The Impulso Podcast

Momentum Works
The Impulso Podcast

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.

  1. DEC 6

    E103: Behind the Labubu craze: PopMart business explained

    What is Labubu? Why are Pop Mart's blind boxes so addictive? From the thrill of unboxing to the cultural phenomenon of "ugly cute" characters, these whimsical creations have captured the hearts (and wallets) of Gen Z. In this episode of Impulso Podcast, Jianggan, Sabrina, and special guest Phyllis—our resident Pop Mart enthusiast—dive into the fascinating world of Pop Mart. Tune in as we unpack the company’s innovative business model, its exclusive IPs, and the meteoric rise that has turned Pop Mart into a global powerhouse generating billions in revenue. With a growing portfolio of IPs and even their own theme park, could Pop Mart be setting its sights on becoming the next Disney? The big question remains: can Pop Mart build a deep emotional connection to its characters, or is this just another fleeting trend? Chapters: 00:00:40: The craze behind PopMart explained  00:04:00: PopMart’s success in numbers  00:07:20: Who are the people behind PopMart and Labubu?  00:10:00 PopMart’s IP strategy  00:14:00: Labubu has a boyfriend?

    21 min

  2. NOV 29

    E102: Behind Pinduoduo’s ¥10 billion merchant subsidies

    On 21 November, two stories rocked China’s ecommerce scene, with global implications.  (In the previous episode, we discussed the first story: Alibaba’s merger of its domestic Chinese and international ecommerce businesses.) In this episode, we dive into the second story—PDD Group’s Q3 earnings miss. But was the ‘miss’ engineered deliberately because all the merchant support costs were planned, or was it a lapse in execution?  Tune in as we explore:  Pinduoduo’s ¥10 billion merchant subsidies; Why PDD or Temu seems to choose to directly engage rather than hire lobbyists; Temu's opening of a full marketplace mode in the United States;  Pinduoduo’s focused operations, and its similarity to global retail giants like Walmart The ecommerce competition in China and globally is entering a very interesting and probably even more intensified phase now.  Chapters: 00:00:45: Pinduoduo’s stock price falls 10%?  00:03:45 PDD’s frank earnings spook investors  00:06:45: Was the miss deliberate?  00:12:20: Temu launched a marketplace model 00:14:45 Intensifying ecommerce landscape - how are players adapting?

    19 min

  3. NOV 29

    E101: Alibaba’s ecommerce merger mirrors Temu’s strategy?

    On 21 November, two stories rocked China’s ecommerce scene, with global implications.  In this episode, we discuss the first story: Alibaba Group’s announcement to merge its domestic Chinese and international ecommerce businesses into the new Alibaba E-Commerce Business Group, led by Jiang Fan.  This move aims to streamline operations, foster synergies, and better position Alibaba against formidable rivals like Pinduoduo. (The second story—PDD Group’s Q3 earnings miss—is covered in episode 102.) In this episode, we explore: Jiang Fan's journey from a mobile advertising entrepreneur to a pivotal leader at Alibaba; Challenges of navigating leadership amidst corporate restructuring; The significance of this merger in a rapidly evolving ecommerce landscape;  How this merger mirrors Pinduoduo and Temu’s strategy The ecommerce competition in China and globally is entering a very interesting and probably even more intensified phase now.  Chapters: 00:00:20: Alibaba’s ecommerce merger 00:00:50: Who is Jiang Fan?  00:08:30: Transforming Alibaba, and its reversals 00:11:45: Challenges of leading a big organization

    15 min

  4. NOV 22

    E100: China ecommerce parcel volume surpassed 150 billion this year

    In our 100th episode of Impulso Podcast, we unpack China’s milestone of delivering 150 Billion parcels in just one year - that’s enough parcels to fill up 30 million football fields!  Tune in as we break down the numbers, explore the logistics behind this scale, and discuss: How goods sold at just ¥9.9 (with free shipping!) can still turn a profit Automation vs. human efficiency in handling millions of parcels daily Our first-hand observations from  visit to one of China’s busiest logistics hubs The story of the 150 billionth parcel Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insights into the trends shaping the consumer tech ecosystem. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes! Chapters: 00:30:00: China sets new record: 150B parcels sent a year?!  00:03:30 Peak daily number of parcels delivered on just a random Tuesday? 00:06:45 11.11 hauls 00:08:20 Are Chinese brands profitable after selling goods at such low prices?  00:12:15 Logistics facility sends out 4 millions parcels a day  00:18:20 What was the 150B parcel?

