What if venture capital wasn’t built to chase unicorns in Southeast Asia, but to build camels instead?

On Open For Business, Umar Munshi, Managing Partner of HASAN.VC, unpacks how his firm is rethinking venture capital for Southeast Asia and beyond, with a focus on ethical, halal-aligned startups grounded in resilience, not hype.

We explore the origins and philosophy behind HASAN.VC’s Camel Manifesto, which champions long-term sustainability over hypergrowth.

Umar shares lessons from his equity crowdfunding journey with Ethis Group, why traditional VC models fail in fragmented markets, and how HASAN is building a more founder-friendly ecosystem, including a hands-on accelerator and a new venture studio in Kota Bharu.

We also discuss:

• Why the Silicon Valley VC model doesn’t fit Southeast Asia

• Red flags founders should watch for in investors

• Shariah-compliant alternatives to SAFE notes

• How HASAN.VC is building an angel-powered VC fund

• What ethical investing means in practice, and why it’s for everyone

Whether you're a founder, funder, or just curious about values-driven capital, this is a must-listen.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan, Kishan Sivaswamy

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan

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Categories:  markets,  economy,  entrepreneurs,  investments,  SME,  technology

Tags:  founder-friendly ecosystem,  SAFE notes,  venture capital,  ethical investing,  islamic finance,  halal economy,  fintech,