10 Bootstrap Alley startups that caught our eye (UPDATE)

This year’s Bootstrap Alley at Tech in Asia Jakarta 2015 was an eye-opener, with a total of 235 exhibiting startups spread across the conference grounds in a span of two days, all eager to pitch their business idea and expose their product to over 4,000 conference attendees.

Amidst the crowd, here are 10 startups that caught our attention.

Update on 12 Nov: The first 5 startups are new additions to the list.

1. Balkonie

Building or renovating a house or office space can be exciting yet dreadful. Whether you’re looking around for inspiration or sourcing for the right contractor, interior designer, or other home service professional, each process takes a considerable amount of time and money. Balkonie hopes to provide a solution for home owners and businesses by making each step of the way simpler, faster and more transparent.

Through Balkonie, users can seek inspiration and get ideas, as well as view the portfolio of vendors and reviews on their past work, allowing them to make more informed decisions.

2. Glints

If you conduct a random university survey on what undergraduates aspire to be in the future, you’d find that only a handful have definitive plans on what they want to do after graduation. Most of them haven’t figured out what they want their career path to be. At best, they only know what they don’t like to do.

This prompted the founding of Glints, a Singapore-based startup that empowers young talents to build up their career-readiness through practical, real-world experiences. The team actively sources for a diverse variety of employers and opportunities to build the employer-talent community. What is unique about Glints is that based on the skills identified in the job requirements, relevant courses are recommended to each candidate. This means each job-seeker on the platform will be given a customised learning path to acquire the skills needed.

3. SociaBuzz

SociaBuzz is a simple self-service influencer marketing platform that allows businesses to promote their brand, service, or product by using the power of word-of-mouth. It connects clients with 3,683 Twitter influencers on its platform to create buzz and awareness.

SociaBuzz is easy to use – advertisers create an account, make a payment, create their ad and content, choose their influencers and time of post, and monitor campaign results.

4. AppsCo

AppsCo is an online platform for crowdsourcing great ideas and bringing them to life in the form of Web or mobile apps. Since its launch in January 2015, the startup has established itself as a connector, educator, and a source of inspiration for creative individuals.

Ideas are submitted on AppsCo’s platform, and winners will get cash prizes and have their ideas transformed into products. To encourage creative thinking, regular content in the form of web magazine, podcasts, and video tutorials are shared with its readers.

5. Online Pajak

Tax reporting can be a tedious process, but Online Pajak wants to help small and medium business owners in Indonesia fulfill their business tax obligations in a more efficient and user-friendly manner. Its easy-to-use corporate tax-reporting software is specifically designed to help SMEs prepare, pay, and report their corporate taxes in one seamless process.

Online Pajak also constantly monitors regulatory changes in the local tax system, ensuring that its methods and calculations are always kept up-to-date.

6. Purely B

It is safe to say that an average working adult leads a hectic lifestyle – there’s barely enough time to take a breather after counting in the hours of overtime at work. Despite this, many of want to lead a healthy lifestyle, yet are unsure of where to go, what to do, what to eat, or even how to get started.

That’s how Purely B got started. A one-stop portal that aggregates information on how to achieve healthy living, the startup hopes to empower people to live a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. Its website offerings currently include healthy lifestyle tips, a guide to healthy restaurants and stores in Asia, and customized meal planning, health, and fitness programmes.

7. Snapcart

Snapcart prides itself on being the first app in the archipelago that allows shoppers to get cash back when they submit photos of their receipt. Users can find products that provide cash back through the app, purchase them, and snap a photo of their receipt. Once the receipt has been validated and the user’s balance reaches the minimum amount, the cash rebate will be credited into the user’s account within seven working days.

The business idea is simple yet attractive: active users get more cash back and benefits and partner merchants get data on their customers. It’s an obvious win for both parties.

8. Babacucu

Babacucu is an online marketplace that promotes the giving of physical goods – whether new or used – for free. The startup, the first of its kind in Indonesia, was launched based on the premise of saving the environment through the three Rs: “Reuse, Recycle, and Reduce” to prevent waste, all while encouraging the habit of giving.

The startup currently allows users to list and obtain items across a variety of categories such as books and magazines, electronics and appliances, fashion, sporting goods, entertainment, and more.

9. Effro

Calling itself the Uber of the events industry, Effro is a marketplace that helps create a win-win situation for both artists and clients. For the artists, Effro acts like a personal assistant, helping them keep track of their upcoming events, rehearsals, and meetings. It also records how much each artist earns. For clients, Effro’s platform helps them seek out talents in the industry via its rating and feedback system. It opens up opportunities for talents to get noticed, while also giving clients access to a greater pool of talent.

10. Gorry Gourmet

Gorry Gourmet prides itself in providing healthy and tasty culinary options prepared by professional chefs and nutritionists. Items on its menu are made of the best organic ingredients with zero preservatives, while its vacuum-sealed packing technology isolates the food from getting exposed to microorganisms without the use of chemicals and preservatives.

Gorry Gourmet’s current packages include weight management meals, healthy eats, those with unique dietary requirements, and more.

If you hadn’t had a chance to go through our exhibiting startups, here’s an infographic that summarizes our Bootstrap Alley numbers. Follow us at #tiajkt2015 for real-time social media updates, or tune in to our live streaming channel.