The AI arms race is heating up, and big tech giants have a new weapon: the 'acqui-hire 2.0.' Instead of buying companies, they are poaching entire teams of key talent, often leaving behind a 'shell of a company' and disrupting the startup ecosystem.

Bikesh Lakhmichand, CEO of 1337 Ventures, joins us to dissect this complex and aggressive new trend. He explains the strategic motivations behind these deals, the potential implications for investors and employees, and the surprising ripple effects that are creating new opportunities for startups in Southeast Asia.

We discuss:

• The "acqui-hire 2.0" playbook and why it's happening now.

• The fallout for startups when key talent is poached by big tech.

• Why winning the loyalty of developers is the real prize in the AI war.

• The positive ripple effect: how talent wars are creating new local ventures.

• Why Malaysian companies should focus on vertical AI, not foundational models.

  For founders, VCs, and tech leaders, this breakdowns the power dynamics, risks, and opportunities in the global AI talent wars.