HEAD OF THE DAY
🇮🇩 Nadiem Makarim
The Gojek Story: In 2010, Nadiem launched a simple call center for motorcycle taxis in Jakarta. Five years later, the Gojek app revolutionized the Southeast Asian market as Indonesia’s first super-app, now covering everything from ride-hailing to food delivery.
In 2021, Gojek merged with Tokopedia to form the publicly listed GoTo Group (🔻-1.61%), becoming a Southeast Asian tech giant.
The Shift: That same year, he left the business world for politics. Since 2019, he has been shaping Indonesia’s digital future as Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.
👉 Lesson learned: Makarim demonstrates how solving local problems at scale can transform entire economies. From a simple transport solution to an everyday platform and ultimately to shaping national policy based on the learnings of a startup founder.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
