With the latest funding round that valued Ant Financial at US$150 billion, many readers of TLD asked us what is really behind the success and prospects, beyond what is written in the news.
Well, it takes at least a few hours to explain things very clearly, with context, journey, as well as products that succeeded or failed along the way. We did that over half a day for a number of Southeast Asian investor friends early last week – and one of them stepped back from an investment into a payment company he almost committed.
Nonetheless, we have written about Ant Financial’s journey a number of times at TLD. Here is the collection – and they would give you a glimpse:
- Can WeChat Pay and Alipay replicate their successes in Southeast Asia?
- Banks enabled, not stifled, the rise of Alipay – Part 1
- Banks enabled, not stifled, the rise of Alipay – Part 2
- The failure that defined Alipay’s success
- What do Alipay & Uber have in common?
- Alipay & WeChat Pay stick, GrabPay doesn’t, literally
- Eating out experience in the land of Alipay
- Why a derelict rural shop accepts WeChat & Alipay
- I brought only ¥25 cash for a two week trip in China, until…
- Alipay is NOT launching a digital wallet in Singapore soon
- How financial service providers can win over the 600-million strong SEA market
- Alibaba joins with Li Ka-shing in an all-out payments war with WeChat
If you need to discuss further, you are welcome to drop us a note at hello@mworks.asia