Timen is the founder at Lacàph, a fast-growing Vietnamese coffee brand, that is starting to export into new markets in Asia Pacific and around the world. Besides this he is a board member in companies in residential real estate development and software SaaS solutions. He has been in Vietnam since 2007, but is a proud Dutch person that happens to have lived in the USA and Vietnam longer than any period of time in Holland.

In this conversation, we cover the coffee scene in Vietnam, building a brand, and his story and journey of Lacaph.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Timen Swijtink.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep65 

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Show Notes:

[00:00:31] - [First question] - Timen’s Background and Lacàph 

[00:06:47] - Developing the story and branding for Lacàph

[00:10:20] - The process and thoughts behind a packaging redesign

[00:13:39] - How to get products listed in retail

[00:18:10] - As a nimble startup, how do you choose what ideas to focus on?

[00:22:12] - How to collaborate and learn from others as an entrepreneur

[00:24:24] - The coffee culture in Vietnam and how it’s changed

[00:27:26] - Robusta vs Arabica Beans and where Vietnam fits in

[00:32:53] - Lacàph’s relationship with farms and Vietnamese Coffee farmers

[00:39:03] - How to be a good storyteller without sounding corny

[00:44:43] - High quality coffee in Vietnam

[00:46:58] - How much coffee does Timen drink?

[00:50:19] - The decaf coffee process

[00:52:05] - Timen’s big influences

[00:57:57] - Wrapping up

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Connect with Timen:

Lacàph: https://www.lacaph.com/ 

Timen’s blog: https://www.robustarevolution.com/

Follow Timen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timenswijtink/ 

Connect with Timen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timenswijtink/ 

Email Timen: timen [ @ ] lacaph.com

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Mentioned/Recommended Content:

Timen’s Interview on Nonnative Creative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqQD8O-I9lE 

Sonny's Best Ever Coffee (US only): https://bestevercoffee.lacaph.com/ 

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Stay up to date with the podcast by signing up for the Compounding Curiosity Substack, where I’ll email you when the latest episode comes out along with my summary and takeaways, links to mentioned content, graphics and the transcript. Sign up at https://compoundingcuriosity.substack.com/ 

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Stay Connected with Compounding Curiosity:

Visit the Compounding Curiosity PODCAST: https://CompoundingPodcast.com/ 

Sign up for the Compounding Curiosity SUBSTACK: https://compoundingcuriosity.substack.com/ 

Follow Compounding Curiosity on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CompndCuriosity/ 

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Sign up for the Allocators Asia SUBSTACK: https://AllocatorsAsia.substack.com/  

Join the DISCORD: https://discord.gg/NPVNPVsCYb 

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Simon Torring is the Co-founder of Cube Asia, a market insights company for online retail in Southeast Asia. Cube Asia helps brands, retail companies, and investors drive profitable growth by leveraging more recent, granular, and reliable data and insights about their online sales channels. 

In this conversation, we cover eCommerce in Southeast Asia. From Sea’s struggles with Shopee, to the inevitable rise of TikTok shop, if it concerns eCommerce in Southeast Asia, we have it covered.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Simon Torring.

This collaboration between Smartkarma and Compounding Curiosity was created to surface the high-quality expertise and analytical strength of the Smartkarma Independent Investment Network, and leverage that into the popular podcast format we all know and love!

Be sure to check out Smartkarma at www.smartkarma.com/signup,  where it’s free to signup. 

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep64 

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Show Notes:

[00:01:43] - [First question] - Simon’s history with Southeast Asia and starting Cube Asia

[00:03:14] - The challenges of Data collection  

[00:05:36] - Finding data but also being able to integrate it

[00:07:50] - Snapshot of where Social Commerce is at right now

[00:10:22] - The rise of TikTok Shop

[00:13:08] - Global Brands and TikTok Shop

[00:16:52] - Where might TikTok Shop be going wrong?

