Tech in Asia’s 2020 wrapped (thanks, Spotify!)

It’s been a roller coaster of a year here at Tech in Asia [Read from your browser]( Year in Review 2020 Hello {NAME} It’s been a roller coaster of a year here at Tech in Asia. Like many other years, 2020 had us feeling bright and hopeful - we had lots of great plans to herald the new decade. But Covid-19 caused even the best-laid plans to go awry, and we’ve had to pivot and transform, adapting to the new normal and figuring out how we could play a role in helping the region’s tech and startup community through this difficult time. We’ve published over 3,000 articles this year, covering rising startups and funding rounds and everything in between. We also ran a total of 34 events and three conferences - two of which were completely virtual and one a hybrid event - seeing a total of 10,000 attendees. And our jobs portal didn’t fare too badly either, with over 22,000 jobs posted and more than 700,000 applications. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished this year in the face of all the challenges that came our way. We’ve got the highlights of our 2020 [up on our site]( but here’s a quick summary.  --------------------------------------------------------------- THE MOST GRIPPING STORIES OF 2020  🕸️ Honestbee founder’s biggest lie in a web of deceit We published this article in April, and it’s been a hot favorite with over 40,000 page views to date. For those who aren't aware, Singapore-based startup Honestbee was shaping up to be a leading contender for Southeast Asia’s online groceries crown. Unfortunately, it turned out that the company [was built on lies]( - starting right from the credentials of its founder, Joel Sng.  🤝 The hidden alliances between Southeast Asia’s VCs, uncovered This piece caught the attention of many founders and venture capitalists. You see, venture capital firms co-invest all the time. However, there are [different dynamics]( going on behind the scenes, and we highlighted how some firms frequently invest together, signifying a deeper relationship, while other firms tend to avoid each other altogether. You can also read part two of the story [here]( which dives into whether VCs should have many friends or just a few buddies.  💭 Zilingo’s layoffs expose internal fault lines Layoffs were an unfortunate side effect of the pandemic. While we covered many layoff stories this year, the case was different for fashion ecommerce company Zilingo, as their job cuts [highlighted cracks]( in its business and processes that may have worsened the situation.  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIGGEST NEWS THIS YEAR  📊 Unpacking Carousell’s 2019 financial numbers We took [a deep dive]( into the finances of classifieds marketplace Carousell, exploring how its acquisition of 701Search affected its bottom line and how the company is faring in the face of its tremendous growth.  ⚖️ A Singapore startup said no to an investor. The investor sued, citing a breach of contract Many might remember this article as it got a lot of attention on LinkedIn with many founders getting riled up. Business-to-business medical supplies marketplace Lumiere32 won a pitching competition organized by angel investor network She1K. But a failure to reach an agreement on the term sheet [led to a lawsuit](.  🛌🏼 Co-living operator Hmlet sees big changes with layoffs and a pivot Hmlet [moved away]( from directly renting, renovating, and operating properties. Instead, it decided to work with landlords to run co-living spaces, which it says is part of disrupting the real estate space.  ---------------------------------------------------------------  CHART OF THE YEAR It’s a tangled web of connections among startups in Southeast Asia. Ex-employees of companies like Grab, Gojek, Groupon, and Rocket Internet-backed firms like Zalora and Lazada, among others, have gone on to start new companies, making this family even bigger. [Here’s]( a closer look at how they’re all linked.  ---------------------------------------------------------------  TOP THREE PARTNERSHIP CONTENT  🤖 Go for Go: The programming language that could improve your job prospects A [new institute has been launched]( catering to mid-career tech professionals who want to learn how to program with Go.  📘 Jack Ma Foundation publishes handbook, shares China’s experience in battling Covid-19 The Jack Ma Foundation [has collaborated]( with a Zhejiang-based hospital to publish a guide about its best practices in treating Covid-19 patients.  💻 3 tips for establishing a remote working culture in your company [Remote working]( can boost productivity and increase employee retention, among other benefits.  ---------------------------------------------------------------  TOP THREE VIDEOS 🇲🇲 Startup Frontiers: Myanmar Launching a startup is hard, but doing so in Myanmar can be even harder. However, there lies opportunity in adversity, and [this three-episode series]( explores the challenges and opportunities facing the country’s tech and startup space.  🌏 Crossing Borders: Tapping into Greater Southeast Asia What makes Taiwan an attractive market for founders to explore beyond Southeast Asia? We [speak to the founders]( of three startups who’ve forayed into the island to learn more.  👥 Tech in Asia Explains: Building Great Startup-Investor Relationships Building great investor relationships is a critical skill set for any startup leader, but it can be overwhelming for startup leaders to balance all of their investors on a cap table. Grab President Ming Maa [shares his insights]( on the topic.  --------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for being a part of the Tech in Asia community! It’s been a roller coaster of a year, but we’ve all emerged stronger for it. Remember to keep up with us in the new year as we continue to produce great content to serve the region’s startup community - such as our annual [State of Asian Startups survey]( 😊. May 2021 be even better and brighter ✨ . Have a happy new year! [ADVERTISE]( | [PREMIUM]( | [JOBS]( P.S. Don't miss out on the biggest tech news and analysis. Add newsletter@techinasia.com to your address book, contacts, or safe sender list. Or simply move us into your inbox. Was this forwarded to you? You can read this everyday when you sign up [here](. Don't want to receive these emails anymore? [Unsubscribe](.  ---------------------------------------------------------------  Today’s edition was written by Stefanie Yeo and edited by Jaclyn Teng. Copyright © 2020 Tech in Asia, All rights reserved. 51 Bras Basah Rd, #05-5061, Singapore 189554