PayrollHero and GrabTaxi founders on the challenges of building a startup in Southeast Asia (VIDEO)

Back in July, Tech in Asia invited Stephen Jagger, founder of Manila-based PayrollHero, and Anthony Tan, founder of Kuala Lumpur-based GrabTaxi, to come speak at one of our regular meet-and-greet events in Hong Kong.

Addressing and audience of students, founders, and investors, Tan and Jagger talked at length about the challenges even experienced founders face when building a company in Southeast Asia. Jagger noted that even though he and his business partner at PayrollHero had more than a decade of experience starting their own firms, they had to start from scratch when moving to Manila. “Most of what we’ve done [in the Philippines] is completely different from what we’ve done in the past,” said Jagger. “We’ve got cultural problems, currency problems, corruption problems, language problems, and talent problems.”

Tan’s dealt with all that and a bit more. As the founder of a startup that works with municipal taxi dispatch firms – which aren’t known for their friendliness, in Southeast Asia and elsewhere – he’s been reminded that entrepreneurship in the region is a life stakes game. “I remember a story where we talked to a taxi fleet owner in a Chinese restaurant. Ten minutes into our discussion I hear a loud *thump*. I look under the tablecloth and there’s an uzi on ground,” he recalls. “You can imagine my leverage and bargaining power after that.”

Check out our video of the full discussion below, and keep an eye on our schedule for upcoming events – if you live in Asia, we’ll be coming to your town in no time!

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