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5 Questions with angel investor and Rainforest CEO JJ Chai

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Sharanya Pillai

Sharanya Pillai

Published Wed, Sep 6, 2023 · 10:00 AM
    • When angel investing, JJ Chai looks out for founder-problem fit, ability to attract talent and a growth mindset.
    • When angel investing, JJ Chai looks out for founder-problem fit, ability to attract talent and a growth mindset. PHOTO: JJ CHAI

    FROM mental health startup Intellect to decarbonisation platform Unravel Carbon, JJ Chai has backed a wide range of South-east Asian startups.

    Chai is a techie himself, having co-founded e-commerce aggregator Rainforest. He started his career in software engineering and product management, and later moved into the consulting world with McKinsey.

    He then took on several leadership roles, notably as Airbnb’s managing director for South-east Asia and India, and Carousell’s growth and strategy senior vice-president.

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