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Ecosystem Roundup: TikTok Shop is now a key e-commerce player in SEA | Lhoopa raises US$80M | Goldman Sachs targets US$2B PE fund for Asia

Jakarta downtown

Dear reader,

In a striking development, TikTok Shop has surged past Tokopedia to become Southeast Asia’s second-largest e-commerce platform in 2023, as reported by Momentum Works.

Shopee continues to lead with a formidable GMV of US$55.1 billion, capturing a 48% market share.

TikTok Shop’s annual GMV skyrocketed to US$16.3 billion, placing it on par with Lazada and Tokopedia. This leap is accentuated by its significant workforce expansion, which contrasts with the workforce reductions seen at Shopee, Lazada, and Tokopedia between 2022 and 2024.

The report, part of ‘The Ecommerce in Southeast Asia 2024’, reveals the region’s e-commerce market has grown impressively, achieving a total GMV of US$114.6 billion in 2023.

Indonesia remains the largest market, despite a slower growth rate, while Vietnam and Thailand exhibit the fastest growth. Additionally, Temu’s entry into the Southeast Asian market underscores the region’s growing attractiveness.

Key trends such as live commerce, generative AI, and evolving logistics are reshaping the landscape. Momentum Works CEO Jianggan Li highlights the dynamic and transformative nature of Southeast Asia’s e-commerce, driven by innovation and adaptation, fostering continuous growth and opportunities.

Sainul,
Editor.

NEWS

TikTok Shop beats Tokopedia to become SEA’s second-largest e-commerce platform
While Shopee, Lazada, and Tokopedia all reduced their workforce between 2022 and 2024, TikTok Shop has expanded its workforce to over 8,000 employees since December 2021.

Goldman Sachs targets US$2B for first Asia-focused PE fund: Sources
The fund will focus primarily on investment opportunities in Japan, with about half its capital expected to be allocated there; India, South Korea, and Australia will also be key markets for the fund.

Lhoopa raises US$80M to provide affordable housing in emerging markets
The investors include IFC, Wavemaker Partners, Pavilion Capital, ADB, and Lendable; Lhoopa has sold over 2,500 affordable houses in over 58 cities in the Philippines and aims to provide over 15,000 more over the next three years.

Blockchain-powered fintech firm Partior hits first close of US$60M round
The investors include Peak XV Partners, Valor Capital Group, and Temasek; Partior’s unified ledger enables banks and payment service providers to join its network and access real-time, cross-border, multi-currency clearing and settlement.

D3 Labs, Tether to leverage blockchain to transform Indonesia’s fintech industry
This D3 Labs-Tether partnership aims to assess the deployment of a cutting-edge blockchain-based asset management platform and Web3 ecosystem.

Niv Della closes US$2M round to expand its D2C beauty, skincare brands in Philippines
The investors are DSG Consumer Partners and Foxmont Capital Partners; Niv Della’s Colourette and Fresh Formula brands are suited for the Filipino lifestyle and skin tones and Philiipines’s hot and humid climate.

TikTok explores local services potential in Southeast Asia
According to a recent job posting on the company’s official careers website, its venture into services aims to “make the daily life experience richer, more unique and more innovative.”

Trump’s VP candidate JD Vance has long ties to Valley, and was a VC himself
Vance spent years as a venture capitalist before leaving the industry when elected to the US Senate in 2022; He was a principal at Mithril Capital, a fund co-founded by Peter Thiel and Ajay Royan.

Elon Musk confirms Tesla ‘robotaxi’ event delayed due to design change
Musk first teased the robotaxi event in April, on the same day that Reuters reported the company was shelving plans for a new vehicle built on a next-generation platform that would cost around US$25K; Musk denied that report on X.

Bitcoin soars to two-week high after Trump attack
Bitcoin rose 8.6% to US$62,508, touching a two-week high of US$62,698 earlier in the session, taking its year-to-date gains to 47%; Ether was also up 6.8%% at US$3,322.

FEATURES & INTERVIEWS

From mining engineer to travel tech visionary: Darryl Han transforms trip discovery
Han transitioned from Australia’s mining industry to co-founding LFG, driven by his global experience and passion for tech innovation.

