Notable Roles | - Co‑founder and CEO, Pomelo Fashion (2013–present) |
Key Recognition | - Featured in Forbes and CNN as Southeast Asia e‑commerce leader |
Background and Early Foundations
David Jou was born to Korean parents in Germany and spent his childhood in Germany the United States and South Korea moving frequently. He developed adaptability and cross‑cultural insight from an early age. In 2003 while studying economics at Amherst College in Massachusetts he launched his first startup The Boxing Co offering moving and storage services for students. After graduation he worked at Bain & Company in New York on growth strategy then moved to private equity at New Mountain Capital gaining experience in finance valuation and operations. In 2012 he relocated to Bangkok to join Lazada Thailand as founding Managing Director focusing on expanding e‑commerce in Southeast Asia. Seeking to launch his own venture he co‑founded Pomelo Fashion in 2013 to introduce digitally native vertical fashion to the region. He combined global training finance consulting and Asian consumer instincts to build a brand that marries fashion design with technology innovation.
Career Milestones and Impact
Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
2003 | Launched first startup The Boxing Co at Amherst College in Massachusetts, shipping and storage for students |
2006–2008 | Consultant at Bain & Company New York then private equity at New Mountain Capital |
2012 | Joined Lazada Thailand as Co‑founder and Managing Director, driving early regional growth |
2013 | Co‑founded Pomelo Fashion in Bangkok (later launched publicly in 2014) to build Asia‑first digitally native vertical fashion brand |
2019–2022 | Raised Series D capital from Jungle Ventures JD.com Central Group totaling US $79 million; expanded presence across Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore to 44 countries |
2020s | Introduced omnichannel “Tap Try Buy”, sustainability initiatives like Purpose by Pomelo, data‑driven merchandising platform Henry |
- Pomelo App users: ~50 million; active monthly users ~4–5 million
- Market presence: Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore; shipments to 44 countries
- Raised US $79 M Series D funding from Jungle Ventures JD.com Central Group
- Tap Try Buy Try at Home model reduced returns while boosting conversion rates (~85 % satisfaction)
Leadership Style and Influence
David combines global exposure and data-intensive growth with a deeply localized approach to fashion. He built Pomelo as a digital-first but omni-channel brand in Asia. He emphasizes fast feedback loops, trend forecasting using social media data, and scalable operations from supply chain to design. His leadership reflects resilience, customer-centric mindset, and innovation rooted in market gaps and sustainability.
Legacy and Future Focus
David’s journey from Bain consultant to regional e-commerce leader exemplifies entrepreneurial agility. He transformed Pomelo into Southeast Asia’s premier digital fashion platform, redefining omnichannel shopping in the region. Next steps include IPO ambition, expansion across Asia, deeper AI‑driven personalization, and a sustainability ethos to lead the industry’s next wave.
