Grab vs Go-Jek: Duel of digital 'decacorns' escalates in Indonesia

$10bn ride-hailers' battle for food orders and e-payments threatens to leave both bruised

20190404 Grab in Indonesia img

Grab wants to become Indonesia's super-app, offering features beyond transportation, such as payments. © Nikkei illustration

KENTARO IWAMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

JAKARTA -- Singaporean ride-hailer Grab hopes the way to Indonesians' hearts is through their stomachs.

Grab is putting relentless pressure on its Indonesian nemesis Go-Jek, most recently with a revelation to the Nikkei Asian Review that it plans to raise another $2 billion from investors and use much of the money to promote digital payments and other services on Go-Jek's home turf. Over the last year, Grab has invested heavily in the food delivery business there, as the dueling ventures attempt to become the go-to apps for much more than just transportation.

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