"One clear misconception is that it's very hard to make money in media and events. Yes, it is challenging to scale, but when done right, they can be extremely profitable. I've advised some founders to build an event layer into their businesses because the impact, visibility, and revenue it provides can be quite significant. This aspect shouldn't be ignored. Of course, it needs to be executed well; the experience you provide to your online user base must translate effectively to offline events." - Mohan Belani
"If we take a step back, the first realization is that there are very clear and straightforward revenue models for building companies like ours. We could have focused much more on these early on, rather than trying to be different. Making money from lead generation, content marketing, and events are proven methods. In the early days, everyone wanted to innovate with new ideas and models, but the truth is, for companies like us, there are specific models that work well. There are ways to build these models and make them strong from the start. These are areas I wish we had doubled down on earlier." - Mohan Belani
"I'm always on the lookout for funds where the General Partners (GPs) are deeply invested in the local ecosystem. They have everything at stake to ensure they invest locally and help build up the local market. Because they have boots on the ground and money locally, they have a very strong vested interest in making it work. Unlike regional funds where, for example, the Philippines, Thailand, or Vietnam might only represent a 20% mandate, these local funds focus exclusively on their specific markets, which is critical for me. Secondly, understanding a VC's trajectory through their Fund 2 and Fund 3 gives insight into their growth perspective. I tend to stay away from VCs aiming to raise much larger funds early on. I prefer VCs that are more interested in maintaining smaller funds, operating exclusively in one market, and working closely with founders from the early stages." - Mohan Belani
In this episode, Jeremy Au speaks on founding e27 and Echelon, media business myths, and the angel and Orvel VC investing journey.
Keywords: Mohan Belani, Founding e27 and Echelon, Media Business Myths, Angel and Orvel VC Investing Journey, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Creators, Founder Story
