Sea Group announced expectation-beating earnings in Q3, sending stock prices up by 10%. A key highlight? SPX Express.  Has Shopee’s in-house logistics arm finally caught up to J&T Express in parcel volume?  Join us as we dive into how Shopee’s investment in strengthening its in-house logistics is paying off, deepening its “moat” against rising e-commerce rivals such as TikTok Shop and Temu. But is this enough for Shopee to be invincible? (Probably not) We’ll also explore Shopee’s...

Trump returns to the White House, Mr Modi meets President Xi in Russia. Are businesses ready to survive a world of shifting alliances and tariff threats? Back by popular requests, we’re re-introducing our weekly recap format in this episode as we dive into the latest economic and political developments reshaping business strategies across borders. As the world watches the U.S. elections, many companies globally, especially cross-border businesses in Asia, are already making bold moves to...

(Only) after pouring $72 billion into Southeast Asia, venture capitalists are hitting the reset button in Southeast Asia?  Lightspeed Ventures' report, Southeast Asia: Resetting Expectations, has sparked discussions in our community groups for its honest take on the region's challenges and opportunities, with some calling it “finally an honest report on Southeast Asia.”  But what does it really mean to reset expectations for this region?  Tune into this latest episode as we dive into the...

Earlier in September, Meituan went live in Saudi Arabia under its global brand, Keeta.  This comes more than a year after Meituan entered its first overseas market, Hong Kong, where it quickly overtook established players like Foodpanda, becoming the market leader in order volume due to aggressive promotions and a focus on low Average Order Value (AOV) meals. Now, Meituan is entering Saudi Arabia, a promising market for food delivery but one that presents unique cultural and operational...

Wenheyou (文和友), a Chinese restaurant often dubbed the "Disneyland of Chinese cuisine", serves over 40,000 diners a day! The 6-story restaurant (located in Changsha, China) is meticulously designed to replicate the old Changsha street scene, complete with vintage items and tattered signboards. Through careful design and storytelling, Wenheyou transports visitors back in time, offering a nostalgic experience. Wenheyou has become a cultural icon, and a must visit for tourists, in Changsha. But...

In the third and final part of our conversation with Blake Larson and Alexander Le, the three ex-rocket alumni turned founders reflect on life after Rocket Internet, the challenges they faced during international expansion, and the lessons learned from managing teams across different cultural backgrounds. Tune in as they discuss their strategies for balancing work-life demands, and how they’ve chosen their own paths in both business and life. The discussion goes beyond business, exploring...

In the second part of our conversation with Blake Larson and Alexander Le, the three ex-Rocket Internet Alumni dive deeper into the fragmented Southeast Asian tech ecosystem, reflecting on how it has evolved since the days of Rocket Internet.  They share their firsthand insights on navigating the fragmented markets in the region and the lessons they've learned from their expansive global experiences. The second part of this series highlights: Rocket Internet’s impact on tech development...

In this episode of the Impulso podcast, Jianggan Li is joined by Blake Larson, Ex-Global Managing Director at Lalamove, and Alexander Le, Ex-Managing director at Rocket Internet. Tune in as the three former Rocket Internet pioneers turned founders share their candid reflections on leadership, personal fulfilment, and their journey through the highs and lows of the startup world. In the first part of this series, they dive into: What it takes to be a good founder; The lonely road of...

In this episode of the Impulso Podcast, we leave the studio behind for Can Gio, a district set to become a major economic hub with a $15 billion investment. Joined by two industry leaders from Metub—Hung Tran, the COO, and Nhi Nguyen, the Director of Strategy and Planning—we dive deep into the rapidly evolving landscape of Vietnam's digital economy, the growth of e-commerce, live commerce, and the developments shaping Ho Chi Minh City and beyond.  We discuss the key drivers behind...

ESG, GSG, and carbon accounting are more than just buzzwords—they are key factors in the transformation of modern businesses. In this episode of the Impulso Podcast, we dive deep into the intricacies of carbon accounting and its impact on businesses with Sam Hon, founder and CEO of CREX, and Shaolin Zheng, co-founder and CTO at NextBillion.ai.  Key highlights from this episode:  Carbon accounting is not just an environmental obligation but a tool for improving business efficiency;  ...

Starbucks has replaced CEO Laxman Narasimhan with Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol, in hopes that he can help revive Starbucks fading sales.  Since the beginning, Starbucks has had an interesting and evolving history of CEOs. What does this new leadership change mean for Starbucks? Is new leadership all that is needed for Starbucks to turn the tide? Tune in to the latest episode of the Impulso podcast as we explore Starbucks’ leadership history, the challenges the company is currently facing, and...

Chagee has returned in Singapore (after leaving earlier this year). Their grand opening drew massive crowds, with queues stretching for over an hour. We did a poll on our WeChat, and more than 50% of respondents believe that Chagee will dominate the market. But what makes Chagee stand out in a crowded field of competitors? Tune in to the latest episode of the Impulso podcast as we delve into Chagee’s business model, compare it to its competitors, explore the rise of Chinese F&B brands...

