Why India’s Startup Hustle Is a Wake-Up Call for Singapore

Why India’s Startup Hustle Is a Wake-Up Call for Singapore

From TiE Talks by TiE Singapore

November 12, 2025 · 44 min

About this episode

The episode features Vanessa Ho discussing her journey in FinTech and venture capital, highlighting the startup dynamics between India and Singapore.

What happens when a FinTech insider also happens to be a media personality, startup investor, and Gen Z trailblazer? I’ve known Vanessa Ho through many avatars - and in this episode of TiE Talks Singapore , I finally got to sit down with her to unpack it all. From hosting events at 15 to building cross-border startup bridges between Singapore and India, Vanessa has crafted a career that blends influence, investment, and impact. We talk about her early media journey, jumping into venture capital, driving FinTech innovation, and why Gen Z Singaporeans are rewriting what success looks like. Trust me, this one’s equal parts inspiring and surprising. Tune in for a deep dive into Singapore’s startup scene, FinTech leadership, and the bold career moves shaping a new generation of founders. IN THIS EPISODE (00:00) Why India might be Singapore’s best-kept startup secret (03:01) The unexpected plot twist at Singapore’s biggest FinTech event (05:27) How a teen with a mic found her way into venture capital (08:59) The moment an idea turned NUS students into angel investors (11:36) Behind the scenes of a homegrown VC hustle (13:13) When the funding winter hit—who adapted, who froze (17:51)…

People in this episode

Host: TiE Talks

Guest: Vanessa Ho

Topics covered

  • FinTech
  • startups
  • Gen Z
  • venture capital
  • entrepreneurship
  • cross-border investment

Keywords

  • FinTech
  • startups
  • venture capital
  • Gen Z
  • Singapore
  • India
  • entrepreneurship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: TiE Singapore, NUS

Places: Singapore, India

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