Society Pass acquires the Singapore-based MVNO Gorilla Networks

The MVNO Gorilla Mobile, enables its customers to convert unused mobile data into digital assets or “Gorilla Go Tokens“, through its blockchain-based SwitchBack feature. The Gorilla Go Tokens, which has no expiry date, can be redeemed and used to offset the bill or pay for other mobile services. By tokenizing mobile data into a digital token, users can share, transfer or trade mobile data with their family and friends who are using different telcos.

Dennis Nguyen, Society Pass Founder, Chair and CEO, explained, “We are excited to make our first acquisition in Singapore, and welcome Gorilla into our SoPa family. Gorilla’s technology platform aligns well with our acquisition strategy as we incorporate Gorilla’s blockchain and Web3 capabilities into the SoPa ecosystem and enable the new meta-economy for all our portfolio companies.

Xanne Leo, founder and CEO of Gorilla Mobile said “By joining forces with SoPa’s extensive ecosystem and large user base in Southeast Asia, we are thrilled about the combined marketing capabilities we will now bring collectively to our partners and customers.”

As a loyalty and data marketing ecosystem, Society Pass operates multiple e-commerce platforms across its key markets in Southeast Asia. Its business model focuses on analysing user data through the expected launch of its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points, which seamlessly connects consumers and merchants across multiple product and service categories to foster organic loyalty.

Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 1.6 million registered consumers and over 5,500 registered merchants/brands on its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting edge components to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

In addition, SoPa operates Leflair, a lifestyle e-commerce platform in Vietnam, Pushkart, a grocery delivery company in Philippines, and Handycart, a online restaurant delivery service in Hanoi, Vietnam.

“When we started Gorilla Networks three years ago, our vision was to build a democratised mobile communications service platform where users regardless of nationality, home location or mobile subscription plans can access essential telecoms services such as roaming and mobile data anywhere and everywhere throughout the world. Gorilla is currently transitioning existing web 2 telco services onto the web3 economy by tokenizing mobile data as digital assets. In 2021, we digitised eSIMS, data plans, and mobile numbers as NFTs, which dramatically transformed how our users purchase, interact and experience mobile services,” said Xanne Leo.

Coming soon to Malaysia and Thailand

Gorilla Mobile was established in Singapore in 2019 with U$3 million in seed capital. The company currently employs 15 people at its Singapore office, and has three employees in Thailand.

With the rebound of the travel market throughout Southeast Asia in 2Q/3Q 2022, Gorilla expects to dramatically increase its customer base by marketing to the region’s business and leisure travellers with its user-friendly technology platform. It plans to expand its MVNO services offering to Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia over the next 12 months.

Gorilla Mobile was leasing network infrastructure access from M1 in Singapore but is in the midst of switching to Starhub instead.

Company Video: The Gorilla Mobile Experience