S3E2 | Burnout, Feedback, and the Making of a Leader: PatSnap CEO’s Story

Hard Truths By Vertex

Ever been told you’re not fit for the job? That’s exactly what happened to Jeffrey during a pivotal moment early in his journey as the CEO of PatSnap.

In this episode, I sit down with Jeffrey to explore how he turned tough feedback into fuel for growth. From starting PatSnap right out of university to leading a global tech company, he shares candid lessons about leadership, building strong teams, and navigating challenges.

Tune in to hear Jeffrey’s honest take on what it really takes to grow as a leader—mistakes, reflections, and all!

IN THIS EPISODE
(00:00) "You're not fit to be CEO!"—The moment that changed everything
(01:00) Why leadership isn’t just about having a vision
(03:00) From writing code to leading a global team—Jeffrey’s evolution
(07:00) Behind the scenes: How Jeffrey sets high-level goals
(10:00) The surprising secret to handling conflicts and low moments
(14:00) Raw talent vs. experience—what really makes a great hire?
(17:00) Why Jeffrey still jumps into frontline problems (sometimes)
(24:00) Hard truths from an investor that reshaped Jeffrey’s confidence
(29:00) Avoiding burnout: Jeffrey’s approach to staying grounded
(35:00) Grateful but not proud—Jeffrey reflects on his journey

Jeffrey Tiong
Founder & CEO
Jeffrey Tiong is the Founder and CEO of Patsnap, a global leader in AI-powered IP and R&D innovation intelligence. Under Jeffrey’s leadership, Singapore-founded Patsnap has empowered over 15,000 customers across 50 countries to transform ideas into groundbreaking innovations through cutting-edge market, technology, competitive, and patent insights.

Jeffrey’s accolades include Fortune’s 40 Under 40 (2022), and recognition as a Top 50 SaaS CEO by The Software Report (2020). He was also honoured with Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Singapore, cementing his status as a trailblazer in the tech and innovation landscape.

PatSnap
Every year, $2 trillion is being spent on R&D globally. However, despite the dollars spent, R&D productivity has dropped by 65% for the past forty years. Our mission is to help R&D thought leaders around the world to improve that. We provide a suite of R&D analytic and management tools for businesses, universities, start-ups and research organizations. PatSnap's vision is to empower the innovators to do better research and innovation.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreytiong/

Rahul Thayyalamkandy
Director of Comms & Community, Vertex Ventures SEA & India
Rahul Thayyalamkandy joined the SEA/India team as the Director of Communication & Community in 2024 and is based in Singapore.
Before joining Vertex, Rahul served as a Product Manager at BLOCK71, an incubator and joint venture of NUS Enterprise and Singtel Innov8, where he developed scalable services for portfolio startups and designed mentorship programs. He also gained experience as a Summer Associate at Cocoon Capital, working with the Managing Partner on investment deals.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulthayyalamkandy/

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Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a pioneer in investing in tech start-ups in this region and has helped to build a number of unicorns. In this podcast, we seek to share and uncover the Hard Truth - raw, unfiltered insights and venture capital knowledge from across Southeast Asia and India. Tune in to learn from leading founders, innovators, venture capitalists, and industry experts in the region and gain industry insights from those in the know.

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For more information, please visit: https://www.vertexventures.sg