📌 TOPINDIATOURS Hot startup: Data flows shift 🔄, venture debt rises 💳, AI momentum

Dear subscribers,

This week, we unpack a series of pivotal shifts shaping Indonesia’s digital landscape, from a new cross-border data agreement with the United States and evolving digital tax commitments, to the rise of venture debt as startups seek smarter capital strategies. At the same time, Telkom Indonesia is doubling down on data center expansion, reinforcing the country’s ambition to anchor more digital infrastructure domestically. Beyond policy and infrastructure, Southeast Asia is entering a defining phase in its AI journey as enterprises move from experimentation toward scaled implementation, positioning the region as a strategic battleground for global technology players.

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Most companies don’t need “AI transformation.”

They need starting points. That’s where we come in.

No tools pushed. No automation hype. Just clarity.

If AI is on your agenda this year, start here!

AI by Discovery/Shift

Stay ahead,
DailySocial Team

🚨 What’s New

• Indonesia and the United States have taken a decisive step in cross-border data governance.

  Under a newly announced trade agreement between President Prabowo and President Trump, Indonesia agreed to allow limited transfers of personal data to the U.S., provided they comply with domestic data protection regulations. The move reduces regulatory ambiguity around cross-border digital operations and signals a stronger alignment with global data flow frameworks. For technology companies, cloud providers, and cross-border platforms, this creates clearer operational pathways while maintaining obligations under Indonesia’s Personal Data Protection Law. The development reflects Indonesia’s growing role in shaping digital trade diplomacy while balancing privacy safeguards.

• Alternative financing is gaining traction as venture debt emerges as a stronger funding option in Southeast Asia.

  Qverse, a venture debt platform founded by regional ecosystem players, is expanding its strategy to include private credit and larger ticket sizes. Venture debt provides startups with non-dilutive capital, offering founders greater flexibility during market slowdowns and tighter equity funding cycles. The growing adoption of structured financing instruments signals a maturing startup ecosystem that is becoming more sophisticated in capital management. As founders prioritize sustainable growth over aggressive burn, diversified funding options are becoming increasingly strategic.

👏 What’s Exciting

• Telkom Indonesia is accelerating its data center ambitions as digital infrastructure becomes a national priority.

  The state-backed telco, Telkom Indonesia is actively seeking global partners to expand capacity and strengthen its position in the regional data center market. With demand rising from hyperscalers, enterprise clients, and AI-driven workloads, scaling infrastructure has become a competitive necessity. The company is also reportedly revisiting plans to divest a stake in its data center business, signaling confidence in asset value and investor appetite. This move reinforces Indonesia’s strategic push to anchor more digital infrastructure domestically while attracting international capital.

• Digital taxation policy is entering a new chapter amid shifting global trade commitments. As part of the broader U.S.–Indonesia agreement, Indonesia is restricted from imposing discriminatory digital service taxes on major U.S. technology platforms. While the government maintains authority to implement fair and non-discriminatory taxation frameworks, the agreement provides greater regulatory certainty for global digital players operating locally. This clarity may enhance investment confidence and platform expansion within Indonesia’s digital economy. At the same time, policymakers will need to calibrate revenue strategies carefully within evolving international trade norms.

• At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Indonesia pushed for AI development that delivers real societal value beyond technical innovation.

  Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Nezar Patria, Representatives from Indonesia emphasized that the impact of AI should be measured by how it improves public services and fosters equitable access, not just by technological sophistication. This shifts the narrative toward responsible and inclusive AI adoption, which aligns with Indonesia’s large, diverse population and its goal of leveraging digital tools to enhance education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for MSMEs and underserved communities. The message resonates within Indonesia’s broader digital policy framework that seeks to balance innovation with public benefit and underscores the country’s role as an active voice in shaping global tech governance.

