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Indonesian startups chasing growth test waters in the Gulf

Startup funding in Indonesia has been on a decline since 2021

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    • Joseph Simbar (left), co-founder and CEO of Mimin, says entering China is difficult due to the language barrier, cultural differences, and strict regulations.
    • Joseph Simbar (left), co-founder and CEO of Mimin, says entering China is difficult due to the language barrier, cultural differences, and strict regulations. PHOTO: MIMIN

    Jofie Yordan

    Published Sat, Jan 10, 2026 · 08:28 AM

    THE funding winter has forced startups in South-east Asia to rethink their expansion strategies.

    Instead of taking the usual route of entering India or China, many Indonesian startups are setting their sights on the Middle East, specifically the Gulf countries. These include coffee chain Kopi Kenangan, artificial intelligence (AI) conversation firms Kata.ai and Mimin, logistics provider Kargo Technologies, and smart IoT company TaggIoT.

    Indeed, startup funding in Indonesia has been on a decline since 2021. In 2025, funding totalled only around US$700 million, the lowest level in the last nine years, across just 69 deals, according to the Tech in Asia database.

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