    21 min

  5. NOV 19

    E99: Shopee's US$4.6 billion lending business

    Building on our discussion of Sea Groups Q3 earnings, this week we unpack Sea Group’s US$4.6B loan book, which has grown 30% QoQ while keeping non-performing loans low.  Tune in as we break down how Sea Money leverages Shopee’s customer data to assess credit risk, fueling growth for both its digital financial arm and Shopee, with BNPL services encouraging users to finance larger ticket items.  On the other hand, Grab’s loan book, although smaller—at just 10% of Sea’s loan book—has potential. While Grab’s user base skews more premium and its ride-hailing model sees fewer transactions than e-commerce, it’s steadily growing. With 41.9 million monthly transacting users and expanding services across income segments, Grab is creating new opportunities in digital finance. Chapters: 00:00:37 SEAMoney’s US$4.6B loan book  00:04:00 How do tech players support lending?  00:06:20 SEA maintains a low non-performing loans (NPL) 00:12:28 Shopee Paylater boosts ecommerce growth  00:18:15 Does Grab’s financial services have potential?

    25 min

  6. NOV 15

    E98: Shopee’s in-house logistics: 4 billion parcels a year?

    Sea Group announced expectation-beating earnings in Q3, sending stock prices up by 10%. A key highlight? SPX Express.  Has Shopee’s in-house logistics arm finally caught up to J&T Express in parcel volume?  Join us as we dive into how Shopee’s investment in strengthening its in-house logistics is paying off, deepening its “moat” against rising e-commerce rivals such as TikTok Shop and Temu. But is this enough for Shopee to be invincible? (Probably not) We’ll also explore Shopee’s latest pick-up lockers, and their potential on easing reverse logistics in the region and transforming the consumer experience. Chapters: 00:00:10: Shopee’s expectation-beating Q3 earnings  00:01:30: SPX Express parcel volume on par with J&T? 00:05:45: J&T’s revenue per parcel is falling 00:09:40: Shopee is deepening its moat against competitors  00:14:00: Reverse logistics, the next step

    18 min

  7. NOV 8

    E97: US election, Xi meets Modi, Luckin prepares U.S. takeover

    Trump returns to the White House, Mr Modi meets President Xi in Russia. Are businesses ready to survive a world of shifting alliances and tariff threats? Back by popular requests, we’re re-introducing our weekly recap format in this episode as we dive into the latest economic and political developments reshaping business strategies across borders. As the world watches the U.S. elections, many companies globally, especially cross-border businesses in Asia, are already making bold moves to adapt—with some even setting up shop in Paraguay to avoid potential tariffs.  We also discuss the evolving coffee landscape, including Luckin Coffee’s and Cotti Coffee’s ambitious expansion plans. Where does incumbent Starbucks stand amidst this intensifying competition? Tune in as we weigh in on operational differences, consumer behaviour, and brand strategies of coffee giants globally.

    29 min

  8. OCT 30

    E96: (Only) after $72B invested, VCs hitting reset in Southeast Asia?!

    (Only) after pouring $72 billion into Southeast Asia, venture capitalists are hitting the reset button in Southeast Asia?  Lightspeed Ventures' report, Southeast Asia: Resetting Expectations, has sparked discussions in our community groups for its honest take on the region's challenges and opportunities, with some calling it “finally an honest report on Southeast Asia.”  But what does it really mean to reset expectations for this region?  Tune into this latest episode as we dive into the evolving landscape of venture capital investment in Southeast Asia, unpacking why the region’s tech growth hasn’t fully met expectations, the unique role of conglomerates, and what this reset means for future investments and founders navigating these markets.

    22 min
See All (105)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Momentum Works
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    105
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Momentum Works
  • Show Website
    The Impulso Podcast

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