Google talks about finding the next “billion” users – is it the case that a significant part of the next billion users will be served and acquired indirectly via the millions of MSME merchants embedded in the emerging markets of Southeast Asia?

In this episode, we explore:

• The shift to B2B Super Apps – BukuKas is an app for merchants digitising their bookkeeping and is a gateway to electronic financial services, BukuWarung is arguably in a similar space. Moka purchased by GoJek gave them an enlarged presence into merchants and Fave has a tie-up with Grab and a strategic investment from the largest Indian non-bank merchant network Pine Labs
• Size of the “Merchant Enterprise segment” – MSMEs make up the bulk of the economy, not the major conglomerates
• Economics around merchants – Are revenue models different, better even? What is the path to profitability?

Soundbites

Nigel Lee – “If it’s a B2B model, I get to go and play golf with people.”

Joel Neoh – “Financials: How big, how long, how fast and strategic do we compete or cooperate “