Launching Indonesia’s first AI incubator, DiscoveryShift bridges corporate-startup collaboration
In this interview, Discovery/Shift Managing Partner Rama Mamuaya also shares his insights about Indonesia and AI adoption.

Echelon X: Unveiling VC 2.0 or navigating the chaos? Decoding the future of SEA venture capital in 2024
The Echelon X panel discussion highlighted the potential of early-stage startups, regional resilience, and diversification opportunities.

Deemples, the ‘Uber for Golfers’, aims to make tee times effortless in Southeast Asia
Deemples facilitates connections among golfers to ensure that a game can always be arranged regardless of individual schedules.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Can free-to-play models ignite new player interest in Web3 gaming?
As opposed to only playing for fun, Web3 gaming via P2E takes it one step further through rewards that can be converted into local currency.

Insurtech shines amidst overall funding decline in Indonesia in H1
Insurtech startups in Indonesia secured US$47M in H1 2024 compared to US$7.5M in H1 2023, as per a Tracxn report; Fintech, insurtech and enterprise applications emerged as the top-performing sectors in H1 2024.

Why the right framework creates impactful apps
While this leap to a new framework might seem daunting at first, this article explores why it can be worth making that change.

Thailand’s startup ecosystem in 2024: Fewer funding announcements, but promising opportunities ahead
Between January and May 2024, we covered five funding announcements from startups in Thailand from various stages and verticals.

Embracing AI’s promise: Navigating the future of marketing
In an era where AI is reshaping the marketing industry, we explore how marketers, particularly in Singapore, can unlock AI’s potential.

How these trio grew BuyMed into a B2B healthtech brand with a reach in 12K+ townships in Vietnam
BuyMed, which recently raised US$51.5M in Series B funding, says it processes over 5K orders daily and reaches 12K+ townships across Vietnam.

Fintech Nation integrates thought leadership and community into its startup support initiatives
This year, Fintech Nation wants to invest in more companies, doubling last year’s number of five companies.

Beyond Singapore and Indonesia, SEA startups are working their way out of global crises
Singapore and Indonesia continue to top startup funding list despite ongoing slowdown. What does this mean for the rest?

Moosa Genetics boosts beef production in Indonesia through DNA tech, farmer support
Moosa Genetics enhances Indonesia’s cattle industry with advanced biotech, improving meat yield, quality, and sustainability for farmers.

‘Arbor envisions the rise of Generative Media as the 4th wave of media transformation’
Arbor’s expansion into Southeast Asia is motivated by the region’s rapid digital adoption and growing demand for reliable news.

Book Excerpt: In this digital age, customer journey as we know it may no longer exist
In his upcoming new book, JC Sum stresses why changes are inevitable –and that they do not discriminate between small or big firms.

How Sipher won high-profile VCs’ hearts even before its blockchain games hit the market
Unlike most blockchain games, Sipher not only aims to onboard the crypto- and NFT-savvy crowd but to introduce it to the traditional gaming community.

Finding the right co-founder involves having tough conversations–and a great sense of humour
While there is always an option to go solo, there are also many good reasons to for you to have a co-founder.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP ARTICLES

What entrepreneurs should know about delivery management in 2024
In 2024, delivery management must be optimized as much as possible, even for entrepreneurs in small-scale enterprises.

Do you need to rethink your startup fundraising strategy?
Consider how much of your startup’s 2024 fundraising objectives you’ve reached; if you’re not ahead, there’s still time to catch up.

Weathering Asia’s economic storm with the help of Tokenised RWAs
As a capital access augmentation solution, tokenised RWAs help make traditionally illiquid assets easier to convert to cash or cash equivalents.

The future of Gen Alpha in the workplace, a primer for business leaders
As business leaders, we must prepare for these shifts and harness Gen Alpha’s potential to drive future progress and success.

Funding the future: A guide for social entrepreneurs
Raising funds for your social enterprise is challenging for both experienced and first-time founders, yet crucial for scaling quickly.

Fintech Nation integrates thought leadership and community into its startup support initiatives
This year, Fintech Nation wants to invest in more companies, doubling last year’s number of five companies.

The post Ecosystem Roundup: TikTok Shop is now a key e-commerce player in SEA | Lhoopa raises US$80M | Goldman Sachs targets US$2B PE fund for Asia appeared first on e27.