Kaodim

Kaodim, a name meaning "job done" in Cantonese, was a Malaysian-based online marketplace for local services founded in 2014 by two former lawyers, Choong Fui-Yu and Jeffri Cheong. Prior to launching the startup, both founders had successful legal careers; Choong specialized in corporate and commercial litigation, while Cheong focused on intellectual property litigation and commercial arbitration. Their transition into entrepreneurship was driven by a shared interest in technology and a desire to address the inefficiency of finding reliable service professionals in Malaysia, a process heavily reliant on word-of-mouth.

The platform connected users with a wide array of service providers, including plumbers, cleaners, photographers, movers, and personal trainers. For customers, Kaodim offered a streamlined process to find, compare, and hire professionals by submitting a request and receiving quotes from various vendors. This model allowed users to make informed decisions based on competitive pricing, provider profiles, and customer reviews. For service providers, the platform served as a channel for customer acquisition, enabling them to grow their businesses. Kaodim's primary revenue stream was a fee charged to service providers for each proposal they sent to a potential customer in response to a request.

Launched in November 2014, Kaodim experienced rapid growth, expanding its operations to Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia by 2015. The company secured significant funding, raising a total of $17.6 million from investors such as 500 Startups, East Ventures, and Venturra Capital. However, the business faced critical challenges, including a model that made customer retention difficult, as users and providers could transact offline after their initial connection. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 severely impacted the home services industry, leading to operational disruptions, labor shortages, and increased costs for Kaodim. These factors, compounded by inflation, ultimately led to the difficult decision to cease all operations on July 1, 2022.

Keywords: Kaodim, home services marketplace, local services platform, Southeast Asia services, Choong Fui-Yu, Jeffri Cheong, online service booking, Malaysian startup, service provider directory, find a plumber, cleaning services app, handyman services, professional services booking, gig economy platform, service marketplace shutdown, venture capital-backed, East Ventures, 500 Startups, Venturra Capital, digital marketplace