Thailand
Home-grown start-up launches ride-hailing service in Laos
The Cambodia-born tech start-up Meal Temple Group is introducing a new business model offering a ride-hailing service in Laos.
Called DriveUp.app, which is a joint venture company between Kiwipay.la and Meal Temple Group Pty Ltd in Laos, it provides taxis, tuk-tuks, and samlors for the first time in the country, the company’s official said.
Launching the service came after the company expanded its food-delivery services from Cambodia to Laos and the firm said it will develop a meal-delivery app business in the country, with more than 100 taxis already on the platform and tens of tuk-tuk drivers being trained and joining the service.
“This is our first step in the ride-hailing industry which is a step further to our supper app business model strategy to address the frontier Asian markets,” said Maxime Rosburger, chief executive officer and founder of Meal Temple Group.
Mr Rosburger said ride-hailing is a very new vertical growth move for Meal Temple Group that the company has been preparing for a while.
“We have chosen to launch DriveUp in Laos first because the market is currently underserved. We hope to be able to provide more jobs to thousands of drivers in Laos before the end of the year,” he said.
However, payments will remain traditional before it considers the country is ready for electronic payments.
“Right now payments are made only by cash. Our next mission is to include an online payment gateway by leveraging our strategic partnership with KiwiPay and boosting financial inclusion in the country by helping drivers to open bank accounts,” Mr Rosburger pointed out.
Meal Temple Group was launched in 2013 and offered its first online food delivery service in Phnom Penh. The tech firm recently penetrated the Kingdom of Bhutan’s market, providing a food delivery platform in the country.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50647908/home-grown-start-up-launches-ride-hailing-service-in-laos/