A make-or-break moment for startup-government lockdown ties

The Philippines, in contrast, is still in the early stages of such relationships. While tie-ups have been forged with the government in the past, startups have rarely participated in paid public projects. Appointment of startup founders to government cabinet posts is also unheard of. “Compared to Indonesia, the Philippines government is still some ways off … Read more

Digital-Lifestyle Connectivity Forces Markets To Shift

But rent is only one part of the equation. The other is staff costs, which can be as much as rent in some cases. While some are turning to layoffs, a Bengaluru-based brand—which runs a quick-service restaurant and a cloud kitchen—has cut salaries by at least 30-40% for its 19 employees, said the brand’s head … Read more

The New Math for India’s $50 Billion Restaurant Industry & 2019 Trends

Restaurants will also have to actively practice social distancing. That means fewer tables in the same restaurant, which makes balancing revenue and costs tricky. The Delhi outlet of SodaBottleOpenerWala, a popular Parsi food chain, has a 48-seater licence. If social distancing cuts seating in half, there is no point in reopening, said Manu Chandra, chef-partner … Read more

Why there’s a post-Covid allure to Malaysian social enterprises

“It is not easy for impact investors coming from outside, unless they are able to come up with a unique bottom-up approach,” he adds. But unlike other Southeast Asian nations, Malaysia has received less attention from impact investors. Out of US$904 million deployed by private impact investors across the region between 2007 and 2017, Indonesia, … Read more

16 Inspiring Ways To Leveraging Malaysia’s Digital Tax

The accreditation would also allow eligible social enterprises to provide tax deduction receipts to people—be it individuals or companies—who’ve donated to them. This would, in turn, encourage donation. The accredited enterprises also get added to the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives’ (MEDAC) public directory, enhancing their visibility. “I would say the SE ecosystem is … Read more

The Lowdown on Asia’s Growing Phenomenon for Growth Funds & How This Global Trend is Setting New Standards for VC Firms in the Region

A second EV Growth fund is likely to be announced before the end of the year, a senior venture capital executive aware of the plan told us anonymously because they did not want to be seen discussing another firm’s business. East Ventures declined to comment on its plans for EV Growth. The firm has been … Read more

How can we expect them to impact southeast asian startups and why is this good for ecosystem-builders?

Instead, it aims to fill the gap with its own identity, one that borrows heavily from its anchoring limited partner, Korean asset management firm Hanwha. A backer of Golden Gate Venture’s previous funds, Hanwha is said to have provided nearly all of the initial $80 million commitment gathered for the fund last year. Hanwha’s unusually … Read more

The 6 Growth Funds to Watch for Southeast Asian Startups in the New Decade + Resources about VCs & Angels

The number of Series C and D deals—typical growth-fund investments—rose by three deals year-on-year to hit 19 in the first half of 2019. However, the overall amount raised dropped by $100 million to $600 million. Total funding for Series B deals, meanwhile, increased by 40% over the same period. “For aspiring unicorns (startups worth $1 … Read more

The 5 types of Accommodations for Airbnb Rentals

Jijesh Ramachandran, founder of Iksha, the property management firm that manages Captains Quarters, says that with zero revenues, managing these properties has become a pain. Ramachandran, after all, pays for the maintenance of these luxury properties—which can be as high as Rs 50,000-Rs 60,000 ($650.07-$780.08) per month—in addition to a fixed monthly rent to the … Read more