In the previous article, we discussed the transformation in Indonesia. I’ve mentioned that there is a phenomenon of tech startups mushrooming in Indonesia. In fact, we have an article discussing a well-known startup, Traveloka back in this April. Today, I’ve picked 5 startups in Indonesia that are well-funded, lively, trendy and interesting.
1. Tokopedia
So, let’s start with a big name.
Tokopedia is one of Indonesia’s biggest online marketplaces. It is a C2C sell and buy platform launched in 2009. It has attracted many individual entrepreneurs or small businesses owners to open online stores because it has been offering basic transactional features for free from launch until late 2015. Now, with its large consumer base, it has also collaborated with a lot of official brands such as Electrolux, Kellogg’s, Maybelline, LEGO, etc.
Consumers can buy a wide range of products from Tokopedia, basically can get anything they can think of.
Like other successful online marketplaces in other countries, Tokopedia has a mature products-reviewing system and a trustworthy payment system. These are factors that give consumers confidences to shop on the platform.
2. Go-Jek
Go-Jek is another big name among start-ups of Indonesia. It is a hyperlocal transport, logistics and payments startup founded in 2010. Many Indonesians use ‘ojek’, a kind of transport service that uses motorcycles in their daily life.
It is like taxi services, but with motorcycles instead of cars. Go-Jek started a web platform for riders to provide ride-hailing services for the public in Jakarta, and rapidly expand their services within the nation. Go-Jek’s fleet now exceeds 200,000 drivers and includes motorcycles, cars, and trucks.
Now, Go-Jek is not only an app for people to hire ojek. Consumers can use the app to order food delivery, buy groceries, pickup and send parcels or documents, buy tickets, arrange housecleaning services, etc. You can even use ‘Go-Massage’ to book a masseuse to massage you at your home!
3. Tiket.com
Back in April, we have discussed Traveloka, a tech startup in Indonesia that sells flight tickets and hotel rooms. Tiket.com is another very well-known site in Indonesia which provides flight tickets and hotel rooms. While Traveloka focuses its effort on being flight search engine, Ticket.com is providing more varieties of services. (There are no pros and cons here, they are two companies with different objectives.)
As what they called themselves, Tiket’s aim is to provide consumers a convenient platform to buy tickets. Apart from flight tickets, Tiket also helps travelers to buy train tickets or rent cars while traveling in Indonesia.
Moreover, consumers can also buy concert tickets, movie tickets and theme park tickets via ticket.com.
Tiket.com is widely used by Indonesians because of its expediency.
4. HijUp
There are many online fashion stores on the internet but HijUp stands out because it is the Islamic fashion e-commerce. It is known that Indonesia is the most populous Muslim-majority country, it has a larger Muslim population than any other country in the world. Diajeng Lestari, the wife of Bukalapak’s CEO Achmad Zacky, saw this opportunity and started HijUp in 2011.
HiJup, derived from the word ‘hijab’(veil), provides a platform for designers to sell their clothing to consumers all around the world. Although its main consumers are from Indonesia, it still attracts a lot of Muslims from other countries since it is the first online fashion store that sells various modest wears. Now, it even started to sell men’s wears.
5. Bridestory
Getting married is a very complex and complicated process. It is one of the most important things in our life. You may compromise on many things but not your wedding. You wouldn’t mind surfing the whole internet upside-down to find the best wedding venue, best pre-wedding photo shoot package, best wedding buffet caterer, etc.
In 2014, Kevin Mintaraga established Bridestory to provide a one-stop wedding vendor directory for couples to prepare their perfect weddings. Wedding vendors such as photographers, makeup artists, tailors, restaurants, wedding emcees, graphic designers, florists, etc. can upload their portfolio and price lists. Engaged couples can search for the vendors they needed according to their locations and budgets.
Bridestory has an onsite blog that posts real weddings’ photos that submitted by users. It actually gets famous because of the livestream of Indonesian celebrity Sandra Dewi’s wedding.
The platform is very inspiring and resourceful; thus, it has attracted vendors and couples from all around the world.
With the growth of the internet and mobile gadgets from year to year, people have become more dependent on online services. Nowadays, the purposes of mobile apps are unlimited. Many young entrepreneurs in Indonesia combine the modern technology to their local businesses and created a lot of successful tech start-ups. There are a lot of other interesting and fresh startups coming up the way, next week we are going to look out for some of those fresh companies.
Have you tried any of these platforms before? Don’t be stingy to share us your opinions ?
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