In this episode of The First, Kelvin Teo, Co-founder of Funding Societies, offers essential guidance for early-stage founders while sharing insights into building Southeast Asia's largest SME digital finance platform.

Funding Societies provides short-term working capital loans to small and medium businesses and startups and has expanded into payments to facilitate transactions for SMEs. The company operates in fiveSoutheast Asian countries: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, andVietnam, and is backed by various growth, impact, and strategic investors. Teo's entrepreneurial journey began with early exposure to startups during theNUS Overseas College program and was solidified at Harvard Business School, where he co-founded Funding Societies with a shared passion for empoweringSMEs.

For founders building across diverse markets, Teo attributes his success to key lessons from his management consulting background, particularly structured thinking and effective stakeholder management. He emphasizes the importance of understanding local nuances in Southeast Asia, advocating for a strong company culture that transcends regional differences. On fundraising strategy, Teo provides actionable advice for early-stage founders: stress proactive planning for the next round and forma clear worldview of the market. He also highlights the benefit of targeting strategic and government-linked funds, and the long-term value of building a strong track record and maintaining positive relationships with investors.Looking ahead, Funding Societies aims to become an integrated digital finance platform, enabling seamless cross-border business for SMEs across SoutheastAsia. For early-stage founders navigating their own path, Teo advises staying pragmatic while adhering to core values, as these principles build trust and resilience in the entrepreneurial journey.

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