[00:23:38] - How has Shopee been able to grow its GMV meaningfully between Q1 and Q2, whereas Lazada and Tokopedia have been sort of struggling to do so?

[00:30:58] - Differences between Shopee, Lazada, and Tokopedia

[00:35:13] - Why Shopee's position in Indonesia, historically one of its key growth markets has sort of deteriorated since September 2022

[00:37:53] - eCommerce’s remaining growth in Southeast Asia

[00:40:27] - Wrapping up

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Connect with Simon:

Cube Asia: https://cube.asia/ 

Connect with Simon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simontoerring/ 

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Mentioned/Recommended Content:

Social Commerce in Southeast Asia 2022 Report: https://cube.asia/social-commerce-report/ 

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Smartkarma:

https://www.smartkarma.com/signup 

Follow Smartkarma on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/smartkarma 

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Stay up to date with the podcast by signing up for the Compounding Curiosity Substack, where I’ll email you when the latest episode comes out along with my summary and takeaways, links to mentioned content, graphics and the transcript. Sign up at https://compoundingcuriosity.substack.com/ 

------

Stay Connected with Compounding Curiosity:

Visit the Compounding Curiosity PODCAST: https://CompoundingPodcast.com/ 

Sign up for the Compounding Curiosity SUBSTACK: https://compoundingcuriosity.substack.com/ 

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Follow Kalani Scarrott on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ScarrottKalani/ 

Sign up for the Allocators Asia SUBSTACK: https://AllocatorsAsia.substack.com/  

Have some thoughts on the podcast? Leave FEEDBACK: https://forms.gle/Du61UxeJ25BkydH49

Johan Rozali-Wathooth is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bintang Capital Partners. Bintang believes in the importance of deploying capital in an innovative, responsible and sustainable way, while still pursuing outsized risk-adjusted returns. Bintang is also now the first private equity firm in Southeast Asia to earn B Corp Certification! So in this conversation, we cover private equity investing in Malaysia, and investing with impact. 

A super fun and varied conservation, so I hope you enjoy my interview with Johan Rozali-Wathooth.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep63 

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Show Notes:

[00:00:31] - [First question] - Background

[00:03:44] - How has a varied experience helped in private equity investing?

[00:06:08] - Advice for those early in their career looking to break into the PE scene?

[00:09:51] - Having a purpose in Private Equity Investing

[00:15:39] - Bintang’s investment process

[00:20:53] - Bintang’s role post-investment?

[00:23:49] - B Corp Certification and Reception

[00:26:31] - What’s next for Bintang?

[00:31:46] - How to approach exits in PE?

[00:36:10] - What do other PE shops think about what they’re doing?

[00:40:58] - The private market space in ASEAN,

[00:43:56] - Underrated experience for university-age students?

[00:49:08] - Influential people or books?

[00:54:29] - Wrapping up

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Connect with Johan:

Bintang Capital’s Website: https://www.bintangcapitalpartners.com/ 

Connect with Johan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanrw 

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Stay up to date with the podcast by signing up for the Compounding Curiosity Substack, where I’ll email you when the latest episode comes out along with my summary and takeaways, links to mentioned content, graphics and the transcript. Sign up at https://compoundingcuriosity.substack.com/ 

------

Stay Connected with Compounding Curiosity:

Visit the Compounding Curiosity PODCAST: https://CompoundingPodcast.com/ 

Sign up for the Compounding Curiosity SUBSTACK: https://compoundingcuriosity.substack.com/ 

Follow Compounding Curiosity on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CompndCuriosity/ 

Follow Kalani Scarrott on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ScarrottKalani/ 

Sign up for the Allocators Asia SUBSTACK: https://AllocatorsAsia.substack.com/  

Join the DISCORD: https://discord.gg/NPVNPVsCYb 

Have some thoughts on the podcast? Leave FEEDBACK: https://forms.gle/Du61UxeJ25BkydH49