On product growth, being a senior hire, and more

More: Alibaba pumps money into Lazada and Grab acquires a taxi firm. [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: - [Some insights from Shopback’s VP of product]( - The seed round of an electric vehicle startup founded by two ex-Gojek execs - Other newsy highlights such as Alibaba’s most recent capital injection into Lazada and Grab’s acquisition of a taxi firm in Singapore --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} I once told my boss (shoutout to you, Winston) that I’d rather eat sand than do his job. At this point in my career, I don’t think I’m cut out for a managerial role. This might change in a few years, but right now, I’m happy being an individual contributor. Being in a senior role can be pretty tough - and I imagine it’s even tougher when you come in as a senior hire. Aside from having to adapt to a different company and its systems, processes, and culture, you also have a whole new team that you need to figure out how to support. Plus, you’re under pressure to make big changes and have a significant impact. And if you’re not careful about how you do it, it can end quite badly. At least, that’s what Isaac Timothy Tan, vice president of product at cashback platform ShopBack, shared in his session at our annual Product Development Conference (PDC). We learn more in today’s premium story. -- Stefanie  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [ShopBack product lead: The one mistake senior hires must avoid at a new job]( In this talk, Isaac Tay shares some of the mistakes he made while growing the cashback platform's product team and what he's learned from them. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [Grab confirms acquisition of SG taxi operator Trans-Cab (update)]( The acquisition will give Grab control of over 2,200 taxis and more than 300 private-hire vehicles. [Alibaba injects $845m into Lazada as competition intensifies]( The Chinese tech giant already invested US$5.99 billion in Lazada before this round, including the US$1 billion in 2016 to take a controlling stake. [US investor Ares to acquire SG-based private equity firm Crescent Point]( Crescent Point Capital targets Chinese and Southeast Asian consumer businesses for investment. [Indonesian conglomerate Astra to buy OLX Autos local unit]( Astra believes the acquisition will have a positive impact on its long-term growth, a company spokesperson told Tech in Asia. ---------------------------------------------------------------  VISUAL STORY OF THE DAY [Asian workers more bullish on AI than most]( A PwC survey found that employees in Asia Pacific are more likely to see AI as beneficial to their work compared to their global peers. ---------------------------------------------------------------  IN PARTNERHIP WITH All eyes on generative AI in Southeast Asia Even if you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of generative AI and how platforms like ChatGPT and Midjourney have taken the world by storm. In Southeast Asia, generative AI has the potential to be transformative. From startups like Singapore’s MediVR, which is developing “virtual humans” for medical training, and Indonesia’s Kata.ai, which offers conversational AI chatbots, the opportunities for the tech are boundless. It’s still in its early days, though, and there are plenty of regulatory, ethical, and legal issues that must be addressed before generative AI can take flight. That said, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the tech, which is why it was one of the key topics of discussion at this year’s IMDA ATxSummit. The event also covered other topics such as augmented reality, Web3, and sustainability in the tech world. This year’s edition has come to a close but the 2024 one is set to be even more eye-opening, so follow IMDA ATxSummit on [LinkedIn]( to stay in the loop. ---------------------------------------------------------------  EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events [over here](. - [Tech in Asia’s Founders Meetup: Thailand on July 26]( Thailand's startup ecosystem is buzzing. With over 1,000 startups and funding at a record high of over US$500million in 2022, the vibrant landscape is making waves in the global startup scene. Join us at our Founders Meetup to connect, learn, and grow with like-minded founders in the country on July 26 at theCOMMONS (Thonglor, 335/1 Sukhumvit 55 Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110) from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Only a few tickets are left - secure yours now! - [SYNC 2023: Climate Tech on August 21]( Do you want to make a positive impact on the fight against climate change? Join SYNC 2023 on August 21 at Singapore's green haven, Gardens by the Bay, to learn more about sustainable innovation and eco-friendly practices. Besides spotlighting climate tech via this invite-only event, Tech in Asia is committed to reducing our carbon footprint. Be part of this movement towards a sustainable future - send in your application for a SYNC 2023 ticket today! - [Tech in Asia Conference]( from October 18 to October 19 Do you see the light at the end of this funding winter’s tunnel? We do, and we believe Southeast Asia is that very light. That’s why this year’s Tech in Asia conference’s theme is Southeast Asia: A Bright Spot in the Tech World - signaling how the region can provide hope and guidance for the tech sector amid some troubling times. Hosted in Jakarta from October 18 to October 19, we’re excited to bring you a great lineup of speakers, thought-provoking sessions, and other activities. Click [here]( to get your limited first-release tickets.  - [Tech in Asia’s Founders Meetup: India on August 25]( Do you want a closer look at India’s tech scene? Discover the hidden gems of India’s startup ecosystem at our networking event on August 25 at Byg Brewski (9, 36, 4th Floor, Vaishnavi Sapphire Centre, Tumkur Rd, Yeshwanthpur Industrial Area, Phase 1, Yeswanthpur, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560022) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Whether you’re facing roadblocks in funding or talent acquisition, connect with fellow founders and find solutions to your most pressing issues while offering your own expertise. Don’t miss out - [sign up now]( ---------------------------------------------------------------  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 form](. Our team will get back to you by the next business day. - Geniebook - [Discover the Geniebook Summer Festival 2023: Unlocking Excellence in Education]( Singapore's leading EdTech platform, is hosting the highly-anticipated Summer Festival in Hanoi on 14 - 16 July - ChargeSini - [ChargeSini Powers New MINI EV Charging Facility in Melaka]( Local EV charging solutions provider ChargeSini collaborated with BMW Group Malaysia. ---------------------------------------------------------------  WHO'S HIRING You can post a job [here]( or search for jobs [here](. - [Senior Software Engineer]( at Dropsuite Bandung, Java, Indonesia - [Business Development Manager]( at Workmate Jakarta, Indonesia - [Data Engineer]( at ISIXI Private Limited Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia - [Scrum Master]( at Pintar Ventura Group Jakarta, Indonesia - [Research and Development Associate (Brand and Product)]( at Hangry Jakarta, Indonesia - [Sales Dealer Consultant]( at Moladin Digital Indonesia Palembang, Sumatra, Indonesia [ADVERTISE]( | [SUBSCRIBE]( P.S. 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