Ascend to Bali

The Bali Insider

Honest, ground-level writing about building a business and a life in Bali. From someone who's been here, hosted 100+ events, and made every mistake first.

Featured

Personal Story · 12 min read

How I Rebuilt Everything in Bali After Losing It All

Marina Jaubert's full story — the financial scam, the rebuild, and what she discovered about community, trust, and what it actually means to lead. The piece that started everything.

Read the story →
Community· 7 min

Why Bali Has Become the World's Most Interesting Place to Build a Business

The founder community in Bali is unlike anything else in the world. Here's what makes it different — and why serious entrepreneurs are choosing it over Lisbon, Chiang Mai, and Dubai.

Personal Story· 9 min

Dubai to Bali: What I Wish I Knew Before Making the Move

The unfiltered truth about moving from Dubai to Bali — what the first 3 months really look like, the financial scam, the rebuild, and what I'd do differently.

Events· 8 min

The 8 Best Networking Events in Bali for Founders in 2026

A curated, honest guide to the best founder and entrepreneur events in Bali — from Canggu masterminds to Uluwatu retreats. What's worth attending and what to skip.

Real Estate· 8 min

Is 2026 the Year to Buy Property in Bali? What Founders Are Actually Doing

A ground-level view of Bali real estate in 2026 — what's happening in Canggu vs Uluwatu, what foreign ownership really means, and what the founders in my network are actually doing.

Community· 6 min

Why the Most Connected Founders I Know Don't Do Networking — They Build Rooms

There's a difference between collecting contacts and building rooms. The founders who lead their industries understand this — and it changes how they move through the world.

Business· 7 min

How International Coaches Are Launching in Bali (And What Most Get Wrong)

What a successful Bali launch actually looks like — and the three mistakes most visiting coaches and speakers make before they even land. Including what Ken Honda did differently.

Lifestyle· 6 min

Canggu vs Uluwatu: Where Should You Base Yourself in Bali?

Canggu and Uluwatu are two completely different worlds — different energy, different community, different lifestyle. Here's how to choose based on where you are in your journey.

Lifestyle· 8 min

The Real Cost of Living in Bali as a Founder in 2026

The real numbers: what it costs to live well in Bali in 2026 — villa, food, coworking, transport, memberships, and the expenses people forget to budget for.

Events· 7 min

What I Learned Producing 50 Events in Bali

What 50+ events in Bali taught me about community, curation, and why the room matters more than the topic. Lessons for anyone building in public.

Lifestyle· 6 min

5 Bali Retreats Worth Attending as a Founder This Year

A curated shortlist of the Bali retreats worth your time and money as a founder in 2026. What to look for, what to avoid, and how to choose.

Community· 7 min

The Bali Founder's Rolodex: Who You Actually Need to Know

The 7 types of people you need to know in Bali — and how to find them. From the connectors to the builders, the investors to the operators. The network behind the network.

The Bali Insider on Substack

Read it here. Get it first on Substack.

New articles, Bali intel, event access, and what Marina's seeing on the ground — delivered to your inbox before it hits anywhere else.

Subscribe on Substack →Get the Bali Guide