Indonesia’s sprawling archipelago has lengthy been a headache for logistics firms, however there isn’t any lack of courageous challengers. Jarkata-based Astro, which offers 15-minute grocery delivery, has just lately closed a $60 million Series B financing spherical, lifting its complete funding to $90 million for the reason that enterprise launched simply 9 months in the past.
The Series B spherical was led by Accel, Citius and Tiger Global, with participation from current traders AC Ventures, Global Founders Capital, Lightspeed and Sequoia Capital India. The firm declined to disclose its post-money valuation.
The pace at which Astro is attracting funding goes to present the necessity for hefty upfront funding within the grocery delivery race, which is about establishing a logistics infrastructure shortly and locking in loyal clients forward of rivals. Founded by Tokopedia veteran Vincent TjendraAstro plans to spend its funding proceeds on person acquisition, product growth, and hiring extra employees to add to its present crew of 200.
As in lots of nations world wide, on-demand delivery bought a lift through the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. But e-grocery penetration within the nation stays low and is estimated to be simply 0.5% by 2022, in contrast to China’s 6% and South Korea’s 34% in 2020.
That means there’s an enormous alternative for firms like Astro which are making an attempt to show the comfort of on-line grocery ordering over brick-and-mortar visits. The e-grocery delivery market in Indonesia is projected to reach $6 billionby 2025.
Astro presents 15-minute delivery inside a variety of 2-3km by way of its community of rented “dark stores,” that are distribution hubs arrange for on-line purchasing solely. The firm has opted for a cash-intensive mannequin, because it owns your entire person journey going from stock sourcing, provide chain, mid-mile, to last-mile delivery. The good thing about this heavyweight method is that it will get to monitor the standard of buyer expertise.
Astro presently operates in round 50 places throughout Greater Jakarta, an space with 30 million residents, by way of a fleet of about 1,000 delivery drivers. Revenues grew greater than 10x over the previous few months and downloads hit 1 million, the corporate mentioned.
The startup is competing with incumbents like Sayurbox, HappyFresh, and TaniHub to win over customers. Its clients vary from working professionals to younger dad and mom at residence “who seek convenience,” mentioned Tjendra.
Grocery delivery is notoriously cash-burning, however Tjendra reckoned margins will enhance because the enterprise scales. The firm’s foremost income is the gross margin it earned from the products offered and delivery charges clients pay. A big chunk of the enterprise’s prices comes from delivery, which the founder believed “will come down over time as we deploy for hubs and subsequently reduce the delivery distance areas.”
