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

------

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/ 

------

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

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

------

Connect with Simon:

Cube Asia: https://cube.asia/ 

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

------

Mentioned/Recommended Content:

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

------

Smartkarma:

https://www.smartkarma.com/signup 

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

------

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

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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

------

Connect with Johan:

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

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

------

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

Tim Bunting is a practising yamabushi from New Zealand, having moved to the Shonai region of Yamagata, Japan, in 2010. Describing a yamabushi is hard, because the only way to really understand what yamabushi are, is to become one yourself. But, essentially Yamabushi are the mountain dwellers of Japan, practitioners of the ancient belief of Shugendo, the way (do) of attaining divine natural powers (gen) through ascetic practices (shu).

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Tim Bunting.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep62 

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Show Notes:

[00:00:31] - [First question] - How Tim ended up in Japan

[00:08:09] - What type of people try yamabushi training?

[00:14:40] - Why the secrecy around yamabushi and their training?

[00:18:09] - How do you learn to listen to nature?

[00:22:35] - What does the future of yamabushi look like? 

[00:30:42] - Where does Tim’s love of nature stem from?

[00:31:56] - Why are there no full-time yamabushi?

[00:35:26] - yamabushi and how it incorporates into daily life?

[00:37:18] - Anything Tim wished more people knew about yamabushi

[00:42:02] - Wrapping up

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Connect with Tim:

Tim’s Newsletter: https://kiwiyamabushi.substack.com/ 

Tim’s Blog: https://timbunting.com/ 

Tim’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@kiwiyamabushi

Follow Tim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiwiyamabushi/ 

Follow Tim on Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/kiwiyamabushi/ 

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiwiyamabushi/ 

------

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

Jorge Almazán is a Tokyo-based architect and a researcher and an educator at the graduate Center for Space and Environment Design Engineering at Keio University, where he leads Studiolab, a university-based collaboration platform dedicated to design innovation and research.

He is also the author of Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City, which is the focus of this interview.

In this conversation, we cover Tokyo’s design, Yokocho alleyways, public spaces in Tokyo, and plenty more!

I hope you have as much fun as I did, so please enjoy my conversation with Jorge Almazán.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep61 

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Show Notes:

[00:00:31] - [First question] - Jorge’s background with Japan

[00:03:59] - “Made in Tokyo” and its influence on Jorge

[00:07:44] - The process for writing Emergent Tokyo

[00:13:07] - Describing Tokyo’s 5 Emergent Patterns

[00:18:52] - Jorge’s personal favourite emergent pattern

[00:21:28] - The beauty of smaller spaces

[00:30:48] - “Designing the Spontaneous City” and the contradictions there

[00:36:15] - Tokyo’s Neighbourhoods and housing affordability

[00:51:20] - Why the lack of benches and seating in public spaces in Tokyo?

[01:01:08] - Trying to formulate a model of emergent urbanism based on Tokyo.

[01:08:49] - Wrapping up

------

Connect with Jorge:

Jorge Almazán Architects’ Website: https://www.jorgealmazan.net/ 

Jorge Almazan Studiolab YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj2AfrCOYhgwLW7cSreSQ8g  

Connect with Jorge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorge-almaz%C3%A1n-a07038199/ 

Connect with Jorge on Twitter: https://twitter.com/J_Almazan_Arch

------

Mentioned/Recommended Content:

Emergent Tokyo: Designing the Spontaneous City: https://amzn.to/3M7rwu0 

Made in Tokyo by Junzo Kuroda & Momoyo Kaijima: https://amzn.to/430FkNg 

------

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

Adam Fulford is the founder and CEO of Fulford Enterprises, which is a language services company. Fulford Enterprises works mainly in TV, providing translation, narration and other services to NHK and related companies.

Adam is also active as a cross-cultural consultant who places a special emphasis on the value of regional Japan, which we focus on a lot today. 

In this super fun conversation, we cover Adam’s life and career in Japan, and go deep in Japanese community values, the challenges their facing, and how they may solve it.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Adam Fulford.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep60 

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Show Notes:

[00:00:31] - [First question] - Adam’s history with Japan

[00:03:18] - How did Adam get involved with NHK

[00:04:28] - How I decided on the name Compounding Curiosity and how I started

[00:06:17] - What type of work was involved with NHK?

