Auto and Tech | Road Less Traveled: A Drive with Allan Tan on the ‘Kuya Mark’ Podcast
Mga kaibigan, your Kuya Mark here, bringing you another engrossing tale from our auto and tech landscape. Today, I take you on a journey with Allan Tan, the Managing Director of Monstar Lab and Director at Founder Institute in Manila. Our recent tête-à-tête on the “Kuya Mark” podcast unfolded Allan’s captivating story from kick-starting his company to the triumphant acquisition by Monstar Lab.
Allan’s story began in 2007 when he saw a diamond in the rough – the untapped potential of Filipino developers. His belief was simple yet profound: happy employees drive a successful business. This belief, like a well-tuned engine, powered his venture, leading to Monstar Lab’s acquisition and their recent public listing in Japan
Our conversation drove through the winding roads of startup challenges and the robust support system offered by the Founder Institute. The headlights of our discussion focused on three key takeaways: The importance of vision, the value of paying it forward, and the sheer joy of the journey.
Firstly, Allan emphasized that the vision is the fuel that keeps a founder’s engine running, even on the toughest terrains. “Vision develops grit and resilience in a founder,” Allan shared, “it’s like a GPS, guiding you through the challenges, keeping you on track.”
Next, we shifted gears to the idea of paying it forward. Allan, in his role at the Founder Institute, is like a skilled mechanic lending his expertise to fellow drivers on the startup highway. He’s investing his knowledge back into the community, fine-tuning the engines of the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Finally, as we cruised through the topic of enjoying the journey, Allan’s eyes sparkled like the high-beams of his favourite cars. He spoke fondly of his current Toyota Camry, though his dream car, the Lexus ES 350, still waits for him at the showroom. “It’s not just about the destination, it’s also about the joy of the ride,” Allan expressed, encapsulating the essence of his entrepreneurial journey.
This sentiment was echoed when Allan fulfilled his promise to his team, marking the triumphant milestone of going public with a trip to Boracay – a testament to the importance of celebrating victories along the journey.
Throughout our conversation, Allan’s insights painted a roadmap for startup success. His journey, punctuated by vision, generosity, and joy, is like a scenic route through the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship.
As we journey further in our exploration of the auto and tech world, these tales of perseverance, triumph, and joy fuel our quest for more. Tara! Byahe tayo! Until next time on the “Kuya Mark” podcast!
