Ruangguru founder Belva Devara (left) with President Joko Widodo
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo today announced the appointment of 12 of his new presidential special staffs which included Ruangguru founder and managing director Belva Devara, and Amartha founder Andi Taufan Garuda Putra, Kompas reported.
In a press statement, Devara stated that he will continue on holding his position as founder and managing director of the Jakarta-based startup.
“As expressed by the President himself, I am expected to continue working in my current position as managing director of Ruangguru, to never forget my roots in the tech sector. That way, I can give him relevant inputs on new innovation to help the society,” he said.
Also Read: [Updated] Breaking: Nadiem Makarim named Minister of Education and Culture of Indonesia
The appointment of the two startup founders followed the appointment of Indonesian ride-hailing unicorn gojek founder and CEO Nadiem Makarim as Minister of Education and Culture last month.
President Joko Widodo himself has been publicly speaking about including the younger generation, particularly from the tech and entrepreneurship sector, into his new presidency.
These appointments are part of a growing trend in Southeast Asia of startup founders expanding into politics and public service. In Thailand, Pakornwut Udompipatskul, former General Partner of StockRadars, has also been elected as members of the parliament earlier this year.
Ruangguru is a Jakarta-based edutech startup which offers a range of services of private tutor marketplace to exam practice platform. The startup’s most recent funding round is a Series B round led by UOB Venture Management; it has also received a grant from MIT SOLVE programme.
Amartha is a P2P lending platform that focusses on women-led micro businesses. The startup has raised its Series A funding round in 2017.
—
Image Credit: Ruangguru
The post Indonesia names 2 startup founders as presidential special staffs, following gojek CEO’s appointment as minister appeared first on e27.