Kaodim, which operates as Gawin in the Philippines and Beres in Indonesia, will use the funds for product development and expansion into underserved markets in Southeast Asia

Kaodim Group, an online marketplace for local and professional services in Southeast Asia, has raised US$7 million in a funding round led by Square Peg Capital and an affiliate of SIG Asia Investment.

The company will use the funds for product development, intensifying marketing efforts, and expansion into underserved markets across the region.

“Over the last year, we have introduced several features that allow the business to deliver maximum value to customers and vendors, while monetizing more intelligently. Having seen strong development so far, our vision is to provide a faster, more dependable way of hiring a broad range of services; from cleaners to personal trainers. Square Peg Capital and SIG’s experience and expertise in investing in marketplaces around the world will help the Kaodim Group achieve this,” said Group Managing Director Jeffri Cheong.

Also Read: A brief overview of Southeast Asia’s online marketplaces

Founded in November 2014 by Cheong and Choong Fui-Yu (Group CEO), Kaodim is a services hiring platform  which provides a way to hire hundreds of services — from house cleaning and home renovation to photography.  The firm operates as Kaodim in Malaysia and Singapore, Gawin in the Philippines, and Beres in Indonesia. The company is currently operating in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Metro Manila, Singapore and Jakarta.

Since launch, the group has focused on expanding its presence in the Southeast Asian region. On the product front, the group introduced a new product called Kaodim Direct, which is aimed at providing an enhanced experience for selected services such as cleaning or air-condition servicing. Users are matched instantly to a highly rated service provider at a competitive fixed packaged price.

The Kaodim Pro app also helps thousands of SMEs find customers and grow their business.

“Many of our service providers have experienced 40 to 50 per cent monthly growth from using our app. Unlike before, customers are now coming to them directly via their devices. We’ve really provided a simple tech and mobile solution to address the marketing challenges these businesses face in this digital age,” added Cheong.

Previously, in November 2015, Kaodim raised US$4 million Series A round led by Venturra Capital, with participation from Beenext, 500 Startups and East Ventures in November 2015. A few months earlier, it had secured US$550,000 in seed funding led by East Ventures with participation from 500 Startups and KK Fund.

 

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