Kiasi-ism is defined as being overly fearful of death, and it is often compared to Kiasu-ism, which refers to taking extreme measures to avoid failure. 

Being a startup founder is no easy feat. You have to wear multiple hats and juggle responsibilities in a competitive – sometimes even brutal – environment, answering to many stakeholders. And for founders in Singapore, being in a naturally small market and a culture less inclined to risk-taking makes running a startup even more challenging.

In this video, Castlery founder Declan Ee candidly shares his story and talks about some of his hardest years as a founder.

Anurag Avula, managing partner at Livingston; Sophie Jokelson, co-founder of Cove; and Billy Naveed, head of growth at Smile Group, also discuss their own experiences.

This entry is part of the Startup Frontiers series, which explores the tech and startup ecosystem of a market, portrays a historical account of the business landscape, dives into the current state of tech and innovation, looks at the key players in the ecosystem, and discusses its prospects for future growth.