Bukalapak has taken a strategic step this year by performing acquihire acquiring Prelo’s talents and technology. We’ve been informed that Fransiska Hadiwidjana, Prelo’s Founder, is now Bukalapak’s Head of Business.
There’s no further information following this strategic step, whether Prelo will be closed or keep running independently. Prelo’s operation is still active by the time this article is published.
Teddy Oetomo, Bukalapak’s Chief Strategy Officer, confirmed to DailySocial, “Bukalapak didn’t acquire Prelo, we only acquire the talents with unique and special skills according to Bukalapak’s requirements.”
“Sorry, we can’t share the further plan or strategy just yet,” he said.
This isn’t Bukalapak’s first acquisition or acquihire. Previously, M. Fajrin Rasyid, Bukalapak’s Co-Founder and President, explained that they had begun to acquire several software houses (in terms of acquihire).
On the occasion, he said the company is on progress to explore the acquisition of e-commerce players which already synergised and Prelo was one of the first target. Prelo and Bukalapak have similar C2C market segment.
Prelo is a marketplace for pre-loved or secondhand items. Prelo is based in Bandung and Bukalapak has already opening R&D center in the region.
Update: Bukalapak insists the correct term is “a creative scheme to acquire Prelo’s talents and technology”
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Original article is in Indonesian, translated by Kristin Siagian
