Brewing bold ambitions: Kopi Kenangan and Fore Coffee venture overseas

Check out our top articles for the week. [Read from your browser]( Top Stories of the Week Welcome to Tech in Asia's free Sunday newsletter! Get full access to our subscribers-only premium content and other insightful analysis on the big and messy topics of Asia’s tech and startup community by [registering here](. Hello {NAME} I've heard before that the best coffee is the one you make at home, and I tend to agree. But I also think the convenience of having a nice, warm (or iced) latte delivered at home or in the office can sometimes be a godsend. That's why even after buying an espresso machine and finding my go-to roaster, I still hop into my food delivery app to get my caffeine fix whenever I feel lazy or have somewhere to be. And this is where players like Fore Coffee and Kopi Kenangang come in. During last year's Tech in Asia Conference, the founders of both coffee chains said that there is still room to grow for coffee shops of any size. Also, as the two firms expand to countries outside Indonesia, they must remember to leverage their secret weapons: their home country's coffee culture. For Fore Coffee in particular, among the most popular beverages on its launch day in Singapore was gula aren latte - an Indonesian blend that uses palm sugar to sweeten coffee. Personally, I'll be keeping an eye out for a potential launch here in the Philippines and lining up to have a taste of what Indonesia has to offer. -- [Miguel Cordon]( journalist at Tech in Asia  --------------------------------------------------------------- TOP STORIES THIS WEEK 1️. [Kopi Kenangan, Fore Coffee find right blend for international expansion]( The Indonesian coffee chains' founders highlighted the importance of telling a story and profitability at the 2023 Tech in Asia Conference. 2. [Tyme Group’s gameplan for winning digibank race in Philippines and Vietnam]( The banking group’s Philippine arm aims to turn profitable by October 2025, tapping on Gokongwei Group’s retail network to onboard customers. 3. [ShopBack feels the pinch as voucher revenue dips 50% in FY23]( While it has closed its pay-later business in Thailand, the cashback and rewards platform is expanding to Germany. 4. [At a crossroads: Indonesia’s elections will decide tech future]( The next administration will face the critical task of shaping policies for social commerce, electric vehicles, and startup development. 5. [Osome faces heat from customers following staff exits, layoffs]( Angry customers are threatening to leave Osome for its competitors after facing delays with their filings. 6. [Syfe’s revenue soars over 140% in FYE 2023, even as adjusted loss widens]( The Singapore-based investment platform laid off around 10% of its workforce in February 2023 for greater efficiency. 7. [The good, the bad, and the hallucinations: What SEA startups think of AI]( Founders in SEA use genAI in the office for a lot of reasons, but most are still cautious about making it an integral part of their businesses. 8. [This 22-year-old turns Notion templates into a thriving business]( What started out as a hobby has given Easlo six-figure US dollar earnings each year. But selling productivity tools for a living isn't for everyone. 9. [A cheat sheet of M&As in Southeast Asia]( Need to get up to speed with SEA’s M&A scene? This one’s for you. 10. [Shopee lawsuit loss loss sparks debate on noncompetition clauses]( We spoke to professionals from the HR, PR, and legal fields for their take on Shopee’s attempt to enforce a noncompete agreement. --------------------------------------------------------------- SAIGON SUMMIT 2024: CHARTING VIETNAM’S TECH FUTURE  Special Lunar New Year ticket discounts! Everyone could use a personal survival kit to get through the busy Lunar New Year holidays - take a peek at our suggestions. While you're at it, why not grab an 18% discount for our first-ever Saigon Summit, which will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 30? Look forward to learning opportunities and engaging networking conversations that’ll blow the water out of any small talk you’re forced to make during the holidays. 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