"I think the best deal you can strike is always a win-win. If a deal is imbalanced on one side of the equation, it’s eventually not a good deal. You have to understand that this relationship is something you need to build—build trust, maintain it, and, especially during a crisis, know how to manage it. Is the VC going to wire more money to help the company, or are they just going to disappear? This helps founders like us identify the right partners. For example, before I said yes to Iterative, I specifically called a founder who had recently folded his business after going through Iterative. I asked him, “What did Iterative do for you?” He said, “Oh my God, they even had a call with me to make sure I was okay. They walked me through steps one, two, three, four, five, and what I could do next.” They even offered potential roles to help me stay afloat while I figured out my next steps. That level of support left a lasting impression.” - Jingjing Zhong, co-founder and CEO of Superbench" - Jingjing Zhong
"Recently, we noticed clients returning to the WhatsApp channel asking, “Is Chris working today?” They assume Chris is human because Chris, the AI, doesn’t use templates—unlike human agents, who rely on them. Ironically, consumers now think human agents are AI, and AI is human. The confusion is fascinating. As businesses grow, customer support teams typically adopt templates to ensure consistent communication. But AI doesn’t need templates, which gives it a more natural, conversational feel, leaving consumers unsure of who—or what—they’re talking to.” - Jingjing Zhong, co-founder and CEO of Superbench" - Jingjing Zhong
"Recently, a friend of mine went to the US to fundraise, and the general consensus he shared was that US investors are much nicer. When they say no, they provide proper reasons and even offer advice to help you improve. In contrast, in Southeast Asia, investors are more likely to ghost you. Even if they’ve invested, some will talk behind your back if things don’t go well. There’s often a “no-win” mindset here: if they give you money, they expect results, or you’re as good as dead. It’s a transactional approach with little willingness to support founders through challenges. In the US, investors tend to be genuinely willing to help and create win-win situations.” - Jingjing Zhong, co-founder and CEO of Superbench" - Jingjing Zhong
In this episode, Jeremy Au speaks on the AI impact on service businesses, CRM vs. RAG reality, and founder productivity lifestyle.
Keywords: Jingjing Zhong, AI Impact on Service Businesses, CRM vs. RAG Reality, Founder Productivity Lifestyle, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Artificial Intelligence, Startup, Founder Story
