Meet the players in the thriving edtech industry

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My university days had a mix of online and offline classes, and we were allowed to choose which ones to go for. Most of the time, I would choose the most flexible and convenient option: online classes. And 95% of the time, I would regret it because my fidgety self was simply not able to concentrate whenever I was left to my own devices at home.

Today, many students are trying their hand at online learning, although in their case, there wasn’t really a choice. But because of that, edtech startups in the region have been given a moment to shine.

Today we look at:

• The players in Southeast Asia’s thriving edtech scene
• Why cash on delivery is an issue for Indonesian marketplaces and logistics companies
• Other newsy highlights such as Jio Platforms launching an affordable smartphone with Google and ShopeeFood hiring in Malaysia

PREMIUM SUMMARY

Meet the thriving edtech community in Southeast Asia

Education tech could possibly be the next fintech. The pandemic has accelerated the industry’s growth and most students in Southeast Asia have already become familiar with pre-recorded videos, online reading materials, and remote group assignments. So it’s not surprising that the edtech scene is now a hypercompetitive market bursting with players.

• The notable ones: Ruangguru is Indonesia’s biggest edtech startup, raising a massive US$150 million round in 2019. In another part of the region, there is Vietnam’s Topica Edtech, which caters to university students. It raised US$50 million in 2018.
• Investors are ready: In recent years, both the number and value of edtech funding deals have been increasing – so much so that the total deal value for 2021 so far has already exceeded the US$67 million recorded for the whole of 2020.
• Swooping in: However, the region’s edtech funding still lags behind China’s and India’s, which have raised US$767 million and US$1.6 billion respectively so far this year. The funding is significant as edtech companies in India have expressed interest in expanding into Southeast Asia.

Read more: The key players in Southeast Asia’s growing edtech scene

PREMIUM SUMMARY

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