Chris Withers’ journey into entrepreneurship was anything but conventional. Born in Australia to a family of doctors, he initially pursued a dual degree in law and economics at the University of Queensland but quickly realized law was not for him. Driven by a passion for problem-solving and building things, Chris explored different career paths through internships in consulting and investment banking before taking an unexpected turn into tech.

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His first major break came when he stumbled upon an opportunity at Uber in 2015. Initially hired for a nondescript university internship, he soon found himself deeply embedded in Uber’s fast-paced operations, working on launching and scaling ride-hailing in Brisbane. Uber's startup culture—where city teams operated like independent companies—gave him a crash course in growth hacking, logistics, and high-stakes problem-solving.


Recognizing the potential of food delivery,Chris moved into Uber Eats’ Asia expansion team, where he played a pivotal role in launching and localizing operations in diverse markets such as Japan, India,and Indonesia. His experience navigating different regulatory environments and adapting Uber’s marketplace model to local conditions gave him an edge in understanding emerging market dynamics. However, when Uber exited Southeast Asia by selling its operations to Grab, Chris faced a career crossroads.

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Rather than following many of his colleagues into Grab or other regional tech companies, Chris took a more unconventional route—moving to Bangladesh to help scale Patau, a Gojek-backed ride-hailing and food delivery startup. This experience cemented his belief in the untapped potential of emerging markets, particularly in building infrastructure for digital commerce. He later rejoined Gojek in Indonesia,working on strategic initiatives ahead of its IPO.


Despite years of working on food marketplaces, it wasn’t until Chris launched his own ghost kitchen during COVID-19 that he truly grasped the operational pain points of restaurant owners. Managing multiple online food brands across various delivery platforms,he struggled with outdated, fragmented software and operational inefficiencies. This experience became the catalyst for ClickIt—an all-in-one SaaS platform designed to help merchants manage online orders, menus, marketing, and customer relationships in a seamless, integrated system.


From day one, ClickIt was built with a regional-first mindset, addressing the complexities of multi-currency,multi-language, and multi-platform operations. Chris leveraged his network of engineers from his time in Bangladesh and Indonesia to rapidly build and launch the product. Unlike competitors who focused on single-market solutions, ClickIt was designed to scale across Southeast Asia and beyond.


Fundraising was a critical step in ClickIt’s journey. Chris’ unconventional background—having worked in Bangladesh and launching businesses in complex regulatory environments—made him a standout to investors. He raised early-stage funding by articulating a clear,conviction-driven thesis on the future of food delivery and why ClickIt was uniquely positioned to win.


Chris credits much of his success to hiring driven, high-accountability individuals who share his passion for building. He emphasizes the importance of cultural adaptability, rapid execution, and learning from firsthand experience. His advice to founders? Immerse yourself in your customers’ world, embrace discomfort, and always think several steps ahead.


This episode offers invaluable lessons in entrepreneurship, marketplace dynamics, and building tech solutions for emerging markets.