

The Impulso Podcast
Momentum Works
The Impulso Podcast is hosted by Momentum Works, a venture outfit headquartered in Singapore. Each week, our in-house experts, community and guests unpack the latest trends, undercurrents and lessons in tech across borders. We explore topics like innovation, ecommerce, digital financial services, venture investment, and the broader digital economy.
In addition to covering our home base of Southeast Asia and advanced global markets like the US, we also draw extensive lessons from tech companies in China.
Visit momentum.asia or get in touch via hello@mworks.asia for our insights reports, newsletter, Academy and Venture offerings.
In addition to covering our home base of Southeast Asia and advanced global markets like the US, we also draw extensive lessons from tech companies in China.
Visit momentum.asia or get in touch via hello@mworks.asia for our insights reports, newsletter, Academy and Venture offerings.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 8, 2025 • 18min
E118:Why Grab prices are so different across Southeast Asia?
Why does the same Grab ride cost $2 in Manila but $18 in Singapore? 🇸🇬🇵🇭🇮🇩And why do some people still take it every day in Singapore?In this episode , we dive into what it’s really like using Grab across Southeast Asia. We’re joined by Denise from the Philippines and Arana from Indonesia as we swap stories about how people get around, order food, and deal with ride-hailing chaos in our respective cities. We also discuss GrabX’s new features and if we need them!This episode is a new format where we share a little bit more about the everyday consumer across various regins. Let us know in the comments if this format is something you would like to see more of, or if there are any other topics you would like us to cover! Chapters:00:00:00 – Grab is how much in Singapore?? 00:01:45 – How we use ride-hailing differently across SEA00:04:20 – Gojek, Foodpanda & the real super app habits00:07:10 – GrabX launch: will we ever use these features? 00:10:30 – What Grab means to us (and what we wish it did better)

May 6, 2025 • 16min
E117: Foodpanda exits Thailand after 13 years... what happened?
After 13 years in Thailand, Foodpanda is making a sudden exit. Once the pioneer of food delivery, it’s now being overtaken by newer players—like ShopeeFood, which only showed up four years ago. Amongst operational decisions, PR controversies, and market dynamics, what exactly was it that led to its decline? In this episode, we unpack Foodpanda’s quiet (and rather sad) exit, the competitive nature of Thailand’s food delivery landscape, and what this means for Delivery Hero’s future in Southeast Asia. Chapters: 00:00:00 – Foodpanda quits Thailand: why now?00:01:20 – From first mover to 5%: the slow decline00:04:20 – Why Delivery Hero exits tough markets00:06:00 – Grab & Shopee: platform advantage wins00:08:00 – Global expansion vs. local complexity00:12:00 – Can Foodpanda survive elsewhere?Featured materials: AsiaFood Delivery Platforms In Southeast Asia 5.0, Momentum Workshttps://momentum.asia/product/food-delivery-platforms-in-southeast-asia-5-0/Food delivery platforms in Southeast Asia 2021, Momentum Workshttps://momentum.asia/product/food-delivery-platforms-in-southeast-asia-2021/E114: China’s Didi and Meituan clash in Brazil’s food delivery market, The Impulso Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu_kGfTsqQo&t=60sMy thoughts on Foodpanda’s exit from Thailand, TheLowDownhttps://thelowdown.momentum.asia/my-thoughts-on-foodpandas-exit-from-thailand/

7 snips
Apr 24, 2025 • 15min
E116: Do Xiaomi cars still have a future?
Explore Xiaomi's bold entry into the EV arena, where they’ve sold over 200,000 cars against giants like BYD and Tesla. Discover the buzz around the Porsche-inspired SU7, and the implications of a recent accident on their sales. Delve into the challenges of autonomous driving and the importance of safety, especially for new drivers. Learn how Xiaomi's innovative strategies and focus on design are helping them carve out a niche in China’s fast-paced electric vehicle market.

Apr 22, 2025 • 14min
E115: Chagee's US IPO, the new "Starbucks or tea"
Founded by a young man with (allegedly) no formal education, Chagee has quickly become one of the top tea brands in the world. Its recent successful IPO debuted at a market cap of nearly US$6 billion. How did they get here? In this episode, we dive into the success story behind Chagee’s rapid rise - from humble beginnings to becoming one of Starbuck’s biggest rivals anda hiccup in Vietnam. With over 6,000 global stores and a plan to expand further into the US in these turbulent times, can Chagee become the next global beverage giant? Chapters:00:00:50 – Chagee’s US$6 billion debut in Nasdaq00:02:30 – How the name “Cha” came about00:04:00 – The founder’s unconventional journey00:07:40 – Chagee’s same store sales are declining00:11:00 – Chagee’s hiccup in Vietnam00:12:00 – Could Chagee be the next Starbucks?

