Deep Dive: How Asian VCs are giving the recession a run for its money
Startup Snapshot
It’s undeniable – the world is in recession. Although it took longer for the downturn to hit Asia, startups and venture capitalists have been preparing for it for months. On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia emerging tech editor Collin Furtado discusses his insights from the ongoing article series , where he talks to the region’s top investors about how they’re tackling the economic slump. Featured reporter: , Tech in Asia’s emerging tech editor based in Bangalore, India Essential reading:
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A Startup's Guide to Remote Talent (Trailer)
Startup Snapshot
Once upon a time, all it took to build a workforce was a couple of ads in the classified section of the local newspaper. But with a global shift to remote working, companies have to consider a plethora of factors when hiring talent: Which markets should I hire from? How can I stand out from other hiring companies? What can I do to make sure the talent I bring onboard stays? In this four-episode podcast series, ’s Charles Ferguson and Tech in Asia Studios’ Nathaniel Fetalvero walk listeners through the new age of hiring and how startups can navigate today’s talent economy. This is a...
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Deep Dive: Hodlnaut’s mismanagement and lies
Startup Snapshot
At the start of 2022, crypto firm Hodlnaut had the approval of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and close to US$1 billion in assets under management. Today, the Singapore-based company has halted its operations, faces lawsuits over allegations of dishonesty, and is being probed by the city-state’s police force. On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia journalist Scott Shuey discusses how the collapse of other crypto firms sparked Hodlnaut’s downfall, the alleged mismanagement and lies that exacerbated the situation, and what’s in store for the company’s future....
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Vibe Check: Mental Health in the Startup World (Trailer)
Startup Snapshot
Vibe Check: Mental Health in the Startup World is a Tech in Asia podcast where writer and editor Winston Zhang speaks to startup leaders and mental health professionals to see what he can learn from them when it comes to managing his mental well-being. Listen to Vibe Check: Mental Health in the Startup World on your podcast platform of choice to catch weekly episodes of this limited series throughout the month of October. Or visit the Tech in Asia website to access full episodes:
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Deep Dive: PayMongo’s precarious predicament
Startup Snapshot
Once a rising fintech company that drew in investors such as Y Combinator and Stripe, Philippines-based PayMongo now finds itself in a precarious position. Allegations of questionable spending and employee harassment from senior leaders cropped up a few months ago, leading Francis Plaza, the startup’s CEO, to go on voluntary leave. What happened at PayMongo? And what can other fast-growing companies do to avoid the same fate? On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia journalist Melissa Goh discusses the events that led the company to its current state, how the incidents have...
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Deep Dive: How Animoca Brands became a blockchain gaming juggernaut
Startup Snapshot
Animoca Brands is a name that is practically synonymous with the blockchain scene, with news of its acquisitions, fundraising, and expansions regularly hitting the news. But the Web3 empire’s thrilling crypto success was sparked in a manner that is less grand than its current stature. Though it’s now valued at US$5 billion, it was actually delisted from the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in 2020. How did the blockchain gaming juggernaut make such a stunning turnaround? On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia journalist Deepti Sri discusses the company’s rise to prominence and...
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Deep Dive: Does the rise of digibanks threaten Indonesia’s online lending industry?
Startup Snapshot
As digital banking rises to prominence in Indonesia, tech companies from various sectors have been dipping their toes in the game, partnering with and sometimes even acquiring digibanks. Leveraging their greater and easier access to capital, online and peer-to-peer lenders have also joined the fray. However, some question whether this move toward the digital banking space might spell doom for the lending scene. Will digibanks soon render online lenders obsolete? Or is there room for coexistence in the future? On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia journalist Budi...
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Deep Dive: How GoTo’s IPO went down
Startup Snapshot
GoTo Group, the new entity formed through the Gojek-Tokopedia merger last year, listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange this month. While the company’s shares quickly soared past its initial offering price, it also fell just as quickly in a manner reminiscent of the recent public listings of other Southeast Asian firms such as Bukalapak and Grab. Is this just how Southeast Asian tech stocks perform on the public markets? On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia journalists Ardi Wirdana and Aditya Hadi Pratama discuss GoTo’s IPO and what its performance might mean for the...
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Deep Dive: The plight of Indonesia’s UangTeman
Startup Snapshot
Indonesian online lender UangTeman has had a tough few years. Its name has been in and out of headlines since 2018, with stories either focusing on the company’s financial troubles or its apparent recovery. But what’s at the core of UangTeman’s troubles? On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia journalist Putra Muskita discusses the embattled online lender’s current plight and whether it can pull itself back from the brink of collapse. Featured reporters: , a Tech in Asia journalist based in Jakarta Essential reading:
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Deep Dive: Asia’s crypto fever
Startup Snapshot
As blockchain-related projects gather steam across Asia, the region’s countries are adopting crypto in unique ways. While Vietnam’s strong gaming culture has driven its crypto boom, India’s NFT gold rush has been powered by Bollywood film stars. However, regulation is still a tough nut to crack across the region. In this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia’s Thu Huong Le, Nikita Puri, and Melissa Goh discuss how countries across Asia are navigating the world of crypto. Featured reporters: , a Tech in Asia journalist based in Vietnam , a Tech in...
info_outlineIt wasn’t too long ago that in India, Kashmiri apparel sellers carrying large, red-checked bed sheets full of handmade embroidered shawls, dress materials, and stoles would spend their days knocking on door after door, trying to sell their wares to people in the neighborhood.
These sellers took a direct-to-consumer (D2C) approach to business, doing away with middlemen by hawking their merchandise to customers themselves.
That same business model has evolved, and it’s been seeing a boom in investments in India. Consumer brands are raking in hundreds of millions of dollars from prominent venture capital firms like Sequoia and Temasek. However, there are some key differences between today’s D2C businesses and the door-to-door sellers of yesteryears.
On this episode of Deep Dive, Tech in Asia’s Samreen Ahmad discusses the emergence of India’s D2C decade, the sheer potential within the sector, and the hurdles that players in the scene may face in the future.
More information on today’s episode here: https://www.techinasia.com/deep-dive-indias-d2c-boom
Featured reporter:
- Samreen Ahmad, a Tech in Asia journalist based in India
Essential reading:
- The decade of D2C has just begun in India
- In Indonesia, a golden age of VC-backed consumer brands may be imminent
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