[00:09:27] - Adam’s work of regional revitalization in Japan, 

[00:45:30] - When judging the contest for what makes a good village, what were some of the criteria that they were looking for? 

[00:47:44] - The nature of doing, the nature of being, and the nature of knowing

[00:53:01] - Final Advice

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Connect with Adam:

Fulford Enterprises: https://fulfordent.com/ 

Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/japanfan 

------

Mentioned/Recommended Content:

Video Bento: Resilience Values: https://youtu.be/2CutakIP-ig

My Shuraku Nakatsugawa: https://ms-nakatsugawa.com/  

------

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 

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Brittany Garbutt is the founder of Pretzel Australia. Pretzel has 11 stores across Australia, a business turnover of more than $5 million a year and over 300 staff.

In addition to Pretzel, she’s also the founder of Voodoo Cafe, Voodoo Priestess, and Chubby Boy Breakfast and Bar. But I'm (k)not joking, the pretzels are beyond amazing. So pretty stoked I got to interview Brittany!

In this interview, we cover the story of starting up with her life savings invested in a pink shipping container selling pretzels, managing store expansion right as the pandemic started, and lessons learned along the way.

Incredibly fun conversation this one, Britt’s energy is infectious, but fair warning, a few F-bombs will be dropped so don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

But please enjoy my conversation with Brittany Garbutt.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep59 

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Show Notes:

[00:00:31] - [First question] - How Britt started Pretzel

[00:05:38] - When did she feel she was onto something?

[00:09:28] - Interesting notes about store layout 

[00:11:27] - The challenges of driving demand through Instagram

[00:17:26] - Advertising off from Social Media

[00:20:16] - Talking about the expansion from Perth to Melbourne

[00:29:48] - The hospitality industry culture of having a crack

[00:34:27] - How to juggle multiple brands and stores

[00:38:14] - Being honest about her work

[00:44:04] - The challenges of asking for money

[00:47:06] - About Mentors

[00:51:10] - Perth, blessing or a curse?

------

Connect with Brittany:

Pretzel Australia: https://www.pretzelaustralia.com.au/  

Connect with Brittany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-garbutt-10557a48/ 

------

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

In this conversation, we do deep dive into the bursting of Japan’s economic bubble in the ‘90s. Uncovering Japan's lost decade, the tragic tale of the economic bubble burst and its consequences

Joining me for this deep dive is friend and previous guest, Rei Saito (@Misosoppa). Rei is the writer behind Konichi-Value. Konichi-Value aims to share my most valuable lessons from working in Japanese finance, and gold nuggets in the Japanese stock market.

So please enjoy this deep dive into the bursting of Japan’s economic bubble with Rei Saito from Konichi-Value.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page on  https://compoundingpodcast.com/ep58 

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Show Notes:

[00:00:31] - [First question] - Why write about Japan’s Lost Decade?

[00:02:38] - Rei’s memories of the bubble 

[00:05:07] - How did Japan’s bubble develop?

[00:11:34] - As the bubble popped, how did the Japanese government step in and what did they do?

[00:13:08] - Japanese Banks and the bubble

[00:16:20] - The fiscal structural reform law and why it stunted Japan's recovery

[00:18:48] - How intertwined Governments and Corporations were

[00:24:52] - Judging Japan’s recovery 

[00:29:25] - The media’s portrayal of Japan

[00:31:48] - Wrapping up

[00:32:56] - Extra resources to understand Japan’s Bubble years

[00:34:33] - Rei’s upcoming work

------

Connect with Rei:

Konichi-Value’s Newsletter: https://www.konichivalue.com/ 

Love Public Transit’s Newsletter: https://lovetransit.substack.com/ 

Follow Rei on Twitter: https://twitter.com/misosoppa 

Connect with Rei on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rei-saito/ 

------

Mentioned/Recommended Content:

Japan's Bubble-Burst: The Party That Wasn't Supposed to End: https://www.konichivalue.com/p/japans-bubble-burst-the-party-that 

Japan's Lost Generation: The Silent Sufferers that Grew up in Post-Bubble Japan: https://www.konichivalue.com/p/japans-lost-generation-the-silent 

Princes of the Yen by Richard Werner: https://amzn.to/41jnZ17 

------

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/ 

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