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Hello reader,
Do you ever read about some new business or startup that’s taking off and go, “Why didn’t I think of that?” As someone who’s in the business of reading and writing about such stories, it’s happened to me quite a few times – sometimes the idea just seems so simple and obvious, too.
Of course, as someone with no strong desire to be a founder, it doesn’t sting me as much as it might someone with entrepreneurial dreams. That FOMO feeling must be pretty bad in this context.
These thoughts were sparked by today’s premium article. It’s about Primer, a no-code payment and commerce automation platform founded by former PayPal and Braintree executives. Read on to find out more.
Today we look at:
- The startup that’s bringing all the business apps together
- The firm that’s using AI to help you find the perfect gift
- Other newsy highlights such as a snapshot of IPO activity in 2023 and a startup investing in Bangladesh’s agriculture industry
Premium summary
Be helpful and useful
Image credit: Timmy Loen
As someone who generally likes to spend only on what’s needed or practical, it sometimes gets quite disillusioning to see how much of our consumption is based on wants being trumped up to look like “needs.”
Does anyone really need a new phone every year? Or a new pair of pants every time they leave the house? Absolutely not, but we get bombarded with both subtle and in-your-face advertising that make it seem like that’s the case.
Against that backdrop, it was good to read about a company that’s offering something that can offer practical help, even if it’s “just” compiling other services together. Convenience is in itself a valuable product, after all.
- Simplification in action: Primer links different services across multiple apps into an all-in-one platform, whether they be payments or communication tools. This helps businesses streamline the apps they need, particularly those looking to expand across several markets.
- Useful in APAC: The region’s fragmented payments market means that merchants have to integrate different e-wallets and payment methods into their platforms to appeal to a wide customer base. Primer’s solution could be just what the doctor ordered.
- Across the board: Aside from payments and communication, the company also offers integrations for apps dealing with customer support, logistics services, risk assessment, and fraud. With Primer, merchants can let these typically separate services “communicate with each other,” said the firm.
Read more: Ex-PayPal execs’ no-code ‘app store for businesses’ eyes APAC next
Does the thought still count if it comes from an AI?
How personalization can keep your customers engaged
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