Saison Capital

Saison Capital is an early stage fund with a focus on emerging markets. We back ambitious founders solving big problems, with deep fondness for web3, fintech and embedded finance - non-fintech companies expanding into fintech. Our team comes from an operating background, and we are unafraid to roll up our sleeves to support our founders. We are backed by Credit Saison, a Tokyo-listed 30b AUM consumer finance company with extensive financial services across Asia.

Partner

Principal

BCG Digital Ventures

Started in classic management consulting with BCG, before being the first full-time convert in Southeast Asia to BCG Digital Ventures. At BCG, launched a nationwide sales program for one of the largest banks in Southeast Asia, driving improvements to performance management, culture and internal communications. At BCG Digital Ventures, built 0-to-1 pre-seed ventures in sustainability, agetech and FMCG.

Venture Architect

Glints

Glints is Southeast Asia’s largest talent platform for career development and recruitment. Founded in 2013 in Singapore, Glints has empowered more than 1.5 million professionals and 30,000 organizations to realize their human potential. 

We were the youngest to have raised venture capital in Southeast Asia from East Ventures, 500 Startups, SPH Media Fund, Gobi Partners, Golden Equator Capital, Wavemaker Partners, SG Innovate.

I led marketing, operations and human capital - team building, recruiting, compensation, onboarding, management, culture, and internal communications.

As seen on Forbes, TechCrunch, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Yahoo News, The Straits Times, Business Times, Today, Tech In Asia, e27, and Digital News Asia, Channel News Asia.

COO & Co-Founder

Institute for Infocomm Research

The Institute for Infocomm Research is a member of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) family. I published 13 research papers (11 of which I'm first-author) and presented 4 projects in human-computer interaction at international peer-reviewed conferences and journals.

Researcher

Partner at Saison Capital

The 0 to 1 journey as a founder can be lonely and challenging. I’ve been there.

At Saison Capital, I partner with founders to grow from 0 to 1. Need talent? I'll help recruit key hires and advisors. Need customers? I'll hustle alongside you to find your first 1,000 true fans. Need capital? I invest pre-seed / seed, especially in fintech, B2B platforms and web3.

My 0 to 1 experiences include co-founding Glints (Series D), Southeast Asia's largest talent platform for career development and recruitment, and venture building with BCG Digital Ventures. I also finished my Stanford undergraduate degree with distinction (top 15%) in 2 years.

Connect with me at qinen@saisoncapital.com

Previously recognized as Forbes 30 Under 30 and Entrepreneurs 27 Under 27. Featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Yahoo News, The Straits Times, Business Times, Today, Tech in Asia, e27, Digital News Asia, and Channel News Asia

Qin En Looi

Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH)

Strategy, Growth, Emerging Tech (AI, Distributed Ledger)

Penn & Wharton Club of Singapore

Executive Committee Member & 
AI Community Leader

Executive Committee

Trouble

Advisory Board Member

Expert

Wharton Alumni Angels

Investor

Microsoft

Asia Head, Private Capital Partnerships

- Founded & Led this new function for Microsoft, APAC. Won performance award. Elevated to APJ Leadership role after

APAC Head, Private Capital Partnerships

Milken Institute

Young Leader

Antler

Researched, developed the MVP, and pitched an AI Health-tech product. Parked coz of concerns about monetisation at scale, and Covid-19 pandemic.

Entrepreneur In Residence

SHAREit Group

SHAREit is amongst World’s Top 10 apps, w 1.8 Billion users worldwide. I worked on 
- Growth strategy and launching new Digital Products
- Monetization Partnerships with Telcos, Payment Wallets, eCommerce, Consumer Goods, and Payment Rewards companies to improve user engagement + revenue generation 

I led a team across China & India, launched fun products, learnt a ton, met very smart people. 
Left coz SHAREit was banned by the Indian Govt. over national security concerns.

Head of Product Growth

MMTC Limited

As the P&L Leader / GM of the new Digital Gold BU - I delivered a GMV of $124MM, through analytics, product partnerships, product enhancements, and new launches. Executed MoUs and Commercial - Legal agreements. 
Led a large team across Ops, Analytics, Marketing, design, tech, and sales.

SVP & GM - Digital Gold

1st woman in an Executive role at the JV between Government of India, & a Swiss Precious Metals Grp.

General Management role to build this new business from ground up

P&L and end-to-end product + business ownership of an innovative Digital Gold business on leading consumer facing platforms - payment banks, brokerage platforms, eCommerce, remittance and payment players. I headed product strategy and roadmap, BD & partnerships for both product enhancement ( logistics, eKYC, redemption options etc.) and revenue growth, marketing and ops.

Business Head - Digital Gold

As an additional responsibility to my main role - stepped into the CTO’s shoes and managed the ongoing tech projects of the firm, leading teams across Delhi & Bangalore.

Interim CTO

Defined by 3Cs - Curiosity, Courage, Compassion. Forged in the kingdom of Sita & Buddha ! 
Professionally, entrepreneurial Product & Commercial leader at intersection of Digital Tech, Innovation, Private Capital, Policy, & ESG. Experience across US, UK, Asia; in Startups, Corporates, Public sector for 15 yrs; in category-creating, 0-10 roles, often winning awards and recognition as a cherry on top !

---------------Education---------------------------
***Full-time: MBA @ Wharton (Joseph Wharton Fellow), Computer Science Engg. ( 1st in College, w Distinction), & Policy / ESG ( 1st in India, Prime Minister's Fellow). 
***Professional Training in Venture & Climate Investing from Stanford, & CFA Institute

--------------Career Highlights --------------------
** as Prime Minister’s Fellow - piloted & scaled, Digital Payments for Govt. of India; won award;
** founded, led Microsoft’s APJ Private Capital & growth-stage startups vertical; won award;
** built, scaled Asia's 1st Digital Gold product (grew GMV 0 to $123M) - launched on PayTm, PhonePe, Google Pay;
** launched Luxury Products & Digital Partnerships for Estée Lauder @New York;
** Cross-border Growth Strategy for TagHive (Korea, Samsung CVC), IncoPro (London, Richemont CVC); Vyng (US, Omidyar)
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I have had an eventful journey - from the stage of Miss India, to living with primitive tribes on hills. I love the thrills of adventure sports, travel, & continuous learning (like ever evolving AI). Currently on Bhagawad Geeta, French, & Piano. Also, an aspiring Monk...

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