RETURNS ON INVESTMENT

The inescapable logic and hyperefficient world of entrepreneur turned investor Khailee Ng

- Aaron Pereira

I fever there was such a thing as a "thinkfluencer", we'd like to elect Khailee Ng as premier. He's a sought-after venture capital speaker on the conference circuit and hangs out at places like Wild Digital where he makes and sells predictions charismatically. We first catch him on the Wild Digital stage in September where he espoused concepts like "energy management". A month later, he comes to Tatler's photo shoot and interview after another speaking engagement, ready to play and participate. We quickly learn that this thinkfluencer is more multidimensional than his persona on stage.

As managing partner, co-owner and board member of Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm 500 Global, Ng has to make the tough decisions and decide where to channel investors' money, both to ensure selected startups thrive and profit. Overseeing US$2.7 billion worth of assets under management across 81 countries comes with responsibility. How did he get here? Welcome to his multidimensions.

THE WUNDERKIND

Ng was a whizz kid from the get-go. When he first got computers and was able to access the internet, he found his escape. "I started to think of how small Malaysia is, in the global context. That set me on my path to delve into the digital world. I remember during school my other friends started getting part-time jobs, but I made friends with a guy called TJ, who taught me how to code. I used to flip the classified pages of newspapers, and if a company advertised something, where you only had a number to contact and no website, I'd call them and offer my services," Ng explains. "From [charging for] web design, I eventually could afford things I wanted and liked."