Se’i—smoked beef and chicken from East Nusa Tenggara—is no longer just a regional delicacy. Through Se’Indonesia, it has become a modern quick-service chain, open 24 hours and expanding across major Indonesian cities. Founded in 2022 by Rinaldi Dharma Utama, the brand recently secured nearly US$9.7 million in Series A funding, led by Insignia Ventures Partners and joined by Saison Capital and, notably, Argor Capital—a rebranded spin-off of Go-Ventures, once the venture arm of the GoTo digital ecosystem.

Indonesia’s startup scene has long been dominated by lifestyle-driven platforms, from ride-hailing to e-commerce. Yet, in recent weeks, one name has captured unusual attention: Pintarnya, a Jakarta-based technology company that focuses on blue-collar and informal workers. The company recently secured US$16.7 million in Series A funding, led by Square Peg and joined by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India and East Ventures.

When Sribu.com was founded in 2011, few could predict that a modest design‑contest platform would persist through Indonesia’s digital economy’s frequent upheavals. Conceived by Ryan Gondokusumo and Wenes Kusnadi, Sribu allowed businesses to crowdsource logos and branding ideas. Over time, it evolved into a full-fledged marketplace serving over 30,000 clients and ultimately attracting acquisition by Japan’s Mynavi.

Agile Technica, a Tangerang-based ERP consulting and development firm founded in 2019 by Alfonsus Arvy Pradipta Budiarto and Hans Permana, offers a compelling case study: start with a specific vertical, leverage open-source technology, and iterate fast with users.

Palm oil plantation firm PT Tunas Sawa Erma (TSE) Group, through its subsidiary PT Berkat Cipta Abadi (BCA), has recently inaugurated the first biogas power plant (PLTBg) and compressed biomethane gas (CBG) plant with US$3.6 million of investment in South Papua province. 

At a time when Southeast Asian gaming startups race to emulate anime aesthetics or battle‑royale mechanics to gain global traction, a Bandung-based studio has taken the opposite path. Lentera Nusantara, founded in 2016 by Azizah Assattari and Wahyu Agung Pramudito, draws from Indonesia’s rich folklore—featuring mythical beings like Wewe Gombel, Genderuwo, and the Balinese Leak—to create Ghost Parade, a 2D narrative adventure game.

In a bold response, Ubisoft last week unveiled a sweeping internal reorganization: the launch of “Creative Houses.” This new model groups Ubisoft’s vast portfolio into five genre-focused entities—Action-Adventure, Shooter, Platform & Family, Mobile, and Technology & Online Services. Each “House” is led by a specialist with full creative and business authority. The goal is simple yet ambitious: to eliminate bottlenecks, foster genre-specific excellence, and accelerate decision-making in an industry where delays can be fatal.

In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, Indonesia has quietly produced a rising powerhouse: AJARI.AI. Founded by Rafael Ibrahim, who currently serves as CEO, the Yogyakarta-born edtech startup recently earned international recognition by being selected among the Top 10 finalists in the prestigious Presight AI‑Startup Accelerator, co-hosted by Microsoft and MBZUAI.

Indroyono Soesilo, former coordinating minister for maritime affairs, has been nominated by President Prabowo Subianto as Indonesian Ambassador to the United States of America (USA). It comes as a surprise because names like Mary Natalegawa (former minister of foreign affairs), Airlangga Hartarto (coordinating minister for the economy), and Gita Wirjawan (former trade minister) were widely tipped to fill the strategic, yet left vacant for years, post. Who is he?

In recent years, Hendri Andrigo Sutanto has emerged as a key figure behind Indonesia’s growing ecosystem of technology expos and gaming events. As Director of PT Digitalife Nusantara, he manages some of the country’s largest tech and gaming exhibitions—such as Indonesia Game Xperience (IGX) and Indonesia Digital Technology Expo (IDTex).