The inauguration of KH. Mochamad Irfan Yusuf Hasyim, widely known as Gus Irfan, as Indonesia’s first Minister of Hajj and Umrah marks a historic milestone in the country’s governance of religious affairs. The presidential decree signed by President Prabowo Subianto on September 8, 2025, transformed the Hajj Management Body (Badan Penyelenggara Haji, BPH) into a full-fledged ministry—an unprecedented move outside Saudi Arabia.

Maria Elizabeth Liman, founder and owner of Indoguna, one of the largest food distributors in the country, has on Saturday (Sep 6) passed away at 79 years old. Liman, who was sentenced two years and three months prison in a high-profile bribery scandal implicating leaders of Islamic party PKS, leaves behind four children, nine grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Started out in Indonesia, NusaTrip Incorporated (Nasdag: NUTR) already listed on Nasdaq on August 15, 2025. The company sold 3.75 million shares at US$$4 each, raising approximately US$15 million in gross proceeds. NusaTrip, established in 2015 and headquartered in Jakarta, is an integrated travel technology platform with geographical specialization in Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific. 

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.