If only Thailand had a clue…

~ michael_msft ~ Leave a comment

I love Thailand. Have since the moment I first arrived for a business trip. The chaos, the city of Bangkok, the mountains, the oceans, the people, the food and this list can go on and on. However the place is not without it’s issues – just check this article for the silly reaction to a skit on SNL making fun of the sex biz in Thailand. I won’t get into how the biz is mostly run by and for Thais and is ingrained in Thai culture. Plenty of interesting books on the subject if you think I am off in left field here.

However I digress. Thailand has so many positive points but the country usually gains notoriety for its problems and usually these problems are self inflicted.

So that being said I am continually amazed why Thailand doesn’t quickly and decisively leap frog most of SEA by going for the Gold in the startup olympics. There is a startup fever in SEA – the HQ for this is Singapore but we all know the place is getting way too expensive. Many folks decamp for Malaysia or even work in Singapore and sneak across the border to live. Lots of folks setup shop in Indonesia which works for some but Jakarta traffic and lack of transportation infrastructure keeps folks like me out. Vietnam is cool and all but it is too much a mini China for me with the censorship and the government protection racket for incumbent companies.

So back to Thailand. It has issues. Freedom of speech, censorship and some others I won’t get into to. All in all though Thailand could be a great hub for SEA startups but the funding scene, the work permit and company issues tend to drive out anyone but the locals from really making a go of it. Sure I know there are startups in Thailand not started by the locals but there are plenty of stories from those who have tried and promise never to do it again. Some of those folks still work and live in Thailand but don’t form companies and legally stay via marriage or education visas. All good but not really the most convenient.

So when one see what Canada is doing to get startups to come to their country – I silently dream about Thailand doing the same thing. I know it won’t happen but it is possible and it would radically change the SEA landscape since Thailand is a good place to live, has talent and is starting to attract lots of hip people who just want to be here ( I know an investment banker thinking of jumping from Singapore to Thailand cause he thinks it might be a better city to live in for a while) but startups face such an uphill battle to be legal in Thailand if they are not founded by Thais. I won’t even get into the inane work permit requirements, the silly annual audits and all the other red tape that is death to a lean startup machine.

I will keep dreaming. Hoping that maybe someone in a big meeting room somewhere in some part of the Thai government decides to get radical.

Edelweiss Fondue House and Restaurant :: Pattaya, Thailand

~ michael_msft ~ 2 Comments

With the parents in town I figured it was time to try some place new – so last night we hit www.edelweissth.com. It is located at Thap Praya Road Soi 13.

It is a converted house with outdoor and patio dining. Speciality is Swiss food, cheese Fondue and I guess what you would call meat fondue as well. We ordered 3 platters. 1 was the cheese fondue and bread. The other was sliced beef platter that you cook in a broth – the third platter was cubed meat that you cook in oil. Each platter came with soup and salad bar which was quite simple but tasty.

I had a glass of white and the parents had soda and a water. Total bill was like 1500 baht and we were absolutely stuffed. Everything was tasty – tables were small so was hard to manage all the burners and food but still was quite enjoyable. We ate on the patio with a cool breeze and great conversations.

Looks like the owner is always around and is there to make sure everyone has a good meal. I plan on going back to try something else and of course have another cheese fondue.

The 5 things…

~ michael_msft ~ Leave a comment

My boss sent me this link and I rather enjoyed it.

http://venturebeat.com/2013/01/20/5-things-you-need-to-know-before-working-at-a-startup/

1. Working for a startup means having ownership over your work and doing something that you really believe in, but it also means doing whatever is needed of you.

So true. I think I interview people and they give me these feelings that they need specific marching orders or scope of work. Sure – you hire someone for a specific category or genre of work but truth be told – everyone just needs to do whatever, whenever it is needed. I think this is the fun part but if it turns you off – don’t work at a startup.

2. We all hope for a big exit a la Instagram. However, you should understand the risks and be aware of how rare startup success really is.

True again. People always expect a hit or breakout. I have worked at a few startups. 1 did really well with an acquisition and provided me a nice international career. 1 went belly up but I learned a ton about what never to do again. I always learn and grow at a startup – probably in a year I feel like I had the experiences of working 2 years or longer at a non startup. We all hope for success but it rarely happens. So be careful what you expect and be realistic about it.

3. While getting equity is a big plus and many startups have yummy snacks and fun perks, expect a lower salary and fewer benefits.

I think you will find the lean notion of startups and lean really should mean lean all around. All the bennies are cool but not really fitting with lean in my opinion. There are lots of other bennies to have that don’t always cost money – like allowing people to work from wherever, allowing people to dive into other things that are not their core gig and so on. So expect lower pay and benefits but keep in mind why this happens and what the tradeoffs are.

