Widening the net

• Would you look for your next hire on Instagram? Thanks to 500-backed Talkpush, now you can. The recruitment automation platform announced it has released the first recruitment conversational AI for Instagram.
• This function is already available on other messaging platforms, such as Messenger and WhatsApp. The bot uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to interact with potential candidates. It even guides them in exploring available career options.
• Increasing the number of recruitment channels for employers expands the talent pool for them and reduces candidate drop-off rates.
• Talkpush is also rolling out a new service. The startup will design chatbots according to the employer’s preferences, including personality, language, style, look and feel, avatar, and how it handles different scenarios.
• Read the full announcement here.

A campaign booster

• UK online marketplace OnBuy is set for a global launch, and it has looked to 500-backed Easyship for support. The strategic partnership will see Easyship offering global e-commerce shipping solutions to more than 7,000 merchants on the platform for over 36 million products.
• Under this agreement, merchants will get access to a range of tools and omnichannel fulfillment capabilities for both domestic and international shipping.
• Additional features will also be available, including management of inventory, delivery, returns, and third-party logistics.
• “The ability to sell any business anywhere is important for entrepreneurs who want to expand their business. Easyship’s international reach is unmatched. By integrating Easyship with OnBuy, sellers get discounted courier rates,“ said Tommaso Tamburnotti, co-founder and CEO of Easyship. “We are excited to partner with OnBuy to unlock even more markets for sellers.”
• Read the full story here.

On track

• 500-backed superapp Grab has released its financial results for Q2 2021. The startup posted a record Gross Merchandise Value and Adjusted Net Sales of US$3.9 billion and US$550 million respectively.
• According to the announcement, Grab’s planned merger with blank-check company Altimeter Growth Corp. continues to progress and is expected to close in Q4 this year.
• “We had a strong quarter with double, and in some cases, triple-digit growth year-over-year across all of our core verticals. This was in spite of a worsening COVID-19 environment, which saw many Southeast Asian countries tightening movement restrictions as cases surged,” said Anthony Tan, Group CEO and co-founder of Grab.
• “Our growth is testament to the resilience of our superapp business model and the significant market opportunity in the region. As the platform becomes more relevant to everyday life in Southeast Asia, we’ve seen user spend grow by 27% year over year. At the same time, we’re creating more opportunities for merchants – our GrabFood merchant base has more than doubled, while merchants using GrabPay nearly tripled,” he added.
• Earlier this year, Grab joined forces with Emtek Group, one of Indonesia’s leading conglomerates. Together, they plan to accelerate the digitization of the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises outside the main city areas. The partnership will also open up access to digital offerings for all Indonesians.
• Read the full report here.