As one startup dies, many take its place

Dear readers,

We know from history that a calamity is often followed by a revival – new life, new ways of thinking, and a new status quo. We’re seeing this play out today.

Our top story last week was a deep dive into the sudden demise of Stoqo, an Indonesian online marketplace for food supplies, written by our Indonesia correspondent Putra Muskita.

The Stoqo team in happier times / Photo credit: Stoqo

But covering layoffs is tricky, as we’re dealing with the raw emotions of the people doing the staff cuts, as well as those who’ve been retrenched. Regardless, we think we’ve approached such coverage in a balanced way.

Here’s what a VC who invested in Stoqo had to say about us: “I applaud Tech in Asia for taking a measured approach. I have no problem with the press doing fair reporting on all that’s relevant in the ecosystem. As much as they cast a spotlight on the wins, it is also fair that they keep all of us honest when things don’t work out.”

If you’re concerned about how your company will be portrayed by journalists, here’s my advice: Don’t shy away from them. Engage. Take control. Share your perspective. Work with the reporter to tell a nuanced story.

Looking on the bright side, online shopping has continued to thrive as people are locked inside their homes. Our journalist, Aditya Hadi Pratama, covered a new wave of startups that could unleash ecommerce’s true potential in Indonesia. It’s a detailed read that goes into the nitty-gritty of executing such a business model on the ground.

In the coming months, we’ll continue to parse how a new world order is taking shape. Do subscribe to us to keep track of our coverage and read the rest of our recent premium content:

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Cheers,
Terence
Chief editor