In our 100th episode of Impulso Podcast, we unpack China’s milestone of delivering 150 Billion parcels in just one year - that’s enough parcels to fill up 30 million football fields!

Tune in as we break down the numbers, explore the logistics behind this scale, and discuss:

• How goods sold at just ¥9.9 (with free shipping!) can still turn a profit

• Automation vs. human efficiency in handling millions of parcels daily

• Our first-hand observations from visit to one of China’s busiest logistics hubs

• The story of the 150 billionth parcel

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights into the trends shaping the consumer tech ecosystem. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes!

Chapters:

00:30:00: China sets new record: 150B parcels sent a year?!

00:03:30 Peak daily number of parcels delivered on just a random Tuesday?

00:06:45 11.11 hauls

00:08:20 Are Chinese brands profitable after selling goods at such low prices?

00:12:15 Logistics facility sends out 4 millions parcels a day

00:18:20 What was the 150B parcel?

Building on our discussion of Sea Groups Q3 earnings, this week we unpack Sea Group’s US$4.6B loan book, which has grown 30% QoQ while keeping non-performing loans low.

Tune in as we break down how Sea Money leverages Shopee’s customer data to assess credit risk, fueling growth for both its digital financial arm and Shopee, with BNPL services encouraging users to finance larger ticket items.

On the other hand, Grab’s loan book, although smaller—at just 10% of Sea’s loan book—has potential. While Grab’s user base skews more premium and its ride-hailing model sees fewer transactions than e-commerce, it’s steadily growing. With 41.9 million monthly transacting users and expanding services across income segments, Grab is creating new opportunities in digital finance.

Chapters:

00:00:37 SEAMoney’s US$4.6B loan book

00:04:00 How do tech players support lending?

00:06:20 SEA maintains a low non-performing loans (NPL)

00:12:28 Shopee Paylater boosts ecommerce growth

00:18:15 Does Grab’s financial services have potential?

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 latest pick-up lockers, and their potential on easing reverse logistics in the region and transforming the consumer experience.

Chapters:

00:00:10: Shopee’s expectation-beating Q3 earnings

00:01:30: SPX Express parcel volume on par with J&T?

00:05:45: J&T’s revenue per parcel is falling

00:09:40: Shopee is deepening its moat against competitors 00:14:00: Reverse logistics, the next step

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 adapt—with some even setting up shop in Paraguay to avoid potential tariffs.

We also discuss the evolving coffee landscape, including Luckin Coffee’s and Cotti Coffee’s ambitious expansion plans. Where does incumbent Starbucks stand amidst this intensifying competition? Tune in as we weigh in on operational differences, consumer behaviour, and brand strategies of coffee giants globally.

(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 evolving landscape of venture capital investment in Southeast Asia, unpacking why the region’s tech growth hasn’t fully met expectations, the unique role of conglomerates, and what this reset means for future investments and founders navigating these markets.

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 dynamics for Meituan compared to its previous markets. And unlike many Chinese tech companies going global, Meituan faces the challenge of being an operationally heavy business.

Will Tony Qiu, Head of International Business at Meituan and former lead of DiDi’s expansion in Latin America, be able to navigate these complexities?

Tune in to the latest episode of the Impulso Podcast as we explore Meituan's global expansion strategy, and what’s next for the food delivery giant.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:50 Is food in Hong Kong more expensive than Singapore?

5:58 Rise of two dish rice in Hong Kong

6:50 Meituan’s Keeta wins in Hong Kong?

11:00 What is rival Foodpanda doing?

12:15 Low AOV as a market entry strategy

14:18 Meituan’s expansion into Saudi Arabia

24:50 Why did Meituan’s share price rise?

Featured materials:

Meituan is entering Hong Kong, will it beat Foodpanda and Deliveroo there?, The Low Down

Meituan becomes top food delivery player in Hong Kong, The Low Down

Watch Out! KeeTa’s Rapid Rise in Hong Kong, measurable.ai

Total Restaurant Receipts and Restaurant Purchases, Hong Kong Government

McDonald’s to increase prices in Hong Kong by about 2.6% in new year, South China Morning Post

Will Meituan beat DeliveryHero in Saudi Arabia?, The Low Down

Meituan launches in Saudi Arabia, where next?, The Low Down

Should Meituan acquire Foodpanda?, The Low Down

In focus: food delivery platforms in Southeast Asia, Momentum Works

Picture Sources:

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3199243/two-dish-rice-cheap-fabulously-rich-and-hong-kong-icon-time-declare-it-part-citys-intangible

https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/lifehack-teaches-you-how-order-cai-fan-pro

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 how does it manage the unique operational challenges of running a 6-story restaurant serving tens of thousands of customers daily?

Tune into this episode of the Impulso podcast as we dive into the Disneyland of Chinese cuisine, Wenheyou.

The trend of experience-driven dining is just one of many innovative concepts emerging in China's fast-evolving and competitive F&B scene.

Join Momentum Works F&B innovation immersion to Changsha this November to see first-hand Wenheyou and other innovative F&B concepts, as well as best practices in operations and supply chain management.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:10 Changsha, the entertainment city of China

2:20 Wenheyou: Disneyland of Chinese cuisine

4:50 Chayan Yuese in Changsha

8:40 Product expansion in Wenheyou

12:05 Rise of Experience driven dining

19:45 How does Wenheyou manage 40,000 diners a day?

23:15 MW F&B immersion to Changsha

Featured materials:

Momentum Works Immersions: F&B innovations

Momentum Works: Transforming Frontline Industries

Video sources:

Disneyland Paris Welcomes Back The Magic With A Reopening Starting June 17 | Disney Parks

FULL Magic Happens Parade 2024 at Disneyland Park! - Disney 100 Years of Wonder Celebration

Frozen Themed Land & 2 Frozen Rides | World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland

BACK TO THE 80'S | A Vintage Restaurant Tour | Wenheyou, Changsha, Hunan

Guangzhou's Food Court on Steroids: Wenheyou Super

Old China in Wenheyou | Discover GuangzhouHaidilao Dance

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 cultural differences, leadership approaches, and the challenges of scaling operations across borders.

The final part of this series explores:

• Challenges of managing teams across different countries and cultures;

• “Coconut vs Peach” theory;

• Establishing company values across borders;

• Balancing ambition with reality, while staying true to personal and company values.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:00 Navigating cultural differences

4:30 EasyTaxi in Hong Kong

10:00 Balancing leadership in East and West

12:40 Coconut vs. peach theory

16:30 Motivating employees in a startup

20:40 Lessons from mistakes

24:50 Epilogue

Featured materials: E92: Impact of Rocket Internet in fragmented markets: conversation with Blake Larson & Alex Le (2/3), The Impulso Podcast