Indonesia Opportunity to Grow Its Startup Ecosystem

Indonesia is an under-studied nation for most people. Despite being the world's fourth most populous nation and 10th largest economy, US-Indonesia bilateral trade was only about $42 billion in 2024.

Innovation Potential

With over 300 million residents and diversity unrivaled by nearly any country, with 120 islands, several religions and languages, Indonesia has a creative energy that is slowly beginning to show itself in the innovation and startup space.

Potential Sectors

• Blue Economy: Ocean preservation, fishing stocks, and sea level rise
• Agritech: Sustainable agriculture and palm oil alternatives
• Fintech: Digital wallets, P2P lending, and Insurtech
• Cleantech: Clean energy and rainforest preservation

Challenges and Opportunities

Indonesia still needs to increase investments in accelerators, technology transfer programs, IP systems, and investment regulations. With the right investments in R&D and accelerator programs, startups in Indonesia can thrive particularly when focused on Indonesia and surrounding markets.