Beating The Algorithm: Multi-million dollar lessons from building, failing and exiting multiple startups
Fireside Chat • Book Signing • Networking
“Always play the game to your strengths.”
“True entrepreneurs embrace their journey and hardships.”
— Ming Shen
🚀 About the Speaker & Author
Success isn’t always linear nor smooth sailing. Building something is hard. Starting again after failure is harder.
Ming Shen Cheo is a Singaporean serial entrepreneur and currently the CEO of Our Second Nature.
He is best known for leading Nuffnang (bloggers @xiaxue, @mongabong, @melissackoh, @shiberty etc.) through its regional growth years.
He also founded Dayre, one of Southeast Asia’s most beloved blogging platforms, and Jipaban, a Singapore-based social shopping marketplace that aggregated independent blogshops, fashion labels, and lifestyle brands during the early days of online retail.
Across his career, Ming Shen has founded 10 businesses spanning e-commerce, advertising, property, lifestyle, social media, art, and fashion. His journey reflects the realities rarely spoken about: setbacks, uncertainty, reinvention, and the decision to start again.
In this session, he shares raw and candid reflections on ambition, resilience, and navigating uncertainty, offering an honest perspective on what it truly means to build across different seasons of life.
🔥 Programme Flow
11:00am – 11:30am
Opening address & introductions
11:30am – 12:30pm
Fireside Chat and Q&A
A candid conversation with Ming Shen, moderated by Eldred Wee (Founder, Edenity) and Debbie Lee (Co-leader, The Saturday Book Club).
12:30pm – 1:00pm
Meet the Author, Book Signing & Networking
Get your copy of Beating the Algorithm signed and meet Ming Shen in person.
Connect with fellow founders, builders, and readers over informal conversations.
💡This Session Is For You If You Are…
A founder or aspiring entrepreneur navigating uncertainty
A corporate professional thinking about building something of your own
Parentpreneur trying to build both your home and business
Curious about entrepreneurship beyond success stories and headlines
Always reading books about entrepreneurship, now ready to live it
🎉 What to Expect
Fireside chat with Ming Shen Cheo, moderated by Eldred Wee & Debbie Lee
Audience Q&A
Book signing & photo opportunity
Intentional networking
Light snacks & drinks provided
Book Sale booth
⭐ Why You Should Attend
Takeaways include:
Choose the game you play and play it to your strengths.
Learn from others' mistakes. It is the least costly way to learn.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Set yourself up to fail small, heed the lessons and adapt.
Every attendee will receive a specially prepared door gift curated just for this event. (yay!)
📚 More About Author's Book
Dive into the riveting journey of Cheo Ming Shen, where entrepreneurship, life lessons, and personal growth intertwine to form a narrative of resilience and vision.
From his childhood dreams inspired by the Japanese manga Doraemon, to navigating the high stakes of corporate leadership and the unpredictable tides of Silicon Valley-style innovation in Southeast Asia, Cheo's story is a masterclass in understanding the game of life.
This book isn't just about business; it's about the human spirit's capacity to adapt, learn, and succeed against all odds. Cheo shares his ascent from a self-described academic underachiever to the CEO of a publicly listed company, detailing the rollercoaster of launching startups like Nuffnang and Dayre, facing betrayals, and embracing the unexpected joys of life like his marriage and fatherhood.
🔎 Where to Get the Book
If you’re looking to get your hands on Beating The Algorithm, you can grab a copy at Kinokuniya Takashimaya and redeem a specially designed pouch while stocks last ✨
A little bonus for early readers 😉
Copies will also be available for purchase at the event.