Mapping Indonesia’s $600m laptop scandal

We unpack how Nadiem Makarim's edtech program became a US$608 million corruption case & spotlight Indonesian prosecutors in startup governance

Read from your browser Daily Newsletter Welcome to Tech in Asia's daily newsletter, your essential dose of Asia's tech and startup buzz. Not on the mailing list? Register here. Got a story tip? Send it to editors@techinasia.com.   IN FOCUS The corruption probe drawing in figures from major tech firms Indonesia signals it's serious about cleaning up startup governance   Hello Betamax Indonesia's tech sector has brought in billions, built unicorns, and even sent founders like Gojek's Nadiem Makarim into the government. Now, after scandals like eFishery, that tech-government relationship has come under more pressure. Today's Big Story looks at the 9.9 trillion rupiah (US$608 million) Chromebook procurement program that was supposed to transform classrooms. Spearheaded by Makarim during his time as education minister, it's become a full-blown corruption investigation. Prosecutors allege the project was steered toward Google's Chromebooks despite earlier recommendations for Windows devices. Prices were reportedly inflated, while many devices were ultimately unusable in remote areas. Four people have been named as suspects, some with ties to the country's major tech companies. Makarim has been questioned and placed under a travel ban, but he remains a witness - not a suspect. As if that's not enough, just this week, Indonesian authorities detained two ex-TaniHub executives and the CEO of state VC firm MDI Ventures in a separate corruption case. In the Spotlight, I ponder how legal action is perhaps the only deterrent powerful enough to prevent these blunders. Putra Muskita, editor     THE BIG STORY  Indonesia's Chromebook corruption probe, in visuals Shopee's rising fees and tighter rules reflect a broader shift in Southeast Asia's ecommerce power dynamics. This story captures how sellers are losing leverage - and why that matters for the region's digital economy. The firm's drive for market share and profits may hurt seller sustainability, though the impact might not be immediate.     SPOTLIGHT Indonesia gets serious about startup governance The recent detaining of two former TaniHub executives and the CEO of state-backed VC firm MDI Ventures caught everyone by surprise. Indonesia's tech scene has had a string of high-profile stumbles, from TaniHub's collapse to eFishery's accounting mess and Investree's suspended license. But for a long time, many brushed off these blowups as part of the risk of equity investing - high reward, high risk, and sometimes, high fraud. TaniHub counts state-backed VCs like MDI Ventures and BRI Ventures as investors. When public funds are involved, it's reasonable to expect a higher degree of oversight. Other VCs have also launched their own governance initiatives. Alpha JWC recently rolled out SpeakUp, a whistleblower platform for startup teams. Five Southeast Asian VC associations have also released a shared governance guide aimed at improving board oversight. Still, the strongest message hasn't come from investors, but from prosecutors. For executives used to fawning praise, the TaniHub and MDI arrests serve as a clear warning: someone's actually watching.   THE VALUE OF A ROUNDTABLE ISN'T JUST THE TOPIC, IT'S ALSO THE PARTICIPANTS   Share real-world strategies with these B2C product leaders For product leaders at top B2C companies, the pressure to innovate is constant. The best solutions often come from a candid conversation with someone who's tackled the same growth hurdles. The leaders behind the innovative B2C brands you see here are coming together to do just that. They're joining our exclusive roundtable - in partnership with meeting platform 8x8 - to share strategies on building secure, frictionless user journeys and scaling personalization in a competitive market. This is your opportunity to join them. Bring your challenges, share your wins, and connect with the product leaders who are defining the future of customer experience. Register your interest today.     TRENDING NEWS 1️⃣ Microsoft's market cap hits around $4.1t If the rally holds, Microsoft will join Nvidia as the only public companies valued over US$4 trillion. 2️⃣ OpenAI reportedly doubled annualized revenue to $12b This suggests US$1 billion in monthly revenue. However, OpenAI's projected cash burn for 2025 has risen to about US$8 billion, up US$1 billion from earlier forecasts. 3️⃣ Zuckerberg aims AI superintelligence at personal use Such "personal superintelligence" tools would assist individuals in achieving their goals, rather than automating tasks centrally. 4️⃣ Biotech investors shift to APAC due to US-China tensions: report China has accounted for over 75% of Asia Pacific's biotech venture capital and private equity flows since 2019, though markets like Singapore and South Korea are also seeing increased investment, according to the Bain & Company report. 5️⃣ Superbank hits $1.3m in profit, gains 4 million users The Grab-backed digibank said that loan disbursements reached 8.4 trillion rupiah (US$525 million) in the first half of 2025.   EVENTS HAPPENING You can also check out a curated list of trending tech events over here and Tech in Asia's signature events here. Tech in Asia Conference 2025 | Oct 22–23 – Jakarta Can your startup outshine the rest? Startup Arena is the ultimate pitch battle for those eager to defy expectations. Present your groundbreaking idea to esteemed judges and gain unparalleled exposure. This is your chance to claim the spotlight. Apply now! CTO of the Year Award 2025, powered by AWS – Deadline: July 31 31 It's the final day to apply/nominate for CTO of the Year! We're celebrating Southeast Asia's most visionary tech leaders in Jakarta this October, powered by Tech in Asia and AWS. The stage is set. The spotlight's waiting. Will you step into it? Nominate a peer or apply now here. Last chance: AMPED Vietnam Super Early Bird sale ends on August 3 This is your chance to attend AMPED Vietnam - a focused event for founders, investors, and operators building across Southeast Asia - at the lowest price available. Whether you're scaling, expanding into new markets, or sharpening your approach, this is where those conversations begin. Get your tickets now for only US$15 before the Super Early Bird sale ends on August 3!   WHO'S HIRING You can post a job here or search for jobs here. Frontend & Backend Developer (Long term project) at flitts Jakarta, Indonesia Cybersecurity Engineer at PT Sapta Tunas Teknologi Jakarta, Indonesia Tax Specialist at PT. ASLI Rancangan Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia ADVERTISE | SUBSCRIBE | HIRE | FIND JOBS P.S. Don't miss out on the biggest tech news and analysis. Add newsletter@techinasia.com to your address book, contacts, or safe sender list. Or simply move us into your inbox. Tech in Asia thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Too many emails? Switch to a different frequency or get new content through our preference center, or unsubscribe. 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