How BNPL has unleashed the potential of the emerging Asian consumer

11 November 2021 | 3pm SGT

The idea

For many of South Asia’s biggest tech companies, buy now pay later (BNPL) services have become a gateway to reaching the unbanked and cementing their place in consumers’ wallets.

On November 11, 2021, DealStreet Asia curated a 60-minute panel-led session on the BNPL phenomenon in South Asia. 

This segment has registered massive growth in the region; with Indonesia’s Akulaku planning an IPO next year and 3 deals in August in Vietnam alone, per reports from DealstreetAsia. Earlier this year, Pine Labs acquired Southeast Asian startup Fave for $45 million as it expands its offering in this region. Grab’s ambitions for this segment will play a big role in investors’ appetite for its upcoming IPO. 
 
Anchored by Grab Financial Group’s Managing Director, Head of GrabPay & GrabRewards, Chris Yeo the webinar examined the factors driving the growth of BNPL; the reasons likely to contribute to its continued expansion; its role in financial inclusivity across the region and how to mitigate the risk factors associated with the payment model.   
 
The panel included Dheeraj Chowdhry, Chief Business Officer, South East Asia of PineLabs, a company in the BNPL space valued at $3 billion after its most recent fundraise; as well as analyst Angus Mackintosh, Founder of CrossASEAN Research, Insight Provider on Smartkarma.   
 
The discussion was moderated by Joji Thomas Philip, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of DealStreetAsia.

Speakers

Dheeraj Chowdhry

Chief Business Officer, South East Asia
PineLabs

Chris Yeo

Managing Director, Head of GrabPay & GrabRewards
Grab Financial Group

Angus Mackintosh

Founder of CrossASEAN Research, Insight Provider on Smartkarma

Dheeraj Chowdhry

Chief Business Officer, Southeast Asia
Pine Labs

Joji Thomas Philip

Founder & Editor-in-Chief
DealStreetAsia (moderator)

Webinar sponsor

Past Webinars

Our attendees

Contact Us

Wilfred Wong

wilfred@dealstreetasia.com

+65 9159 2337

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.