast Asia, connecting with and investing in promising founders across the region. Prior to AppWorks, Sophie had 10 years of public equity experience and was part of the portfolio management team at Neuberger Berman, focusing on emerging market opportunities. Before that she served as a research analyst at Credit Suisse, JPMorgan, and London-based Autonomous Research.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  marketsmanagingCorporates

Tags:  venture capitalfoundersbusinessstartupfundinginvestmentventure capitalistseavc funding





Play / Pause

Listen now : Open For Business : Metal Brain Studio’s Charlie Chan shares how slapstick...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Shane Oliver, Chief Economist, AMP Capital tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Professor Dr Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam of Sunway Medical School shares on the future of global health security and renewed fears over vaccine safety.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Joshua Netto, Blue Stone Management Sdn. Bhd discusses findings from the Putra Heights explosion report.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille LIVE

Teh Wee Chye of Malayan Flour discusses how global macroeconomic and geopolitical issues are affecting the prices of wheat and grain, how its poultry segment is performing, and more.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Prof. James Chin of University of Tasmania discusses Sabah’s political turmoil over a bribery scandal involving 15 politicians and RM4 million in alleged kickbacks.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Chin Chee Seong of the SME Association of Malaysia discusses whether businesses are ready for the SST expansion taking effect today.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Shane Oliver, Chief Economist, AMP Capital tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

People, Planet, Profit

Rutuja Tendolkar of ERM weighs in on how businesses should navigate both economic and social risks in data center development.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Metal Brain Studio’s Charlie Chan shares how slapstick hit Oko Lele grew from a YouTube series into a global IP, and what it takes to turn digital content into a scalable, revenue-generating brand.

11:00 AM

Marketing Mojo

Cult Creative’s Dulya Wijeratne unpacks the difference between chasing trends and shaping them—and what makes a campaign resonate long after the hashtags fade.

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Optimism vs Headcount: A 2025 Workforce Paradox. Aon's Rahul Chawla breaks down the 2025 workforce paradox where business optimism is high but hiring remains flat, and what it means for talent strategy.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Teh Wee Chye of Malayan Flour discusses how global macroeconomic and geopolitical issues are affecting the prices of wheat and grain, how its poultry segment is performing, and more.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

We speak to the vice chief of DAP’s youth wing on building a progressive Malaysia from within the system.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Months after the deadly earthquake in Myanmar, do people have access to safe water? We speak to an expert on the ground to find out how they’re plugging the gaps.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Talkback Tuesday

8:00 PM

BBC World Service