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Lunch With Sumiko: For the first 18 months, Carousell co-founders had no salaries

Their Carousell online marketplace is valued at US$550 million, but they see what they do as not just a business but also a mission

In 2012, three friends (from left) Marcus Tan, Quek Siu Rui and Lucas Ngoo launched the Carousell app, which allows users to buy and sell on their smartphone things they no longer want. Carousell has a presence in seven markets across Asia, and gets — In 2012, three friends (from left) Marcus Tan, Quek Siu Rui and Lucas Ngoo launched the Carousell app, which allows users to buy and sell on their smartphone things they no longer want. Carousell has a presence in seven markets across Asia, and gets an average of 136 listings per minute globally. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

Executive Editor

Updated

Published

May 19, 2019, 05:00 AM

Midway through our lunch, two young men stop at our table to gawk.

"I think you guys are the Carousell founders," one of them declares.

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