The impact of DeepSeek on Indonesia’s AI landscape
The development of (Artificial Intelligence) technology in Indonesia has been growing rapidly in recent times. How can it not? AI has proven to be a prominent helper in solving human problems and supporting the growth of many businesses. This is especially relevant with the emergence of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI software company that offers an open-source large language model (LLM). Its debut sparked discussions worldwide, including in Indonesia.
Investing in health tech to tackle Indonesia’s greatest challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical gaps in Indonesia’s healthcare infrastructure, revealing structural and systemic shortcomings requiring scalable solutions. Change doesn’t happen overnight, particularly for the healthcare sector, which consists of multiple intertwined industries with strict regulatory oversight. But because the industry is highly regulated, regulations play a huge role in shaping trends.
Edtech in 2025: Transforming education beyond Southeast Asia’s classrooms
Education is essential for a nation's growth and should be prioritized as a fundamental aspect of national interest. The advancement of technology significantly contributes to the transformation of education by offering unprecedented access for all. Today, we witness the rise of educational technology (edtech), which seamlessly integrates traditional and modern learning methods.
Consumption tech offers hope amid challenges in startup funding
In the challenging landscape of startup funding, characterized by economic uncertainties and fluctuating investment climates, consumption tech offers a beacon of potential recovery, said panelists at DealStreetAsia’s Indonesia PE-VC Summit 2025 last week.
Great entrepreneurs aren’t born. They are made
A key question for investors has been on my mind for the past decade: Are great entrepreneurs born or made? Over time, I’ve developed a thesis to address this query, validating my ideas through various cases within the East Ventures ecosystem. The answer boils down to three key elements, which I call the three Cs: capacity, character, and capability. Capacity is innate. Like computers, some have faster processors and larger memories while others don’t. Having capacity is an advantage in entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, an entrepreneur’s capacity – unlike a computer’s – can’t be upgraded.
Minimizing the risk-reward of startup funding
The shrinking of venture capital funding over the past four years has not diminished East Ventures' commitment to funding startups in Indonesia. Bisnis had the opportunity to speak with Willson Cuaca, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of East Ventures, about the firm's future funding strategies for startups.
Startups can expect brighter 2025 after prolonged funding winter
Startups are expected to find it easier to secure funding in the year ahead after a tough 2024 which saw rising costs, muted investor interest and geopolitical developments hampering their growth. Industry players told The Straits Times that the local funding landscape is poised to be buoyant in 2025, driven by expected rate cuts and more investments targeting Southeast Asia.
Unlocking the urban middle-class: Insights from Indonesia’s fast-growing consumer segment
Southeast Asia (SEA), a region populated by nearly 700 million people, is poised for remarkable digital economy growth over the next couple of years. The latest e-Conomy SEA 2024 report by Google, Temasek, and Bain&Company projected a 15% increase in GMV up to US$263 billion. This growth is also largely driven by the rising tech consumption within the region, where consumers are shifting towards digital services.