This week on 60/40, we go deep with Endowus co-founders Greg Van and Sam Rhee, the brains behind one of Asia’s biggest wealthtech success stories. With over US$10 billion in client assets and a fresh US$70 million raise, Endowus is doubling down on a mission many said was impossible in Asia: conflict-free, transparent, and retirement-first investing.
Greg and Sam take us through their founding story, why Vanguard’s exit from Asia actually strengthened their conviction, how they keep their team together during the tech winter, and why Singapore and Hong Kong remain their obsession. We then wrap with a round of superlatives to see who’s the bigger risk-taker, who has more unread emails, and who’s jumping first and looking later.
Tune in on your favorite platform: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts.
Timestamps
01:50: The US$70 million raise – and why fundraising still sucks
03:48: Singapore first, Hong Kong second, and the B2B opportunity
09:42: Fundraising in a bad VC market and reverse inquiries
14:31: The founding story: CPF shock, insights from Grab, and pensions
17:41: Why most Asian robo-advisors failed – and why Endowus is different
21:06: Trailer fees, misaligned incentives, and systemic industry flaws
32:54: Bootstrapping, employees buying shares, and ESOP culture
36:27: Co-founder dynamics: complementary skills and Monday meetings
46:32: Navigating the tech winter without layoffs
52:01: AI as a tool, not a strategy – how Endowus sees the future
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