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Hello reader,
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but a Tech in Asia investigation has uncovered a member of the startup scene’s suspect educational credentials.
AI startup founder Anne Cheng eventually admitted that she wasn’t a Ph.D. graduate of the prestigious Stanford University in the US. She’s the fourth founder or investor whose questionable or sham credentials were exposed by Tech in Asia this year so far.
Once is a coincidence, but four times in just seven months? That seems like a trend.
Dive into today’s premium piece for the nuts and bolts of this story, and keep your eyes peeled on our website for more analysis of this troubling phenomenon in the coming weeks.
Today we look at:
- Yet more diploma drama
- The AI guidelines Singapore hopes will boost the industry
- Other newsy highlights such as Sea Group picking a new leader for its digital bank unit and Vietnamese EV maker VinFast postponing the launch of its US factory.
Premium summary
Startup scene stalwart’s Stanford stumble
Image credit: Timmy Loen
Anne Cheng has been a prominent member of Singapore’s startup scene for a while, with a declared track record of investing in over 80 startups and amassing US$200 million in assets under management.
Earlier this month, Cheng posted a photo on LinkedIn of a certificate indicating she received a Ph.D. from Stanford University last year, but a Tech in Asia investigation has cast doubt on that claim.
- Backpedal: The certificate showed “Cheng Heng Fun, Anne” had graduated with a “doctor of philosophy in behavioral economics” degree from Stanford in 2023. A representative from the university confirmed with Tech in Asia that neither “Anne Cheng” nor “Cheng Heng Fun” are in its records as a “matriculated student or graduate,” and that it does not offer the degree in question.
- Lapse in judgment: Cheng later told Tech in Asia that the issue with her degree was a “serious lapse in judgment,” but it does not represent how she does business.
- Range of experience: Cheng founded the defunct Singapore-based investment firm Start Up Nation and has also built a reputation as an entrepreneur. In 2020, she launched Supercharge Lab, a company that offers AI-enabled solutions to enterprises. Cheng was also listed as a director of systems architecture in 8nalytics, a Singapore-based consulting firm, and as the managing partner of a fund called GoodSide.
Read more: AI startup founder Anne Cheng said she has a Ph.D. from Stanford. She admits it’s not true
AI guidelines coming
You’ll regret missing this. (Seriously.)
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