RACHEL Lau is not one to mince words when it comes to assessing South-east Asia’s tech scene. In the exuberance of last year, even “half-assed companies” had their boats lifted by the tide of venture capital (VC) rushing into the region, she quipped.

But the cooling of sentiment now is a good thing, reckoned the managing partner of Malaysia-based RHL Ventures. Looking past the froth, she sees South-east Asian VC maturing into a “legit” asset class.

In this edition of 5 Questions, Lau shares more about her personal investment philosophy and why she prefers to back founders who aren’t necessarily good at talking.