The EP!C Podcast is a podcast produced by Open Circles, in partnership with the Singapore National Youth Council to cover the stories and journeys of local entrepreneurs, in hopes of inspiring the next generation of local entrepreneurs.
Min-Liang Tan, better known as Min, is a well-known figure and arguably “poster boy” for the Singapore entrepreneurship scene. He is the CEO and co-founder of Razer, the world’s leading lifestyle brand for gamers. Known for its cult-like following, the brand has almost 11 million followers on Facebook. Min is also the youngest self-made billionaire in Singapore.
He started Razer in San Diego, California, back in 2005 and it has since grown into an internationally recognized brand for state-of-the-art gaming hardware, software, and services. Recently, Razer has decided to build their Southeast Asian headquarters in Singapore and intends to create more opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Last week, millennial entrepreneur podcast series, EP!C Podcast: Startup Stories, had the opportunity to have a conversation with Min to understand his leadership philosophy, his humble beginnings, and what the future holds for Razer.
“I constantly get a lot of questions like, ‘why did we leave Singapore to found Razer back in the day?’ and I was actually quite clear, it wasn’t for want or trying. We were applying for all kinds of support back in the day,” Min explained.
In those years, the gaming industry had yet to leave its mark within Asia. As such, Min ventured overseas to develop his dream. “And this is my word out to a lot of entrepreneurs, that sometimes you may have a good idea, but you may be at the wrong place. And that’s fine. Don’t give up. Persevere, and you don’t have to do it necessarily at one place or another,” Min said to encourage other young aspiring entrepreneurs.
As Razer builds their Southeast Asian headquarters in Singapore, Min wants to do more for local entrepreneurship. He hopes to find “off-beat” entrepreneurs and ideas that may not necessarily have been welcomed at the start, to nurture them and make them great. Razer’s zVentures is also trying to invest into more Singaporean entrepreneurs and the ecosystem.
Tune in to the full podcast below or on Spotify to hear what Min believes are the three traits he believes are crucial for entrepreneurs to have, how he built his company culture and how he has built Razer into a global brand and community.
