Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Investment in start-ups in Southeast Asia soared in the secondquarter of this year despite the COVID-19 pandemic, led by e-commerce andfintech companies.
Data from Singapore-based start-up information platform DealStreetAsia showedthe value of fundraising deals in Southeast Asia rose 91 percent on the year to2.7 billion USD in the second quarter of this year, while the number oftransactions increased by 59 percent to 184 compared to the same period lastyear.
Of these, Indonesia topped in deal value, accounting for 45.6 percent.
Singapore ranked second, followed by Vietnam, the Philippines and Myanmar.
E-commerce topped the chart by raising 691 million USD, followed by logisticswith 360 million USD and fintech at 496 million USD.
Tokopedia, an Indonesian e-commerce unicorn, attracted the most capital at 500million USD.
Vietnamese e-commerce company Tiki raised 130 million USD in a deal led by theNorthstar Group, the fifth-biggest deal in the region in the first sixmonths.
Ngo Hoang Gia Khanh, Tiki’s vice president of business development, said thatthe company recorded significant growth in customers' shopping needs during thepandemic, especially masks, handwash and necessities.
Using a nationwide network of order fulfilment centres and an express deliveryservice called TikiNow, Tiki made a difference from domestic and regionalrivals, said Khanh.
It also offers free installation for heavy and bulky goods.
The growing demand for online shopping in Southeast Asia has also heated up thelogistics and delivery sector.
Singapore's Ninja Van announced a 279 million USD fundraising round in May.
Fintech is also rising and Voyager Innovations, the company behindPhilippine mobile payment app Paymaya, raised 120 million USD in April./.
VNA
