Speak Asia's bank accounts were frozen in late May, halting all payments to members who earned commissions from recruiting and survey completion. Nearly two months later, no member has received payment, amid ongoing regulatory challenges facing the company.
Despite the recruitment-driven structure of Speak Asia's compensation plan, some members continue to support the company. They dismiss concerns about its business model and the regulatory scrutiny it has attracted.
Speak Asia itself appears to underestimate its member base, as evidenced by its recent communications. Following a press release last week that pushed an "us vs. them" narrative without addressing business model concerns, the company released a promotional video.
The eleven-minute video, titled "The Torchbearer," opens with music strikingly similar to the Star Wars theme. This is not the first time Speak Asia has used such appropriations. The video then compares Speak Asia's operations to historical advancements like the steam engine, air travel, and space exploration.
The Hindi-language video, while not explicitly translated, conveys a clear message. After equating its business model with major 20th-century technological leaps, Speak Asia transitions into a Bollywood-style dramatic segment. The company depicts itself as an innovator, climbing a "pole of success."
The video uses a Snakes & Ladders board game analogy for business success. Upon reaching square 96, Speak Asia's representation encounters a "snake." This snake symbolizes the company's critics, the Indian government, and the regulatory authorities investigating its activities.
Speak Asia's video portrays its "hero" being attacked by "evil-looking negatives." This visual narrative attempts to frame the regulatory investigations as an external assault on the company's progress.