ASN Pre-founder Catalyst Bootcamp - ETA (Entrepreneurship through Acquisition) edition (May Cohort)
Are you at career crossroads and want more control over your life?
Do you wish to run a business but don't know whether if entrepreneurship is really for you?
If you were held back by fears of failure or self-doubt to become an entrepreneur, you’re not alone.
Here’s your chance to break free and take the first decisive step toward being a business owner as you’ve always envisioned.
In this bootcamp, discover Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) which offers a path to business ownership by acquiring and managing an existing company, rather than starting from scratch.
The ASN Pre-founder Catalyst Bootcamp (ETA edition) is here to help you understand how to seek potential companies to acquire, based on your goals, evaluate the prospective businesses and network with several successful entrepreneurs :)
This isn’t just another workshop. It’s a comprehensive startup bootcamp and year long program designed to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey, and get you started, together with like-minded others who are also beginning their startup journey.
We’re excited to bring to you our ASN Prefounder Catalyst Bootcamp (ETA Edition) on 10 May, in collaboration with Eric Koh, cofounder of Gen Capital Partners, a search fund.
Bootcamp Program Highlights
Pre-workshop learning: 6 days of Self-paced materials introducing essential startup concepts to fast-track your progress.
whole day, In-person workshop on 10 May (Sat) 10AM-6PM.
Here's what you’ll gain:
1. Engaging & Interactive bootcamp experience taught by experts
2. Solid Conceptual Foundation and Practical Frameworks for SME Acquisition
✅ Our bootcamp teaches how to identify, evaluate, and acquire small businesses using proven search frameworks.
✅ Covers everything from industry hunting grounds to seller psychology, with actionable tips.
3. Real-Life Application and Teamwork
✅ Participants work in groups to create acquisition strategies, identify targets, and pitch to facilitators.
✅ Facilitator feedback offers valuable real-time insights and coaching.
4. Tactical Execution Training
✅ Covers advanced topics like:
✅ Financial screening & business valuation
✅ Industry analysis & competitive positioning
✅ Seller readiness & trust-building
✅ Funding prep & investor communication
5. SEA-Relevant, Results-Oriented
✅ Tailored to Southeast Asia’s business landscape and acquisition opportunities.
✅ Equips professionals with practical, immediately applicable strategies to enter entrepreneurship through acquisition confidently.
✅ Post-bootcamp support
Stay connected with a supportive network via groupchat, get tips and recommendations for services and products you need when starting your business (legal, incorporation etc)
Regular meet ups with like minded we make sure you keep going - organised specially for Bootcamp participants to discuss challenges and small/big wins
Monthly events such as pitching events, panels and fireside chats with investors and entrepreneurs to continue learning and growing.
Personalised mentorship (Optional)
Investment in Your Future - choose from the following options:
S$600 (7 days self paced learning +7h bootcamp+self-guided journey)
S$999 (7 days self paced learning +7h bootcamp+with personalised mentorship, including 3 one-on-one sessions)
SkillsFuture credits accepted. (Thanks to our partner ZilLearn- our course is part of ZilLearn Platinum Z+ program) (check your credits here) Contact us at marketing@asiastartupnetwork.com if you wish to use the credits. Note that the personalised mentorship option has to be topped up with cash.
Please email marketing@asiastartupnetwork.com for the curriculum covered on the bootcamp day itself.
Why Now?
Entrepreneurship doesn’t wait for the “perfect time.”
Gain clarity, confidence, and a concrete plan to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
Spots are limited, so act fast! Sign up here and join a growing ecosystem of aspiring founders who are turning their ideas into thriving businesses.
Don’t let another year pass you by. Take charge, take action, and make 2025 the year you finally bring your dream business to life!
Our Speakers
Eric Koh | Co-Founder & CEO, GenCap
Eric is a seasoned operational leader with 10 years as COO across multiple high-growth startups in Web3, SaaS, adtech, and payment infrastructure. Eric's achievements include transforming a struggling business from -80% to +30% profit margins and successfully raising over US$10M in funding from Seed to Pre-Series B rounds.
At GenCap, Eric leverages his experience acquiring and operating Southeast Asian SMEs to preserve and scale lifelong business legacies. His versatility shines through his experience as a fractional COO across diverse sectors including corporate secretarial firms, AI-based startups, IT management ventures, angel syndicates, and biomedical device companies. Having led a startup to successful acquisition by a European multinational corporation, he has built and managed diverse teams of 50+ professionals spanning eight countries throughout Southeast Asia.