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🚀 What’s Next: Southeast Asia’s AI Inflection Point: Scaling Adoption, Unlocking Value

The latest industry analysis titled AI in Southeast Asia: An Era of Opportunity, published collaboratively by McKinsey & Company, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), and Tech in Asia, sho…

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🔗 Sumber: dailysocial.id

📌 TOPINDIATOURS Breaking startup: TikTok surges 🛍️, Grab turns profitable 💰, Ant &

Dear subscribers,

This week’s edition reflects a digital economy entering a more decisive phase. Social commerce is scaling into infrastructure as TikTok Shop cements regional dominance, while Grab’s profitability signals a broader shift from hypergrowth to disciplined execution. Telecom resilience, EV expansion into Jakarta, and large-scale healthcare investment in BSD City highlight strengthening sectoral foundations. At the same time, capital market reforms, AI commitments from global tech giants, renewable-powered data centers, and Ant International’s regional payments push underscore rising institutional confidence. With Indonesia’s eTrade readiness under review, the focus now turns from rapid expansion to building a more integrated, inclusive, and execution-driven digital ecosystem.

Most companies don’t need “AI transformation.”

They need starting points. That’s where we come in.

No tools pushed. No automation hype. Just clarity.

If AI is on your agenda this year, start here!

AI by Discovery/Shift

Stay ahead,
DailySocial Team

🚨 What’s New

• TikTok Shop’s SEA Surge Signals Indonesia’s Commerce Dominance
  TikTok Shop is projected to reach US$64.3 billion in GMV by 2025, with Southeast Asia emerging as the primary growth engine and Indonesia standing as its largest market. The region continues to outpace other geographies in social commerce adoption. The combination of short-form video, creator-driven discovery, and seamless checkout has accelerated transaction velocity at scale. For Indonesia’s digital ecosystem, this reinforces the structural shift from traditional marketplace traffic to content-driven commerce. The implication is clear: live commerce is no longer experimental, it’s infrastructure.

• Grab Turns Profitable, Proving Platform Discipline Pays Off
  Grab reported its first full-year net profit in 2025, marking a pivotal moment after years of aggressive expansion and heavy investments. As detailed in its latest earnings release on Grab, improved cost discipline and ecosystem monetization across mobility and financial services drove the turnaround. The company’s performance underscores a broader regional trend: sustainable growth is now valued over hypergrowth. In markets like Indonesia, where Grab maintains a strong footprint, profitability signals maturity in the super app model. It also sets a new benchmark for tech companies navigating post-pandemic capital efficiency.

• Indonesia’s Telcos Strengthen the Digital Back
  Indonesia’s telecom sector is reinforcing its role as the backbone of the digital economy, led by solid performances from Indosat (ISAT) and XLSmart. ISAT recorded 1.1% revenue growth to IDR 56.51 trillion in 2025, with EBITDA rising 0.8% to IDR 26.59 trillion and margins reaching 47.1%, underscoring operational resilience despite recent share price pressure. Meanwhile, XLSmart posted 23% revenue growth to IDR 42.5 trillion and a 63% jump in normalized net profit post-merger, serving 73 million subscribers with data contributing over 90% of revenue. As 5G rollout expands and integration synergies materialize, telcos are moving beyond basic connectivity to anchor AI, cloud, and enterprise digital transformation across Indonesia.

• VinFast Eyes Jakarta with Battery-Swap E-Scooters
  Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast plans to launch battery-swap electric scooters in Jakarta by 2026. The model aims to address range anxiety and charging infrastructure gaps through rapid battery exchange stations. Indonesia’s urban mobility challenges and strong two-wheeler culture create fertile ground for this strategy. With regulatory support for EV adoption accelerating, Jakarta becomes a logical expansion hub. The move intensifies competition in the region’s growing electric mobility race.

• Sinar Mas Land’s LLV Bets Big on Healthcare, Develops 60-Hectare SEZ in BSD City

  Living Lab Ventures (LLV), the corporate venture arm of Sinar Mas Land, is transforming BSD City into a leading healthcare hub through a 60-hectare International Education, Technology, and Health SEZ designed to reduce Indonesia’s reliance on overseas treatment. Backed by a US$150 to 180 million Healthcare Fund and a Biomedical Fund supporting research centers, biobanks, and health innovation, LLV is focusing on established providers while building a strong medical ecosystem. Global partnerships, including with Japan External Trade Organization and MEDRiNG Corporation, alongside collaborations in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, have driven key milestones such as the 2025 investment in E…

  Konten dipersingkat otomatis.

  🔗 Sumber: dailysocial.id

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