The Future of Living: Eat, Live, Work, Sleep

By Douglas Gan

In 2018, when I founded GBCI Ventures, I wasn't just looking to invest in smart city technologies—I was looking to solve a fundamental problem I felt in my own life. As an entrepreneur running multiple ventures across Asia, I found myself constantly fragmented. My work was in one place, my home in another, and my community scattered across the city. I realized that the traditional urban model—segregated zoning for residential, commercial, and industrial use—was broken. It was inefficient, isolating, and ultimately, unsustainable.

This realization birthed my vision for the "Eat, Live, Work, Sleep" concept: a holistic approach to urban living where these four pillars of existence are not just co-located, but deeply integrated into a seamless ecosystem.

The Genesis: From Fragmentation to Integration

My journey to this insight began long before GBCI. Back in 2008, when I founded ShowNearby, a location-based mobile app, I saw firsthand how people navigated their cities. They were constantly searching for connection—the nearest restaurant, the closest service, the most convenient meeting spot. We became one of the top 3 apps in the world in 2010 because we solved a simple problem: "Where can I find what I need, right now?"

But as I moved from software to smart cities, I realized that "finding" wasn't enough. We needed to stop searching and start living.

The "Eat, Live, Work, Sleep" philosophy is about removing the friction of distance. It's about designing spaces where a founder can wake up, grab a healthy breakfast from a community garden, walk five minutes to a co-working space, and end the day with a social event—all within the same development.

The Obsession with Work-Life Integration

This concept isn't just about convenience; it's about the intense dedication required to build something world-changing. I've always believed that in the early stages of a startup, work-life balance is a myth. What you need is work-life integration.

I am not alone in this belief. The most transformative founders of our time understand that exceptional results require exceptional commitment.

Jack Ma on the "996" Culture

Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, famously defended the "996" work schedule (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week). He said:

"I personally think that being able to work 996 is a huge blessing ... Let me ask everyone, if you don’t put out more time and energy than others, how can you achieve the success you want? ... Compared to them, up to this day, I still feel lucky, I don’t regret (working 12 hour days), I would never change this part of me."

For Ma, it wasn't about oppression; it was about passion. If you love what you do, the line between "work" and "life" blurs.

Elon Musk on Changing the World

Elon Musk, who simultaneously runs Tesla, SpaceX, and X, puts it even more bluntly:

"Nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week."

Musk has spoken openly about working 80 to 100 hours a week during critical production ramps. While this level of intensity isn't sustainable forever, it is often the price of admission for breaking through the atmosphere—literally and metaphorically.

The Growth Mechanic: How Integration Scales Startups

You might ask, "How does living in the same place help me grow my user base from 0 to a lot?" The answer lies in the density of serendipity.

In a traditional setup, you schedule meetings. In an integrated environment, you encounter opportunities.

Case Study: The "Village" Effect

When we started building smart city solutions, we looked at data from innovation hubs like Silicon Valley and Shenzhen. The most successful startups didn't grow in isolation; they grew in clusters.

Network Velocity: In an integrated living environment, the time between having an idea and validating it with a potential user is practically zero. You can test a prototype at lunch with your neighbors, who are also your target market.
Resource Fluidity: When you live where you work, resources—talent, capital, advice—flow more freely. I've seen deals closed in elevators and partnerships formed in gym locker rooms.
Retention & Burnout: For early-stage teams, burnout is the enemy. Integrated living supports the whole human. When your team doesn't have to commute 2 hours a day, that energy goes back into the product—and into their own well-being.

Implementing the Vision: GBCI Ventures

At GBCI Ventures, we put $100 million into a smart city fund not just to buy tech, but to build this lifestyle. We invested in AI, robotics, and big data to create the "operating system" for these integrated spaces.

For example, we looked at how AI-driven building management could personalize the environment. Imagine a home that knows when you're stressed and adjusts the lighting, or a workspace that connects you with a mentor nearby who has the exact expertise you need.

The Path Forward

The future isn't about building taller skyscrapers; it's about building tighter communities. It's about returning to the village model, but powered by 21st-century technology.

For the aspiring entrepreneur, my advice is this: Don't just build a product; build a habitat. Surround yourself with your users, your mentors, and your team. When you eat, live, work, and sleep in the same ecosystem, you don't just grow a company—you cultivate a movement.