Luckin Coffee has opened its 20,000th store, in Beijing! This comes as no surprise as Luckin has been bold in its expansion, opening almost 1,000 every month in Q4 2023.  But how did Luckin achieve this incredible growth? Are they trying out a new business model in their 20,000th store? Tune in to the latest episode of the Impulso podcast as we dive into the data-driven strategies behind Luckin's success. Featured materials:  Momentum Works Immersions: F&B innovations Coffee in...

When Delivery Hero acquired Baemin in 2021, the company was financially strong. However, Baemin is now struggling, losing market share to Coupang Eats and dealing with the resignation of its CEO, Lee Gyuk Hwan. What does this mean for Baemin’s parent company, Delivery Hero, which relies on Baemin to subsidise other loss-making markets? Baemin is not the only platform under Delivery Hero facing intense competition. The company’s global portfolio, including operations in the Middle East,...

In this latest episode, we're sharing exclusive snippets from our recent media briefing where we delve into the highlights of our newly released “Ecommerce in Southeast Asia 2024” report.  Some key highlights: Total GMV of Southeast Asia’s 8 leading ecommerce platforms rose to US$114.6 billion in 2023; TikTok Shop is rapidly catching up with established players like Shopee and Tokopedia; Temu's strategic entry into the region, and is Indonesia next? This episode offers a...

During a closed-door seller meeting in Shenzhen, China, Amazon announced it would open a dedicated section offering low-cost, unbranded items shipped directly from China. Reports from Chinese and international media see this as a major attempt by Amazon to counter the growth of Chinese rivals, especially Temu and SHEIN. However, scepticism still remains on the viability of this new initiative.On the latest episode of the Impulso Podcast by Momentum Works, we examine the details behind this...

GMV of Chinese ecommerce during 6.18 dropped for the first time in 8 years, according to data platform Syntun. This was quickly picked up by international media as the barometer of weak consumer confidence in China.  However, others quickly jumped in to challenge the data, suggesting that ecommerce sales actually grew. So who has the truth?  On the latest episode of the Impulso Podcast by Momentum Works, we examine numbers and other factors from different sources, giving you a clearer...

In the first half of 2023, 41% of tech investment in Southeast Asia went into digital financial services, nearly double the amount allocated to e-commerce. So, where has all the fintech funding gone? On the latest episode of the Impulso Podcast, we are joined by Gavin Tan, lawyer turned FinTech founder, as we delve into:  Recent trends in fintech, from e-wallets to buy now pay later; Impact of real-time payments infrastructure;  How this has challenged the traditional e-wallet...

Last week, Temu joined its competitors - Shopee, Aliexpress, and SHEIN - in Brazil, marking its presence in 70 countries.  This expansion comes despite recent legislation imposing a 20% additional tax on cross-border e-commerce parcels below $50 in value (in addition to the 17% ICMS already charged). What makes Brazil such a hot market for so many cross-border e-commerce companies? And what unique challenges do they face operating in Brazil? Tune in as we delve into Temu’s recent entry...

What makes a top live commerce host or KOL (Key Opinion Leader)? Is it their appearance, emotional intelligence, talent, or training? Or are these just the bare minimum requirements? Our team visited the top three Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs) in China last week (as part of our MW Immersion: Live Commerce), uncovering the secrets behind their success in such a competitive landscape. With millions of aspiring KOLs, how does one truly stand out and become the best of the best? Tune in...

Last week, both Sea Group and Grab released their Q1 2024 results, and the market responded positively - is tech in Southeast Asia recovering? Grab reported strong Q1 results, but investors are still curious: will Grab become profitable? Over the past few quarters, the management team at Grab has consistently focused on relentless execution and continuous operational improvement. It will be interesting to see how Grab balances its path to profitability and growth (given its penetration in...

In the latest episode of the Impulso podcast, we are joined by special guest Shawn Teow (who makes his podcast debut), diving deep into live commerce in Southeast Asia.   Shawn, the co-founder and former COO of Upmesh, now leads his new venture, Hitwave, which aims to connect live sellers in SEA with cross-border brands. With over five years of experience in live commerce in Southeast Asia, he has a wealth of insights to share.    Tune in as Shawn discusses the current state of live commerce...

Both Starbucks and Luckin Coffee recently unveiled their Q1 2024 earnings, eliciting varied market responses.   In China, Starbucks faced a challenging quarter with comparable store sales declining by 11%, attributed to an 8% drop in average ticket sales. Meanwhile, Luckin has stayed committed to rapid expansion, opening over 2,000 stores in Q1, albeit at a slower pace than usual. Who is winning in China's competitive coffee scene?   Tune in as we delve into the latest results of these two...

From leveraging top Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) like Luo Yonghao at BeFriends, to signing up celebrities at YoWant, MCNs are employing various strategies to stand out. But it's not just about the hosts; MCNs are also exploring other diverse approaches, from studios to real-store experiences, to differentiate themselves and stay competitive.   And in this dynamic industry, every detail matters, from the critical role of hosts in driving sales to the meticulous operational details to the...