Violet Lim: Founding Asia’s Largest Matchmaker, Dating Stigma vs. Coaching and AI Romance Companions - E653
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Sometimes the challenge is we are too obsessed with the solution.
How did Violet Lim start her journey in matchmaking?
We should be more obsessed with the problem. I feel like maybe the problem is people want companionship or they don't want to feel single. But maybe that's why people are marrying AI chatbots. Because it's a solution to them being lonely. Welcome to Brave. Learn from Southeast Asia's best tech leaders. Build the future, learn from our past, and stay human in between. No BS on success. I'm Jeremy Au, venture capitalist, CERA founder, Harvard MBA, science fiction nerd, and dad of two daughters. Every week, we debate startup news, interview changemakers, answer listener questions, and share personal insights. Join our movement of over 40,000 members and get transcripts, resources and community at www.bravesea.com.
Stay well and stay brave. Hey Violet, I'm so excited to see you. Hey, thanks for having me.
What challenges did Violet face when launching Lunch Actually?
Really awesome to be here. I've seen you on the newspapers. I've seen you on the documentaries.
How did Lunch Actually expand across different Asian markets?
I'm glad to have you on the show. We had a fantastic time. But you were the moderator to me. That was really fun. But then during the time panel, I was like, okay, I have so many questions for you. And so I'm so glad I get to flip the tables. So Violet, could you just introduce yourself real quick? Yeah, definitely. My name is Violet. And then just in case people cannot remember, that's why I'm always in Violet. Anyway, so I'm the CEO and co-founder of Lunch Actually Puzzle Group. We started about 21 years ago. So we currently are in six markets.
What role does coaching play in successful matchmaking?
So it's Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan. Other than matchmaking, we also provide date coaching and image coaching services as well. And we have, I would say, sent out more than 160,000 first dates. Wow. Oh, 160,000 plus days. Now I just want to know the funnel. So how many came out to a successful second date? And at the end, did you get married? And did you stay married? Yes, you can dive into that later. I'm married to my uni sweetheart.
How are AI and technology reshaping dating norms?
And then we have two kids.
What differences exist in dating preferences among generations?
They are both teenagers now. And then we have two full kids as well. Wow, three fur kids, those would be cats. Dogs. Dogs. Amazing. Sounds like quite a busy, lively household that you have. We've got to go all the way to the beginning, which is, you said university sweetheart. So what were you like at university? Were you like, I guess, dating? Were you going on lunches? How did that happen, Mia? I would say that it's very funny. I think I was a bit dorky when I was at university. And then I remember there's this particular outfit that I have, which I think about it now. I'm not sure why I thought it was a good idea. But at that point, I really thought it was a really good idea. So it was like this red colour turtleneck.
And then I'll have on this blue colour like knitted vest. And I thought it looks really good. But then I look back, I'm like... What was I thinking? Like fashion police alert. I think when I was at university, I was really trying my very best to do well because I actually read law. I did my first year actually in Malaysia. I was actually Malaysian. And then it was a huge culture shock when I first started university in UK. Because when I was like doing my diploma in law in Malaysia, the lecturer would just give us this whole stack of notes every single time they walk in. And then just need to memorise everything and then just everything out during the exam. And then I'll get amazing results. But then when I was in uni in UK, it was like a culture shock because the lecturer will come in with one piece of paper and then he'll just come, okay, this is what we're going to do for the whole semester.
I'm like, huh? And then it's just like the content, right? Okay, one is this, two is this. And then you have to fill in the gap. Like you have to go and read the cases, you're going to read the textbook. So it was a complete culture shock. And as a result, I was studying very hard because I needed to study very hard to just pass, not even like ace it. So there you are, dorky in that red turtleneck and the blue vest.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:03
2
How did Violet Lim start her journey in matchmaking?
0:03–1:02
3
What challenges did Violet face when launching Lunch Actually?
1:02–1:06
4
How did Lunch Actually expand across different Asian markets?
1:06–1:32
5
What role does coaching play in successful matchmaking?
1:32–2:00
6
How are AI and technology reshaping dating norms?
2:00–2:02
7
What differences exist in dating preferences among generations?
2:02–20:00
8
What insights does Violet provide on the future of dating?
20:00–1:00:05
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