Hi everyone. Taro here.

The football World Cup concluded last weekend with Argentina taking the title and beating France. I didn’t watch the game, therefore I do not have any list of things that vaguely ties the game to business values and how it will inspire you. However I did play the recent God of War: Ragnarok game on PS4 and was very impressed with the quality of the game. In an age where studios release games that are a buggy mess or clearly incomplete it is nice to play a high-quality finished product.

Next year will be a very important year for many startups. Some might be cautious, with the economic sentiment leaning towards a recession. Others might be expectant, with long-awaited product launches that are due to happen.

With so much happening on a macro level, including consolidation across many industries, it will be very interesting to see who manages to win the survival game next year. For many founders and investors, the biggest thing on their wishlist from Santa would probably be no more interest rate increases, or cookies.

Open Run

This week, we list some great books to read for the holidays to enter 2023 with a bang.

Bounce by Matthew Syed

Natural talent is a term used to describe people’s exceptional skills. However, it’s mostly a myth that people are just born with the talent. Instead, practice, upbringing, and genuinely enjoying the pursuit are the main keys to becoming good at something.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

A fascinating read about how habits are formed and how they can be changed by understanding concepts such as habit loops. It also explores how habits can benefit organisations, as with interesting case studies like Starbucks and Alcoa.

How They Stole the Game by David Yallop

Even before Sepp Blatter led the organisation to international infamy, his predecessor João Havelange started the culture of corruption. The book documents the rise of FIFA under Havelange as a money-making machine and how he created the normality of accepting bribes.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

A hilarious read about Bryson’s attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail with his very unfit friend who brings junk food for their supplies. The encounters with other strange people along the way and the constant theme of being completely ill prepared makes for an entertaining journey.

Pick & Roll

Interesting Drops From the Week

  • Things are starting to move fast in the FTX debacle with co-founder Gary Wang and former Alameda Research co-CEO Caroline Ellison pleading guilty to a range of charges related to fraud. [via CNBC]
  • Peter Fedichev, co-founder and CEO of Gero, spoke with KrASIA about the startup’s use of AI for drug discovery.
  • On another note, artists on portfolio platform ArtStation have started a protest against AI-generated pieces being displayed on the site. [via Vice]
  • Another day, another pitiful fine for a data breach in Singapore, with RedMart fined a mere SGD 72k for a leak of customers’ information in 2020. [via CNA]
  • Accelerating Asia have opened applications for their accelerator program, with successful startups receiving up to USD 250k in funding. Applicants from across the region and industries are encouraged to apply to join a portfolio of over 60 startups. Register your interest here.

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