With new technologies, fundings, and launches, the Indonesian startup ecosystem has had an eventful seven days. Here’s all the juiciest startup information from the archipelago in our dedicated Indonesian review for this week.
Online News Portal Dunaiku.net Secures Funding
Indonesia-based online news portal portal for gaming and gadgets Duniaku.net has secured an undisclosed amount of Seed funding from Discovery Nusantara Capital (DNC).
As per an e27 report, the startup aims to deploy the raised funds to become the leading portal for gaming, geek culture, and gadget review in Southeast Asia.
The Jakarta-based startup was launched in 2010 by Ami Raditya and Robbi Baskoro. It is an online content platform that gives the latest information about gadgets and games for the Southeast Asian audience.
Go-Jek And BlueBird Join Hands To Launch Go-BlueBird
Indonesian ride-hailing startup Go-Jek and taxi company BlueBird have launched Go-BlueBird, a special feature to book Blue Bird taxis via the Go-Jek app.
Under the newly launched feature, users will now be able to pay for their cab fares via Go-Jek’s payments app, Go-Pay. However, taxis booked via the Go-BlueBird feature will use the conventional taxi-meter system.
The new service will be available in five Indonesian cities: Greater Jakarta Area, Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Semarang.
HappyFresh Launches Happy Corporate – A New B2B Service
Indonesian online grocery platform HappyFresh has launched a new B2B service HappyCorporate that will allow big corporations to shop for pantry supplies, from coffee, snacks, to tissue boxes. As per an e27 report, 14 companies have already signed up for the service.
It has also launched a new interface and features that includes delivery tracker, personal notes to shopper, and a favourite items list.
Founded in 2014 by Tim Marbach, Benjamin Koellmann, Fajar Budiprasetyo, and Kai Kux, HappyFresh is a logistics-based ecommerce startup that functions via an app. Users can order groceries and other perishable and nonperishable food items and the startup acts as a grocery delivery service with added charges.
Ecommerce Startup MBiz Secures Series A From Japan’s Tokyo Century Corporation
Indonesian ecommerce company MBiz has secured an undisclosed amount in its Series A round of funding, led by Japanese leasing company Tokyo Century Corporation (TCC). As per an e27 report, the round closed at the startup’s valuation of $75 Mn.
Mbiz is an e-procurement and e-catalogue platform that counts blue chip companies as its targeted audience. The platform aims to simplify the manual procurement process that might involve face-to-face meetings, submission of catalogue, and the bidding process itself.
Backed by Indonesian corporate giant Lippo Group, the startup has also been chosen by the Indonesian government as an official partner for its e-procurement service.
Rewards App Snapcart Raises $3 Mn Funding
Jakarta-based real-time shopper engagement app, Snapcart has secured $3 Mn in its Pre-Series A round of funding from Vickers Venture Partners, Wavemaker Partners, and SPH Media Fund, reported Deal Street Asia.
The startup will use the funds to improve OCR, machine learning and data sciences technology and grow the sales team.
Launched in 2015 by Reynazran Royono, Laith Abu Rakty, Mayeth Condicion, Snapcart is a rewards-based app that incentivises consumers to take photos of their receipts in exchange for rewards. The insight is compiled and offered to brands and retailers, providing a more accurate measurement of consumer behaviour than many existing research methods.
In March 2015, the startup raised an undisclosed amount in Seed funding from Ardent Capital and Reynazran Royono. It raised $1.6 Mn in January 2016 led by SPH Media Fund and Wavemaker Partners. Other investors in the round included Ardent Capital and SMDV.