Interview
Q&A: Pomona Capital's Michael Granoff
Michael Granoff, founder and CEO of Pomona Capital, discusses raising capital from Asian LPs, how GPs can be differentiated in a crowded secondaries market, and why he’s not keen on fund restructurings
LP interview: CalSTRS
Keen to reduce investment costs, California State Teachers’ Retirement System is changing the way it works with managers. Co-investment, joint ventures and stakes in GPs are priorities for private markets
Profile: CCV's Wei Zhou
Wei Zhou, founder of China Creation Ventures, turned a mid-career pitstop and a fateful encounter in the US into a bridge between his early work as a technologist and his ultimate calling as an investor
Q&A: Choson Exchange's Geoffrey See
Geoffrey See is an advisor on Korean Peninsula affairs to the World Economic Forum and a serial tech entrepreneur who helps incubate start-ups in North Korea through his organization Choson Exchange
Women entrepreneurs: Tales from the coalface
Women remain underrepresented in start-up ecosystems across Asia, but for those who have taken the plunge, there is potential to make a social impact that transcends their respective target markets
Q&A: Betatron's Erika Cheung
Erika Cheung, who helped bring the fraud at Theranos to the attention of regulators, discusses her current role as an advisor at Hong Kong accelerator Betatron and the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs
Q&A: CalSTRS' Chris Ailman
Chris Ailman, CIO of California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), discusses why – and how – private equity managers should be placing greater emphasis on diversity
LP interview: Media Super
Media Super has distinguished itself among larger competitors in Australia by maintaining substantial exposure to alternatives. PE is fading from the allocation mix but VC beckons
Q&A: Adamantem Capital's Anthony Kerwick
Anthony Kerwick, co-founder of Australian mid-market GP Adamantem Capital, discusses the challenges of setting up a new firm, the importance of future-proof investments, and Australia’s growing overseas angle
Profile: Traveloka’s Hendrik Susanto
Hendrik Susanto left a career in private equity and venture capital to head Traveloka’s inorganic growth strategy. The new role harnesses investment expertise to build a longer-lasting company
Q&A: Jupiter Impact Partners' Melissa Kang
Melissa Kang helped raise Morgan Stanley’s first global impact fund before striking out on her own with Jupiter Impact Partners. She explains why Southeast Asia should prove fertile ground for the strategy
Q&A: Gaja Capital's Gopal Jain
Gopal Jain, co-founder and managing partner at Gaja Capital, discusses the growing appetite among US institutional investors for Indian private equity and the country’s attraction for US strategic players
LP interview: Unigestion
Asia’s rising levels of private equity talent offer enticing growth prospects for Unigestion’s wealth management clients, but enforcing discipline among emerging markets managers remains a challenge
Profile: Ernest Higa
From lumber to fast food, Ernest Higa has found a market for US concepts in Japan. The entrepreneur – and oftentimes private equity collaborator – believes careful customization is the key to success
Q&A: Ripplewood's Tim Collins
A Ripplewood Holdings-led consortium broke new ground for private equity with the turnaround of Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan. CEO Tim Collins explains why he boldly goes where others fear to tread
Q&A: TriLinc Global's Paul Sanford
Paul Sanford, CIO of credit-focused impact investment firm TriLinc Global, explains why Southeast Asia has proved a challenging market and how he is preparing for a spike in institutional investor interest
LP interview: Natixis
Natixis Investment Managers is leveraging a novel affiliate-manager structure to grow fund exposure in Asia in a sustainable way. Alternatives, and increasingly private equity, are driving much of the progress
Q&A: MassMutual Ventures' Ryan Collins
Ryan Collins, a managing director with MassMutual Ventures, discusses being a financial rather than a strategic investor, the rise of VC in Southeast Asia, and giving entrepreneurs straight answers
Q&A: Xpeng's Brian Gu
Brian Gu, vice chairman and president of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng, explains how the private equity-backed company is trying to stand out in a competitive and fast-changing market
Q&A: Creador's Stefanus Hadiwidjaja
Stefanus Hadiwidjaja, an Indonesia-based managing director with Southeast Asia private equity firm Creador, discusses deal sourcing, entrepreneur engagement, and cross-border expansion strategies
LP interview: HESTA
As demand for private equity grows among institutional investors globally, HESTA is focusing on building its internal unlisted assets expertise to connect with potential fund managers on their own terms
Profile: Openspace Ventures' Hian Goh
Hian Goh knows better than most Southeast Asian VC investors the cultural barriers that discourage the region’s entrepreneurs. With Openspace Ventures he aims to provide start-ups the support they need
Q&A: Lalamove's Blake Larson
Hong Kong delivery start-up Lalamove recently raised $300 million in Series D funding. Blake Larson, head of the company’s international division, discusses business models, cross-border expansion, and vehicle sales
Q&A: CITIC Capital's Eric Xin
Eric Xin, a managing director with CITIC Capital, discusses the causes of China’s recent economic woes, the potential for services sector reform, and why corporate carve-outs are still flavor of the month
