Zalora, we still know ya

More: Singapore’s new protection measures for crypto investors. [Read from your browser]( Daily Newsletter Welcome to Tech in Asia's free Daily Newsletter! Get full access to our subscribers-only Daily Newsletter and other insightful analysis on the big and messy topics of Asia’s tech and startup community by [registering here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- IN FOCUS In today's newsletter, we spotlight: - [Why Zalora’s still going strong]( - Singapore’s new safeguards for crypto investors - Other newsy highlights such as the reason behind Sam Altman’s ouster from OpenAI and Amazon’s lead in the US holiday shopping scene --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} When I first started online shopping over a decade ago, Zalora was one of the hottest platforms in town. I remember browsing the site on my laptop when I was bored during school lectures, talking about sales with my friends, and getting very excited whenever a package arrived. Given its easy returns process and relatively low requirements for free shipping, I spent a lot of my money on Zalora back then. But more ecommerce platforms have emerged since then, so I haven’t been shopping on Zalora that much in the last few years. Aside from marketplaces like Shopee, Lazada, and Shein, brands have also made it easier than ever to order from them directly. Uniqlo and Cotton On, for example, have pretty strong online-to-offline ecosystems. While there’s definitely more competition nowadays, this doesn’t mean Zalora’s down for the count. My colleague Melissa takes a closer look at the firm in our featured premium story. -- Stefanie  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [Now profitable, Zalora bets on B2B, subscriptions for growth]( Zalora may not be as popular as Lazada, Shopee, or Tiktok Shop in Southeast Asia, but the ecommerce marketplace was profitable in 2022. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [OpenAI turmoil highlights need for ‘diversified’ AI landscape]( Some AI founders in Southeast Asia and India voiced concerns about OpenAI’s future direction and the broader implications for the AI industry. [Delivery Hero-owned Baemin to exit Vietnam in December]( The Germany-based company said it plans to prioritize other markets where it already has a leading position. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [Series SEA: Who’s investing in the region’s SaaS startups?]( We've compiled a list of investors that are pouring money into Southeast Asia’s software-as-a-service startups. --------------------------------------------------------------- TECH IN ASIA’S REGIONAL FOUNDERS MEETUP: SINGAPORE Join Tech in Asia's 11th and final meetup of 2023! Calling all Singapore-based founders! As 2023 comes to a close, we’re gearing up for our final Founders Meetup of the year in the Lion City, where it all began. By popular demand, Tech in Asia founder and CEO Willis Wee will talk about his startup journey, which has culminated in an M&A deal with SPH Media, in a fireside chat moderated by our COO Maria Li. Join us on December 5 at Mortar & Pestle to get a candid look at what goes on behind the scenes to pull off an M&A deal, and take home key insights that will help you best navigate and understand the M&A process if you choose to go down this route. Don’t miss this chance to learn, connect, and have fun with your fellow founders - including our own Willis - as we conclude this year’s Regional Founders Meetup event series with a bang! [Get your tickets now]( before they run out! A big thanks to our supporting partners - AWS, CleverTap, Cooley, Oracle, Sinarmas Land, Singapore Global Network (SGN), Quest Ventures, and Purple Quarter - for making this meetup possible. Note: This event is closed-door and strictly off the record - no media buzz, please! While Willis and Maria will share as much about the M&A deal as possible, confidential terms will not be disclosed. ---------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events [over here](. - [Tech in Asia’s Founders Meetup: Vietnam on November 30]( We’re making our way back to Ho Chi Minh City on November 30 for our tenth Founders Meetup! Get a glimpse of the startup journey of Bryan Pelz, the co-founder of VNG and Bootloader Studio. Hear what he and Peter Cowan, Tech in Asia’s engagement editor, have to say about what it’s like to build and scale a startup in Vietnam. Plus, exchange ideas and tips with your fellow founders on how to navigate your own startup journey. Don’t miss out! Join us at the Hive Villa (29 Nguyễn Bá Lân, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Thà nh phố Hồ Chí Minh 713385, Vietnam) on November 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (GMT+7). Hurry, tickets are selling like hotcakes - [RSVP now before they’re all sold out](  - [Tech in Asia’s Regional Founders Meetup: Singapore on December 5]( Calling all Singapore-based founders! We’re concluding this year’s Regional Founders Meetup event series at the Lion City, where it all began. As Tech in Asia gears up for its next adventure with SPH Media, our founder and CEO Willis Wee will share his startup journey and give insights on what it takes to pull off an M&A deal in a fireside chat moderated by our COO Maria Li. Join us at Mortar & Pestle (269 South Bridge Rd, Level 4, Singapore 058818) on December 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (SGT) to connect with fellow founders and end the year with a bang. Hurry, tickets are selling like hotcakes - [RSVP now before they run out]( Note: This event is closed-door and strictly off the record - no media buzz, please! While Willis and Maria will share as much about the M&A deal as possible, confidential terms will not be disclosed. ---------------------------------------------------------------  PRESS PEEKS The following press releases were published as they were received, without any editing from the Tech in Asia team. You too can publish your own press release on Tech in Asia by simply filling in [this]( page](. Our team will get back to you by the next business day. - ChargeSini - [ChargeSini Malaysia EV Charging Solution Startup Seeks for $6m Funding in Series-A]( ChargeSini, a private company founded in 2022, revolutionize the landscape of EV charging and has quickly risen to become 1 of the top 3 in market - Ultimate Fintech - [Forex Trading: The Transformational Journey of the Last 20+ Years]( Dive into the recent history of currency trading from the Gold Standard to digital assets with AAAFx. ---------------------------------------------------------------  WHO'S HIRING You can post a job [here]( or search for jobs [here](. - [Content Creator]( at Boleh Dicoba Digital Bandung, Java, Indonesia - [Frontend Engineer (Flutter)]( at NRI Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia - [Founder/Co-Founder]( at Studio 30 50 Singapore, Singapore - [Head of Office - Singapore]( at 55 Singapore, Singapore - [IOS Developer - Banking Syariah]( at Scout.inc Jakarta, Indonesia - [Java Springboot]( at Paramatech Jakarta, Indonesia [ADVERTISE]( | [SUBSCRIBE]( P.S. 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