Welcome to Episode 2 of My Startup Playbook, a weekly founder-to-founder podcast designed for anyone building from the ground up.This episode is part of the Start SMART series, a mini-series inside the podcast that breaks down the non-glamorous truths every founder should face before building a company. If you’re thinking of starting a business, or already have but feel lost in the chaos, this one’s for you.We also introduce our weekly roundup: Startup Pulse where we bring you key updates, headlines, and happenings from the startup world, especially across ASEAN, MENA, and emerging markets.🎧 In this Episode:Why you shouldn’t just start a business blindly3 harsh truths founders often ignoreReal talk on founder-market fit, timing, and clarity📰 Startup Pulse Highlights (Week of July 21):- ASEAN Startup Portal Officially LaunchesThe new regional portal is aimed at increasing cross-border collaboration and visibility for startups in Southeast Asia.- Kuala Lumpur Ranked #18 Among Top 20 Emerging Startup EcosystemsKL earns its place in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024 by Startup Genome.- Maranti Ventures Partners with MDECStrategic collaboration announced to boost Malaysia's deep tech and digital startups.