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Small Business Check-In: Pocketbook

We catch up with the founders of Pocketbook Bosco Tan and Alvin Singh, who we met in Season 1 of Small Business Secrets.

Bosco Tan and Alvin Singh.
Bosco Tan and Alvin Singh. Source: Supplied

Childhood friends Bosco Tan and Alvin Singh started Pocketbook back in 2012, and since then, the company has been going from strength to strength.

The duo dropped six-figure salaries and spent 12 months building the app in Alvin's living room - a punt that paid off.

Pocketbook has gone from 250,000 users to nearly half a million in just 18 months.

“One of the things you get having a long-standing friendship behind a project like this is absolute honesty," says Bosco.

The startup has partnered with Macquarie Bank to integrate their platforms, making it easier for users to connect and manage their personal finances.

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They were also recently acquired by the ASX-listed company Zip Co for $7.5 million.

Zip Co is also a fintech startup with over a million users and 150 staff around the country.

This recent growth has been a welcome relief for the app founders.

Want to find out the secret to small business success? Tune into #BizSecretsSBS at Sundays 7am & 5pm on SBS, stream on SBS On Demand, or follow us on FacebookTwitter or Instagram.


Sharing business secrets of inspiring entrepreneurs & tips on starting up in Australia's diverse small business sector. Read more about Small Business Secrets

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Source: SBS Small Business Secrets



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