Expanding and Fundraising in APAC: Smart City Startup Lessons from Vitaly Pentegov
How do you scale a smart city startup across APAC while navigating cultural gaps, government collaboration, and regional investor dynamics?In this episode, we speak with Vitaly Pentegov, founder and CEO of UrbanChain Group, a global AIoT company deploying smart parking and mobility infrastructure in Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and the U.S. Drawing from a background at Google, SMBC, and years in investment banking and civic tech, Vitaly shares firsthand strategies for launching and fundraising in Asia-Pacific markets.Topics include:Balancing hardware-software development across citiesInsights from 500 Global Japan acceleratorStructuring government partnershipsLeading multicultural, distributed teamsBuilding urban tech with social impactPerfect for startup founders, operators, and VCs focused on Asia-Pacific and smart infrastructure innovation.Vitaly Pentegov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitaly-pentegov-8058509a/
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Serial Entrepreneur & Global CTO: Dr. Rich Lane’s Journey Building Across Japan and Australia
Dr. Rich Lane is a seasoned entrepreneur and global technology leader with a career spanning Japan and Australia. From co-founding Start Corporation—Japan’s first free email service—to growing digital teams at area81 in Tokyo, he has led ventures at the forefront of tech innovation. Previously CTO and co-founder at DataOT and One Orange Cow, he now serves as CTO at Online Marketing Gurus, focusing on digital transformation, blockchain, and automation. In this episode, we explore his founder journey, cross-cultural leadership lessons, and strategies for building and scaling tech across borders. Whether you're an aspiring founder or experienced engineer, Dr. Lane offers practical insight you won’t want to miss.Dr. Rich Lane : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickjapan/
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Origin of 9-5 Startup: From Shrimp on the GPU to Something Serious
Every podcast needs a name — and ours nearly became Shrimp on the GPU. In this kickoff episode, join me and a few mates as we brainstorm the wild, funny, and sometimes questionable ideas that led to 9-5 Startup.This is how it all began — with laughs, late nights, and a mission to reshape how the world sees Aussie tech.
Can you build a global tech company and still finish work at 5?
9-5 Startup explores how Australia’s startup culture combines work-life balance with global ambition.
We speak with startup founders, investors, and industry experts to understand how innovation grows in a system that values both lifestyle and results.
For international investors, students, and professionals
— this podcast offers real insights into Australia’s growing tech economy.
Australia