MAROKO133 Breaking startup: Indonesia's golden share in GoTo 🇮🇩. US$300B digital econ

📌 MAROKO133 Update startup: Indonesia's golden share in GoTo 🇮🇩. US$300B digi

Dear subscribers,

We’re back with your essential roundup of the latest from Indonesia and Southeast Asia’s digital landscape. This week, we’re covering key developments like the GOTO-Grab merger news, the digital economy growth, and shifts in the latest fintech investment.

We are also excited to invite you to an exclusive event: Indonesia Food Resilience Forum 2025. This forum will bring together key stakeholders to discuss innovative steps towards a sustainable food future for Indonesia.

Secure your spot at this strategic discussion by registering here: https://luma.com/75o04yki.

Best regards,
The DailySocial Team

🚨 What’s New

• Indonesia is reportedly considering a “golden share” scheme as a condition for approving the merger between Grab and GoTo. This plan would grant the sovereign wealth fund Danantara a minority stake with special rights in the merged entity’s Indonesian operations. This golden share would provide the government a direct voice in strategic decisions, including driver welfare and pricing, reflecting a desire to oversee a business that would dominate ~90% of the local ride-hailing and delivery market. While internal pressures, such as SoftBank’s push for a CEO change at GoTo, highlight the urgent need for consolidation, both companies officially state that no final agreement has been reached. For the government, this model represents a new approach to regulating a dominant digital platform critical to Indonesia’s gig economy. [Read more]

• Superbank, the digital bank backed by Grab, Singtel, and Emtek, is preparing for a potential IPO that could be the largest for a digital bank in Indonesia, targeting up to IDR5.36 trillion. This move is bolstered by its strong Q3 2025 results, where it booked a pre-tax profit of IDR80.9 billion, grew its customer base to 5 million, and saw credit disbursement surge 84% to IDR9.04 trillion. This robust financial performance, alongside its deep integration with ecosystems like Grab and OVO, strengthens its market position ahead of the listing. However, Superbank’s management has officially declined to comment on the IPO rumors. [Read more]

• NTT Group is launching a dedicated Southeast Asian investment vehicle, Synexia Ventures Pte. Ltd., based in Singapore and scheduled to commence on December 15, 2025. Managed by NTT DOCOMO Ventures and NTT Finance, the fund will target startups in key markets like Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, focusing on strategic sectors including AI, IoT, and smart city solutions. This initiative aims to accelerate open innovation and create new business ventures by combining funding with opportunities for co-creation across NTT’s vast network of telecom, data, and IT services. [Read more]

👏 What’s Exciting

• Grab has announced a strategic investment of US$60 million in Vay, a German company pioneering remote driving technology for driverless car rentals. This initial investment, expected to close in Q4 2025, grants Grab a minority stake and is the first part of a potential US$410 million commitment that could see Grab acquire a majority interest in Vay. The partnership aims to explore how Vay’s cost-efficient, “teledriven” service model—where remote operators deliver and retrieve vehicles for self-driving customers—can complement Grab’s long-term mobility strategy in Southeast Asia. Grab will also leverage its operational expertise to support Vay’s expansion in the U.S., while the driving data collected from Vay’s fleet could accelerate the development of AI for autonomous vehicles.

• Southeast Asia’s digital economy is on a strong trajectory, projected to surpass US$300 billion in GMV in 2025, sustaining a robust 15% year-on-year growth. This momentum is fueled by a decisive shift towards monetization, with revenue growth keeping pace with GMV. Key drivers include a resurgent e-commerce sector, where video commerce now accounts for 25% of GMV, and food delivery, which is on the cusp of profitability. Furthermore, AI is rapidly becoming a core competitive frontier, reshaping consumer journeys from discovery to purchase and driving operational efficiencies. The region’s massive, digitally-engaged population, which shows enthusiasm for AI that exceeds the global average, provides a fertile ground for this continued expansion.

• Standard Chartered has partnered with DCS Card Centre to power DeCard, a new credit card that enables users to make payments at physical merchants using stablecoins. As the principal banking partner, Standard Chartered will provide the backend infrastructure—including transaction processing, fiat and stablecoin settlements, and treasury services—to support seamless, real-world digital asset spending. The service launches first in Singapore, with plans to expand to other markets, marking a significant step in bridging traditional banking with everyday cryptoc…

  Konten dipersingkat otomatis.

