Unpacking Kumu’s revenue goals, declining user base

Welcome to On the Rise! Delivered every Tuesday via email and through the Tech in Asia website, this free newsletter breaks down the biggest stories and trends in emerging tech. If you’re not a subscriber, get access by registering here.

Hi there,

I have to confess: I am a serial eavesdropper. I find myself unconsciously listening in to people’s conversations while I’m at a public place.

However, I am told by those close to me that I’m pretty bad at it, as I end up wanting to take a peek at people’s expressions or body language, which usually gives me away.

Watching reality shows or livestreams doesn’t quite have the same appeal for me.

That’s not the case for many. Several professional livestreamers now make a living from creating content around what they do or love.

These streamers earn from virtual gifts or stickers that come from followers who look to support them. The platforms hosting the streams get a percentage of these user spends.

As paying users play a big part in livestreaming apps, it is important that their user base grows and it continues to spend on gifting features on the app. For Kumu, the decline in active users and in-app spends spells concerns for the Philippine livestreaming platform.

This comes at a time when TikTok’s growth in users and spends in the Philippines’ livestreaming space has grown significantly. However, Kumu says it has a plan in place to get to profitability by focusing on its organic users.

Speaking of sharpening focus, True Global Ventures’ Kelly Choo talks to my colleague Shadine about a shift in focus toward generative AI projects for its rebranded Opportunity Fund.

For AI Odyssey this week, I spotlight a text-to-app generative AI project that can produce apps in minutes just by telling it what type of platform you want to create. But first, our Big Story.

— Collin

---

THE BIG STORY

Kumu grapples with declining users, rising competition

---

MAKING WAVES

---

AI ODYSSEY

---

NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

---

FYI

---