S is for startup stress

Sign up for the Daily Newsletter, sent exclusively to our premium subscribers. We break down the big and messy topics of Asia’s tech and startup community. Get the newsletter in your inbox everyday with a premium subscription.

Hello reader,

I’ve been writing these Saturday newsletters for a while now, and I’ve noticed that the number of deals and the total amount of disclosed funding being injected into Asian startups have been dipping.

Billions of dollars used to flow into over a hundred fledgling companies across the region every week without fail. But now, we’re seeing amounts as low as US$588 million being dispensed into the innovation scene.

On top of that, it seems as if layoffs have almost become a daily occurrence – as they have been for weeks.

It’s definitely a stressful time to be working in a startup. While I’m hoping things turn around soon, it’s probably going to get a little bit worse first before we see that happen.

Side note: My colleague Winston Zhang recently launched a podcast series titled Vibe Check: Mental Health in the Startup World. Every week, he speaks to industry leaders and mental health professionals to see what he can learn from them when it comes to his mental well-being.

If you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, or anything else, it might be a helpful resource in your own mental wellness journey. It’s also just in time for World Mental Health Day this Monday, so check it out on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

You can find all other important investment deals that happened in the last few days in our weekly funding news wrap-up.

Let’s dive into the biggest deals and M&As that recently took place.

---

The biggest deals by country

🇮🇳 Meesho: The Indian social commerce platform raised US$192 million in strategic investments from its parent company, Meesho Inc.

---

---

---

Killer pitch decks

---

Exclusive listicles

---

Thoughtful reads