‘Buy now, pay later’ isn’t out for the count

More: Mitsui & Co invests in Indonesia-based LinkAja. [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: - [Whether BNPL is really dead]( - A Malaysian babycare startup that’s just raised funds - Other newsy highlights such as Mitsui & Co’s investment in Indonesia-based LinkAja --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} Have you ever used a “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) service? I’ve only done so once, back in 2020, when I was straightening my teeth with Zenyum clear aligners. I decided to pay for the treatment in installments with Hoolah. Since then, however, it seems like BNPL has lost its shine. Hoolah was acquired by ShopBack and became ShopBack PayLater, which in turn has been discontinued. Meanwhile, Singapore startup Pace is winding up its business, even after acquiring competitor Rely’s assets, and Australian-listed Zip has exited Singapore. However, despite the somewhat bleak landscape, BNPL in Southeast Asia isn’t dead just yet. Today’s premium story goes deeper. -- Stefanie  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY ['Buy now, pay later’ is not dead]( GoTo is preparing to launch a BNPL product with TikTok despite fluctuations in the segment. Do these two companies know something other players don’t? --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [Indonesia’s LinkAja to expand payment ecosystem with Mitsui backing]( The investment, whose amount is undisclosed, comes a few months after the state-owned digital payments firm hit EBITDA profitability. [500 Global injects $4.2m for Malaysian babycare firm’s global expansion]( Founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Sean and Jesmine Tan, Applecrumby aims to grow its presence from 11 countries to 20 by this year. --------------------------------------------------------------- TECH IN ASIA’S DISTILLERY TAKEOVER WITH AIRWALLEX ON APRIL 18 Get an invitation to join our experiential dinner at Tanglin Gin Distillery We’re taking networking to a whole new level on April 18. Sit down for an experiential dinner with industry experts from Airwallex, Una Brands, Belli, Rainforest, and more. Make meaningful connections as you uncover the art of gin-making. This dinner, held in partnership with Airwallex, goes beyond networking, echoing the fintech firm's mission to create a world where businesses can operate globally without constraints. Slots are reserved for leaders from logistics companies, online travel agency businesses, ecommerce firms, and online marketplaces – [apply for an invite now](. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [Asia layoff tracker: Shopback slashes 195 jobs, ByteDance cuts 1,000 positions]( Tech firms are dismissing staff to stay afloat as headwinds hit Asia. This layoff tracker is keeping tabs on marching orders. ---------------------------------------------------------------  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. - Generali - [Generali and UNDP Foster SME Resilience with Digital Risk Management Tool]( Joint Initiative Aims to Empower Entrepreneurs and Mitigate Risks. ---------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events [over here]( and Tech in Asia’s signature events [here](. - [Saigon Summit 2024 : Charting Vietnam’s Tech Future on May 30]( Journey through Vietnam's past to prepare for the future! Get insights from the stories and experiences of founders in sectors such as electric mobility, ecommerce, and gaming who’ll talk about how they grew their businesses and expanded them abroad. [Sign up now to secure your seat](. - [Tech in Asia Conference Kuala Lumpur 2024 : Malaysia on The Rise on July 24-25]( Tech in Asia Conference is making its Malaysia debut this July. This event will feature compelling panel discussions, insightful skill-building workshops, and exclusive interviews with established and emerging brands across various industries. Tickets are now on sale, with prices starting from just US$45 instead of the usual US$80 for a General Pass.Grab yours while the offer lasts! - [Product Development Conference: Jakarta, July 25 - 26]( This year’s conference, themed around “scaling product innovation from startup to enterprise,” will deliver tailored insights for attendees at any stage of their business journey. [Secure your spot now]( - our presale tickets are sold out, but you can get early bird tickets starting from US$25!  - [Tech in Asia’s Founders Meetup in Singapore on April 24]( It’s hard to answer the question of whether investors are ready to deploy funds amid the current macroeconomic environment, but we’ve got the insights you need. Esteemed VCs like Ed Barker from Square Peg, Jeffrey Seah from MSW Ventures, and Rufus Sorsa from Antler will share their take on funding optimism, sector rebounds, and strategies for navigating the tech winter. Early bird tickets are usually sold out in record time, so hurry and [get yours now]( - [Distillery Takeover with Airwallex on April 18]( Experience the heritage of Singapore’s Tanglin Gin Distillery during our bespoke distillery takeover - an experiential dinner that goes beyond networking. Join a selected group of global industry leaders for a behind the scenes look into the art of gin-making while exchanging business insights. [Apply for your invite here.]( ---------------------------------------------------------------  WHO'S HIRING You can post a job [here]( or search for jobs [here](. - [Content Specialist]( at Griity Jakarta, Indonesia - [Backend Developer (Python & Java)]( at Staffinc (Sampingan) Bandung, Java, Indonesia - [SQL Database Engineer]( at Graha Karya Informasi Jakarta, Indonesia - [Food Research & Development Intern]( at UENA Jakarta, Indonesia - [Business Development Manager - Zettagrid]( at Scout.inc Jakarta, Indonesia - [Business Analyst - Corporate IT& IS]( at Kompas Gramedia Jakarta, Indonesia [ADVERTISE]( | [SUBSCRIBE]( 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. 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