4. You’ll have lots of exposure to founders at a small startup, but you may get less mentoring than you need.

This is true to some extent but I think most founders are there when you need them or the folks running the company make themselves available as needed. Agreed there might not be a organized mentoring program or a set of mentoring marching orders, save this for big company procedures, but then when a person needs mentoring or help they should ask for it and the mentors should be ready to deliver.

5. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, while startups are a lot of fun, the pressure can be much higher than at other types of companies.

Indeed the pressure is much higher but I think it can be managed if you take the long view. You have to remind yourself that nothing really happens permanently day to day – it is over the many days, weeks and months that the vision comes together and is executed. So day to day it might be easy to stress yourself out or feel like the pressure is to big but if you keep focused on the long term goals and are working on tangible things like revenue, user satisfaction, and product excellence it becomes easier to manage day to day ups and downs while focusing on the long term stuff that matters.

The article was simple and the points almost cliche but they are a pretty honest assessment of some of the basic startup tenants.

The Sun :: Siem Reap, Cambodia

~ michael_msft ~ Leave a comment

Been a while since I have been to Siem Reap and lots has changed – the place keeps getting busier and there are more hotels, bars and restaurants than ever. However I still enjoy the place and find it to be a good value for eating. Of course now I have the little one and I am not hunting for the night life but a solid meal, a chance to chat with my family and a place that tolerates the chaos of a baby. 😉

We cruised around pub street last night and came across The Sun – not sure of their website since every google search just points to a zillion different domains of trip advisor but this is the address:

Corner Pub Street, Siem Reap 12345, Cambodia

It is not a place for “native” food but just a nicely designed place with bistro food, good service and a fun place to chill.

I thought the prices were reasonable, portions were fine and everyone enjoyed what they ordered. The pizzas were also good and everyone loved the pork chops. The salads were solid but nothing to shout about but generally that is always the case with non native salads in SEA.

The staff was also very friendly, most Cambodians are, and even assisted with working around the baby.

We might hit this place one more time to check out the breakfast menu.

Check it out!

My biggest fear is messing her up…

~ michael_msft ~ 5 Comments

I read this today on Daring Fireball : http://daringfireball.net/linked/2013/01/15/swartz-curious

If you watch little kids, they are intensely curious, always exploring and trying to figure out how things work. The problem is that school drives all that curiosity out. Instead of letting you explore things for yourself, it tells you that you have to read these particular books and answer these particular questions.

This is so true. I am very thankful as a kid I was homeschooled for a while since I think that allowed me to maintain some of my curiosity. Now that I am a dad, when I look at my little girl I realize she is perfect and that the world and my stewardship could mess her up more than she would on her own. I need to maintain her curiosity and protect her from losing it.

Just look at that pic?

I have some work to do…

 

 

Mapping The Entertainment Ecosystems: A Brief Revisit

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I read the first post and was amazed at the data and how much I didn’t know about the global entertainment ecosystem.

Here is the update: http://www.macstories.net/news/mapping-the-entertainment-ecosystems-a-brief-revisit/

 

Tons of good info in here and just shows that when it comes to global coverage – Apple is killing it. However I wonder over time if their ecosystem or platform will win when clearly they are making their platform somewhat less appealing for independent companies in the entertainment space. One of the big issues I see is how Apple is allowed to build a rental model with iTunes and Apple TV but no one else can use the same plumbing to do a similar thing. Essentially Apple bans all rental type activity from using Apple payments. To me this just stinks and is Apple using their ecosystem to protect their own business model. I wonder if this will ever change.

 

 

 

Baan Imm Sook :: Chanthaburi, Thailand

~ michael_msft ~ Leave a comment

The great part about NOT living in Bangkok for me is that within a few hours I can get to some nice places to stay. Sure people can trek down to Koh Samet or do the Hua Hin circuit on the other side but generally these are busy tourist places and I like to avoid the tourists when I can. Chanthaburi Province is not a bad escape – quite a jaunt if you live in Bangkok but not so bad if you are coming from the Pattaya area.

Some of the places I have stayed:

http://www.chivareehotelandresort.com/ :: nice boutique spot. Good huts, pool and nice bar and food. Fills up a lot with private parties, weddings and special occasions.

Another fav of mine is :: http://www.baanimmsook.com – nice bungalows with a deck, easy walk to the beach and a cool laid back escape feel. No pool or restaurant but they serve breakfast. I just love the cabins though and tend to hang on the deck when not at the beach.More info.

Smile Beach Resort is another one. Decent rooms, pool and a nice location. More info.

There are a few restaurants (nothing fancy), a coffee shop, and some mini marts in town. Nothing real upmarket but there are some bigger resorts like http://www.chaolaoresort.com but I tend to enjoy the smaller ones.

Hanging at Baan Imm Sook and will write up another post if I see some other sites worth checking out.

