Kwok Jiachuan: COVID-19’s Impact on Nonprofits, Conjunct’s Shift in Business Model & The Role of Capacity Builders - E544

BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders & Venture Capital VC (English)

Jeremy Au reconnects with Kwok Jiachuan, his first-ever podcast guest, to reflect on their journey from school friends to army roommates to co-founders of Conjunct Consulting. They talked about the challenges of starting and scaling a social impact consultancy, from early skepticism to securing funding and navigating the evolving nonprofit landscape. They also discuss leadership lessons, the importance of sustainability, and how their work has shaped the next generation of social impact leaders. The conversation is a candid look at what it takes to build something meaningful and why community matters.

1. From friends to co-founders: Jeremy and Kwok first met at 15 in a creative arts camp, later became army roommates, and eventually teamed up to build a pioneering social impact consultancy.

2. Solving a gap no one else saw: They realized nonprofits lacked strategic help while young professionals wanted to contribute, so they created a platform that connected both.

3. Facing doubt and rejection: People dismissed their idea, fundraising was tough, and they had to figure out everything from legal structures to convincing nonprofits to trust them.

4. Turning a passion project into a real business: What started as a volunteer effort had to evolve into a structured, financially sustainable social enterprise to survive long-term.

5. Adapting to a changing landscape: The social sector professionalized with more government funding and consulting firms entering the space, forcing Conjunct to evolve its role.

6. A legacy that lives on through people: Alumni have gone on to lead impact-driven initiatives, and Tribe Consulting, founded by former members, continues the work they started.

7. Lessons for future changemakers: Passion alone isn’t enough—build for sustainability, find allies in the ecosystem, and focus on long-term impact.

Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/social-entrepreneur-wisdom

Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com

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