  🔗 Sumber: dailysocial.id

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  📌 MAROKO133 Update startup: Living Lab Ventures doubles down on innovation 🇯🇵, Gra

  Dear subscriber,

  The past week have brought a wave of momentum across Indonesia’s innovation and digital economy. New cross-border partnerships and funding—from Living Lab Ventures’ Japan Thematic Fund to VENTENY’s social-impact investments—highlight how collaboration and purpose are shaping the next phase of growth. At the same time, companies like Grab, Blibli, and Telkomsel are proving that scale and technology remain central to market leadership, from profitability milestones to AI integration. The fintech, e-commerce, and digital infrastructure sectors continue to attract global attention, while online consumption shows no signs of slowing—BPS reported a 6.19% rise in e-commerce spending in Q3, with record-breaking campaigns already setting the tone for year-end optimism.

  Best regards,
  The DailySocial Team

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  What’s New

  1. Living Lab Ventures launches Japan‐Thematic Fund

  Living Lab Ventures, based in Indonesia, has launched a new “Japan Thematic Fund” in partnership with Japan’s Cool Japan Fund and other backers. The fund is designed to help startups from Japan and Southeast Asia access capital, cross-border business connections, and real-world trial opportunities. For the Indonesian market this means more chances for local ventures to link up with Japanese firms, transfer technology, and expand beyond domestic boundaries.

  2. Grab Holdings posts strong Q3 2025 revenue growth
  Grab recorded Q3 2025 revenue of US$873 million, a 22% increase from last year, marking another profitable quarter with US$17 million in net profit. Growth was fueled by strong demand across its ecosystem — on-demand services rose 24%, deliveries jumped 23% to US$465 million, and financial services surged 39%. The company also achieved US$136 million in adjusted EBITDA, up 51% year-on-year, supported by steady operational efficiency. With US$7.4 billion in cash reserves, Grab continues to strengthen its position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital platforms, reflecting the region’s growing reliance on ride-hailing, delivery, and payment services.

  3. Grab–GoTo Merger Talks: State Palace Confirms Negotiations
  Indonesia’s State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi confirmed that Grab and GoTo are in the process of negotiating a potential merger, which could lead to the creation of a single entity combining both platforms. The state-owned investment management agency Danantara is reportedly involved in the discussions to oversee the corporate asset arrangements. The merger plan is also being reviewed as part of a draft Presidential Regulation that will set clearer rules on the status, protection, and fare structure for online drivers and delivery partners.

  4. VENTENY Secures Dual Funding to Advance Financial Inclusion and Women’s Empowerment

  VENTENY Fortuna International (VTNY) has secured two new funding rounds to strengthen its mission of promoting financial inclusion and worker welfare in Indonesia. The company received US$5.5 million from the Women’s Livelihood Bond 7 (WLB7), managed by Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), to expand working-capital financing for women-led MSMEs in underserved regions. Around the same time, VENTENY also gained strategic investment from Japan’s Better Place Co. Ltd., aimed at enhancing its B2B financing services and employee well-being programs through the VENTENY Employee Super App. With this support, the company plans to scale up financing for MSMEs, improve employee wellness benefits, and build a more inclusive and sustainable business ecosystem.

  5. Living Lab Ventures Invests in INCREASE to Strengthen Indonesia’s Clinical Research Ecosystem
  Living Lab Ventures (LLV), the corporate venture arm of Sinar Mas Land, has made a strategic investment in INCREASE Laboratorium Indonesia, a clinical research and laboratory services company based in BSD City. The funding will help INCREASE expand operations, build global partnerships, and obtain international certifications such as CAP and ISO standards. INCREASE already works with partners in Singapore, Australia, China, and Japan, including Tsinghua University and Osaka University, to advance technology transfer and local talent development.

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  What’s Exciting

  1. Telkom Indonesia earns from data-centre business with high utilisation
  Telkom Indonesia’s subsidiary has reported strong demand in its data-centre business, with utilisation reaching 89 % in the third quarter. Although revenue was slightly down compared to the year before, the high utilisation suggests robust growth potential for Indonesia’s digital infrastructure sector. It offers local companies opportunities in services, infrastructure, partnerships and talent development.

  2. YouTube Festival 2025 proclaims Indonesia as growth hub
  YouTube’s Festival 2025 has declared Indonesia as its next growth centre, recognising the large audience, creator ecosystem and market potential. For Indonesia this is significant: it underlines that digital content creation, influencers, video marketing and creator economy are sectors to watch and invest in. It creates new opportunities for local talent, brands and platforms to tap into global attention from within Indonesia. The festival’s focus may also bring more…

  Konten dipersingkat otomatis.

  🔗 Sumber: dailysocial.id

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