Daniel Thong: Bootstrapping AI, Spinning Out AI, and Surviving the VC Downturn – E606

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Recorded28 Jul 2025

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Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code BRAVESEA for an extra 4 months at www.surfshark.com/BRAVESEA Daniel Thong, founder of Nimbus, returns to BRAVE to share how he built a profitable, tech-enabled service business without venture capital. He and Jeremy Au unpack the rise and fall of tech companies like Zilingo, examine the structural issues behind finance misconduct, and explore how AI is reshaping service operations. Daniel discusses why bootstrapping gave him more control, how he spun off a new AI startup from within, and what it takes to retain talent and stay healthy as a founder. The conversation offers a grounded look at sustainable growth, founder philosophy, and the realities of Southeast Asia’s startup landscape. 06:25 Bootstrapping helped Nimbus outlast VC-backed clients: Daniel avoided risky burn rates and pointed to Zilingo as a cautionary tale. 11:45 AI-enabled WhatsApp sales sparked a spinout: After AI sold painting services over the weekend, Daniel launched ChatAvocado with his tech team as co-founders. 13:50 Spinning off helped retain talent: Rather than cutting R&D, Daniel gave capital and ownership to the team and kept the business ecosystem strong. 16:27 AI now improves routing, HR, and customer service: Generative AI reduces headcount by handling job matching and admin tasks internally. 19:35 Survival beats ambition in Southeast Asia: Daniel emphasized Buffett’s rule to never lose money and stay close to revenue. 26:50 Retention comes from delivering promises: Daniel saw founders renege on ESOPs and vowed to be consistent, realistic, and trustworthy with his team. 35:37 Founding cost him family presence and health: Daniel admits he neglected the intangibles and is now trying to balance better. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/daniel-thong-bootstrap-beats-vc-collapse Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

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