Amplifying Ambition,
From Day One

At their core, the right conversations are a catalyst for unlocking challenges that currently go unsolved - welcome to The First.

The First is dedicated to turning founder ambitions into reality, by building a platform that provides content and programs that increase every founder's chance of success.

Building a company of endurance is not a linear path.

The First encapsulates all that a founder endures on their journey: the first hire, the first customer, or the first fundraise. Each first is met with its own challenges to overcome and opportunities to capitalise.

Our goal is to prepare founders to navigate these firsts.

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Podcast

Grit. Persistence. Fear. It is often in moments of darkness that greatness is formed. We aspire to tell the true story of what it takes to build an enduring company - something that often goes untold. Listen to the region's most exceptional founders and operators, on their unrelenting drive to turn vision into reality.

Learn more

Perspectives

We believe that there is a distinct lack of content nuanced to the complexities of founding an enduring business in Asia Pacific. Perspectives provides a series of tailored articles that are directly sourced from founders and operators who have walked your path. Gain insights across sales, product, hiring, fundraising and more - so you can navigate each first with certainty.

Coming soon

Conversation

The First is an evolving platform that aspires to best service founders in our region. Our observations to date suggest that there continues to be a need for a platform that can best connect the region's most proven entrepreneurs and operators with the next generation of aspirational founders to maximise their chance of success.

Applications open soon

Call to action: building a better connected region

The First is an evolving platform that aspires to deliver meaningful value to our region's ecosystem.

We are soliciting feedback on programs that will give day-one founders the opportunity to inflect their trajectory. Ideas we are currently iterating on include:

A founder-mentor program that connects some of the region's most seasoned industry veterans with pre-day one founding teams.
A dedicated scout program that aligns founders and operators to provide increased visibility and traction.

Our bar for value add is high at The First and so we want to ensure any program we launch delivers on its promise. We would highly encourage potential founders or operators to express their interest in participating in a program, and help us understand how to build a world-class framework.

Let us hear from you

Your questions answered

What is The First?

The First is a platform that hosts content & programs designed to bridge the gap between early-stage founders in Asia Pacific and a network of experienced operators, seasoned entrepreneurs, and domain experts that give them the best chance of success. The First encapsulates all the firsts that a founder endures in their journey, whether that be the first hire, the first customer or the first fundraise, each first is met with it’s own challenges and opportunities to navigate. Our goal is to help empower founders to steer through all the firsts along their journey.

Who is The First intended for?

The First is tailored for the next generation of ambitious early-stage founders in Asia Pacific who are seeking relevant guidance, mentorship, knowledge-sharing coupled with a robust network to scale their business.

Why was The First created?

We recognized the fragmentation of knowledge and lack of connectivity in the startup ecosystem in Asia Pacific. The First aims to address these gaps by fostering a community where founders can access resources, mentorship, and insights from industry leaders and proven entrepreneurs.

What types of content does The First offer?

The First provides long-form podcasts, short-form videos, and written articles. These resources feature insights from founders who have endured a range of firsts themselves with candid insights on how they overcame challenges and scaled their vision.

How is The First different from other startup support programs?

The First uniquely combines media, mentorship, and community-building, tailored to the specific challenges faced by early-stage founders in Southeast Asia. It leverages the collective knowledge of domain experts to create a curated ecosystem that facilitates relevant and impactful exchange.