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@tokopedia is a fascinating Indonesian tech unicorn that is at the center of so many important trends today.
A thread on why the company is worth keeping an eye on:
A thread on why the company is worth keeping an eye on:
Tokopedia is a major e-commerce marketplace for buyers and merchants in Indonesia. Over time it has expanded to offer logistics and fulfillment services to it's merchants, digital wallets, merchant loans, credit cards, insurance products and now travel services!
Tokopedia has achieved a lot since it was founded in 2009:
- Raised $2.8 billion from the likes of Sequoia Capital, Google, Alibaba, SoftBank and Temasek
- Is valued at over $7.5 billion
- Has a team of 4,700 employees
- Has over 6 million sellers
- Has over 90 million users
- Raised $2.8 billion from the likes of Sequoia Capital, Google, Alibaba, SoftBank and Temasek
- Is valued at over $7.5 billion
- Has a team of 4,700 employees
- Has over 6 million sellers
- Has over 90 million users
Even more impressive is its gross merchandise value. It's GMV soared from $5.1 billion in 2018 to $15.6 billion in 2019.
That's equivalent to 1.5% of Indonesia's GDP, a country of 260 million people.
That's equivalent to 1.5% of Indonesia's GDP, a country of 260 million people.
The impact the company has on the Indonesian economy is astounding. Tokopedia says it estimates it added $12 billion in value to the Indonesian economy in 2019 alone. https://kr-asia.com/tokopedia-projects-to-contribute-usd-12-billion-to-the-indonesian-economy-this-year
This impact is felt at every level of the Indonesian economy. Tokopedia estimates it helped create 857,000 jobs through its marketplace in 2018, equivalent to 10% or all the jobs created in Indonesia in 2018!
Impressively, the company says that 85% of mechants on Tokopedia are first-time entrepreneurs.
Even more awe-inspiring, the company says it helped facilitate and additional $1.3 billion in total household income in 2018, equivalent to $31.36 for every Indonesian worker in 2018!
2020 has been an interesting year for Tokopedia. It has been reported that the company has been in talks with Bridgetown Holdings LTD - a Special Purpose Acquisition Company backed by billionaires Peter Thiel and Richard Li - to go public at a valuation of $8-10 billion.
But today, in a huge twist to the story, news broke that Tokopedia is in talks with Indonesian ride-sharing and delivery giant @gojekindonesia to explore a merger. The founders of both companies have been friends for 10 years.
The combined entity would be valued at about $18 billion, and would dominate the Indonesian market, one of the world's fastest growing internet economies.
If Tokopedia and Gojek merge, this will create an internet giant founded, built and funded in Southeast Asia.
The combined entity would then go public on the Indonesian and potentially US stock exchange via a SPAC, traditional IPO or direct listing. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-05/gojek-is-said-in-talks-with-tokopedia-for-18-billion-merger
The combined entity would then go public on the Indonesian and potentially US stock exchange via a SPAC, traditional IPO or direct listing. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-05/gojek-is-said-in-talks-with-tokopedia-for-18-billion-merger
A merger or public offering of either of these companies will be a watershed moment for Southeast Asia and give global investors the opportunity to invest in one of the most exciting internet businesses founded in Southeast Asia.
Keep your eyes open for more news!
Keep your eyes open for more news!
