The Impulso Podcast
Momentum Works
The Impulso Podcast is hosted by Momentum Works, a venture outfit headquartered in Singapore. Each week, our in-house experts, community and guests unpack the latest trends, undercurrents and lessons in tech across borders. We explore topics like innovation, ecommerce, digital financial services, venture investment, and the broader digital economy.
In addition to covering our home base of Southeast Asia and advanced global markets like the US, we also draw extensive lessons from tech companies in China.
Visit momentum.asia or get in touch via hello@mworks.asia for our insights reports, newsletter, Academy and Venture offerings.
In addition to covering our home base of Southeast Asia and advanced global markets like the US, we also draw extensive lessons from tech companies in China.
Visit momentum.asia or get in touch via hello@mworks.asia for our insights reports, newsletter, Academy and Venture offerings.
Episodes
Mentioned books
11 snips
Oct 27, 2023 • 20min
E36: Temu’s Super Bowl: maintaining operational efficiency and pivoting customer acquisition strategy in the US
Rapid global expansion and the logistics behind a last-minute Super Bowl commercial. How low-price tactics, shipping trade-offs, and order strategies power growth. Cultural limits of referral models in the US versus Asia. Heavy ad spending reshaping advertising costs and competitive dynamics.
14 snips
Oct 20, 2023 • 25min
E35: Flash coffee exits Singapore, Foodpanda appoints new CEO, J&T’s upcoming IPO
Discussion of a coffee chain exiting Singapore and the strategic pitfalls for F&B expansion. A major Indonesian courier’s planned Hong Kong IPO and what its prospectus reveals about logistics growth. Leadership upheaval at a food delivery platform amid alleged leaks and the implications for potential acquisition and strategy.
17 snips
Oct 13, 2023 • 45min
E34: [COO talks] running Alibaba-owned ecommerce in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka (all at once)
Zori Zafirova, COO of Daraz who runs ecommerce across Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, shares her journey from international corporate roles to leading frontier‑market operations. She discusses building logistics in low‑infrastructure cities, the quirky onions growth hack in Bangladesh, managing multimarket teams and borrowing Alibaba playbooks to scale everyday goods and groceries.
21 snips
Oct 6, 2023 • 54min
E33: [Unfiltered CTO talks] US vs China team culture, business design, loneliness, the future
Shaolin Zheng, founder and CEO-level technologist from NextBillion.ai, and Chao Gao, a seasoned tech leader with 12+ years in startups and fintech, discuss culture clashes between US, China, and Singapore teams. They talk about differing decision styles, how business model design shapes operations, the personal costs of leadership, and navigating fundraising and consolidation in 2023.
10 snips
Sep 28, 2023 • 19min
E32: Indonesia bans purchases on social media platforms
Discussion of Indonesia’s new rule banning in-app purchases on social platforms and what it means for commerce features. Examination of TikTok Shop’s options, including spinning off shopping into a separate app and the tradeoffs involved. Analysis of the political timeline, regulatory motives, and whether similar restrictions could spread to other countries.
23 snips
Sep 24, 2023 • 46min
E31: [Exclusive] In focus: TikTok Shop
Rapid expansion of TikTok Shop across markets and its bold GMV targets. How TikTok converts short video and live formats into purchases and why a shop tab matters. The operational rush: live commerce scale, MCNs, and hiring to support growth. Strategic tradeoffs as TikTok pushes into North America and competes with incumbents on fun, scale, and conversion.
11 snips
Sep 18, 2023 • 22min
E30: [In-depth] Momentum Works goes to PE/VC summit
Experts Ada and Vion share insights from a recent PE/VC summit, highlighting hot topics in Southeast Asia like fintech, SaaS, and agritech. They discuss the emergence of 'lighter models' focused on sustainable profitability rather than aggressive growth. The conversation shifts to the evolving investment landscape in China, questioning if it’s truly becoming 'uninvestable' or still holds potential. With diverse investor sentiments, they dissect the factors that separate lasting trends from fleeting hype while offering practical networking anecdotes.
21 snips
Sep 8, 2023 • 31min
E29: Indonesia plans to ban TikTok Shop, Luckin x Moutai sells more than 5 mil cups in day, Lummo’s liquidation
A collaboration between Luckin and Moutai creates buzz as they sell over 5 million cups of a new alcohol-infused latte in a single day. The discussion dives into how Moutai's branding appeals to younger consumers through innovative product experiments. Meanwhile, Indonesia's government considers banning TikTok Shop, raising concerns about monopolistic practices and its potential impact on the e-commerce landscape. Lastly, Lummo announces voluntary liquidation after failing to profit from its bookkeeping services, highlighting challenges in the SME sector.
11 snips
Sep 5, 2023 • 30min
E28: [In-depth] Answering more of your TikTok Shop questions
Discover how TikTok Shop is revolutionizing online shopping by blending entertainment with commerce. The hosts analyze the potential for integrating vouchers to enhance the buying experience and explore the platform's appeal in North America. They discuss key selling categories like fashion and beauty, as well as the challenges of monetization and user engagement. The panel also dives into the dynamics of live commerce, examining how it could succeed in a new market. Tune in for insights on TikTok's innovative retail approach!
17 snips
Sep 1, 2023 • 30min
E27: Temu breaks into SEA, TikTok’s consignment model and SEA shopper insights
Southeast Asia's e-commerce landscape is transforming rapidly, with TikTok Shop aiming for a staggering $20 billion GMV and Temu surprising everyone with a launch in the Philippines. Pinduoduo recorded impressive Q2 results, showcasing its operational efficiency amid rising competition. The podcast also reveals insights into seller frustrations with TikTok's consignment model and highlights how competition is reshaping consumer behavior and expectations in the region. The hosts discuss the implications for established players like Shopee and Lazada amidst these shifts.
