ELSHA ELIASA KWEE

Profile

Prior to joining Genesia Ventures in 2019, Elsha had experience in software engineering, product management and venture investments. Having always had a strong interest in technology, she first joined CyberAgent Ventures (now CyberAgent Capital) as Investment Associate in the early days of the startup and tech ecosystem in Indonesia. She then attended Dev Bootcamp, a coding bootcamp in San Francisco, to pursue her interest in software development, and proceeded to join Xfers, a B2B fintech company offering online payment solutions for digital businesses across multiple sectors. Elsha started as a Software Engineer at the company and eventually transitioned to becoming Product Manager, and along the way gained an even stronger interest in fintech.

Elsha graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in Business (Information Systems).

Q&A

Place of birth/residence

Jakarta → Singapore → Seattle → Osaka → San Francisco → Jakarta

Hobbies, Favorite Things, Holidays

New technology, New experiences, Blockchain, LEGO, Movies directed by Denis Villeneuve, The Dark Knight, Ceramics, Washi tapes

Episodes from your school days (club activities, majors, etc.)

I explored various activities as a student, including Chinese dance, Chinese orchestra (cello), ballroom dancing, archery, and pottery, and some of them have stuck with me til today.

Favorite country/episode

I have things I like about each country I’ve lived in or been to, but my time in the US was the most impactful in changing me as a person. Having been brought up with Eastern values, being immersed in a completely different culture with Western values was both a shock and a valuable experience, and changed me for the better.

Favorite Company/Vision/Value

IKEA’s vision statement ”To create a better everyday life for the many people.”

Why did you become a VC?

My start in VC was serendipitous; a college friend asked if I was interested in joining an industry that only a handful of people know about in Indonesia in 2014. My motivation now, apart from my love of technology, is to support entrepreneurs who are driven by their vision to make positive changes in society and improve our lives and lifestyle.