Pierucci, who is a former founder and the current head of International Tech Disruptors Vertical at J.P. Morgan, was joined by entrepreneurs from the Gen.T community for a closed-door discussion on March 29
We hosted the ninth edition of our series of roundtables, The Catalyst Series, on March 29.
Taking place over a private lunch at Tatler House Hong Kong, The Catalyst Series provides Gen.T honourees with an opportunity to learn through an open, moderated discussion with their peers as well as experts from J.P. Morgan Private Bank, with whom we have co-organised the series.
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This edition featured guest speaker Tomi Pierucci, head of International Tech Disruptors Vertical at J.P. Morgan and a serial entrepreneur and angel investor. Pierucci has founded several successful companies, including Bluesmart, the world's first smart suitcase company and the first Latin American company to be part of Y Combinator, which he sold after scaling the business to $30 million in revenue and more than 100 employees. He then joined Glovo in Spain, helping grow the company's valuation from $400 million to $1.2 billion in just 12 months. Pierucci is also a mentor for Endeavor and the Norrsken Foundation.
He was joined by entrepreneurs from the Gen.T community to discuss resilience, the future of AI and the secrets to successful fundraising.
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Attendees at the lunch included Nick Lau, founder and CEO of web3 startup Wear; Arthur Lam, co-founder and CEO of green energy company Negawatt; Sarah Tong, co-founder and CEO of edtech startup Big Bang Academy; Ryan Cheung, co-founder and CEO of media commerce company Press Logic; Lucas Cheung, managing partner of web3 marketing firm Gusto Collective; Alvin Cheung, co-founder and COO of medtech startup HandyRehab; Sebastian Ko, co-founder of legaltech firm DHB Global; and Justin Chan, co-founder and CEO of medical diagnostic company Gense.
“This city has always been very special to me,” said Pierucci of his return to Hong Kong. “We can see now that it’s back in the game.”
Over lunch, he shared valuable insights with the assembled honourees from the experiences he has had working in South America, the US and Europe, with the importance of integrity as a key theme during the lunchtime talk. “If you are trying to build a network but you’re dishonest—to others, to yourself—it won’t work. You can lie to someone for a year, but not forever.”
He also shared his tips about finding the right co-founder, as well as one piece of advice for entrepreneurs to remember: “Do what you love. Enjoy the moment. Nothing is forever.”
