Dissecting Southeast Asia’s healthtech industry

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Hi readers,

I’m relatively healthy, but I still consult my doctor almost every week. You see, it’s difficult to restrain myself when the doctor is available 24/7 and is most importantly free. Yes, I’m talking about Dr. Google.

Anytime I think, “Ouch, my knee is hurting,” I would check in with Dr. Google to find out the cause. And sometimes, an extreme case will pop up that will cause me to worry unnecessarily. I know, self-diagnosing is bad. So let’s hope I can find a healthtech startup in today’s premium story that can replace Dr. Google for me.

Today we look at,

• The players in Southeast Asia’s healthtech scene
• Shiok Meats’ new investors
• Other newsy highlights such as Bukalapak raising US$1.5 billion in its IPO and Byju’s acquiring another company

PREMIUM SUMMARY

The Southeast Asian healthtech startups that are making house calls

You’ve definitely seen healthtech startups around because at this point, they’re basically everywhere. While most would attribute the rise of these companies to the pandemic, that’s actually not the case – healthtech in the region was already flourishing in 2019. Here’s a look at this healthy industry.

• Let’s talk funding: Healthtech in Southeast Asia raised around US$180 million last year. This year, the industry has seen a little over US$276 million in deal value, and we still have another five more months to go.
• What’s up doc?: The most popular offering by healthtech companies? That will be telemedicine. Some of the most prominent players include Halodoc, Alodokter, GrabHealth, and GoMed.
• Staying in trend: Besides telehealth, there are also other rising segments including mental health, which Malaysia-based Naluri is tackling, and even something like Singapore-based Bot MD, which offers doctors an AI-powered clinic assistant.

Read more: The key actors in Southeast Asia’s soaring healthtech space

PREMIUM SUMMARY

The startup that’s prawn to be wild