Joe Lu: From Meta Layoff to HeyMax, Rebuilding Value, Miles & the Future of Consumer AI – E644

Joe Lu: From Meta Layoff to HeyMax, Rebuilding Value, Miles & the Future of Consumer AI – E644

Author: Jeremy Au November 17, 2025 Duration: 53:29

Joe Lu, Co-Founder of HeyMax, joins Jeremy Au to unpack how layoffs, timing, and conviction turned a setback into a startup opportunity. They trace Joe’s journey from Shanghai to Michigan to Facebook Singapore, and how getting laid off in 2022 pushed him to co-found HeyMax. The conversation explores his reflections on building a consumer-first fintech, understanding mindshare arbitrage, and predicting how AI will reshape loyalty and value distribution between businesses and consumers. Joe also shares how fatherhood, risk-taking, and curiosity shaped his path as a founder.


00:45 From Shanghai to Silicon Valley engineer: Joe recounts growing up in China, studying in the U.S., and joining Expedia and Facebook during the golden age of software engineering.

06:27 Building Facebook Singapore’s tech office: He helped establish one of Facebook’s first Asia engineering hubs, seeing firsthand how global tech scales into the region.

12:17 Meta layoffs spark a new beginning: Losing his job in 2022 became the catalyst to start HeyMax with three co-founders instead of returning to corporate life.

19:15 Pivoting from AI-for-money to credit card tools: The team experimented with finance bots before hitting traction with a merchant category search tool that drew thousands of users.

23:50 Discovering the miles community: Joe realized that while few people care about miles, those who do care deeply, creating a niche with high engagement and clear demand.

30:37 Building a consumer-first value model: Joe envisions a future where AI helps people capture their own value directly from brands instead of intermediaries taking the largest cut.

46:42 Being brave as a founder and father: Joe shares how starting a company during a funding drought with two young kids taught him resilience, balance, and optimism.


Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/joe-lu-money-meets-ai

Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com


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#HeyMax #JoeLu #StartupJourney #AIFintech #MilesAndRewards #ConsumerEmpowerment #FounderLife #MetaLayoff #SoutheastAsiaTech #BRAVEpodcast




There’s a unique energy building across Southeast Asia, a sense of possibility that’s palpable from Singapore’s skyscrapers to the bustling streets of Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech captures that momentum by going beyond the headlines and funding announcements. Host Jeremy Au, a venture capitalist and serial founder with a background from Harvard and Berkeley, steers these conversations with a distinct perspective-one that balances the hard metrics of growth with the very human elements of leadership and personal development. Each episode feels like a candid, in-depth dialogue, whether he’s speaking with a first-time founder navigating early traction or a seasoned investor mapping regional trends. You’ll hear genuine stories about building companies, the tough lessons learned from failures, and the often-overlooked journey of staying grounded while scaling rapidly. This isn’t about presenting a polished facade of success; it’s about the real work of creating something meaningful. With over eighty thousand regular listeners, this podcast has become a key resource for anyone invested in the region’s tech ecosystem. Jeremy brings his own experiences as a sci-fi enthusiast and a father into the mix, often exploring how broader perspectives on the future and empathy shape better leaders. Tune in for practical insights on venture capital, entrepreneurship, and management, all framed within the vibrant and complex tapestry of Southeast Asia. New conversations arrive every Monday, offering a thoughtful pause to reflect on how we build what’s next.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)
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