-- In an era where startup success stories typically involve multi-million dollar funding rounds and sprawling teams, two European immigrant founders are proving there's another way. Operating with just two full-time employees and a modest $100K angel seed round, they've built https://www.roshi.sg/ - a profitable fintech platform that's disrupting Southeast Asia's digital lending market.
The Founders' Journey:
- Amir Nada (CEO): Austrian-Egyptian background, former Google, Omnicom and Dentsu executive
- Said Betmurzaev (CTO): Chechen refugee who learned coding in Belgium
- Met during Antler's VC startup program in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Launched operations in Singapore and Vietnam with $100K angel funding
- Achieved profitability within 12 months, proving capital efficiency works
Breaking the Funding Myth:
"Everyone told us we needed millions to compete in fintech," says Amir Nada. "We raised just $100K and built lean, smart, and profitable from day one."
The conventional startup playbook in Southeast Asia's fintech sector suggests raising $2-5 million in seed funding, hiring 20+ employees and burning cash for 3-5 years before profitability. With just $100K, 10% of typical seed rounds, Amir and Said rejected this entirely.
Their Contrarian Approach:
- Minimal capital raised, $100K angel seed versus typical $2-5M rounds
- Two-person team operating at 95% lower cost than funded competitors
- Automation-first with every system API-driven or automated from launch
- Profitable within 12 months with sustainable unit economics
- No office overhead, fully remote operations across Singapore and Vietnam
The Problem They're Solving:
Southeast Asia's lending market suffers from critical inefficiencies. Borrowers apply to multiple lenders, sharing sensitive data repeatedly. Advertised rates are often misleading, 3% advertised but 12% actually offered. Loan approval processes take 2-5 days with unclear outcomes and credit scores get damaged by multiple hard inquiries.
"Picture this," Amir explains. "You go online looking for a loan. A 3 percent interest rate is advertised. You apply. Two days later, you're offered 12 percent. It happens all the time across Southeast Asia."
Their Solution:
The founders built an OTA-style aggregator platform for lending that shows instant pre-approved offers with real rates upfront and no teaser pricing. Through API integrations with banks and licensed lenders, the platform uses soft inquiries to protect credit scores while maintaining a privacy-first approach with minimal data sharing.
"We're bringing the same logic that transformed travel booking to the lending industry," Said Betmurzaev notes. "Why should finding a loan be harder than booking a flight?"
Business Model Innovation:
https://roshi.vn/ operates on a matchmaking model with revenue from successful loan placements and lender partnerships. There's no inventory risk or balance sheet requirements, making it scalable without proportional cost increases. A cashback engine rewards borrowers for smart credit decisions.
"We stretched that $100K further than most stretch $5 million," Said emphasizes. "We don't have departments. We have systems."
Market Traction:
- Operating profitably in Singapore
- Serving digitally savvy and underserved credit segments
- Processing loan inquiries 10x faster than traditional lenders
- 95% lower operating costs than venture-backed competitors
- Expanding lender network across multiple Southeast Asian countries
The Immigrant Advantage:
Both founders credit their immigrant backgrounds as strategic advantages. "As immigrants, we understand what it means to start with nothing," Said reflects. "We didn't have safety nets or family wealth. That shaped how we built this business, resourceful, resilient and focused on real value creation."
Amir adds: "Growing up between cultures taught me to see opportunities where others see obstacles. Said's journey from refugee to CTO is the ultimate proof that talent and determination matter more than pedigree or capital."
For more information, visit:
https://www.roshi.sg/about-us/
Contact Info:
Name: Trinh Mai Thanh
Email: Send Email
Organization: ROSHI
Website: https://www.roshi.sg
Release ID: 89173897
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