6 trends Startups must cope with :: SEA Style

~ michael_msft ~ Leave a comment

Saw this on the RWW:

http://readwrite.com/2012/12/26/6-trends-startups-must-cope-with-in-2013-from-paul-kedrosky

The main points with my commentary:

1. Accelerators Will Slow Down

This is interesting from an SEA angle cause for the most part the accelerator phase is just getting real in SEA. I can speak for each region or country since they all have their own twist on this but in Singapore I think http://jfdi.asia and http://pollenizer.com are just getting going. I think Singapore, if it keeps to being a regional hub, will have room for a few strong accelerators who will ultimately be successful. However I do think that the idea of each country having their own might get a little over done and won’t make it. I think their will be consolidation and a regional focus.

2. The Enterprise Will Strike Back

So far in SEA you just don’t see enterprise companies that much. It is typically an American or European thing or specific to say Japan or China but this could change. However I just don’t see the culture of Asia and the young entrepreneurs going after enterprise. It could happen though and as the enterprise looks sexy again it might accelerate.

3. The Cash Gap Will Fix the Talent Gap

We shall see in SEA if this is true. My feeling is this region is just getting serious about startups and their potential which means the talent crunch might continue. In Singapore it already feels like the bar is getting too high to bring expats in or non Singaporeans to take startup gigs. Within specific countries I think smart startup folks can find the right locals to make something go and may not feel the crunch anyway. I think Singapore is a unique problem since their is not enough locals to take startup gigs so startups are forced to import which is getting more expensive and time consuming.

4. Venture Capital Will Rebound

In SEA there really isn’t any series A anyway. So I don’t see a rebound but maybe there is a chance that the region will grow their series A ecosystem and we will see more series A funding. Right now most startups look to the valley, Japan, China and India for proper series A. This is a big hole in Singapore and the regional ecosystem.

5. Startup Ecosystems Will Go Extinct

It is quite possible that the region has overdone the singularity or country specific ecosystems. I have always argued for regional focus and will be interesting to watch. I think it is early days and some countries like Indonesia are big enough to contain their own ecosystem but maybe Thailand isn’t? Not way to tell but I think Singapore is doing okay but will need to figure out how to attract talent, make startup life affordable and keep growing. Maybe SEA is the ecosystem in this regard and it will do fine. Jury is out.

6. Big Data Will Crash

Big Data hasn’t really happened in SEA – meaning startups might be practicing it but not building businesses around it. I think both businesses built around social and big data are not going to make it in SEA anyway. We shall see how this goes but the fringe businesses selling the picks and shovels to people with real businesses don’t always do well unless the pick is a must have – like AWS, Akamai, Heroku and so on.

All in all I think some of these trends will have their place in SEA and some won’t.

For a different take on all this – check out Jon Russell’s latest on TNW.

Car Rental :: Pattaya, Thailand

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For a while in Pattaya I didn’t have a car so would rent when we wanted to go somewhere or needed to move stuff. I still rent when I need to move stuff.

http://www.thairentacar.com

My go to rental place is Thai Rent a Car. Reasonable, online booking and never have had trouble. Sometimes they just don’t have a car available. They have a center at the Outlet Mall on Thepprasit Road and they also allow you to pick up and drop off at the Bangkok Airport – the real one. Not the downtown one.

http://www.pattayacar-rent.com

Used this place one time. It is also reasonable, decent selection and nice peeps but every time I try to book now they never have a car. So I stopped even trying to rent one here.

http://expatcarrent.com

This is a new one I am trying. My parents are coming to town and we need a bigger car for a few weeks. I did the booking via email and will let you all know how it goes.

Fuck you, I’m the ‘D’ on this – part 2 (#marissadidit)

~ michael_msft ~ Leave a comment

It’s time for a reboot

http://www.nokpis.com/2012/04/01/fuck-you-im-the-d-on-this/

I was at a local Singaporean event the day after resume gate, chatting with a great friend, who just left yahoo btw, and I told him straight away Scott Thompson would have to go. He joked saying it was a big deal but it would blow over. We bet a lunch at my favorite steak joint on Duxton hill in Singapore. I collected it last week.

Scott Thompson would have made changes at Yahoo but I am not sure he would have made Yahoo better. Yahoo might be big, it might have 700 million users (It is in no way signed in users or proven to be unique), but Yahoo is in a state of decline. Slow and steady but a decline nonetheless. Marissa may not be the one to turn it around but at the very least the shear optics of the move will benefit Yahoo bigtime. Already the peeps that I talk to who are still holding on at Yahoo feel there is some hope. Only time will tell since it will take years for a proper turnaround if it all possible.

Some housecleaning first. I worked at Yahoo for 2.5 years. I was in global product management – I worked for Sunnyvale but was based in Asia. I was deeply involved in 2012 planning and I know a lot about how the Yahoo tech stack works.

