Singaporeans are willing to give you a chance if you have "The Focus" | Jeremy Tan - E704

Singaporeans are willing to give you a chance if you have "The Focus" | Jeremy Tan - E704

Author: Jeremy Au June 15, 2026 Duration: 53:05

Jeremy Tan, independent candidate for Mountbatten SMC in Singapore's GE2025, joins Jeremy Au and Shiyan Koh to unpack why he ran, why he lost, and what he learned about Singapore's political meta. He explains why public scrutiny and small-town dynamics deter Singaporeans from entering politics, why negative campaigning backfires with voters, and why opposition parties should focus resources on winning single member constituencies. The conversation digs into Singapore's fertility crisis, with Jeremy arguing that housing affordability, not incentives, is the real bottleneck, alongside his policy ideas: ending primary school affiliation, building cheaper HDB flats, and compounding baby equity accounts tied to the STI.


For founders, investors, and operators across Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia, this episode offers a candid look at how AI driven layoffs, capital concentration, and rising costs are reshaping Southeast Asia's most developed economy, and what it takes to challenge an incumbent system from the outside.


Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/jeremy-tan-singapore-politics 


BRAVE is Southeast Asia's leading tech podcast, hosted by Jeremy Au. Honest conversations with the region's top founders, investors, and operators on building startups in Southeast Asia.

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#Singapore #SingaporePolitics #GE2025 #HousingCrisis #FertilityRate #HDB #SoutheastAsia #TechPodcast #VentureCapital #AI


00:00 Highlights and introduction

01:24 Why Jeremy Tan ran as an independent in Mountbatten

04:20 Why Singaporeans don't run for office

07:40 AI, layoffs, and the decision to enter politics

11:49 The new political meta in Singapore

14:30 Criticism, pet policies, and running against a newcomer

17:40 Election night: predicting his own loss

25:50 What opposition parties got wrong in GE2025

29:21 Singapore's fertility crisis starts with housing

34:35 Primary school affiliation and education inequality

44:55 Three policy ideas: housing, schools, baby equity accounts

49:59 Capital, the sandwich generation, and what comes next

54:25 Closing reflections


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: 50

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