McKinsey says that consumers “vaulted” 5 years of digital adoption in just eight weeks recently. One of the undeniable trends here is social commerce. Social commerce is the facilitation of e-commerce transactions on social media platforms via communities and conversations. It often leverages digital influencers to build customer attraction, trust and loyalty.

Pinduoduo became the third-largest retailer in China via social commerce in just three years. Jingling, another superstar raised $100 million on its Series C last year. In Southeast Asia, we have Ecomobi, Mucho and Fingo making waves in Vietnam. Ecomobi online has transacted over USD 150 Million GMV.

Topics discussed:

• How communities and influencers are making us change our purchasing behaviour
• Social Commerce – From nowhere to everywhere. We explore the economics of this sector and the growth appeal to investors
• What the social commerce winners in the region are doing differently

Soundbites

Helen Wong – “Early investments into China, then combine how the story develops today.”

Sachin Bhanot – “Paranoia is a great trait of founders when founders say we sleep well at night, we are not able to sleep”