I will also preface that I just call it as I see it but I am a longtime user of Yahoo as well and you can never stop bleeding purple even if you have stopped working at Yahoo.

Yahoo is neither wholly a tech company or a media company. It is a mix and it mostly happened by accident. Yahoo can no more solely become only a tech company or only a media company anymore than I can change my race. Think of yahoo as a zebra – the white stripes are the tech and the media is the black. It’s impossible to turn a zebra into an all black horse or an all white horse. It is and always will be a zebra. Yahoo should embrace and extend its zebraness – not try to become something it isn’t.

Being a media company only, means Yahoo would need to shed an enormous amount of staff to reign expenses inline with the cost and revenue of a media company. To become only a tech company during the reign of such competitors as apple, google, facebook and twitter would be suicide. Yahoo couldn’t compete but staying a zebra leaves lots of room for carving a niche that only the size of a company like Yahoo could pull off.

Here is an updated list of my pointers:

– Yahoo must start killing the things that dont work ASAP. Nothing feels better than making the hard decisions to close things and move on. I am not going to make that list here but within Yahoo it is pretty well known what needs to go.

– Yahoo should double down on messenger and follow through with the unfunded plans that were created for messenger during the 2012 planning sessions. Messenger is practically the only cross platform messaging product. Sure it has seen its better days but with some funding, some vigor and integration into the media products – it could easily shine again. Only in America has it truly been pummeled but overseas it is still big.

– Yahoo should get back into ecommerce in a big way. Yahoo is sitting on some amazing payment infrastructure, has tons of traffic and could easily partner with many of their advertisers (consumer good companies) to offer a first rate buying experience. In the emerging markets Yahoo could have been a first mover in ecommerce but in typical Yahoo fashion – the powers that be would take years to mull over an decision to enter a market will other companies pounced.

– Yahoo needs to start moving ideas from whiteboard to execution much faster. Livestand took forever but it didn’t need to. Project zed is also taking too long and should have already shipped in pieces. Yahoo is plagued by an old, but recently instigated, planning process that requires too many meetings, too many bodies and still uses spreadsheets. It’s unreal.

– Yahoo needs to quit inventing standards and relying on y! versions of products to bring things to market. Recent security blunders point a much needed harsh light on the fact that the paranoids win too many infrastructure battles at Yahoo but yet it really didn’t prevent a proper security blunder – stupidity and lack of proper code reviews did. Yahoo invests far too much time inventing standards. Forcing old y! approved code stacks on engineers and spends far too much time inventing a standard while also trying to ship something. This is what killed Livestand. Trying to invent cocktails and it’s various node.js counterparts was waste of time. Livestand should have been a native app and later, once it was winning, the various teams could have worked to make it more of a hybrid web app. But who needs that when competing with the likes of flipboard? On top of the standards issue there is also the fact that yahoo is still primary c, java and php. Name me a competitive global startup building their wares on that stack? Yahoo needs to embrace new stacks and worry about product innovation – not allow the internal standards committees to hamper the company.

– The sports franchise needs to power up now. Open up more, turn the fantasy mantra into a Yahoo franchise and go deep on mobile. Sports is killing it at Yahoo but like everything else it is underfunded. Everyone who really needs the money is sharing the money with other products that don’t make any money.

– The tv products need to go. Yahoo waited too long to put the pedal to the medal – google & apple have completely out innovated Yahoo. It is another time and money sink.

– Yahoo groups should be properly revived and tightly integrated with Yahoo email. This combination has a lot of eyeballs and can be easy monetized. Yahoo must not give up on email it is an incredible distribution tool.

– Yahoo scale disease is well known and real. Between brickhouse, catalyst and acquisitions – Yahoo struggles to take small, new things and stay with them long enough to make them big. Internally people shoot stuff down for not reaching millions of users or having revenue in one year. Sure – not everything deserves to live but there needs to be a balance struck if Yahoo is going to incubate and build new things internally.

– Yahoo is essentially 4 companies – Americas, Europe, Asia and the joint ventures. Too many silos, too many decision makers and too many competing stacks. For Yahoo to really get back to competing it must regain a top down approach and realize that strong corporate leadership will be needed to compete with truly globalized players.

– Yahoo might want to explore doing more joint ventures to enter new emerging markets – like Africa, parts of southeast Asia and Russia. Yahoo can offer the tech and the local partner can bring the media and run government interference.

– Yahoo will probably need to get back on the acquisition horse and buy some companies. My guess is only a big company will move the needle at this point but Yahoo’s track record is nothing short of abysmal when it comes to buying companies. It can be fixed but management must make compromises around integration issues and must take the long view.

I love Yahoo and I look forward to seeing how it all plays out.