Indonesia
Indonesian insurtech Qoala survives pandemic with new partners and products
Acquisition of Thai insurtech FairDee to spearhead expansion into Southeast Asia, building on earlier entry into Malaysia and Vietnam and a Covid-19 travel insurance product at home
Waste management startup Magalarva aims for profitability with new factory, B2B services
Partnerships with supermarkets and waste transporters provide Magalarva with new revenue streams and sources of production input as the company ramps up its manufacturing activities
Shrimp farming IoT startup JALA to launch franchise program by mid-2021
Despite delays to hardware manufacturing and global expansion during the pandemic, JALA achieved encouraging growth in 2020 and is gearing up for a pre-Series A fundraising round
Can Indonesia plug its tech talent gap to keep its digital economy growing?
Local institutions are stepping up to boost tech skills among students and jobseekers, as the government opens the way for more foreign talent joining startups
Indonesian fintechs plug payday gaps, help workers stay away from loan sharks
Cash advance or “earned wage access” programs, already popular employee benefits in the US and Europe, are attracting investors and diverse clients in Indonesia
Indonesian unicorn Traveloka aims for US listing via SPAC
The online travel aggregator reported revenue drops and layoffs in 2020 but became profitable late last year, led by recoveries in Vietnam and Thailand
Indonesian startup Traval goes virtual to stay afloat during pandemic
The startup is also trying to set itself apart from mainstream tourism with tours like Zero Waste Journey where travelers do not bring plastic items and even plant trees
Gradana: P2P lending for more accessible home ownership in Indonesia
Gradana wants to create an ecosystem where developers, agents, landlords, buyers and lenders benefit one another through interconnected financing
Bizhare equity crowdfunding attracts over 50,000 retail investors, starts secondary trading
A partner of the Indonesia Central Securities Depository, Bizhare also lowered minimum investment amounts, implemented scripless trading and handpicked businesses on its platform
Koinpack tackles Indonesia's sachet waste problem with refillable bottles
Partnering with FMCG companies, Koinpack is making small amounts of household consumables available to lower-income groups without using traditional sachet packaging
The Store Front: Striving to disrupt streaming with just rewards for musicians
Dubbing itself “the most equitable store around,” The Store Front aims to provide the fairest possible digital sales platform for musicians
DORM: New-generation housing for Indonesia’s tech-savvy, community-driven students
Combining online features with offline services, DORM goes way beyond what the market typically offers in student accommodation
Indonesia 2021 outlook: VCs "cautiously optimistic" on Southeast Asia's largest country
Investors expect Indonesian startups to regain their growth opportunities when the economy reopens with the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, even as some online living and working habits have stuck
ZiCare: Digitalizing Indonesia's healthcare system, one hospital at a time
Supported by the health ministry, ZiCare is raising $1.5m to attract more hospitals and clinics to use its platform for administration, patient records and insurance claims
HighPitch 2020: In conversation with top winners and UMG Idealab head Kiwi Aliwarga
Goers, Izy and CekLab demonstrated quick thinking when adapting their businesses to the pandemic, a capability they will need to stay competitive post-Covid
