 "This week in Asian start-ups")
Laiye | China
Rather than make it a standalone app that people would have to download, the Laiye concierge is a brand account inside the WeChat messaging app. To access it, WeChat users just need to add the Laiye official account and begin talking to the real-life people waiting on your beck and call.
Slurp | Malaysia
Slurp is a start-up that offers a cloud-based iPad point-of-sale (POS) system to food and beverage (F&B) retailers in Malaysia. The customisable software allows retailers to manage their menu, inventory, and pricing. It also allows employees to clock in and out, and businesses to implement loyalty programmes, promos, and vouchers for customers.
HungryNaki | Bangladesh
HungryNaki is an online food delivery service akin to Rocket Internet’s Foodpanda. Since launching operations in Dhaka, the start-up has expanded to cover Chittagong and Syllhet. It says a total of 750 restaurants are online across the three cities, with approximately 58,000 registered users.
Digital Green is a YouTube for rural India and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. The platform provides people living in rural India with the opportunity to create and star in helpful, relatable videos. The non-governmental organization works with other NGOs and development initiatives to teach those in rural communities how to record and share videos about things like agriculture, health practices, livelihood, nutrition, and social issues.
Blaze Automation | India
Blaze Automation produced a device that allows total control of security and entertainment from a single control center and app. The Blaze device, called the B.ONE, can also help to regulate the consumption of utility services and reduce the overall bills.
