#11 – Starting A Business At 19: Why You Are Your Biggest Enemy | Amanda Cua: “I Thought Being Young Was A Disadvantage!” “There Is No Best Path In Business!” “I Found The 3rd Door!”

Most people wait until they’re fully ready to start a business. 23-year-old Amanda Cua didn’t.

At 19, she skipped university and launched Backscoop, a media startup covering Southeast Asia’s startup scene. No degree, little experience—just an idea, a problem to solve, and the determination to make it work.

Now, at 23, she’s a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia entrepreneur. But her biggest challenge? Managing herself.

In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to start a business, the hardest lessons in entrepreneurship, and how she’s navigating identity, growth, and being enough.

I hope this reaches you exactly when you need it.

00:00 Introduction

02:53 Amanda's Early Life In The Philippines & Exploring Identity

08:47 Understanding Her Heritage: What It Means To be Chinese Filipino

13:11 The Birth of Backscoop: Taking Risks

16:18 "The Third Door" In Life & Not Going To University

21:48 Going From Rejecting To Embracing Her Young Age

24:52 The Biggest Challenge As An Entrepreneur Is Yourself

25:57 Her Observations Dealing With VCs & Founders

31:06 Evolving Business Perspectives: At 23 vs. 19

34:20 Advice To Someone Thinking Of Starting A Business

36:09 3 Biggest Lessons From Running Her Own Business

41:10 Facing Insecurities, Disconnection & Feeling Not Enough

44:03 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia: A Needed Recognition & Validation

47:03 Why Amanda Moved To Singapore

49:58 Living In Singapore vs. Philippines: Reconstructing Her Life

53:01 What She'd Tell Herself At 19

55:21 If Someone Is Thinking Of Starting A Business

56:00 The One Thing That People Get Wrong About Her

57:03 The Song That Best Describes Amanda

58:02 Favourite Foods After A Long Day In Singapore

❤️

Nicole

————————————

👉🏼 Follow Amanda Cua on:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cua?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsamandacua?igsh=MWRjcWxvYWNyM21kbw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsamandacua?_t=ZS-8utccs5EjmK&_r=1

Website https://www.backscoop.com

👉🏼 Follow Nicole Lee on:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠http://linkedin.com/in/nicoleethisisme⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠http://YouTube.com/@nicoleleethisisme⁠

Spotify:  ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/youneverknowwithnicolelee⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠http://instagram.com/nicoleleethisisme⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠http://tiktok.com/@nicoleleethisisme⁠⁠

Website: https://⁠www.youneverknow.co/⁠

🎬 Filmed at: Poddster Singapore

#youneverknow #podcast #women #business #entrepreneurship #startup #transformation #freedom #abundance #growth #finance #crypto #viral #empowerment #dreambig #motivation