The presence of edutech startups in Indonesia makes it easier for students who want to take courses without leaving their homes or for people who seek to upskill themselves and advance their careers. In Indonesia, edutech startups have emerged since the early 2000s, and they continue to proliferate, especially with advancements in digital technology.
Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for edutech startups are growing rapidly. In Indonesia and Southeast Asia, there are hundreds of edutech startups, all fighting for their missions.
Numerous solutions have been offered for the edutech market, catering to students, schools, or workers in need of edutech services. Now, let’s dive deeper into the lists of edutech startups in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Also read: Getting to Know Edutech Startups and Their Development in Indonesia
1. Zenius
zenius
Zenius is one of the pioneering edutech startups in Indonesia, founded in 2007. It is also the first online interactive tutoring platform in the country. Zenius’s mission is to nurture curiosity and foster a love for the learning process among its users. Beyond grades, Zenius aims to encourage a passion for learning and liberation. One of Zenius’ most prominent campaigns was providing free services in March 2020 to support learning activities during the pandemic.
In March 2022, Zenius secured funding from MDI Ventures, increasing its valuation to US$40 million or around Rp575 billion. Prior to that, Zenius had received funding from Northstar Group, Alpha JWC, Openspace Venture, and Beacon Venture Capital.
2. Colearn
Colearn is an edutech startup that helps students in Indonesia complete their homework quickly using artificial intelligence technology. This startup also provides problem-solving videos made by experienced tutors, explaining the steps to answer questions in detail. They also offer live online classes where tutors teach interactively. In addition to teaching, the tutors motivate students and make learning fun.Colearn was launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, and it successfully reached 3.5 million students in a short time. In 2021, Colearn received series A funding of US$10 million, or around Rp143 billion, from Alpha Wave Incubation and GSV Ventures. This funding solidifies Colearn’s position as one of the most funded edutech startups in Indonesia.
3. Cakap
Cakap is an edutech startup known for its accessible online language classes for adults and children. They offer more affordable prices compared to other language course institutions, which has garnered significant attention from the market. Cakap also provides vocational and certification courses with flexible arrangements for its users. To date, Cakap has empowered thousands of teachers from various countries.
By the end of 2021, Cakap secured series B funding worth Rp143 billion from MDI-KB & Heritage Capital, followed by the Indonesia Impact Fund. This funding will enhance Cakap’s technological capabilities and expand its reach to underdeveloped and rural areas.
4. Pintek
Pintek is a company in the financial technology industry aiming to drive educational transformation in Indonesia through its financial services. Pintek offers loans to people in need of educational loans.
In 2021, Pintek received series A funding worth US$7 million, or around Rp100 billion, from Socap Holding Pte. Ltd. With this funding, Pintek aims to maximize its contribution by hiring new talent, accelerating product development, advancing technology, and strengthening its market position.
Established in 2018, Pintek has supported 2,750 educational institutions, 100 educational SMEs, and 650,000 students in Indonesia.
5. Harukaedu
Harukaedu offers online educational services and has partnered with more than 15 higher education institutions in Indonesia. They provide over 20 online academic courses with proper accreditation.
In 2019, Harukaedu began targeting corporate segments to enhance their employee training programs. Harukaedu also owns another education portal that focuses on vocational studies, Pintaria.com. In the same year, Harukaedu received series C funding from SIG, which involved several investors such as AppWorks, GDP Venture, Gunung Sewu Kencana, and Samator Education.
6. Gredu
Gredu is a SaaS-based edutech startup that digitizes information systems for schools. They offer various services, including scheduling, attendance tracking, study plan creation, and class evaluation. Some of the products they offer include the School Management System, Learning Management System, Literacy, and Full Version.
In 2021, Gredu secured series A funding worth US$4 million or around Rp58 billion, led by Intudo Ventures and followed by some of its previous investors, such as Vertex Ventures. Gredu will utilize this funding to expand its operational reach beyond the Jabodetabek area, particularly in other major cities in Indonesia.
7. Circledoo
Circledoo is the first skill-sharing platform in Indonesia and Asia, with a unique concept that connects people with specific skills to join circles and learn from each other. This company promotes skill acquisition and upskilling among the younger generation, making it easier and more affordable.
In 2017, Circledoo received seed funding worth Rp2.6 billion.
8. Pahamify
Pahamify is an edutech company that develops learning apps for students at various educational levels. The company offers thousands of learning videos in animation, quizzes, and summaries. By combining science, filmmaking, gamification, and intuitive design, Pahamify has gained a significant user base.
Founded in 2018, Pahamify secured up to US$150,000 in funding from Y Combinator in 2020. By the end of that year, Pahamify received series A funding from Shunwei Capital. In 2022, Pahamify announced a goodbye message on its Instagram account but released a new program targeting another market.
9. Bahaso
Next, we have Bahaso, an edutech startup that focuses on English language learning services. The startup emerged from its founder’s experience, Tyovan Ari Widagdo, who stuttered when he had to speak to a Japanese investor in English. Bahaso users can learn various aspects of the language through the app, including listening, writing, reading, and speaking skills.
Bahaso received pre-series funding from Telkom. In 2019, Bahaso had over 550,000 users.
10. Squline
Squline is another edutech startup that provides language courses with numerous tutors from the Asia Pacific region. Users can learn through live video calls and instant messaging. The language courses they offer include English, Chinese, and Japanese.
Squline has also collaborated with several educational institutions such as Beijing Language Culture College, Universitas Atmajaya, and Universitas Indonesia. In 2018, Squline secured series A funding from Investidea Ventures. They will use this funding to hire new talent and advance their technology and product in 2019.
In conclusion, edutech startups offer much more than just online classes. There are numerous edutech startups, each with its own mission and solutions for its users.