With an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business & Technology and a Bachelor of Engineering from the National University of Singapore (where he studied as an ASEAN Scholar), Eric combines practical operational expertise with strategic vision to help SMEs reach their full potential through acquisition and operational excellence.
Video Interviews with Eric Koh
Visit www.instagram.com/asiastartupnetwork
Anthony Tse
Anthony Tse is a portfolio careerist who is a private investor and sits on boards of fund vehicles. He co-founded a Hong Kong based hedge fund and managed money at a multi-manager platform and a single family office. Anthony started his investing career with TPG Capital where he worked on private equity deals in Greater China and Australia and was seconded to work at an automotive portfolio company to execute acquisitions before it went public.
Aside from finance, Anthony was an operator. He used his own capital to build a preschool group in Singapore via rollups and turning around underperforming locations. He exited the business via a strategic sale after scaling revenue more than tenfold. Furthermore, Anthony is a business and career coach who helps professionals craft their dream career, scale businesses and become more effective leaders. His clients include Cathay Pacific, BCG, Singapore Leaders Network and entrepreneurs. His clients describe him as "an accomplished business leader with a strong track record – someone who has basically been there, done that."
He authored “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: An Insider Memoir” which talks about how he embraced setbacks as growth opportunities to craft his journey from being laid-off to two-time entrepreneur. He is a public speaker on how to develop a “Failure-Proof Mindset.”
His LinkedIn profile is accessible on
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-tse-153269
Mac Ng
Macgyver is a business broker with experience in the recruitment, start-up and the tech industry. He built a six figure e-commerce business (sold it subsequently), worked in an aggregator to originate deals (buy side), and covered regional recruitment.
At Fey Day, Macgyver identifies high quality/ potential businesses for sale and assists individuals in acquiring existing businesses as a strategic pathway to entrepreneurship. His expertise lies in aligning the interest of sellers & buyers, plus guiding aspiring entrepreneurs through the acquisition process.
Join Macgyver at this bootcamp to gain valuable insights into the landscape of acquisition entrepreneurship, learn practical strategies for qualifying suitable businesses based on your unique strength/ weaknesses, and understand the key steps to successfully acquiring and growing an existing business. His experience and pragmatic approach will provide you with the knowledge and confidence to explore this exciting avenue of entrepreneurship.
His LinkedIn profile is accessible on
https://sg.linkedin.com/in/macng
Adrian Thoo
Adrian Thoo is a seasoned strategist and visionary leader with a proven track record in guiding startups to success. As a Business Strategy Director at Blazing Conversions and Senior Advisor at Beltap Capital, Adrian brings a wealth of experience across diverse industries, including luxury fashion, education, media, finance, consulting, and technology.
Author of the Amazon #1 "Smart Business Startup Founder's Guidebook," Adrian's expertise lies in crafting effective business strategies, mentoring startups, and fostering entrepreneurial growth. With a deep understanding of the startup ecosystem, he works closely with Venture Capital firms to create accelerator and mentorship programs that empower entrepreneurs to achieve their full potential.
His LinkedIn profile is accessible on
https://sg.linkedin.com/in/athoo.
Joe Low
Joe Low is a seasoned investment strategist and entrepreneurial mentor with a growing focus on Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA). With a strong track record in supporting early-stage and growth businesses, Joe brings deep expertise in evaluating ventures, structuring deals, and guiding founders through the complexities of business ownership — whether through building or acquiring.
Joe has advised and invested and/or acquire and operate multiple startups across Southeast Asia, helping founders unlock growth, secure funding, and build sustainable ventures. His work in ETA reflects his belief that acquiring existing businesses can be a powerful and underexplored pathway for aspiring entrepreneurs.
As a sought-after mentor and speaker, Joe is known for his practical insights, collaborative approach, and unwavering support for innovation. At the ASN Prefounder Bootcamp (ETA Edition), he shares actionable strategies to help participants confidently explore acquisition opportunities and make the leap into entrepreneurship.
Joe's LinkedIn profile is accessible on
https://sg.linkedin.com/in/joelow.
Elise Tan and Andrew Tan
Elise Tan and Andrew Tan are the co-founders of the Asia Startup Network (ASN), an active platform dedicated to accelerating the growth of early-stage tech startups in Asia.
Elise Tan brings over a decade of experience in running accelerators and assisting early founders in scaling their businesses. Prior to ASN, she served as the Director of Communications and Community at Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India, where she developed thought leadership content and launched the "Hard Truths by Vertex" podcast, which became a top 10 entrepreneurship podcast in Singapore.
