Rocket Internet’s fashion retail site Zalora just announced that it has received a boost from a major European retail group Tengelmann to the tune of €20 million. Additionally Zalora also revealed that it has begun development of a regional software development center in Singapore.
Tengelmann Group has previously invested in two of Rocket Internet’s ventures, namely Lazada in Southeast Asia, and its Latin American Amazon clone Linio, putting down up to US $20 million in each company in January and February of this year. This makes the Tengelmann Group a very prolific investment partner in Rocket Internet, joining JP Morgan as Rocket’s other major financier. Additionally Zalora has also announced funding from Investment AB Kinnevik and Summit Partners among others for an undisclosed amount.
Tengelmann Ventures CEO Christian Winter said, “We are very excited to join the Zalora team. We are confident that this is a synergistic and promising partnership given both our strengths in retail and the tremendous potential of the e-commerce market in Asia”.
Michele Ferrario, Regional Managing Director of Zalora SEA commented, “Tengelmann’s long and successful experience in retailing and specifically e-commerce will prove useful for Zalora as we cement our position as an e-commerce industry leader in fashion and beauty retail.”
The decision to build its technological center in Singapore is based on Singapore’s talent pool, leading universities with high quality computer science departments and the raft of polytechnics available across the island nation.
