Is Lalamove coming back into India via ex-staff’s new startup?

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Hello readers,

When Singapore was in lockdown last year, I used an on-demand courier service for the first time. A friend and I had ordered some exercise gear online, and we combined our purchases to save on shipping fees. However, when the equipment finally arrived at her place a month later, movement restrictions meant it was impossible for me to pick them up – so I turned to Lalamove.

Logistics is a growing vertical in Asia, and especially in India. Indeed, when Lalamove first ventured into the country in 2019, it expected that India would become its second-largest market. However, the country banned the app in November 2020, amid rising border tensions with China.

Recently, a new startup – run by ex-Lalamove employees – has popped up in India, and there are some significant similarities between the two firms.

Today we look at,

• The Indian logistics startup launched by former Lalamove employees
• How Traveloka has rebounded in the wake of Covid-19
• Other newsy highlights such as Binance’s billion-dollar fund (try saying that five times fast) and Standard Chartered’s strategic partnership with Atome

PREMIUM SUMMARY

Different name, same services?

Hong Kong-based logistics company Lalamove has been banned in India, but it may still have a presence of some sort in the country. Former employees of the company have launched Uncle Delivery, a new platform that is identical to the one run by the firm.

• Say uncle: Uncle Delivery’s directors, Sourabh Chatterjee and Pallav Vijay Kumar Patel, both previously worked at Lalamove. Chatterjee worked with the logistics company between September 2019 and January 2021 as director of government affairs and expansion, according to his LinkedIn details. Patel’s LinkedIn profile – which appears not to have been recently updated – says he’s still employed at Lalamove. But other sources show that he has been a director at Uncle Delivery Express since its inception.
• Points of similarity: Just like Lalamove, Uncle Delivery allows users to connect with drivers for shipping services. The platform supports the delivery of small items such as documents, letters, and lunch, as well as larger items like appliances and parcels. It has an app for users, as well as a dedicated app for drivers.
• Making a comeback: Lalamove has not given up hopes on a possible return to the Indian market. Several apps banned in India have made a return to the country in a repackaged form, which some say is what Uncle Delivery is doing for Lalamove.

Read more: India halts Lalamove, but ex-staff launch similar app

PREMIUM SUMMARY

Things are looking up for Traveloka

It’s no secret that the travel industry took a pretty big hit during Covid-19. At this year’s Tech in Asia conference, Traveloka president Caesar Indra delved into how the Indonesian travel firm has held up in the face of these unprecedented times.