Andrew Tan has more than 10 years of leadership experience, including founding his own social enterprise, building startups, and managing scale-ups. As the Country Manager at Wantedly, he oversees international business operations outside of Japan, leading teams across Business Development, Marketing, and Client Success. His prior roles include growing a travel technology startup, BeMyGuest, into a Series B company valued at $30 million, and establishing One Belt One Road Venture Capital, securing partnerships such as the Tencent Open Platform to invest in SINO-ASEAN startups.
Together, Elise and Andrew have cultivated ASN into a community of over 4,000 founders, investors, and partners, fostering collaboration and providing vital resources to the startup ecosystem in Southeast Asia.
Elise Tan's linkedin profile: www.linkedin.com/in/elisetanyl
Andrew Tan's linkedin profile: www.linkedin.com/in/andrew10
What our past participants said
Average Rating: 5.0/5.0 on Luma
Jess: "I really enjoyed the pre-reading, workshop, pitch and the networking session! :)
Thank you for organising this wonderful session! It was well organised, concise, compact and yet impactful!
I am also appreciative of the clear "instructions" notes next steps in the emails sent to the participants which speak volumes the attentiveness and passion behind all these :)
Your sharings and insights have indeed crystalised my next steps which I will be taking. Thank u for rendering your support which I deeply appreciate!"
Sihan Chia: "The Asia Startup Prefounder Catalyst program is a content-rich and action-packed workshop that I would recommend to anyone who is thinking of building their own startup. It was a great learning experience working on a lean canvas and understanding the elements of building a business idea.
The instructors Andrew, Elise, and Kai were clear and concise in their delivery of the course material, which made it easy to digest concepts such as the lean startup and methodology. They also invited guest speakers who were seasoned startup founders, who gave their valuable perspective and insights generously. The friendly atmosphere was conducive for asking plenty of questions and getting feedback, which was really helpful for clarity. "
Sign up now
Join ASN Pre-founder Catalyst program as an individual but expect to graduate into a large vibrant and supportive startup ecosystem and mentorship support.
Interested to take it to the next step? Simply sign up on Lu.ma!
What happens after this Pre-founder Program
Continue to join us for our second program. We understand that entrepreneurship demands more than just business savvy—it requires strong leadership and communication skills. That's why our second course includes advanced topics and workshops focused on enhancing your leadership abilities and communication prowess.
If you're ready to embark on this transformative journey or have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to marketing@asiastartupnetwork.com. Let's unlock your full potential together. Visit www.asiastartupnetwork.com/accelerate for more details.
Photos from our past bootcamps
Why The Pre-Founder Catalyst Bootcamps?
Our curriculum stands out for its blend of Eastern and Western philosophies, offering a comprehensive approach that extends beyond technical skills. Led by a team of seasoned operators and investors, we prioritize not only business acumen but also personal development, helping you uncover your passions and craft a sustainable business idea aligned with your life goals.
About Asia Startup Network
ASN didn’t start as an educational institute or training centre. ASN is a living, thriving startup ecosystem. Their founders have spent more than one decade coaching and supporting entrepreneurs and created one of the largest communities of > 3,000 startup founders, operators, investors and partners in Southeast Asia to collaborate and support each other’s growth. Since 2020, ASN has been organising 100s of startup workshops, events and programs to help entrepreneurs leapfrog their growth and raise funding. Join ASN for the knowledge, but stay because of the network. These are the reasons why taking a course at ASN and quickly plugging into the community would move the needle more than you expect.
ASN is founded by Elise Tan and Andrew Tan. Elise has experience designing programs and personally coaching hundreds of founders at incubators and accelerators for over 10 years. She assisted more than 40 companies in raising more than US$1 million each. Andrew has more than 10 years of leadership experience founding his own social enterprise, building start ups and managing scale ups, as well as running ground up initiatives and communities, Andrew has a proven track record of driving growth and success and this will be transferred directly to this accelerator and its startups.
ASN began firstly with Mentor For Hope in 2020, an impactful mentoring initiative initially supported by the Temasek Foundation under the OSCAR grant. The initiative facilitated 525 mentoring hours for 300 founders adversely affected by the COVID crisis, connecting them with invaluable insights from 250 investors, partners, and experts.
In 2021, Elise and Andrew organised Makan For Hope Festival (with zero budget), a series of 30 virtual roundtables featuring VC managing partners and founders from notable startups like PropertyGuru, Shopback, and Carousell. The festival drew participation from 500 attendees, raising $123,000 in charity donations.
Sign up at now on Lu.ma here!