Justin Banusing: Philippines Gaming & ESports Boom, Founding Communities & Startups and Content Creator Monetization & AI - 396

BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand & Malaysia Startups, Founders and Venture Capital VC

Justin Banusing, Cofounder & CEO of Clout Kitchen, and Jeremy Au talked about three main themes:

1. Philippines Gaming & ESports Boom: Justin shared that the Philippines, and by extension, Southeast Asia, has a vibrant gaming and esports ecosystem. He attributed this enthusiasm to the country's usage of mobile gaming and esports as both socialization and competitive engagement in the realities of an urbanizing emerging economy. Justin highlighted the "loading screen of commuting" (local challenging commute conditions) driving mobile gaming's popularity. He also delved into the symbiotic yet complex relationship between publishers, fans, third-party companies, and creators - and the inherent challenges and opportunities in monetizing and sustaining a viable niche within eSports in Southeast Asia.

2. Founding Communities & Startups: Justin shared his beginnings as a high school student passionate about gaming and organizing a Super Smash Brothers gaming tournament in a Chinese restaurant's back room. He went on to found AcadArena, the leading campus gaming startup that scaled to 250,000 verified students across Southeast Asia and Latin America. Justin talked about his commitment to building in the Philippines despite the allure of opportunities abroad, and his eventual decision to remain in the country to contribute to the growing startup ecosystem. He also highlighted the importance of taking risks and the potential for significant impact through building companies that address local needs and opportunities and encouraged others to dream big and pursue their passions with determination.

3. Content Creator Monetization & AI: Justin touched upon the potential of digital creators as the next generation of entertainment icons, and their broader evolution beyond gaming as a content vertical. He also discussed the hurdles they face, such as time constraints, scalability and earning more. He explained why he founded Clout Kitchen, an AI studio aimed at transforming content creators into interactive digital experiences, and highlighted their mission to facilitate deeper fan interactions with creators.

Jeremy and Justin also discussed the importance of aligning business ventures with personal missions, the impact of digital hobbies and gaming on the region’s youth, the socioeconomic factors influencing gaming habits in Southeast Asia, and the nuanced understanding of privilege in the startup ecosystem.

Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/justin-banusing

Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://www.bravesea.com/blog/justin-banusing-in

观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://www.bravesea.com/blog/justin-banusing-cn

Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com

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English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts

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