📌 MAROKO133 Update startup: Bali mandates tourist app 📲, BI adjusts burden-sharing
Dear subscribers,
This week’s update highlights major developments shaping Indonesia’s digital and economic landscape. Bali has introduced a mandatory tourist app to support sustainable travel, VinFast announced a landmark EV factory investment, and Venturi Partners has closed fresh funding for its second vehicle targeting consumer brands across Asia. On the innovation front, QRIS adoption continues to accelerate, driving SME participation in the digital economy. Meanwhile, governance challenges resurfaced with ongoing updates in the Tanihub case and the recent detention of Gojek founder and ex-Minister of Education, Nadiem Makarim—reminders of the importance of transparency and accountability in sustaining ecosystem growth.
Best regards, The DailySocial Team
🚨 What’s New
VinFast commits IDR 185 trillion EV plant in Subang, West Java 🚗⚡ Vietnamese EV maker VinFast announced plans to invest IDR 185 trillion (approx. USD 11.2 billion) to build an electric vehicle factory in Subang, around 2 hours from Jakarta. The facility is expected to become one of the largest EV plants in Southeast Asia, producing both cars and batteries for domestic and export markets. This investment marks a major win for Indonesia’s strategy to position itself as a regional EV hub, leveraging its nickel reserves and supportive policies.
Source: Kontan
Bali mandates new app for tourists 📲 Starting early September this week, international visitors to Bali are required to download the “Love Bali” app before entry. The app is designed to track tourist activities, promote sustainable travel, and ensure compliance with local regulations. Authorities say the platform will also function as a digital guide, providing travelers with verified information about destinations, cultural etiquette, and environmental conservation.
Ex-minister & Gojek co-founder Nadiem detained on graft charges ⚖️ Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has detained Nadiem Makarim, former Minister of Education and founder of Gojek, as a suspect in a corruption investigation linked to state-funded education projects. According to the KPK, the case involves procurement irregularities and potential misuse of public funds through $563 million Google Chromebook laptop procurement project. Meanwhile, GoTo clarified that Nadiem has no formal role or involvement in the company, emphasizing its operations remain unaffected. The case underscores rising scrutiny of governance standards and could shape perceptions of Indonesia’s broader innovation ecosystem.
Tanihub scandal deepens 🌾 South Jakarta prosecutors have officially detained three new suspects, including former executives from state-owned venture capital firms, in the ongoing corruption and money-laundering case related to Tanihub’s investment funds. Former executives from state-owned investment firms have been charged with enabling unlawful investments worth millions, allegedly funneled into agritech startup Tanihub before being diverted. The scandal deepens concerns over governance and accountability in Indonesia’s venture capital–backed startup ecosystem.
✨ What’s Exciting
Venturi Partners raises $150M for consumer brands 🌐 Singapore-based private equity firm Venturi Partners has closed $150 million in funding for its second vehicle focused on high-growth consumer brands in Asia. The firm, known for backing companies like Livspace and Country Delight, said the fund will target businesses in food, health, personal care, and lifestyle. This reflects increasing investor appetite for consumer-facing businesses that can scale with Asia’s expanding middle class. Venturi Partners emphasized its hands-on approach, supporting portfolio companies with operational expertise, digital transformation, and regional expansion strategies.
🔮 What’s Next
QRIS drives digitalization for SMEs 📊 Indonesia’s digital economy continues to gain momentum through QRIS adoption. By H1 2025, QRIS recorded 57 million users and 39.3 million merchants, of which 93.16% are SMEs. Transaction volumes hit 6.05 billion with a total value of Rp 579 trillion—clear evidence that SMEs are not just present in the digital ecosystem but also thriving through digital transactions
QRIS Tap adoption accelerates 🚀 Bank Indonesia rolled out QRIS Tap (NFC-based) in March 2025, allowing users to make payments by simply tapping their phone. By June 2025, 47.8 million users and 648,000+ merchants had adopted the service, particularly …
Indonesia’s tech and fintech ecosystem continues to accelerate. Waterhub secured seed funding to scale its clean water innovation, while Flip and Bank Aladin Syariah launched an LPS-guaranteed sharia savings account. SeaBank posted annual profit increase, but challenges persist as scam losses surged in 2025. At the same time, Danantara starts executing strategic investments, and Komdigi’s sends out ultimatum to Roblox.
Looking ahead, QRIS remains the backbone of Indonesia’s payment system, now reaching 57M users in 2025. Cross-border corridors with Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore contributed significantly to QRIS’s growth, while expansion to Japan is already live, with China, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea on the horizon. These developments reinforce QRIS as a model for regional payment integration, boosting both inbound tourism and outbound digital commerce.
Indonesia’s sovereign-linked Danantara realized Rp 179.05T (~USD 11B) in investments in H1 2025, channeling funds into infrastructure, sustainability, and the digital economy. The capital deployment underscores the state’s growing role as both investor and market shaper in key strategic sectors. Read more
Waterhub raises seed funding 💧 Indonesian water-tech startup Waterhub has secured seed investment from Archipelago VC and The Radical Fund. The fresh capital underscores growing investor appetite in climate-tech solutions, with Waterhub positioned to scale innovations that tackle Indonesia’s chronic water access and sustainability challenges—an area with strong regulatory backing and rising demand from both urban and rural markets. Read more
Flip x Bank Aladin launch sharia savings 🏦 Payment platform Flip and Bank Aladin Syariah have rolled out Super Flip Tabungan Syariah, a sharia-compliant savings account guaranteed by LPS (Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation). Beyond expanding Flip’s embedded finance play, the partnership highlights how neobanks are leveraging collaboration to build trust and extend financial inclusion in Indonesia’s large Muslim population—one of the world’s fastest-growing Islamic finance markets. Read more
SeaBank profit up 18% 📈 Sea Group’s SeaBank Indonesia posted IDR 214B (~USD 13M) profit in H1 2025, an 18% increase YoY. The results reflect successful monetization of its ecosystem (Shopee, Garena) while sustaining operational efficiency, proving that digital banks in Indonesia are not just scaling user numbers but also delivering profitability in an increasingly competitive neobank landscape. Read more
Rising scam losses ⚠️ Public losses from scams in Indonesia reached Rp 4.6T (~USD 280M) in 2025, raising concerns about consumer protection in the digital era. This highlights a dual challenge: scaling financial access while safeguarding trust. Expect tighter oversight and collaboration between fintech players and regulators in fraud prevention. Read more
Komdigi vs Roblox regulation 🎮 Indonesia’s Kominfo Digital (Komdigi) has given Roblox two compliance requirements to avoid a ban, signaling rising scrutiny on global platforms. The case illustrates Indonesia’s tightening stance on content regulation, user safety, and data governance—issues with far-reaching implications for international platforms seeking to operate in the country. Read more
What’s Exciting
Nusatrip IPO on Nasdaq ✈️ Travel platform Nusatrip successfully listed on Nasdaq, making it one of the few Indonesian startups to go public on an international exchange. The IPO signals strong confidence in post-pandemic travel-tech growth and opens the door for more Southeast Asian startups to pursue U.S. listings as a pathway to global visibility and capital access. Read more
