With iFlix, Patrick Grove wants to bring the best of Hollywood to Southeast Asia

With a portfolio of online assets whose value exceeds the billion-dollar mark, Catcha Group CEO Patrick Grove is undoubtedly one of the most visible personalities in Asia’s startup ecosystem. Grove’s track record of successful ventures has caused many to take note of his and his portfolio companies’ every move, for better or for worse.

What that in mind, Grove’s venture into the entertainment world will certainly turn heads. It’s a Netflix for Asia called iFlix.

“We were frustrated that, with such busy work schedules and always being mobile, it was impossible to watch what we wanted when we wanted,” Grove explains. “We saw that Netflix had pioneered a great internet TV business model, and wondered if that would work in Asia with a focus on mobile.”

Mobile-first

Like its American counterpart, the video-on-demand startup will offer unlimited access to TV shows and movies from all over the world. Through its partnership with around 30 of the “top content providers globally” – and more to come – Grove promises over 10,000 hours of American, Asian, and localized content in 2015.

The twist lies in its focus on mobile. “We are passionate about providing an exceptionally high-quality service via multiple devices,” says Grove. “Subscribers can use it on up to five devices per account including mobile phones, tablets, TVs, laptops, and so on.”

Each subscription plan will come with a media player that will allow consumers to download content to their TV sets. Grove declined to reveal the monthly fee a subscription would entail, though he claims that they have “have endeavored to keep it at as low a price point that will be impossible to say no to.”

Huge ambitions

Being mobile-first makes sense in this region, where many are indeed skipping PCs and heading straight to their smartphones to access the internet. At the same time, Grove believes that this service will help combat piracy in Southeast Asia, which he says is rampant.