Apr 9, 2025 • 23min
E114: China’s Didi and Meituan clash in Brazil’s food delivery market
Is the food delivery landscape of Brazil going to completely change? Bouncing back from a failed launch in 2019, Didi is back in Brazil as 99 Food. In this episode, we explore Didi’s reentry into Brazils food delivery market. What went wrong the first time? Why is Didi confident enough now for a comeback? Can they take a bite out of iFood’s massive 80% market share? At the same time, we also received news that Meituan is entering Brazil under Keeta. What will this mean for the food delivery lStay tuned as we see how Chinese platforms are reshaping global food delivery dynamics. Chapters:00:00:50: Didi is entering Brazil… again00:05:40: An introduction to Didi’s international business 00:07:35: Why did Didi fail in Brazil in 2019? 00:10:16: Can Didi beat iFood’s 80% market share? 00:16:10: Keeta vs Didi in Brazil Food delivery market Featured materials: TLD China’s Didi enters Brazil’s food delivery market

Mar 17, 2025 • 27min
E113: Why are ecommerce giants entering food delivery?
In this episode, we take a closer look at the fast-paced and competitive food delivery industry in Southeast Asia. ShopeeFood is gaining traction in Vietnam—but does this pose a real challenge to market leader Grab? Is TikTok considering a move into local services? And could drones become the new norm for food delivery?We’re joined by Weihan, our insights lead, to unpack these questions and more. From drone delivery trials in Dubai to the high costs of operations in Singapore, we explore the trends and challenges shaping the future of how we order and eat food.What does this mean for the industry—and for consumers? Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on the evolving world of food delivery.Chapters:00:04:00: Grab leads Southeast Asia’s food delivery again00:05:00: Is Shopee Food a threat to Grab?00:10:00: Indonesia’s intense food delivery battle00:14:00: TikTok’s secret expansion into local services?00:23:00: Drones are now delivering your food? Featured Materials:Food Delivery Platforms in Southeast Asia 5.0, Momentum Works Vietnam Ecommerce and Retail Immersion, Momentum WorksE108: From Dianping to RedNote: Shanghai’s role in breeding successful consumer apps, The Impulso Podcast E95: How Meituan overtook FoodPanda in Hong Kong, and what’s next?

Feb 28, 2025 • 22min
E112: How AI humans are killing marketing
AI is taking over the world by storm, and AI generated humans are becoming more popular. What does this mean for the ecosystem? In this episode of Impulso Podcast, we sit down with Jensen, co-founder and CEO of Topview.ai, an AI-powered video creation platform. With over 13 years of experience at Taobao, Jensen has been at the forefront of AI applications, especially in e-commerce and digital media. As AI-generated video becomes more sophisticated, Jensen shares how the shift from small, targeted AI models to large, multimodal models has transformed the industry since 2022. From completely AI generated videos, to AI humans in the videos - how will AI change the future of content creation? Or even the videos we see on a daily basis? Chapters:00:01:04 AI Evolution: Before & After 2022 00:03:29 AI Acceleration & Market Impact 00:05:00 AI generated videos and how it is used 00:10:21 Can AI be the future of the Metaverse?00:14:07 AI in Business & Global Expansion – Hangzhou’s tech ecosystem and China’s AI influence.00:21:10 Closing Remarks – AI’s future and an invitation to explore China’s tech scene.Featured materials: E46: SenseTime founder’s passing & AI companies’ challenges in China, The Impulso PodcastTabcut report, Momentum Works

Feb 12, 2025 • 25min
E111: Live-selling cars in malls? China’s EV retail strategy
BYD is now outselling automotive giants like Toyota and Volkswagen in China. But beyond the numbers, a bigger shift is happening—Chinese EV brands are moving away from traditional dealerships and into shopping malls.In this episode, we explore China’s electric vehicle revolution, breaking down the numbers behind its EV boom and uncovering why mall showrooms are replacing dealerships, and the economics driving this shift.From sleek in-mall showrooms to live-streamed car sales and in-store cafés, China’s EV industry is transforming not just how cars are made, but how they’re sold. The way we buy cars is changing—China is leading the charge, but will the rest of the world follow?Featured materials: E105: Collapse of a Chinese EV company, livestreamed, The Impulso Podcast

Feb 7, 2025 • 51min
从中国到全世界:解读拼多多和Temu的低价策略 | Impulso E110 [CN]
在本期节目中,我们与中国的电商资深专家凯飞一起探讨拼多多的成功故事。凯飞深入剖析了该公司独特的电商模式,并作为行业专家提供了独到见解。
从拼多多在中国低线城市的起源,到其通过Temu实现的全球野心,我们讨论了拼多多如何通过聚焦价格优势和效率重塑了消费者行为。我们还分析了该公司对成本效益的专注、与阿里巴巴和京东的激烈竞争,以及在维持低价的同时平衡供应商关系的挑战。
不仅如此,凯飞还分享了对电商未来的看法、创新的作用,以及在竞争激烈的全球市场中保持增长的挑战。
章节:
00:01:30:拼多多的崛起
00:05:20:Temu的颠覆性战略
00:19:15:为什么对价格的执着是Temu的秘密武器
00:30:25:增长与盈利之战
00:42:45:Temu的全球扩张冒险
精选材料:
Who is Temu, 2024, Momentum Works:
https://momentum.asia/product/temu-2-years-on/
Behind Pinduoduo’s ¥10 billion merchant subsidies | Impulso E102
https://youtu.be/FKENtoznAJk

21 snips
Feb 7, 2025 • 1h
From China to the world: Temu’s low price strategy decoded | Impulso E110 [EN]
Discover the disruptive force of Pinduoduo in the e-commerce landscape. The discussion dives into Temu's unique low-price strategy and how it shakes up the market against giants like Alibaba and JD.com. Insights reveal how consumer preferences lean towards affordability over speedy delivery. The complexities of maintaining low prices while ensuring quality are examined, alongside the challenges of navigating global expansion. Tune in for a look at the future of e-commerce and the implications of pricing dynamics in retail.