C
Candice Ong
Board Member
8,295 connections · 10,695 followers
Board Member · ShopBack
Stanford University Graduate School of Business
I’m interested in what becomes possible when new technology starts to change behavior. That’s the thread connecting ~15 years of building consumer platforms across Asia to where I spend my time now: understanding where AI creates durable value.
My perspective is shaped by building through earlier shifts in internet and mobile. At ShopBack, I was the first C-level hire and helped build the commercial engine as revenue grew ~20x during my tenure. I created ShopFest, a nine-market shopping festival that still runs today. At ZALORA, my team helped build 12/12 into a major online shopping moment in Southeast Asia, and I was early in pushing mobile-first CRM strategy across the region when much of the market was still relying on SMS. Across these roles, I built teams that went on to produce founders and leaders.
I look for the same patterns in AI. As inference costs fall and model capabilities converge, I think more of the value will accrue to products that fit real workflows and constraints, and increasingly shape or automate decisions. Models matter, but product, distribution, and behavior change are where advantage starts to compound.
I think the AI landscape in China is especially promising at the application layer. Through Aperture, I’m trying to make that landscape more legible.
More recently, I was Partner & COO at Xora Innovation, a Temasek-backed deep tech venture firm. My role spanned firm building, fund operations, LP engagement, and close exposure to investing across AI, compute, energy and the physical sciences.
I’m drawn to builders with strong product judgment, a real understanding of how products change behavior, and the discipline to hold themselves to high standards.
- AI Model Innovation & Application
- Investment & Funding Opportunities
- AGI Landscape & Future Trends
INVITATION PASS