This episode takes a deep dive into the business model of super app Grab as CJ interviews CFO Peter Oey. Peter introduces listeners to Grab and how it operates in Southeast Asia, highlighting the company’s journey from a ride-hailing service to acquiring Uber's operations in the region, expanding into food delivery, and even branching into banking services, all in one single super app. Peter explains why this model thrives in Southeast Asia and speculates on its potential in Western markets. He sheds light on the flywheel effect of branching into banking services, how they get customers to use Grab’s different products, and the advertising opportunities that exist for the platform. He also discusses how Grab has positively affected economic activity in the region and shares one customer’s incredible success story. The podcast concludes with insights into Grab's proprietary technology, including its unique mapping system, and advice for Western companies looking to enter the Southeast Asian market.
—
SPONSORS:
Vanta's trust management platform takes the manual work out of your security and compliance process and replaces it with continuous automation. Over 9000 businesses use it to automate compliance needs across over 35 frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001. Centralize security workflows, complete questionnaires up to five times faster, and proactively manage vendor risk. For a limited time, get $1,000 off of Vanta at vanta.com/metrics.
Tropic is an intelligent spend management solution that consolidates your spend data and processes into one unified offering, enabling insights and decisive action. It doesn’t just show you where the problems are—it helps you solve them. From spotting hidden optimization opportunities, like duplicative spend, to automating those painful procurement workflows, to giving you the best market data that turns every vendor negotiation in your favor. Tropic combines smart insights with real human expertise to keep you ahead of the curve. Visit tropicapp.io/mostlymetrics to learn how.
RightRev automates the revenue recognition process from end to end, gives you real-time insights, and ensures ASC 606 / IFRS 15 compliance—all while closing books faster. Whether it's multi-element arrangements, subscription renewals, or complex usage-based contracts, RightRev takes care of it all. That means fewer spreadsheets, fewer errors, and more time for your team to focus on growth. For modern revenue recognition simplified, visit rightrev.com and schedule a demo.
Planful is a financial performance management platform designed to streamline financial tasks for businesses. It helps with budgeting, closing the books, and financial reporting, all on a cloud-based platform. By improving the efficiency and accuracy of these processes, Planful allows businesses to make better financial decisions. Find out more at www.planful.com/metrics.
Brex offers the world's smartest corporate card on a full-stack global platform that is everything CFOs need to manage their finances on an elite level. Plus they offer modern banking and treasury as well as intuitive expenses and accounting automation, bill pay, and travel. Brex makes it easy to control spend before it happens, automate annoying tasks, and optimize your finances. Find out how Brex can help you make every dollar count at brex.com/metrics.
—
FOLLOW US ON X:
@cjgustafson222 (CJ)
—
TIMESTAMPS:
(00:00) Preview and Intro
(02:15) Sponsor – Vanta | Tropic | RightRev
(05:54) Super Apps and Grab’s Business Model
(11:16) Why the Super App Model Thrives in Southeast Asia
(15:33) The Super App Model and Western Markets
(17:03) Sponsor – Planful | Brex
(19:16) The Role of Banking Services in Grab’s Business Model
(23:05) The First Step to Becoming a Fintech
(25:05) Getting Users to Use Multiple Grab Products
(30:31) The Advertising Opportunity for Grab
(32:14) Why Southeast Asia Is Overlooked as a Tech Hub
(35:30) Advice to Western Tech Companies Operating in Southeast Asia
(37:15) How Grab Increases Economic Activity
(40:51) A Grab Success Story
(41:45) Grab’s Proprietary Tech and Mapping System
(45:43) Long-Ass Lightning Round: A Forecast Accuracy Error
Get full access to Mostly metrics at
www.mostlymetrics.com/subscribe
