Kisah Sukses & Inspiratif Nadiem Makarim Mendirikan Gojek - (Sejarah Awal Mula Berdirinya Gojek)

Summary

Nadiem Anwar Makarim, an Indonesian entrepreneur and founder of Gojek, transformed the country’s transportation and digital payment landscape. Born in Singapore in 1984, he studied International Relations at Brown University and earned an MBA from Harvard. Observing inefficiencies in motorcycle taxi services, he launched Gojek in 2010, which grew from a small call-center operation to Indonesia’s first unicorn and later a decacorn. Expanding across Southeast Asia and pioneering GoPay, Gojek attracted major investments from Google, Astra, and others. In 2019, Nadiem transitioned from business to public service, becoming Indonesia’s Minister of Education and Culture, marking a remarkable journey from startup founder to government leader.

Takeaways

• 👶 Nadiem Anwar Makarim was born in 1984 in Singapore to a prominent activist-lawyer father and a freelance writer mother.
• 🎓 He studied International Relations at Brown University, participated in a student exchange at LSE, and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2010.
• 💼 Nadiem started his career as a consultant and later became Managing Director at Jalur Indonesia and Chief Innovation Officer at Kartuku.
• 🏍️ His daily experience with motorcycle taxis in Jakarta inspired him to create a platform connecting passengers with drivers efficiently.
• 📞 Gojek was founded on October 13, 2010, initially using a call center system before launching a mobile app in 2015.
• 💰 Gojek received multiple funding rounds, including investments from Sequoia Capital, KKR, Google, Astra International, and Djarum Group, eventually becoming Indonesia's first unicorn and later a decacorn.
• 🚖 The company formed strategic partnerships with Blue Bird taxis and expanded digital payment services through GoPay by acquiring PonselPay.
• 🌏 Gojek expanded regionally to Vietnam (Go-Viet), Thailand (Get), Singapore, and the Philippines, adapting services according to local regulations.
• 💵 By 2018, Nadiem Makarim was among the 150 richest Indonesians with an estimated wealth of $100 million USD from Gojek shares.
• 🏛️ On October 23, 2019, Nadiem resigned as Gojek's CEO to become Indonesia's Minister of Education and Culture under President Joko Widodo's cabinet.

Q & A

Who is Nadiem Anwar Makarim?

Nadiem Anwar Makarim is an Indonesian businessman, founder of Gojek, and currently serves as Indonesia's Minister of Education and Culture in President Joko Widodo's cabinet.

Where and when was Nadiem Makarim born?

He was born in Singapore in 1984 to Nono Anwar Makarim and Atika Algadri.

What inspired Nadiem to create Gojek?

While using motorcycle taxis to navigate Jakarta traffic, he noticed inefficiencies such as drivers spending too much time idle and the difficulty of finding transportation. This inspired him to create a platform connecting passengers with drivers efficiently.

When was Gojek officially founded and how many drivers did it start with?

Gojek was officially founded on October 13, 2010, with 10 motorcycle taxi drivers as partners.

What educational background does Nadiem Makarim have?

He studied International Relations at Brown University, participated in a student exchange at the London School of Economics in 2006, and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 2010.

What was Nadiem’s career path before focusing fully on Gojek?

He worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, then became Managing Director at Zalora Indonesia, and later served as Chief Innovation Officer at Kartuku.

When did Gojek launch its mobile application, and why was it significant?

Gojek launched its Android and iOS applications on January 7, 2015, which replaced the call center system and significantly improved user access and convenience.

What are some major investments and funding milestones for Gojek?

Major investments include NS, Sequoia Capital, KKR, Burukir, Google, Astra International, and Djarum Group. Gojek became Indonesia's first unicorn in 2016 with a valuation exceeding $1 billion and reached over $10 billion in 2019.

Which countries did Gojek expand to in Southeast Asia?

Gojek expanded to Vietnam (Go-Viet), Thailand (Get), Singapore, and the Philippines between 2018 and 2019.

When did Nadiem Makarim resign from Gojek and what role did he assume afterward?

He resigned as President Director of Gojek on October 22, 2019, and the following day was appointed Minister of Education and Culture in Indonesia.

What is Nadiem Makarim’s estimated wealth and its source?

As of 2018, his estimated wealth was around $100 million (approximately 1.4 trillion IDR), mainly derived from his shares in Gojek.

What role did Gojek’s acquisitions and collaborations play in its growth?

Acquisitions like Kartuku and PonselPay, along with collaborations with Bluebird and local taxi services, helped expand Gojek’s digital payment system (GoPay), strengthen its service offerings, and support its rapid growth across Southeast Asia.