End of an era

• “Since co-founding my first tech startup SAYS.com in 2009 with Khailee Ng, I’ve gained valuable insights from the startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem. As I take a break this year to rest and explore new endeavours, I’m eager to give back and support other founders and entrepreneurs in the region,” shared Joel Neoh, Co-Founder & outgoing CEO of 500-backed fintech company Fave.
• In case you missed it, the startup ecosystem has been abuzz with news of Joel’s decision to ‘retire’ from the startup he launched 8 years ago.
• Why now? “Since April 2021, Fave has been part of Pine Labs, one of India’s top fintech unicorns, expanding into India and experiencing strong growth in SEA,” he explained. “With a solid leadership team in place and an exciting product roadmap ahead, Fave is now part of a resilient fintech unicorn group which is set to break boundaries for growth in the coming year.”
• His greatest achievement with Fave? “Building a household brand for millions of consumers in multiple countries without raising hundreds of millions,” he shared.
• Many are eager to know what Joel will be up to next. For the rest of this year at least, he’s taking a well-deserved break. “There is currently no new role on the horizon, I’m in fact looking to invest in others and help them succeed,” he said.
• Sharing his eagerness to give back and support other founders and entrepreneurs in the region, he added, “Over the past 10 years in SEA, the tech sector has witnessed a surge in new companies, hundreds of VC-funded firms, and a few unicorns and public-listed firms, leading to a set of quality founders with tremendous potential. It would be an honour to assist these leaders on their journeys from zero to one.”
• One key learning for founders: “If you take care of your people, they will take care of your business, and you will grow together. Ultimately, success comes down to execution, how quickly we can adapt, innovate, and evolve.”
• While Joel’s life is about to change, he remains steadfast in his philosophy and approach to life: dream big but start small, scale fast, and fail faster.
• Best wishes to you & your future endeavours, Joel!
• Read the full interview on e27.